[Senate Report 114-305]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 576

114th Congress    }                                        {    Report
 2d Session       }              SENATE                    {    114-305
                                                                
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

                                                      


                   GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND

                          GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                              to accompany

                                S. 2964

       TO ELIMINATE OR MODIFY CERTAIN MANDATES OF THE GOVERNMENT 
                         ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE




                August 30, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
   Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of July 14, 2016
   
   
   
                           _________ 
                                 
              U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                         WASHINGTON : 2016       
  
   
   
   
   
        COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                    RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin, Chairman
JOHN McCAIN, Arizona                 THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio                    CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri
RAND PAUL, Kentucky                  JON TESTER, Montana
JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma             TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming             HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire          CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
JONI ERNST, Iowa                     GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
BEN SASSE, Nebraska

                  Christopher R. Hixon, Staff Director
                Gabrielle D'Adamo Singer, Chief Counsel
                Drew C. Baney, Professional Staff Member
              Gabrielle A. Batkin, Minority Staff Director
           John P. Kilvington, Minority Deputy Staff Director
               Mary Beth Schultz, Minority Chief Counsel
        Ellen W. Harrington, Minority Professional Staff Member
                     Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     

                                                       Calendar No. 576
                                                       
114th Congress    }                                       {    Report
                                 SENATE
                                                                 
 2d Session       }                                       {    114-305

======================================================================



 
                   GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016

                                _______
                                

                August 30, 2016.--Ordered to be printed

   Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of July 14, 2016

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                    Affairs, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 2964]

    The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 2964) to eliminate 
or modify certain mandates of the Government Accountability 
Office, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
  I. Purpose and Summary...............................................
 II. Background and Need for the Legislation...........................
III. Legislative History...............................................
 IV. Section-by-Section Analysis.......................................
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact...................................
 VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.........................
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported.............

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    S. 2964, the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016, seeks to 
save money and make the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
more efficient and effective by eliminating or modifying ten 
statutorily-mandated GAO reports, audits, and examinations that 
are no longer necessary or are outdated. Specifically the bill 
repeals five mandates and modifies the frequency, deadline, or 
structure of five other mandates.

              II. Background and the Need for Legislation

    The GAO supports Congress in its responsibilities to ensure 
the accountability of the Federal Government as it spends 
taxpayer dollars.\1\ Congress traditionally directs GAO to 
examine problems in government programs and operations. These 
inquiries are initiated through requests from Members of 
Congress and result in published reports.\2\ Congress can also 
enact legislation mandating that particular inquiries be 
conducted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\31 U.S.C. Sec. 717 (1982).
    \2\Gov't Accountability Office, About GAO Reports, http://
www.gao.gov/about/products/about-gao-reports.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sometimes these reporting requirements become unnecessary, 
duplicative, or are difficult to effectively carryout. For 
instance, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, Benefits 
Improvement, and Protection Act of 2000 required the GAO to 
determine whether the reduction in beneficiary coinsurance 
resulted in savings to Medicare beneficiaries.\3\ 
Unfortunately, GAO was unable to complete the study because it 
was methodologically difficult, if not impossible, to isolate 
the effect of the reduction of beneficiary coinsurance on 
actual savings for Medicare beneficiaries.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\Pub. L. No. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763.
    \4\Document from Staff, Gov't Accountability Office, to Staff, S. 
Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Nov. 13, 2015) (on 
file with Committee staff) (hereinafter, 2015 GAO Document).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Reoccurring mandates may pose a challenge for GAO and 
should be reevaluated periodically to assess their scope, 
frequency, and necessity.\5\ For example, the Emergency 
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 included a provision 
requiring GAO to issue an oversight report every 60 days on the 
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).\6\ GAO has issued 56 
reports in response to this mandate. Although many of the TARP 
programs have been terminated or are in the process of winding 
down, GAO is still legally required to release a report every 
60 days on this issue.\7\ Reevaluating and eliminating 
recurring mandates that may no longer be necessary would save 
money and allow GAO to better utilize its limited resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\Id.
    \6\Pub. L. No. 110-343, 122 Stat. 3765.
    \7\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The GAO regularly evaluates its statutorily-mandated 
reports to identify those relating to programs at a low risk of 
mismanagement or other problems, or where GAO's recurring work 
otherwise generally added little value to the administration or 
oversight of the program. In 2012, GAO identified eight 
statutorily-mandated reports to eliminate or modify, and worked 
with Congress to pass the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2012 to 
enact these changes.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\Pub. L. No. 112-234, 126 Stat. 1624.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In November 2015, GAO reviewed its current statutorily-
mandated reports and provided the Committee with a list of 
recommended changes.\9\ GAO worked with the various 
congressional committees of jurisdiction to ensure that changes 
to these mandates would not interfere with ongoing 
congressional oversight. S. 2964 repeals or modifies ten 
congressionally mandated reporting requirements from the list 
compiled by GAO in November 2015. If enacted, the bill would 
save money and make GAO more efficient by repealing and 
modifying mandates that are no longer necessary, or are 
necessary, but on a less frequent basis. While the bill 
modifies existing statutorily-mandated reports, it does not 
create new congressionally-mandated reports for GAO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

              LIST OF REPORTS AND REASONING FOR THE CHANGE

    The bill would repeal or modify the following 
congressionally-mandated reports:

Single Audit Act Monitoring and Reporting (Repeal)

    The Single Audit Act requires any non-Federal entity that 
receives $750,000 or more in Federal award money each fiscal 
year to undergo a compliance audit, or ``single audit''.\10\ 
GAO is required to report on any bills and resolutions that are 
inconsistent with the Single Audit Act.\11\ In the nearly 20 
years of carrying out this requirement, GAO has identified 
inconsistencies in only a handful of instances, thus providing 
little benefit to Congress while using significant personnel 
resources.\12\ The bill repeals this reporting requirement to 
make GAO more efficient.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\31 U.S.C. Sec. 7506 (1984).
    \11\Id.
    \12\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review of Medigap Premium Levels (Repeal)

    The law currently requires GAO to issue a report that would 
examine whether a change in Medicare coinsurance for certain 
outpatient hospital services in the early 2000's led to a 
change in Medigap premiums.\13\ GAO attempted to complete the 
mandate, but found it was methodologically difficult, if not 
impossible, to isolate the effect of the reduction of 
beneficiary coinsurance on actual savings for Medicare 
beneficiaries.\14\ Since the report cannot be completed, GAO 
recommended removing the mandate from statute, and the bill 
thus repeals this report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \13\Pub. L. No. 106-554, Appendix F; 114 Stat. 2763A-473.
    \14\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Dispute 
        Resolution Pilot Program (Repeal)

    The law currently requires GAO to review and report on the 
Dispute Resolution Pilot Program within 270 days after the end 
of the program on December 31, 2015.\15\ FEMA and GAO confirmed 
that no cases were filed under the pilot program by the 
deadline. GAO has no material on which to report. Thus, the 
bill repeals this reporting requirement.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \15\42 U.S.C. Sec. 5189a note (1988).
    \16\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Biennial Survey Regarding Transportation Intelligence Reports (Repeal)

    The GAO is required by Congress to conduct a study and 
report on a survey of recipient satisfaction with 
transportation intelligence reports.\17\ Two reports and two e-
supplements were issued by GAO.\18\ Furthermore, the 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) response to the 
2014 GAO report suggests that many of the issues were 
addressed, and the recommendation follow-up process will allow 
GAO to continue to monitor TSA's progress. The bill repeals the 
reporting requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \17\49 U.S.C. Sec. 114(u) (2001).
    \18\Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-12-44, Transportation Security 
Information Sharing: Stakeholders Generally Satisfied but TSA Could 
Improve Analysis, Awareness and Accountability (2011), available at 
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1244.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office, 
GAO-12-67SP, Transportation Security Information Sharing: Results of 
GAO's Survey of Stakeholder Satisfaction With TSA Products and 
Mechanisms (2011), available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-
67SP; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-14-506, Transportation Security 
Information Sharing: Stakeholder Satisfaction Varies; TSA Could Take 
Additional Actions To Strengthen Efforts (2014), available at http://
www.gao.gov/products/gao-14-506; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-14-
488SP, Transportation Security Information Sharing: Results of GAO's 
Survey of Stakeholder Satisfaction With TSA Products and Mechanisms 
(2014), available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-488SP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report on New Oyster Safety Regulations (Repeal)

    Thirty days after the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) issues proposed regulations or guidance on 
oyster safety, the GAO is required under the law to compare 
proposed regulations to similar rules for other regulated foods 
and evaluate the impact of post-harvest processing on the 
competitiveness of the domestic oyster industry.\19\ This 
requires GAO to constantly monitor new regulations, and should 
the trigger event occur, any interested member can request the 
study from GAO. The bill repeals the requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \19\21 U.S.C. Sec. 342 note (2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

TARP Review (Modify)

    The law requires GAO to report on the activities and 
performance of TARP.\20\ Because most TARP programs are 
completed or about to end, this report does not need to be 
completed as often. S. 2946 changes the reporting requirement 
from every 60 days to annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \20\12 U.S.C. Sec. 5226(a)(3) (2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Study on Financial Services Regulations (Modify)

    The law currently requires GAO to conduct an annual study 
of financial services regulations, analyzing the rules' impact 
on the financial marketplace, along with the rulemaking 
agencies' efforts to avoid issuing duplicative or conflicting 
rules.\21\ Four comprehensive reports have been released with 
agency recommendations focusing on aspects of the nearly 400 
rulemakings required by the Dodd-Frank Act.\22\ GAO believes 
more meaningful analyses can be provided on the rules' impact 
if it is done on a selective and targeted basis, and since the 
majority of Dodd-Frank rules have now been proposed or 
finalized, further GAO study of the agencies' rulemaking 
process will soon be moot.\23\ The bill modifies the reporting 
requirement to allow the Comptroller General the ability to 
review financial service regulations periodically as determined 
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\12 U.S.C. Sec. 5496b(a) (2012).
    \22\Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 12-151, Dodd-Frank Act 
Regulations: Implementation Could Benefit from Additional Analyses and 
Coordination (2011), available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/
d12151.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 14-67, Dodd-Frank 
Regulations: Agencies Conducted Regulatory Analyses and Coordinated but 
Could Benefit from Additional Guidance on Major Rules (2013) available 
at http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/659586.pdf; Gov't Accountability 
Office, GAO 15-81, Dodd-Frank Regulations: Regulators' Analystical and 
Coordination Efforts (2014) available at http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/
667633.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 16-169, Dodd-Frank 
Regulations: Impacts on Community Banks, Credit Unions and Systemically 
Important Institutions (2015), available at http://www.gao.gov/assets/
680/674459.pdf.
    \23\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report on Conflict Minerals (Modify)

    The law requires GAO to report annually on the 
effectiveness of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules 
meant to prohibit the trade and exploitation of conflict 
minerals originating in the Congo from financing or benefitting 
armed groups who commit violence in the region.\24\ The bill 
will require that annual reports be issued through 2020, and 
then in 2022 and 2024.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \24\15 U.S.C. Sec. 78m note (2011).
    \25\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update on Medicare ESRD Bundled Payment System (Modify)

    The law requires GAO to examine the inclusion of ``oral-
only'' end-stage renal disease (ESRD) drugs as they relate to 
Medicare's bundled payments.\26\ The inclusion of ``oral-only'' 
ESRD drugs in Medicare's bundled payment, originally set for 
2015, has been delayed to 2023.\27\ To reflect the delay, the 
bill will mandate a reporting deadline of December 31, 
2023.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \26\Pub. L. No. 112-240, 126 Stat. 2354.
    \27\Pub. L. No. 113-93, 128 Stat. 1061; Pub L. No. 113-295, 128 
Stat. 4065.
    \28\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternatives to Medical Tort Litigation (Modify)

    The law requires the Comptroller General to appoint, lead, 
and support an expert panel to advise the Secretary of HHS on 
the award of grants to states for the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of alternatives to medical tort 
litigation.\29\ The bill addresses independence and budget 
concerns for GAO by only requiring the Comptroller General to 
appoint members of the review panel rather than lead it.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \29\42 U.S.C. Sec. 280g-15 (2011).
    \30\2015 GAO Document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        III. Legislative History

    The GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016, S. 2964, was 
introduced on May 19, 2016, by Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) and 
Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
    The Committee considered S. 2964 at a business meeting on 
May 25, 2016. No amendments were offered. The Committee ordered 
the bill reported favorably en bloc by voice vote on May 25, 
2016. Senators present for the vote on the bill were Senators 
Johnson, Portman, Paul, Lankford, Ayotte, Ernst, Sasse, Carper, 
McCaskill, Tester, Baldwin, Heitkamp, Booker, and Peters.

        IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported


Section 1. Short title

    This section establishes the short title of the bill as the 
``GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016.''

Section 2. Reports eliminated

    This section repeals five statutory mandates currently 
imposed on GAO.
    Subsection (a) repeals GAO's requirement to monitor and 
report on legislation that is not consistent with the Single 
Audit Act of 1984 and the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, 
and makes a technical and conforming amendment.
    Subsection (b) repeals a GAO report on whether a change in 
Medicare coinsurance led to a change in Medigap premiums.
    Subsection (c) repeals a GAO report on a FEMA appeals pilot 
program.
    Subsection (d) repeals a GAO report on a survey of 
recipient satisfaction with transportation intelligence 
reports.
    Subsection (e) repeals a law that requires GAO to create a 
report comparing new oyster regulations to similar rules for 
other regulated foods, and the impact of the regulations on the 
domestic oyster industry.

Section 3. Reports modified

    This section modifies five congressionally required GAO 
reports.
    Subsection (a) modifies the frequency of audits of the TARP 
from every 60 days to every year.
    Subsection (b) modifies the frequency of a GAO study of 
financial services regulations from annually to periodically as 
determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.
    Subsection (c) modifies the frequency of a GAO report on 
the effectiveness of Securities and Exchange Commission rules 
meant to prohibit the trade and exploitation of conflict 
minerals originating in the Congo from financing or benefitting 
armed groups from annual reports, to annual reports through 
2020, and reports in 2022 and 2024.
    Subsection (d) amends the due date of a report examining 
the inclusion of oral-only end-stage renal disease drugs as 
they relate to Medicare's bundled payments from December 31, 
2015 to December 31, 2023.
    Subsection (e) modifies GAO's role in leading an expert 
panel on alternatives to medical tort litigation.

                   V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule 
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has 
considered the regulatory impact of this bill and determined 
that the bill will have no regulatory impact within the meaning 
of the rules. The Committee agrees with the Congressional 
Budget Office's statement that the bill contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs 
on state, local, or tribal governments.

             VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                     June 22, 2016.
Hon. Ron Johnson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2964, the GAO 
Mandates Revision Act of 2016.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Pickford.
            Sincerely,
                                                        Keith Hall.
    Enclosure.

S. 2964--GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016

    The Congress often requires that the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) perform an annual examination of a 
program, agency, or other federal activity. S. 2964 would 
modify or repeal 10 of those activities.
    Based on information from GAO, CBO estimates that 
implementing the legislation would reduce discretionary costs 
by about $1 million over the 2017-2021 period; any such 
reductions would be subject to future appropriations actions 
consistent with the provisions of this bill. GAO has an annual 
budget of more than $500 million and prepares hundreds of 
products for the Congress each year. CBO expects that 
implementing S. 2964 would not have a significant effect on the 
agency's overall workload.
    Enacting S. 2964 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO 
estimates that enacting S. 2964 would not increase direct 
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 
10-year periods beginning in 2027.
    S. 2964 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

       VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by The Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
S. 2964 as reported are shown as follows (existing law proposed 
to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is printed in 
italic, and existing law in which no change is proposed is 
shown in roman):

UNITED STATES CODE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 52--EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION 

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter I--Troubled Assets Relief Program 

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 5226. OVERSIGHT AND AUDITS

    (a) Comptroller General Oversight.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) * * *
          (3) Reporting.--The Comptroller General shall submit 
        reports of findings under this section[, regularly and 
        no less frequently than once every 60 days,] annually 
        to the appropriate committees of Congress, and the 
        Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief 
        Program established under this chapter on the 
        activities and performance of the TARP. The Comptroller 
        may also submit special reports under this subsection 
        as warranted by the findings of its oversight 
        activities.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


CHAPTER 53--WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter V--Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



PART A--BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 5496B. GAO STUDY OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

    (a) Study[Not later than the end of the 180-day period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter, the] The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall periodically, as the Comptroller General 
determines is appropriate, conduct a study of financial 
services regulations, including activities of the Bureau. Such 
study shall include an analysis of----
          (1) the impact of regulation on the financial 
        marketplace, including the effects on the safety and 
        soundness of regulated entities, cost and availability 
        of credit, savings realized by consumers, reductions in 
        consumer paperwork burden, changes in personal and 
        small business bankruptcy filings, and costs of 
        compliance with rules[, including whether relevant 
        Federal agencies are applying sound cost-benefit 
        analysis in promulgating rules;]; and;
          [(2) efforts to avoid duplicative or conflicting 
        rulemakings, including an evaluation of the 
        consultative process under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 
        section 5512(b)(2) of this title, information requests, 
        and examinations; and]
          [(3)] (2) other matters related to the operations of 
        financial services regulations deemed by the 
        Comptroller General to be appropriate.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 2B--SECURITIES EXCHANGES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 78M. PERIODICAL AND OTHER REPORTS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    Conflict Minerals
    (a) *  * *
    (b) *  * *
    (c) *  * *
    (d) Reports.--
          (1) Baseline report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act (July 21, 2010) and 
        annually thereafter [until the termination of the 
        disclosure requirements under section 13(p) of the 
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934] through 2020, in 2022, 
        and in 2024, the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall submit to appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that includes an assessment of the 
        rate of sexual- and gender-based violence in war-torn 
        areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 
        adjoining countries.
          (2) Regular report on effectiveness.--Not later than 
        2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act 
        (July 21, 2010) and annually thereafter through 2020, 
        in 2022, and in 2024, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report that includes the 
        following:

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 9--FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter IV--Food

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 342. ADULTERATED FOOD

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    Guidance Relating to Post Harvest Processing of Raw Oysters
    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    [(c) Review and Evaluation.--Not later than 30 days after 
the Secretary issues a proposed regulation or guidance 
described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall----
          [(1) review and evaluate the report described in (a) 
        and report to Congress on the findings of the estimates 
        and analysis in the report;
          [(2) compare such proposed regulation or guidance to 
        similar regulations or guidance with respect to other 
        regulated foods, including a comparison of risks the 
        Secretary may find associated with seafood and the 
        instances of those risks in such other regulated foods; 
        and
          [(3) evaluate the impact of post harvest processing 
        on the competitiveness of the domestic oyster industry 
        in the United States and in international markets.]
    [(d)] (c) Waiver.--The requirement of preparing a report 
under subsection (a) shall be waived if the Secretary issues a 
guidance that is adopted as a consensus agreement between 
Federal and State regulators and the oyster industry, acting 
through the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.
    [(e)] (d) Public Access.--Any report prepared under this 
section shall be made available to the public.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SUBTITLE V--General Assistance Administration

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 75--REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE AUDITS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec.
7501. Definitions.
7502. Audit requirements; exemptions.
7503. Relation to other audit requirements.
7504. Federal agency responsibilities and relations with non-Federal 
          entities.
7505. Regulations.
[7506. Monitoring responsibilities of the Comptroller General.]
[7507] 7506. Effective date

[SEC. 7506. MONITORING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

    [(a) The Comptroller General shall review provisions 
requiring financial audits of non-Federal entities that receive 
Federal awards that are contained in bills and resolutions 
reported by the committees of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives.
    [(b) If the Comptroller General determines that a bill or 
resolution contains provisions that are inconsistent with the 
requirements of this chapter, the Comptroller General shall, at 
the earliest practicable date, notify in writing--
          [(1) the committee that reported such bill or 
        resolution; and
                  [(2)(A) the Committee on Governmental Affairs 
                of the Senate (in the case of a bill or 
                resolution reported by a committee of the 
                Senate); or
                  [(B) the Committee on Government Reform and 
                Oversight of the House of Representatives (in 
                the case of a bill or resolution reported by a 
                committee of the House of Representatives).]

SEC. [7507] 7506. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This chapter shall apply to any non-Federal entity with 
respect to any of its fiscal years which begin after June 30, 
1996.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter II--General Powers and Duties

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



PART P--ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 280G-15. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES TO 
                    CURRENT MEDICAL TORT LITIGATION.

    (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (d) Application.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Review panel.--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) * * *
                  (C) Chairperson.--The Comptroller General[, 
                or an individual within the Government 
                Accountability Office designated by the 
                Comptroller General, shall] shall designate a 
                member of the review panel to be the 
                chairperson of the review panel.
                  (D) Availability of information.--The 
                [Comptroller General] Secretary shall make 
                available to the review panel such information, 
                personnel, and administrative services and 
                assistance as the review panel may reasonably 
                require to carry out its duties.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


CHAPTER 68--DISASTER RELIEF

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter IV--Major Disaster Assistance Programs

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 5189A. APPEALS OF ASSISTANCE DECISIONS.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Dispute Resolution Pilot Program
    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) * * *
    [(d) Report.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        termination of authority under this section under 
        subsection (c), the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
        Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
        House of Representatives a report analyzing the 
        effectiveness of the program under this section.
          [(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                  [(A) a determination of the availability of 
                data required to complete the report;
                  [(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of 
                the program under this section, including an 
                assessment of whether the program expedited or 
                delayed the disaster recovery process;
                  [(C) an assessment of whether the program 
                increased or decreased costs to administer 
                section 403, 406, or 407 of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, 5173);
                  [(D) an assessment of the procedures and 
                safeguards that the independent review panels 
                established to ensure objectivity and accuracy, 
                and the extent to which they followed those 
                procedures and safeguards;
                  [(E) a recommendation as to whether any 
                aspect of the program under this section should 
                be made a permanent authority; and
                  [(F) recommendations for any modifications to 
                the authority or the administration of the 
                authority under this section in order to 
                improve the disaster recovery process.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subtitle I--Department of Transportation

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



CHAPTER 1--ORGANIZATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 114. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (u) Transportation Security Information Sharing Plan.--
          (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                  (A) Appropriate congressional committees.--
                The term ``appropriate congressional 
                committees'' has the meaning given that term in 
                [subsection (t)] subsection (s)(4)(E).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(7) Survey and report.----
                  [(A) In general.--The Comptroller General of 
                the United States shall conduct a biennial 
                survey of the satisfaction of recipients of 
                transportation intelligence reports 
                disseminated under the Plan.
                  [(B) Information sought.--The survey 
                conducted under subparagraph (A) shall seek 
                information about the quality, speed, 
                regularity, and classification of the 
                transportation security information products 
                disseminated by the Department of Homeland 
                Security to public and private stakeholders.
                  [(C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of the enactment of the Implementing 
                Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 
                2007, and every even numbered year thereafter, 
                the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
                appropriate congressional committees, a report 
                on the results of the survey conducted under 
                subparagraph (A). The Comptroller General shall 
                also provide a copy of the report to the 
                Secretary.]
          [(8)] (7) Security clearances.--The Secretary shall, 
        to the greatest extent practicable, take steps to 
        expedite the security clearances needed for designated 
        public and private stakeholders to receive and obtain 
        access to classified information distributed under this 
        section, as appropriate.
          [(9)] (8) Classification of material.--The Secretary, 
        to the greatest extent practicable, shall provide 
        designated public and private stakeholders with 
        transportation security information in an unclassified 
        format.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


AMERICAN TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT OF 2012

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 632. REVISIONS TO THE MEDICARE ESRD BUNDLED PAYMENT SYSTEM TO 
                    REFLECT FINDINGS IN THE GAO REPORT.

    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) * * *
    (d) Updated GAO Report.--Not later than [December 31, 2015] 
December 31, 2023, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report that updates the report 
submitted to Congress under section 10336 of the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 
Stat. 974). The updated report shall include an analysis of how 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services has addressed points 
raised in the report submitted under such section 10336 with 
respect to the Secretary's preparations to implement payment 
for oral-only ESRD-related drugs in the bundled prospective 
payment system under section 1881(b)(14) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(14)).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


 MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SCHIP BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION ACT 
OF 2000

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 111. ACCELERATION OF REDUCTION OF BENEFICIARY COPAYMENT FOR 
                    HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT SERVICES.

    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    [(c) GAO Study of Reduction in Medigap Premium Levels 
Resulting From Reductions in Coinsurance.--The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall work, in concert with the 
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to evaluate 
the extent to which the premium levels for medicare 
supplemental policies reflect the reductions in coinsurance 
resulting from the amendment made by subsection (a). Not later 
than April 1, 2004, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
Congress a report on such evaluation and the extent to which 
the reductions in beneficiary coinsurance effected by such 
amendment have resulted in actual savings to medicare 
beneficiaries.]