[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                          HON. NORMAN SISISKY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, February 7, 1995
  Mr. SISISKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for 
H.R. 830, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. I and four other Members 
of this House joined Mr. Clinger last night in introducing this 
urgently needed and long overdue legislation, and I strongly urge my 
Democratic and Republican colleagues to lend it their wholehearted 
support.
  H.R. 830 makes a series of improvements which strengthen the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. It gives the Federal agencies the 
tools and the mandate they need to curb paperwork demands on small 
businesses. It makes permanent the OMB office that is responsible for 
overseeing the paperwork reduction process. And it closes the enormous 
loophole created by the Dole Supreme Court case, which agencies have 
taken advantage of to exempt themselves from requirements of the 
original Paperwork Reduction Act.
  In the 103d Congress, Congressman Clinger joined me in introducing 
H.R. 2995, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1993, a very similar version 
of the same bill. In this Congress, I have the distinct pleasure of 
joining Congressman Clinger in introducing H.R. 830.
  I am pleased that H.R. 830 and its Senate counterpart enjoy such 
broad bipartisan support, as well as the endorsement of the Clinton 
administration. It is truly good news for small businesses all across 
the country that this bill has such promising prospects for enactment.
  As a senior Democrat on the Small Business Committee, I know that 
small businesses consistently rank the reduction of Government 
paperwork as one of their top priorities. Federal paperwork 
requirements amount to a hidden tax on small businesses, who spend 
billions of dollars every year in compliance. Since small businesses 
are responsible for creating most new jobs in today's economy, it only 
makes sense to check this hindrance to small business job creation.
  Reducing the amount of paperwork drowning small businesses in America 
is a reform that both Democrats and Republicans can enthusiastically 
support. It is encouraging that Members of both parties have been able 
to put aside their partisan differences to work together on this 
important legislation. I hope this effort can serve as a model for 
constructive bipartisan cooperation on many other issues that directly 
affect small businesses and average citizens on a day-to-day basis.


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