[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E29]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            A ``SUNSET ACT''

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Sunset 
Act. This legislation, which is similar to H.R. 216 from the 104th 
Congress, would require Congress to reauthorize Federal programs every 
5 years. Programs that are not reauthorized or extended by Congress 
would be terminated.
  Too many Federal programs are automatically reauthorized, often years 
after they are no longer needed. This legislation will require any new 
Federal program to terminate no later than 5 years after its date of 
enactment, unless reauthorized by Congress. Entitlement programs will 
be exempted from this legislation.
  By requiring Congress to reevaluate and reauthorize Federal programs 
every 5 years, we ensure greater accountability in the programs we 
create and help curb Government waste. I invite my colleagues to join 
me in cosponsoring this legislation.

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