Interstate Commerce Commission: Budget and Other Impacts of Eliminating
or Transferring Functions (Testimony, 02/22/95, GAO/T-RCED-95-111).

If Congress were to repeal the Interstate Commerce Act and eliminate the
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the budget savings would total $39
million.  Virtually all the options GAO reviewed for transferring ICC's
functions offer opportunities for savings--ranging from $16 million to
$28 million.  Of potentially greater significance, however, is the issue
of how ICC's remaining regulatory functions would be handled in the
future. If Congress decides that there is still a need for a high degree
of independence and the application of substantial expertise in carrying
out the remaining regulatory processes, a merger with the Federal
Maritime Commission or incorporating the functions into the
Transportation Department under a Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission-like model might be preferable.  On the other hand, if
Congress decides that an independent regulatory agency is no longer
necessary, then greater savings might be realized by integrating the
remaining ICC functions into the Transportation Department or by
dividing them among several agencies.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-95-111
     TITLE:  Interstate Commerce Commission: Budget and Other Impacts of 
             Eliminating or Transferring Functions
      DATE:  02/22/95
   SUBJECT:  Independent regulatory commissions
             Motor carrier operations
             Railroad transportation operations
             Cost control
             Cost effectiveness analysis
             Interstate commerce
             Railroad regulation
             Transportation industry
             Transportation rates
             Federal agency reorganization

             
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