Overview
Title
An Act To amend title 31, United States Code, to require agencies to include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget justifications, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 5301 wants government workers to check every year if they are making reports that nobody needs or makes more than once. This way, they can save time and not do extra work if they don't have to.
Summary AI
H.R. 5301, also known as the “Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024,” aims to streamline government reporting by requiring agencies to include lists of outdated or duplicated reports in their annual budget materials. The bill amends title 31 of the United States Code, directing agency heads to recommend whether certain recurring reports should be ended, modified, or submitted less frequently. These recommendations must be justified with clear explanations, and agencies must consult with each other if multiple entities are involved in producing a report. Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget is tasked with overseeing the recommendations for reports involving multiple agencies.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The "Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024" is designed to amend existing U.S. law to address and streamline government agency reporting requirements to Congress. The primary aim of the bill is to identify and eliminate outdated or duplicative reports to improve efficiency within federal agencies. This legislation mandates agency heads to propose changes in their annual budget justifications, recommending whether reports should be sunset, modified, consolidated, or have their submission frequency reduced. Additionally, it imposes requirements for transparency by ensuring reports and justifications are available online.
Summary of Significant Issues
One significant issue with the bill is the ambiguity surrounding the criteria for identifying a report as "outdated" or "duplicative." Without clear definitions, agency heads might inconsistently apply these criteria, leading to the potential discontinuation of reports that play vital roles in oversight and transparency. Furthermore, the requirement for agencies to consult and coordinate on this issue can create an administrative burden, especially if disagreements arise. There is also concern that these recommendations may not lead to effective Congressional action, as there is no clear mechanism enforcing consideration of these proposals.
The timelines mentioned for submissions and updates are arbitrary and may not align well with actual legislative or operational needs, potentially reducing the process's effectiveness. Lastly, the technical nature of the bill's language could hinder public understanding and engagement.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broad Public Impact:
For the general public, the bill aims to enhance government efficiency and reduce unnecessary expenditures related to duplicative reporting. By streamlining processes, it could potentially redirect resources toward pressing government functions and services, indirectly benefiting the public. However, if reports crucial for accountability and transparency are eliminated, it might reduce public insight into government operations.
Impact on Government Agencies:
Agencies could experience an initial increase in workload to comply with new requirements, such as coordinating with others and drafting recommendations. However, in the long term, if correctly implemented, the bill should ease their reporting obligations, allowing them to focus more efficiently on their primary missions rather than on fulfilling redundant reporting requirements.
Impact on Congress:
For Congress, this bill could lead to an improved focus on the most relevant and necessary reports, theoretically enhancing legislative oversight efficiency. However, the ambiguity in implementation and lack of a clear follow-up mechanism might limit the practical effect and usefulness of the intended reforms. Without enforcement, there is a risk that valuable insights provided by current reports might be lost.
Impact on Oversight and Transparency:
Reports serve as a tool for ensuring government accountability. Reducing them indiscriminately could weaken this function, leading to less oversight and reduced public confidence in government operations. Proper criteria and mechanisms are crucial to balance the reduction of unnecessary reports with the preservation of those essential for maintaining transparency and trust.
Issues
The section on 'Sunsets for agency reports' (Section 2) lacks clear criteria for determining when a report is 'outdated or duplicative', which can lead to inconsistent and potentially arbitrary decisions by agency heads. This ambiguity can result in important oversight reports being inappropriately discontinued, impacting transparency and accountability.
The requirement for agency heads to submit recommendations on outdated or duplicative reports (Section 2) could create unnecessary administrative burdens without adding significant value. This could strain agency resources, particularly if the recommendations do not lead to action or consideration by Congress.
The timelines stipulated for submissions and guidance updates, such as the 30 to 60 days for electronic report submissions and 180 days for OMB guidance updates (Section 2), appear arbitrary and may not align with legislative priorities or operational needs, affecting the efficiency of the process.
The definition and identification of 'useless reports' (Section 1) are insufficiently detailed. This could lead to differing interpretations and confusion regarding which reports are subject to sunset provisions, potentially impacting legislative oversight.
There is no oversight mechanism or assurance in Section 2 that ensures the recommendations by agency heads to sunset, modify, consolidate, or reduce the frequency of reports are actually considered by Congress. This lack of a clear follow-up or enforcement mechanism could lead to recommendations being ignored or delayed.
The language used throughout the bill, particularly in Section 2, is highly technical, potentially making it inaccessible to the general public and hindering meaningful public engagement or understanding of its implications.
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 this act establishes its official name: the "Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024".
2. Sunsets for agency reports Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section of the bill amends existing U.S. law to streamline how government agencies report to Congress by identifying and recommending changes to outdated or duplicated reports. Agencies must include these recommendations in their budget justifications and collaborate with other agencies if necessary, ensuring transparency through online publications, while not exempting them from any current reporting obligations.