Government affairs

Legislative Updates

Bill to cut back on federal reports advances Senate committee

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs (HSGAC) advanced the Congressional Reporting Burden Reduction Act (S. 2769) via voice vote.

Introduced by HSGAC Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), the bill would cut back a number of currently congressionally required reports by eliminating or consolidating those deemed excessive. Every year, the federal government produces thousands of plans and reports to meet the informational needs of Congress, and this is part of an effort to streamline federal reporting requirements.

The bill would cut more than a dozen congressionally required reports such as a Transportation Security Administration report on unclaimed money at airports, several required from the Department of Homeland Security, and reports from the General Services Administration on the reimbursement costs of travel and use of photovoltaic energy in public buildings, among others.

Such a piece of legislation is not unusual. For reference, the Government Reports Elimination Act of 2014, signed by former President Barack Obama, eliminated or modified 51 reporting requirements, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Return to Legislative Updates

NALC MEMBER APPS

The free NALC apps for smartphones provide convenient access to tools and information about issues affecting active and retired letter carriers. Information on downloading and using the apps is in our apps section.

CLICK FOR NALC APPS