[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 H.R. 350, THE MANDATES INFORMATION ACT

  (Mr. SHOWS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for 
the Mandates Information Act, H.R. 350. H.R. 350 would provide Congress 
the means of assessing proposed programs and their potential impact on 
jobs and workers before enacting significant Federal mandates on the 
private sector.
  Over the years, a well-intentioned Congress has imposed its will on 
American business operators, large and small, requiring them to enforce 
public laws at private expense.
  We have achieved a balanced budget in part because we have ended the 
era of undisciplined legislators working outside the constraints of 
common sense budgeting. We must remain accountable to the American 
people by passing the Mandates Information Act.
  This is a common sense way to legislation. If we are going to require 
private business to enforce our laws, we should at least give them the 
chance to know how much it will cost them to do our work and allow them 
to plan accordingly. It is only fair.

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