[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 891 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 891

   To require Federal agencies to assess the impact of policies and 
            regulations on families, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 12, 1997

Mr. Abraham  (for himself, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Hutchinson, 
Mr. DeWine, Mr. Coats, Mr. Ashcroft, and Mr. Coverdell) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                          Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require Federal agencies to assess the impact of policies and 
            regulations on families, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) require agencies to assess the impact of proposed 
        agency actions on families; and
            (2) improve the management of executive branch agencies.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term 
``Executive agency'' under section 105 of title 5, United States Code 
(except such term shall not include the General Accounting Office).

SEC. 3. FAMILY POLICYMAKING ASSESSMENT.

    In formulating and implementing policies and regulations that may 
have significant impact on family formation, maintenance, and general 
well-being, each agency shall, to the extent permitted by law, assess 
such actions with respect to whether--
            (1) the action strengthens or erodes the stability of the 
        family and, particularly, the marital commitment;
            (2) the action strengthens or erodes the authority and 
        rights of parents in the education, nurture, and supervision of 
        their children;
            (3) the action helps the family perform its functions, or 
        substitutes governmental activity for the function;
            (4) the action increases or decreases family earnings;
            (5) the proposed benefits of the action justifies the 
        financial impact on the family;
            (6) the action may be carried out by State or local 
        government or by the family; and
            (7) the action establishes an implicit or explicit policy--
                    (A) concerning the status of the family; and
                    (B) concerning the relationship between the 
                behavior and personal responsibility of youth, and the 
                norms of society.

SEC. 4. GOVERNMENTWIDE FAMILY POLICY COORDINATION AND REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Proposed policy.--Each agency shall--
                    (A) identify any proposed regulatory and statutory 
                provision that may have significant potential negative 
                impact on the family well-being; and
                    (B) provide adequate rationale for the submission 
                of such proposal.
            (2) Certification.--The head of each agency shall submit a 
        written certification to the Office of Management and Budget 
        that certifies, to the extent permitted by law--
                    (A) such proposed regulatory or statutory provision 
                has been assessed in accordance with section 3; and
                    (B) the manner in which such proposals will enhance 
                family well-being.
            (3) Rulemaking and congressional messages.--In notices of 
        proposed rulemaking and messages transmitting legislative 
        proposals to Congress, each agency shall give careful 
        consideration to--
                    (A) family related concerns; and
                    (B) the impact on such concerns.
    (b) Office of Management and Budget.--The Office of Management and 
Budget shall, to the extent permitted by law, take action to ensure 
that the policies of agencies are applied consistent with the 
assessments conducted under section 3.
    (c) Office of Policy Development.--The Office of Policy Development 
shall--
            (1) assess existing and proposed policies and regulations 
        that impact family well-being in accordance with section 3;
            (2) provide evaluations on policies and regulations that 
        have significant potential impact on the family to the Office 
        of Management and Budget; and
            (3) advise the President on policy and regulatory actions 
        that may be taken to strengthen the institutions of marriage 
        and family in the United States.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    The White House Office of Policy Development, through the Domestic 
Policy Council, shall annually submit a report to the President, the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives, on 
compliance with this Act and shall include any recommendations relating 
to this Act.

SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to create any right or 
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party 
against the United States (including any officer or agency of the 
United States) or any person.
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