[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  FEDERAL AGENCY ACCESS ACT INTRODUCED

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 1994

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today that 
would help all Americans by making our Federal agencies more accessible 
and thus more responsive to the people.
  This legislation would require all Federal agencies to list a 
telephone number on their stationary.
  It is my intent to have each Federal agency place a local or regional 
telephone number on their stationery.
  It is my intent to have each Federal agency place a local or regional 
telephone number on their stationery. For example, any local or 
regional office with over 50 employees could place a telephone number 
on their stationery so that people living in these respective areas of 
the Country could contact the Federal agency with any concerns or 
questions they might have.
  I know that there are many well intentioned Federal employees within 
our Government. However, I also believe that our Federal Government has 
gotten so big and so cumbersome that it has lost touch with the very 
people it is supposed to serve.
  I had hoped that Federal agencies would take this upon themselves and 
become more available to the hardworking taxpayers who pay their 
salaries. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
  The bureaucracy and the Congress are adding over 60,000 pages of fine 
print to the Federal Register each year. This is on top of the millions 
of laws, rules, and regulations we have already at the Federal, State, 
and local levels. Many small businessmen and businesswomen cannot keep 
up with all of these requirements and they are having a difficult time 
getting timely and responsive assistance from our enormous bureaucracy.
  Social Security recipients, students, veterans, and many others 
cannot even contact the Federal bureaucrats who are supposed to be 
helping solve the problems that many Americans are having with their 
Federal Government.
  Federal employees should be doing all they can to be more accessible 
and responsive to the people. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this 
legislation so that we can help provide all Americans with greater 
accessibility to their Federal Government.

                                H.R. --

       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 Agency Access Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. FEDERAL AGENCIES REQUIRED TO USE STATIONERY WITH 
                   TELEPHONE NUMBER.

       The head of each Federal agency shall require, in the most 
     cost effective manner practicable for the agency, that all 
     written correspondence of the agency appear on stationery on 
     which is printed the telephone number of the agency.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall report to the 
     Congress a plan for complying with this Act.

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