[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 427--TO PREVENT THE CREATION OF DUPLICATIVE AND 
                      OVERLAPPING FEDERAL PROGRAMS

  Mr. COBURN (for himself and Mr. Udall of Colorado) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                              S. Res. 427

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This resolution may be cited as the ``Preventing 
     Duplicative and Overlapping Government Programs Resolution''.

     SEC. 2. REPORTED LEGISLATION.

       Paragraph 11 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 
     Senate is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (c), by striking ``and (b)'' and 
     inserting ``(b), and (c)'';
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (c) and subparagraph (d); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following:
       ``(c) The report accompanying each bill or joint resolution 
     of a public character reported by any committee (including 
     the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the 
     Budget) shall contain--
       ``(1) an analysis by the Congressional Research Service to 
     determine if the bill or joint resolution creates any new 
     Federal program, office, or initiative that would duplicate 
     or overlap any existing Federal program, office, or 
     initiative with similar mission, purpose, goals, or 
     activities along with a listing of all of the overlapping or 
     duplicative Federal program or programs, office or offices, 
     or initiative or initiatives; and
       ``(2) an explanation provided by the committee as to why 
     the creation of each new program, office, or initiative is 
     necessary if a similar program or programs, office or 
     offices, or initiative or initiatives already exist.''.

     SEC. 3. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.

       Rule XVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by 
     inserting at the end thereof the following:
       ``6. (a) It shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed 
     to any bill or joint resolution unless the committee of 
     jurisdiction has prepared and posted on the committee website 
     an overlapping and duplicative programs analysis and 
     explanation for the bill or joint resolution as described in 
     subparagraph (b) prior to proceeding.
       ``(b) The analysis and explanation required by this 
     subparagraph shall contain--
       ``(1) an analysis by the Congressional Research Service to 
     determine if the bill or joint resolution creates any new 
     Federal program, office, or initiative that would duplicate 
     or overlap any existing Federal program, office, or 
     initiative with similar mission, purpose, goals, or 
     activities along with a listing of all of the overlapping or 
     duplicative Federal program or programs, office or offices, 
     or initiative or initiatives; and
       ``(2) an explanation provided by the committee as to why 
     the creation of each new program, office, or initiative is 
     necessary if a similar program or programs, office or 
     offices, or initiative or initiatives already exist.
       ``(c) This paragraph may be waived by joint agreement of 
     the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the Senate 
     upon their certification that such waiver is necessary as a 
     result of--
       ``(1) a significant disruption to Senate facilities or to 
     the availability of the Internet; or
       ``(2) an emergency as determined by the leaders.''.

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