House passes paperwork reduction measure

The House on Tuesday passed a bill that calls for the increased use of technology to eliminate the paperwork required by federal agencies.

The legislation, H.R. 327, would require the Office Management and Budget director to annually publish, in the Federal Register and on the Internet, a list of requirements for the information small businesses must provide to agencies.

The Web addresses of the agencies that issue the requirements also would have to be published, and agencies would have to establish points of contact to serve as liaisons with small businesses.

The bill, which would amend the 1995 Paperwork Reduction Act, also would establish a task force to study ways to streamline the information-sharing process.

The Senate passed the measure on May 23.

OMB has estimated that businesses spend about $229 billion annually on excess paperwork required by federal agencies.