Overview
Title
To require analyses of the impact of Government rules, programs, and policies on poverty and racial inequity, including the racial wealth gap, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants the government to check if new rules help people who are poor or if they treat people of different races differently. They also want to see if people from all races have a fair chance to make money.
Summary AI
H.R. 10562, also known as the "REPORTS Act," seeks to ensure that government rules and policies are studied for their effects on poverty and racial inequity in the United States. It requires federal agencies to analyze and publish the impacts of major regulations on people living at or near the poverty line and on racial disparities. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report annually on the economic effects of government programs or policies, focusing on their influence on poverty levels and racial inequality. The act may also include evaluations of the racial wealth gap as part of these analyses.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "Reviewing the Effects of Programs, Orders, and Rules with Thorough Study Act," or the "REPORTS Act," aims to address the impacts of government rules, programs, and policies on poverty and racial inequity, including the racial wealth gap. Introduced in the House of Representatives, the legislation mandates analyses by federal agencies on how significant regulatory actions might affect individuals living at or below the poverty line and on racial disparities when proposing these rules. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is tasked to publish yearly reports assessing the effects of certain government programs or policies on these demographics.
Summary of Significant Issues
One prominent issue is the ambiguous definition of "racial inequity," which is not clearly defined within the bill. This vagueness could allow for varied interpretations and inconsistent application. Furthermore, the bill lacks specific criteria for evaluating the economic impact of government programs, which may lead to challenges in assessing their effectiveness. The decision to include the analysis of the racial wealth gap is discretionary, potentially resulting in inconsistent reporting between agencies. The responsibility for defining critical terms is delegated to the Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller General, which might result in a lack of standardized definitions, influencing the uniformity of the analyses.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the bill could enhance transparency and accountability in how government regulations affect poverty and racial disparities. By requiring agencies to assess and disclose these impacts, the public may gain insights into how federal actions influence socio-economic inequalities. However, the bill's effectiveness will largely depend on consistent application and clear definitions to avoid different interpretations that could undermine its intent.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For individuals living at or near the poverty line, this bill could potentially offer greater protection and consideration in federal policy-making, ensuring their economic conditions are considered in significant regulatory decisions. Minority communities might benefit if agencies consistently analyze and address racial inequities as part of their rule-making processes.
On the other hand, federal agencies might face increased administrative burdens due to the additional requirements for analysis and reporting. Consistency in applying the legislation could be challenging due to the lack of standardized definitions, potentially affecting the clarity and effectiveness of the reports. Policymakers and legislators may also face challenges in interpreting and applying the results of these studies in a manner that effectively addresses identified disparities without exacerbating bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Overall, while the bill proposes significant steps toward addressing socio-economic and racial disparities in government policies, the issues identified within its framework could impact its practical implementation and effectiveness in achieving its goals.
Issues
The term 'racial inequity' is not clearly defined in Section 2, subsection (d), potentially leading to varying interpretations and inconsistent application of the policy, which could become a significant point of legal and political contention.
The lack of specific criteria or metrics for determining the economic impact of Government programs or policies in Section 2, subsection (b) may result in ambiguity and challenges in assessing the effectiveness of the measures intended to reduce poverty and racial inequity.
The discretionary nature of the decision to include an analysis of the racial wealth gap in Section 2, subsection (c) might lead to inconsistent reporting across different agencies, which could affect the transparency and accountability of the policy.
The delegation of defining important terms such as 'poverty line', 'racial inequity', and 'racial wealth gap' to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller General, as stated in Section 2, subsection (d), could result in a lack of standardization and potential bias in interpreting these terms, impacting the uniformity of application across various reports and analyses.
The scope of what constitutes a 'major rule' as described in Section 2, subsection (a) may vary significantly depending on interpretation by different agencies, potentially affecting which regulations are subjected to impact analysis, thereby influencing the overall effectiveness of the bill.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill provides its short title, stating that it may be referred to as the “Reviewing the Effects of Programs, Orders, and Rules with Thorough Study Act” or simply the “REPORTS Act”.
2. Impact of Federal agency rules on individuals living at, near, or below the poverty line and racial inequity; GAO reports Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires federal agencies to analyze how major new rules could affect people living in poverty and racial inequity when proposing them. It also mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to publish annual reports on the economic impact of certain government programs on these groups, potentially including the racial wealth gap. Definitions for related terms are provided by the Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller General.