The other four panel members – Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) And Bharat Ramamurti, former aide to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.): They have met for more than two months and have issued periodic reports despite the absence of a president.
The commission was a key feature announced by Democrats and Republicans to emphasize that they intended to closely monitor the administration’s implementation of the massive economic rescue effort. The $ 500 billion fund is managed by the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve and is intended to shore up businesses, industries and local governments damaged by the impact of the pandemic.
Ramamurti recently went public with his frustrations at the panel’s slow start.
“Congress created the Congressional Oversight Commission 105 days ago. The Commission is responsible for overseeing $ 500 billion in public money. As of today, the Commission still does not have a full-time president or staff, ”he tweeted last week.
“We are doing the best we can,” he added. “The two reports we have issued … contain a lot of useful information, questions and analysis. But the lack of president and staff are serious obstacles to solid oversight. ”
