Madam Chair, can I just add that under accounting standards, we only record in the financial statements the assets that are owned by the federal government. Programs that benefit society generally are not considered as assets for the government. They are generally treated as expenses each year, and there would be a vote each year for those specific programs. Going to accrual appropriations wouldn't significantly change what is currently done for programs.
On November 7th, 2006. See this statement in context.