HR 6789 — Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act

Summary

Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act This bill requires each federal agency to compile a list of unnecessary programs. Specifically, each agency must compile a list of such programs, based on guidance provided by the Office of Management and Budget, that are unnecessary, defunct, or duplicative federal programs; another agency could administer more effectively; or could operate more effectively if the program or activity were consolidated with other programs or activities. Additionally, the President must include the list of identified programs or program activities in the annual budget submitted to Congress. An agency may submit to Congress recommendations for statutory changes to eliminate or consolidate programs or program activities identified in the list.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html February 18, 2022

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds provisions requiring agencies to identify and report unnecessary programs or activities.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1122

  (vi) to the extent practicable and consistent with guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, information provided in the annual budget justification materials submitted in conjunction with the budget of the United States Government submitted under section 1105(a) in accordance with section 3(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note);

  This addition allows for more comprehensive information to be included in reporting on agency programs.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1122

  accountability; and → accountability, including information included in the list compiled under section 1127(b)(1);

  This change ensures that reports on accountability will include findings from the new required list of unnecessary programs.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1122

  Sec. 1127. Identification of unnecessary agency programs or program activities

  This creates a new section requiring agencies to identify and compile a list of unnecessary programs.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1127

  (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given the term in section 1108(a). (2) Program.--The term `program' has the meaning given the term in section 1122(a)(1). (3) Program activity.--The term `program activity' has the meaning given the term in section 1115(h).

  This section establishes definitions for terms used in the new program identification process.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1127

  (b) Agency Identification of Unnecessary Programs or Program Activities.--Not later than the 20 days after the date on which the President transmits the budget of the United States Government under section 1105(a) each year, and based on guidance provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chief Operating Officer of each agency shall-- (1) compile a list that identifies any program or program activity of the agency that-- (A) is unnecessary, defunct, or duplicative of another program or program activity of the agency; (B) another agency could administer more effectively; or (C) could operate more effectively if the program or activity were consolidated with other programs or activities;

  This requires agencies to compile and submit a list of programs that are redundant or ineffective.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1127

  (2) publish the list compiled under paragraph (1) in-- (A) with respect to each list compiled before the date of the implementation described in section 9601(b)(3) of title XCVI of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (31 U.S.C. 1122 note) of the program inventory described in section 1122(a)(2)(B)(i) of this title, the pilot program described in section 9601(b)(2)(B) of title XCVI of that Act; (B) with respect to each successive list, the program inventory described in section 1122(a)(2)(B)(i);

  This mandates that the compiled list of unnecessary programs be published for transparency.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1127

  (3) submit the list compiled under paragraph (1) to-- (A) the relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction of the agency; (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; (E) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives.

  This requires agencies to file the list of unnecessary programs with specific congressional committees.

• 31 U.S.C. § 1127

  (c) Recommendations.--Based on guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of an agency may submit to Congress recommendations for statutory changes to eliminate or consolidate programs or program activities identified under subsection (b)(1).

  This allows agency heads to propose legislative changes to streamline or eliminate unnecessary programs.

• 31 U.S.C. § 11

  Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1127. Identification of unnecessary agency programs or program activities.

  This updates the table of contents to include the new section regarding unnecessary programs.

Action History

1. February 18, 2022

   Introduced in House

2. February 18, 2022

   Introduced in House

3. February 18, 2022

   Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Sponsors

• Tom Rice · Primary

Subjects