I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5151 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2010 Mr. Flake introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To limit the amount which may be made available for the Members’ Representational Allowance for fiscal year 2011, to prohibit the use of such Allowance for expenses of official mail of any material other than a document transmitted under the official letterhead of the Member involved, and to require the quarterly statement of costs incurred for official mail by offices of the House of Representatives to provide a separate breakdown of the costs incurred for each method of mass communication covered by the statement.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Congressional Oversight and Spending Transparency (COST) Act of 2010.

2.

Limit on Amount Available for Members’ Representational Allowance

The amount authorized to be appropriated for the Members’ Representational Allowance under section 101 of the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 57b) for fiscal year 2011 may not exceed the amount appropriated for such Allowance for fiscal year 2009.

3.

Restricting use of frank by members of the house of representatives

(a)

Restricting Use of Frank to Materials Transmitted Under Letterhead

Section 311(e) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3)Funds of the House of Representatives may not be used for official mail of a Member of the House of Representatives for any material other than a document transmitted under the official letterhead used for the Member’s stationery. . (b)

Effective Date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to official mail disseminated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

4.

Clarification of Information Included in Quarterly Reports of Expenditures for Official Mail of House of Representatives

(a)

Separation of Information Among Types of Communications

Section 311(a)(3) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e(a)(3)) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: , and shall include in the statement a breakdown of the costs incurred for each category of mass mailings and communications covered by the statement.. (b)

Effective Date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to reports filed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives under section 311(a)(3) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e(a)(3)) on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.