[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5437 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5437

   To require a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop a 
  methodology for measuring the cost of living in each State, and to 
   require a study by the General Accounting Office to determine how 
Federal benefits would be increased in each State if the determination 
            of such benefits were based on such methodology.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 2000

 Mr. Tierney (for himself, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Ms. 
 Woolsey, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Olver, Mr. 
 Weiner, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Stark, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Frank of 
 Massachusetts, Mr. Markey, Mr. Moakley, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Andrews, Mr. 
   Pallone, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Delahunt, Ms. Lofgren, and Ms. Pelosi) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways 
   and Means, and Banking and Financial Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop a 
  methodology for measuring the cost of living in each State, and to 
   require a study by the General Accounting Office to determine how 
Federal benefits would be increased in each State if the determination 
            of such benefits were based on such methodology.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cost of Living Measurement and Index 
Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. STUDY BY BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

    (a) In General.--To improve Government management and the economy, 
efficiency, and management of Government operations and activities that 
rely on accurate economic information, the Commissioner of Labor 
Statistics shall conduct a study to develop a methodology for 
determining the cost of living in each State, that accounts for the 
costs of housing, goods, and services.
    (b) Elements of Methodology.--The methodology developed under 
subsection (a) shall include indices for measuring the cost of living 
in a State.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act the Commissioner shall submit to the Congress and 
the Comptroller General of the United States a report that contains the 
methodology developed under this section.

SEC. 3. STUDY BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study in which the methodology contained in the report 
submitted under section 2 is applied to determine how Federal benefits 
provided to beneficiaries in each State would be increased if--
            (1) determination of such benefits were based on the cost 
        of living in each State, as determined under the methodology; 
        and
            (2) the methodology were applied subject to a hold harmless 
        provision, so that Federal benefits vary under the methodology 
        only by increasing for beneficiaries in States having a higher 
        cost of living, in proportion to such higher cost.
    (b) Included Federal Benefit Programs.--The study under subsection 
(a) shall include determination of increases in benefits provided under 
the following:
            (1) The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
            (2) Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
        relating to the earned income tax credit.
            (3) All Federal housing assistance programs.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of receipt of 
the report from the Commissioner of Labor Statistics under section 2 
the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Congress that 
contains the following:
            (1) The determinations required under subsections (a) and 
        (b).
            (2) A description of any additional data that should be 
        obtained and considered to confirm or improve those 
        determinations.
            (3) Recommendations for any changes in the methodology 
        developed under section 2 that would ensure more accurate 
        determination of the cost of living in a State, including any 
        appropriate changes in the indices that should be used to 
        measure such cost.
            (4) The anticipated costs to the Federal Government of 
        using the methodology developed under section 2 in determining 
        Federal benefits under the programs referred to in subsection 
        (b), including any change in such costs that would result from 
        implementing the recommendations under paragraph (3).
            (5) Recommendations for any changes in law that are 
        necessary or appropriate to ensure that the determination of 
        Federal benefits provided to beneficiaries in a State is based 
        on the cost of living in that State, except to the extent such 
        determination would result in a reduction of benefits to 
        beneficiaries in a State.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
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