LINDA SÁNCHEZ WASTE-CUTTING BILL PASSES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
April 30, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Judiciary Committee today passed, H.R. 5593, the Congressional Review Act Improvement Act, on a unanimous voice vote. The bill is sponsored by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

The bill will reduce government waste by reducing duplicative paperwork, and relieving some of the administrative burdens currently mandated by the Congressional Review Act. Under the new law, Congress will receive a weekly list of new rules from the Comptroller General, instead of requiring government agencies to submit separate copies of each rule to both the House and Senate.

“As the law stands now, Congress asks that materials be submitted, housed and printed at four different government entities,” Congresswoman Sánchez said. “Doing all of that at one location is going to save taxpayers money, and ‘green’ the government by reducing paper usage.”

The bill does not alter Congress’ power to review Executive branch agency rules under the Congressional Review Act.