The House Resources Committee voted Wednesday to restore scores of reports that would have been eliminated by a law taking effect in December aimed at alleviating the paperwork burden on federal agencies.
"Without action by Congress, many critical reports will be lost before the end of the year, requiring extensive amendments to reinstate the reports," said a committee report.
In response, the committee passed a bill, H.R. 3002, that would put a hold on the expiration of 128 reports dealing with resources, parks, water, minerals and Native Americans. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, the committee chairman, was adopted on a unanimous voice vote without amendment.
Committee members each were provided paperwork detailing the paperwork issue. Members were supplied with Young's bill as well as a list of reports that would be saved under his bill and a second list of those that will lapse, effective Dec. 21.
- "Review of and Recommendations Concerning the Definition of 'Unprocessed Timber'"
- "Actual Operations Under Adopted Criteria for Coordinated Long-range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs"
- "Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros on Public Lands"
- "African Elephant Advisory Fund and Status of Elephant"
The law eliminating the executive branch studies is the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995.
Hundreds of congressionally mandated reports were eliminated in paperwork reduction bills passed in 1980, 1982, 1986, 1995 and 1998. But the reductions have not kept up with new reporting requirements. The General Accounting Office estimates Congress imposes 300 new reports on the executive branch each year. The number of reports rose from 750 in 1970 to well over 3,000 in 1998.
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