The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee are set to form a joint fundraising committee with the goal of supporting GOP House candidates on the fall ballot, Roll Call learned late Friday.

According to a Republican strategist familiar with situation, the joint RNC-NRCC fundraising committee is set to be up and running in the coming days.

The strategist described this joint fundraising committee as a way for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) and the RNC to collaborate on providing funds for GOP House candidates, both incumbents and challengers.

The NRCC needs the help.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ended April with $45.3 million in cash on hand; the NRCC finished the period with just $6.7 million.

Meanwhile, the NRCC is expected next week to reveal the results of a forensic audit that was conducted after it was learned that the committee’s former treasurer, Christopher Ward, had misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds. The audit was conducted as part of an FBI investigation into Ward’s actions, which occurred before Cole assumed control of the NRCC in late 2006.

— David M. Drucker and Lauren W. Whittington