Congressional Review Act.
Abstract
Rulemakings under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) and GAO's role in rulemaking are discussed. Congressional oversight of rulemaking as contemplated by SBREFA can be an important and useful tool for balancing and accommodating the concerns of American citizens and businesses with federal agency rulemaking. It is important to assure that Executive branch agencies are responsive to citizens and businesses about the reach, cost, and impact of regulations without compromising the statutory mission given to those agencies. SBREFA seeks to accomplish this by giving the Congress an opportunity to review rules before they take effect and to disapprove those found to be too burdensome, excessive, inappropriate, duplicative, or otherwise objectionable. Under SBREFA, before a rule can take effect, the federal agency must submit the rule to both Houses of Congress and the GAO. GAO'S primary role in this new mechanism is to provide the Congress with a quick review of all 'major' rules submitted to determine if the promulgating agencies have complied with the procedural steps governing the regulatory process. For rules that are determined to be 'major,' GAO must provide its report to the congressional committees of jurisdiction within 15 calendar days.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA323622
Entities
People
- Robert P. Murphy