GORAC Act

Government Office Realignment And Closure Act of 2023 or the GORAC Act

This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide for an independent evaluation of federal agencies and programs to identify duplicative, wasteful, or outdated functions and provides for congressional consideration of legislation to implement recommendations from the evaluation.

Specifically, the GAO must (1) procure the services of a nonfederal auditor to evaluate each federal program carried out in the previous 20 years, make recommendations on federal agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated, and report on such recommendations; and (2) take steps to assure that any work performed by such auditor complies with standards established by the GAO for audits of federal establishments, programs, activities, and functions.

The GAO must provide for the relocation of federal employees whose positions are eliminated as a result of the implementation of recommendations included in the report.

The GORAC Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 397, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to establish the Global Online Research and Collaboration (GORAC) program within the National Science Foundation (NSF). The GORAC program aims to promote international collaboration in scientific research by providing funding for online platforms that facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers from different countries.

The GORAC Act outlines the goals of the program, which include promoting the sharing of research data and resources, fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and advancing scientific knowledge on a global scale. The bill also specifies the criteria for selecting projects to receive funding through the GORAC program, such as the potential impact of the research, the level of collaboration between researchers from different countries, and the feasibility of the proposed online platform.

Additionally, the GORAC Act includes provisions for oversight and evaluation of the program to ensure that funds are being used effectively and that the goals of the program are being met. The bill also authorizes appropriations for the GORAC program, specifying the amount of funding that will be allocated to the program each year. Overall, the GORAC Act is aimed at promoting international collaboration in scientific research and advancing scientific knowledge through online platforms. The bill seeks to leverage the power of technology to connect researchers from around the world and facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources in order to address global challenges and advance scientific discovery.