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B-302705 1 (2006-06-07)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacznf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



         G    A     0Comptroller General
       Accountability * Integrity * Reliability                      of the United States
United States Government Accountability Office
Washington, DC 20548


         B-302705


         June 7, 2006


         The Honorable Tom Davis
         Chairman
         Committee on Government  Reform
         House of Representatives

         Dear Mr. Chairman:

         The Truth in Regulating Act of 2000 (TIRA), Pub. L. No. 106-312, 114 Stat. 1248
         (Oct. 17, 2000), became effective on January 15, 2001 (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 801 note).
         TIRA contemplated a 3-year pilot project during which GAO would perform
         independent evaluations of economically significant agency rules when requested
         by a Chairman or ranking member of a committee of jurisdiction of either House of
         Congress. The independent evaluation' would include an evaluation of the agency's
         analysis of the potential benefits, potential costs, and alternative approaches
         considered during the rulemaking proceeding. Under TIRA, GAO was required to
         report on our evaluations within 180 calendar days after we received a committee
         request.

         Section 6(b) of the Act, however, provided that the pilot project would continue only
         if, in each fiscal year, a specific annual appropriation not less than $5,200,000 or the
         pro-rated equivalent thereof shall have been made for the pilot project. Section 6(c)
         of the Act directed GAO to submit to Congress, before the conclusion of the 3-year
         period, a report reviewing the effectiveness of the pilot project and recommending
         whether or not Congress should permanently authorize the pilot project. During the
         3-year period contemplated for the pilot project, Congress did not enact any specific
         appropriation to cover TIRA evaluations, and the authority for the 3-year pilot project
         expired on January 15, 2004.



         'TIRA defines an independent evaluation as a substantive evaluation of the
         agency's data, methodology, and assumptions used in developing the economically
         significant rule, including - - (A) an explanation of how any strengths or weaknesses
         in those data, methodology, and assumptions support or detract from conclusions
         reached by the agency; and (B) the implications, if any, of those strengths or
         weaknesses for the rulemaking. Section 3(3) of Pub. L. No. 106-312.

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