[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4917 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 4917


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 9, 2004

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To amend title 5, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for 
  the Administrative Conference of the United States for fiscal years 
             2005, 2006, and 2007, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Regulatory Improvement Act 
of 2004''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 591 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 591 Purposes
    ``The purposes of this subchapter are--
            ``(1) to provide suitable arrangements through which 
        Federal agencies, assisted by outside experts, may 
        cooperatively study mutual problems, exchange information, and 
        develop recommendations for action by proper authorities to the 
        end that private rights may be fully protected and regulatory 
        activities and other Federal responsibilities may be carried 
        out expeditiously in the public interest;
            ``(2) to promote more effective public participation and 
        efficiency in the rulemaking process;
            ``(3) to reduce unnecessary litigation in the regulatory 
        process;
            ``(4) to improve the use of science in the regulatory 
        process; and
            ``(5) to improve the effectiveness of laws applicable to 
        the regulatory process.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 5 of the United States Code is 
amended--
            (1) in section 594 by striking ``purpose'' and inserting 
        ``purposes''; and
            (2) in the table of sections of chapter 5 of part I by 
        amending the item relating to section 591 to read as follows:

``591. Purposes''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 596 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 596. Authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
subchapter not more than $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $3,100,000 
for fiscal year 2006, and $3,200,000 for fiscal year 2007. Of any 
amounts appropriated under this section, not more than $2,500 may be 
made available in each fiscal year for official representation and 
entertainment expenses for foreign dignitaries.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 8, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.