August 1, 1996

Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Committee on Science U.S. House of Representatives

Statement of Gregory H. Friedman, Deputy Inspector General for Audit Services Department of Energy

Invitation to testify on funding for Department of Energy research and development in a constrained budget environment. The Office of Inspector General has completed a number of audits in the general area of cooperative agreements, cost sharing arrangements and the Department's recoupment decisions. One of our objectives has been to determine if the interests of the taxpayers have been given appropriate consideration in recoupment decisions on research and development joint ventures between the Government and the private sector.