[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H3209-H3212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GOVERNMENT REPORTS ELIMINATION ACT OF 2014
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4194) to provide for the elimination or modification of
Federal reporting requirements, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4194
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 ``Government Reports
Elimination Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Sec. 101. Reports eliminated.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Sec. 201. Reports eliminated.
TITLE III--CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sec. 301. Reports eliminated.
TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Sec. 401. Reports eliminated.
TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Sec. 501. Report on Impact Aid construction justifying discretionary
grant awards eliminated.
TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Sec. 601. Reports eliminated.
TITLE VII--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Sec. 701. Great Lakes management comprehensive report eliminated.
TITLE VIII--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Sec. 801. Report relating to waiver of certain sanctions against North
Korea eliminated.
TITLE IX--GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
Sec. 901. Reports eliminated.
Sec. 902. Reports modified.
TITLE X--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Sec. 1001. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XI--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 1101. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XII--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Sec. 1201. Royalties In-Kind Report eliminated.
TITLE XIII--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Sec. 1301. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XIV--OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Sec. 1401. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XV--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Sec. 1501. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XVI--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Sec. 1601. Reports eliminated.
Sec. 1602. Reports modified.
TITLE XVII--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Sec. 1701. Reports eliminated.
TITLE XVIII--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Sec. 1801. Reports eliminated.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SEC. 101. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Information on Administrative Expenses on Commodity
Promotion Programs.--Section 501 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7401) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively.
(b) Unfair Trade Practices Report and Related Meeting.--
Section 108 of the Act of August 28, 1954 (commonly known as
the Agricultural Act of 1954; 7 U.S.C. 1748) is repealed.
(c) Farmland Protection Policy Act Annual Report.--Section
1546 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 4207)
is repealed.
(d) Peanut Base Acres Data Collection and Publication.--
Section 1302(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8752(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(e) Other Base Acres Data Collection and Publication.--
Section 1101(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8711(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(f) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development
Accounts Pilot Program Report.--Section 333B of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983b)
is amended by striking subsection (e) and redesignating
subsections (f) through (h) as subsections (e) through (g),
respectively.
(g) Rural Broadband Access Program Report.--Section 601 of
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking ``(k)'' and
inserting ``(j)''; and
(2) by striking subsection (j) and redesignating
subsections (k) and (l) as subsections (j) and (k),
respectively.
(h) Report on Export Credit Guarantees to Emerging
Markets.--Section 1542(e) of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-624; 7
U.S.C. 5622 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(1) Effect of credits.--''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2).
(i) Commodity Credit Corporation Quarterly Report.--Section
13 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C.
714k) is amended by striking the second sentence.
(j) Evaluation of the Rural Development, Business and
Industry Guaranteed Loan Program Financing of Locally or
Regionally Produced Food Products.--Section 310B(g)(9)(B) of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(g)(9)(B)) is amended by striking clause (iv) and
redesignating clause (v) as clause (iv).
(k) United States Grain Standards Act Reports.--Section 17B
of the United States
[[Page H3210]]
Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 87f-2) is repealed.
(l) Listing of Areas Rural in Character.--Section 6018 of
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (122 Stat.
1933; Public Law 110-246) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(a) Rural Area.--''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
(m) Notifications to Congress on Release of Names and
Addresses of Producers Operating Under Marketing Agreements
and Orders.--Section 8d(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act
(7 U.S.C. 608d(2)) is amended by striking ``The Secretary
shall notify the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of
the House of Representatives not later than 10 legislative
days before the contemplated release under law, of the names
and addresses of producers participating in such marketing
agreements and orders, and shall include in such notice a
statement of reasons relied upon by the Secretary in making
the determination to release such names and addresses.''.
(n) Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster
Prevention Action Plans Reports.--Section 420(c) of the Plant
Protect Act (7 U.S.C. 7721(c)) is amended by striking
paragraph (3).
(o) Quarterly Export Assistance Reports.--Section 603 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5713) is
repealed.
(p) Rural Collaborative Investment Program.--
(1) Secretarial report on regional rural investment
boards.--Section 385C(b)(7) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009dd-2(b)(7)) is amended--
(A) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
(B) by striking ``; and'' at the end of subparagraph (C)
and inserting a period; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (D).
(2) Report by regional rural investment board to national
rural investment board and the secretary.--Section 385D(a)(7)
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2009dd-3(a)(7)) is amended--
(A) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C); and
(B) by striking subparagraph (D) and redesignating
subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D).
(q) Status Report for Food for Progress Program.--
Subsection (j) of the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1736o) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(r) Status Report for Foreign Market Development.--Section
702 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5722) is
amended by striking subsection (c).
(s) Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Status
Reports.--Section 3205 of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 5680) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
(t) Southeastern Alaska Timber Reports.--Section 706 of the
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act is repealed.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SEC. 201. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Efforts and Progress in Becoming Designated as Sea
Grant College or Institute.--Section 207 of the National Sea
Grant Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended by striking
subsection (e).
(b) Enterprise Integration Standardization and
Implementation.--Section 3(c) of the Enterprise Integration
Act of 2001 (15 U.S.C. 278g-5 note) is repealed.
(c) Ensuring Equal Access to Sea Grant Fellowship
Program.--Section 208(a) of the National Sea Grant Program
Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(a)) is amended by striking the fourth
sentence.
(d) TIP Activities.--Section 28(g) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n(g))
is repealed.
(e) TIP Advisory Board Annual Report.--Section 28(k)(5) of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278n(k)(5)) is repealed.
(f) Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Activities.--Section 212
of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995
(16 U.S.C. 5611) is repealed.
TITLE III--CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
SEC. 301. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Reports by Other Federal Agencies to the Corporation.--
Section 182 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12642) is amended by striking subsection (b).
(b) Service-Learning Impact Study.--The National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12565) is amended by
repealing part IV of subtitle B of title I.
TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
SEC. 401. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Amendments to National Defense Authorization Acts.--
(1) Display of annual budget requirements for air
sovereignty alert mission.--Section 354 of the Duncan Hunter
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
(Public Law 110-417; 10 U.S.C. 221 note) is hereby repealed.
(2) Annual report on reliability of department of defense
financial statements.--Section 1008 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107;
10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended--
(A) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``(b) or''.
(b) Amendments to Title 10.--
(1) Annual report on emergency and extraordinary
expenses.--Section 127 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by striking subsection (d).
(2) Report on assistance provided to foreign nations to
account for missing u.s. personnel.--Section 408 of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (f).
(3) Inclusion of net floor area in requests to build
military family housing.--Section 2826 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``(a) Local Comparability.--''; and
(B) by striking subsection (b).
(c) Amendment to Small Business Act Commercialization
Readiness Program.--Section 9(y)(5) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 638(y)(5)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (B);
(2) by striking ``authorized to--'' through ``establish
goals'' and inserting ``authorized to establish goals''; and
(3) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a
period.
TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SEC. 501. REPORT ON IMPACT AID CONSTRUCTION JUSTIFYING
DISCRETIONARY GRANT AWARDS ELIMINATED.
Section 8007(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7707) is amended by striking paragraph
(7).
TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
SEC. 601. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Science and Engineering Education Pilot Program.--
Section 983(d) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16323(d)) is repealed.
(b) Strategic Unconventional Fuels Development Program.--
Section 369(i)(3) of Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15927(i)(3)) is repealed.
(c) Energy Efficiency Standards for Industrial Equipment.--
Section 342(a)(6)(C)(v) of Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(v)) is repealed.
TITLE VII--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
SEC. 701. GREAT LAKES MANAGEMENT COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
ELIMINATED.
Section 118(c)(10) of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(10)) is repealed.
TITLE VIII--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
SEC. 801. REPORT RELATING TO WAIVER OF CERTAIN SANCTIONS
AGAINST NORTH KOREA ELIMINATED.
Section 1405 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008
(22 U.S.C. 2799aa-1 note) is amended by striking subsection
(c).
TITLE IX--GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
SEC. 901. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Expenditures of Local Educational Agencies.--Section
1904 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6574) is repealed.
(b) Use of Recovery Act Funds by States and Localities
Report.--Section 901 of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 191) is
repealed.
(c) Help America Vote Act Funds Audit.--
(1) Elimination of audit.--Section 902(b) of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15542(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (3); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as
paragraphs (3) through (5).
(2) Preservation of authority to recoup funds resulting
from prior audits.--Section 902(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
15542(c)) is amended by inserting after ``subsection (b)''
the following: ``prior to the date of the enactment of the
Government Reports Elimination Act of 2014''.
(d) State Small Business Credit Initiative Audit and
Report.--Section 3011 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010
(12 U.S.C. 5710) is amended by striking subsection (b).
(e) Small Business Lending Fund Program Audit and Report.--
Section 4107 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (12
U.S.C. 4741 note) is amended by striking subsection (c).
(f) Housing Assistance Council Financial Statement Audit
Report.--Section 6303(a) of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1490e note) is amended by
striking paragraph (3).
SEC. 902. REPORTS MODIFIED.
(a) National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health
Council.--Subsection (i) of section 4001 of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-1) is
amended by striking ``The Secretary and the Comptroller
General of the United States shall jointly conduct periodic
reviews'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall conduct
periodic reviews''.
(b) Postcard Mandate.--Section 719(g)(2) of title 31,
United States Code is amended--
(1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the
following: ``The Comptroller General shall make each list
available through the public website of the Government
Accountability Office.''; and
(2) in the second sentence, by inserting ``of Congress''
after ``committee or member''.
(c) Annual Audit of the Congressional Award Foundation.--
(1) Use of private auditor.--Section 107 of the
Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 807) is amended to read as
follows:
[[Page H3211]]
``audits
``Sec. 107. (a) Contracts With Private Auditor.--The Board
shall enter into a contract with an accredited private
auditor to conduct an annual audit of the financial records
of the Board and of any corporation established under section
106(i), and shall ensure that the auditor has access for the
purpose of the audit to any books, documents, papers, and
records of the Board or such corporation (or any agent of the
Board or such corporation) which the auditor reasonably
determines to be pertinent to the Congressional Award
Program.
``(b) Annual Report to Congress on Audit Results.--Not
later than May 15 of each calendar year, the Board shall
submit to appropriate officers, committees, and subcommittees
of Congress a report on the results of the most recent audit
conducted pursuant to this section, and shall include in the
report information on any such additional areas as the
auditor who conducted the audit determines deserve or require
evaluation.''.
(2) Conforming amendment relating to compliance with fiscal
control and fund accounting procedures.--Section 104(c)(2)(A)
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 804(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Comptroller
General of the United States'' and inserting ``The accredited
private auditor conducting the annual audit of the financial
records of the Board pursuant to section 107(a)''; and
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``the Comptroller
General'' and inserting ``the auditor''.
(d) Annual GAO Review of Proposed HHS Recovery Threshold.--
The third sentence of section 1862(b)(9)(B)(i) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(9)(B)(i)) is amended by
striking ``for a year'' and inserting ``for 2014''.
TITLE X--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SEC. 1001. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Prohibition on Importation of Products Made With Dog or
Cat Fur.--Section 308 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
1308) is amended by striking subsection (e).
(b) Port of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study and
National Land Border Security Plan.--The Border
Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act of 2007
(title VI of division E of Public Law 110-161; 6 U.S.C. 1401
et seq.) is amended by striking sections 603 and 604.
(c) Fees for Certain Customs Services.--
(1) Repeal.--Section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-272; 19
U.S.C. 58c) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(9), by striking subparagraph (C) and
redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C); and
(B) in subsection (f)--
(i) in paragraph (3)--
(I) by striking subparagraph (D); and
(II) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D);
(ii) by striking paragraph (4); and
(iii) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Subsection (f) of such section
is further amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``paragraph (5)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (4)''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``paragraph (5)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (4)''.
(d) Modernization of National Distress and Response
System.--Section 346 of the (Public Law 107-295) Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002 (14 U.S.C. 88 note), and
the item relating to such section in the table of contents in
section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.
TITLE XI--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 1101. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Information Technology Spending Plan for Transformation
Initiative.--The first sentence of the second paragraph under
the heading ``Department of Housing and Urban Development--
Management and Administration--Transformation Initiative'' in
title II of division A of Public Law 111-117 (123 Stat.
3093), as amended by section 2259 of title XII of division B
of Public Law 112-10 (125 Stat. 197), is amended by striking
``: Provided, That'' and all that follows through
``Government Accountability Office''.
(b) Sole Source Contracts Report.--Section 218 of the
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (division C of Public Law
112-55; 125 Stat. 699) is repealed.
TITLE XII--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SEC. 1201. ROYALTIES IN-KIND REPORT ELIMINATED.
Section 342(e) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15902(e)) is amended by striking subsection (e).
TITLE XIII--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
SEC. 1301. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Older Americans Act.--Section 515 of the Older
Americans Act (42 U.S.C. 3056m) is repealed.
(b) Andean Trade Preference Act.--Section 207 of the Andean
Trade Preference Act (19 U.S.C. 3205) is repealed.
TITLE XIV--OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
SEC. 1401. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.--Section
2(5)(E) of the Senate resolution advising and consenting to
ratification of the Document Agreed Among the States Parties
to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) of
November 19, 1990, adopted at Vienna May 31, 1996 (Treaty
Doc. 105-5) (commonly referred to as the ``CFE Flank
Document''), 105th Congress, agreed to May 14, 1997, is
repealed.
(b) Reports on Commerce With, and Assistance to, Cuba From
Other Foreign Countries.--
(1) Repeal.--Section 108 of the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6038)
is repealed.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to
section 108.
(c) Identification of Countries of Concern With Respect to
the Diversion of Certain Goods, Services, and Technologies to
or Through Iran.--
(1) Repeal.--Section 302 of the Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22
U.S.C. 8542) is repealed.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 303(b) of such Act (22
U.S.C. 8543(b)) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``a
report--'' and inserting ``a report notifying those
committees of the designation of the country.''; and
(B) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2).
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to
section 302.
TITLE XV--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
SEC. 1501. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Report on Progress Toward Regional Non-Proliferation in
South Asia.--Section 620F of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2376) is amended by striking subsection (c).
(b) Report on Tibet Negotiations.--Section 613 of the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22
U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 613. TIBET NEGOTIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--The President and the Secretary should
encourage the Government of the People's Republic of China to
enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his
representatives leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet.
``(b) Compliance.--After such an agreement is reached, the
President and the Secretary should work to ensure compliance
with the agreement.''.
TITLE XVI--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SEC. 1601. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Reports of Air Traffic Services Committee.--Section
106(p)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (H); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (H).
(b) Annual Summaries of Airport Financial Reports.--Section
47107(k) of title 49, United States Code, is repealed.
(c) Annual Report on Pipeline Safety Information Grants to
Communities.--Section 60130 of title 49, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (c); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
(d) Annual Report on Pilot Program for Innovative Financing
of Air Traffic Control Equipment.--Section 182 of the Vision
100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (117 Stat. 2515;
49 U.S.C. 44502 note) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (e); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).
(e) Reports on Justifications for Air Defense
Identification Zones.--Section 602 of the Vision 100--Century
of Aviation Reauthorization Act (117 Stat. 2563), and the
item relating to that section in the table of contents
contained in section 1(b) of that Act, are repealed.
(f) Annual Report on Standards for Aircraft and Aircraft
Engines To Reduce Noise Levels.--Section 726 of the Wendell
H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st
Century (114 Stat. 167; 49 U.S.C. 47508 note) is amended by
striking subsection (c).
SEC. 1602. REPORTS MODIFIED.
Section 1138(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``at least annually, but may be conducted''.
TITLE XVII--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
SEC. 1701. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Annual Report on the North American Development Bank.--
Section 2 of Public Law 108-215 is repealed.
(b) Report on Voting on International Financial
Institutions Loan Proposals.--Section 701 of the
International Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262d) is
amended by striking subsection (c) and redesignating
subsection (d) through subsection (g) (as added by section
501(g) of Public Law 96-259) as subsections (c) through (f),
respectively.
(c) Report on New IMF Arrangements Regarding Rates and
Maturities.--Section 605 of the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999 (112
Stat. 2681-223), as enacted into law by section 101(d) of
division A of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277),
is amended by striking subsection (d).
(d) Report on Significant Modifications.--The Government
Securities Act
[[Page H3212]]
Amendments of 1993 (Public Law 103-202) is amended--
(1) by striking section 203; and
(2) in the table of contents for such Act, by striking the
item relating to section 203.
TITLE XVIII--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SEC. 1801. REPORTS ELIMINATED.
(a) Annual Report on Activities and Proposals Involving
Contracting for Performance by Contractor Personnel of Work
Previously Performed by Department Employees.--Section 8110
of such title is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (c); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as
subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
(b) Annual Report on Procurement of Health-Care Items.--
Section 8125 of such title is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
(c) Annual Report on Staffing for Nurses and Nurse
Anaesthetists at Department Facilities.--Section 7451(e) of
such title is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (5); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5).
(d) Annual Report on Use of Authorities To Enhance
Retention of Experienced Nurses.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of such title
is amended by striking section 7324.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item
relating to section 7324.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ISSA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4194, the Government Reports
Elimination Act of 2014. The Government Reports Elimination Act is part
of the committee's efforts to reduce waste and duplication in the
Federal Government.
It eliminates 69 unnecessary agency reports to Congress and
eliminates or streamlines 10 required GAO, Government Accountability
Office, mandates.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 4194 will save
several million dollars. That doesn't sound like a lot in the Federal
budget, but think of the key people who have to prepare those reports.
The people that are most knowledgeable of what is going on are often
the people taken away for these reports.
These reports were vetted by sending out a questionnaire to every
chairman and every ranking member in the House, asking them do they
still need these reports. After going through multiple rounds, we
determined that these were the reports that no Member of Congress or no
committee any longer needed.
This is a modest reform. I would have liked to have done a few more.
In fact, I would like to make sure that, in every Congress, every 2
years, a similar bill be brought, asking are those reports still needed
and eliminating the ones that are not.
I am assured that if we do so, as we create 69 new reports every
year, we can eliminate 69 old reports, saving millions of dollars, but
more importantly, freeing up the most valuable people often in the
executive branch that must participate in the preparation of these.
The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 directs agencies and the OMB to
work together to identify duplicative and outdated reports to Congress.
In January of 2013, the Office of Management and Budget posted that
list on their Web site, www.performance.gov, and these reports come
from that list.
Madam Speaker, I think enough has been said. The American people want
us not to waste their money. Congress is determined that we should
eliminate unnecessary reports. The Office of Management and Budget has
produced a list. We have culled through that list, worked with all the
chairmen, and today give you this list of savings.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I
rise in support of this important legislation. I am pleased to join my
colleagues and Chairman Issa today in support of H.R. 4194, the
Government Reports Elimination Act, as amended.
Congress often requires reports from executive branch agencies, and
these reports can be a valuable tool to scrutinize performance and
assess agency goals. However, with the passage of time, reporting
requirements can become outdated and unnecessary.
Congress and the executive branch recognized in the Government
Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 that improved
coordination across the Federal Government benefits the taxpayer and
government alike.
Pursuant to that act, the Office of Management and Budget publishes a
list of plans or reports that are produced by the executive branch
pursuant to congressional mandate. The act requires the administration
to identify potentially outdated or duplicative plans and reports and
provide views for their elimination.
In January 2013, the Office of Management and Budget produced a list
that identified over 300 congressionally-mandated plans and reports as
potentially outdated or duplicative. Majority and minority staffs of
our committee worked together to identify specific reports that are
currently produced, but should be eliminated.
H.R. 4194 would eliminate the statutory requirements to prepare
reports that are produced by 18 Federal agencies. Implementing H.R.
4194 would reduce the administrative costs to these agencies by
reducing the number of reports that must be prepared and printed.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing the bill
reduces the costs that are subject to appropriation by about $1 million
over the next 5 years. The bill contains no intergovernmental or
private sector mandates and would impose no costs on State, local, and
tribal governments.
H.R. 4194 provides for greater efficiency for a more effective
Federal Government with the elimination of duplicative or unnecessary
reports.
Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
this bill, and I am pleased to yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1700
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H.R. 4194, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4194, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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