[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 51 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 51

Expressing the sense of Congress that Federal mandates to States should 
be rescinded unless they are accompanied by sufficient funds to pay for 
                                 them.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 1993

  Mr. Dreier submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
           referred to the Committee on Government Operations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Federal mandates to States should 
be rescinded unless they are accompanied by sufficient funds to pay for 
                                 them.

Whereas the burden of Federal mandates on State and local governments has 
        increased precipitously in recent years;
Whereas State and local spending on mandatory programs has increased from 30 
        percent in 1962 to 50 percent in 1992;
Whereas cost estimates of this burden to the States range from $15,000,000,000 
        to $500,000,000,000;
Whereas the mandates for Medicaid alone cost the States $44,000,000,000 in 1992;
Whereas mandates are a tool to create Government programs despite Federal 
        spending limits and lead to more Government than would arise if the 
        Federal Government had to pay for the programs it required;
Whereas actions of the Federal Government that directly or indirectly prescribe 
        the manner, standards, level, and conditions of public service to be 
        provided by State and local governments are often taken with little 
        regard for the fiscal consequences of such actions upon the affected 
        State and local jurisdictions;
Whereas such mandates force State and local governments to exhaust scarce public 
        resources to comply with their requirements;
Whereas mandates detract from the ability of State and local governments to use 
        local public resources to meet local needs;
Whereas forcing States to implement and fund Federal mandates compromises the 
        goals of Federal regulations and places States in the precarious 
        position of either attempting to fund the Federal requirements with 
        diminishing amounts of available revenue or jeopardizing eligibility for 
        certain Federal funds;
Whereas Federal regulations are best carried out by Federal agencies, not State 
        and local governments; and
Whereas this excessive fiscal burden has weakened the Federal system of 
        Government and damaged intergovernmental relations: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress should refrain from imposing future mandates on States, 
and it should either rescind previous mandates on States or provide the 
necessary funds to carry out the requirements of the mandates.

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