The Vice President and his representatives have asserted that GAO lacks the statutory authority to examine the activities of the NEPDG, recognizing only GAOas authority to audit its financial transactions.
( ( ( ( The ( Vice President ) ) and ) ( his representatives ) ) ( ( have ( asserted ( that ( GAO ( lacks ( the ( statutory ( authority ( to ( ( ( examine ( ( the activities ) ( of ( the NEPDG ) ) ) ) , ) ( ( recognizing ( only ( GAOas authority ) ) ) ( to ( audit ( its ( financial transactions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NNP Vice) (NNP President)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS representatives))) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN asserted) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNP GAO)) (VP (VBZ lacks) (NP (DT the) (JJ statutory) (NN authority) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB examine) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS activities)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNP NEPDG)))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG recognizing) (NP (RB only) (JJ GAOas) (NN authority)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB audit) (NP (PRP$ its) (JJ financial) (NNS transactions)))))))))))))))) (. .)))
The Vice President has sacked a few representatives. 
( ( The ( Vice President ) ) ( ( has ( sacked ( a ( few representatives ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NNP Vice) (NNP President)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBD sacked) (NP (DT a) (JJ few) (NNS representatives)))) (. .)))