S. Rept. 114-305 - GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016114th Congress (2015-2016)
Committee Report
| Report Type: | Senate Report |
|---|---|
| Accompanies: | S.2964 |
| Committees: |
S. Rept. 114-305 - 114th Congress (2015-2016)
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Senate Report 114-305 - GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016
[Senate Report 114-305]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 576
114th Congress } { Report
2d Session } SENATE { 114-305
_______________________________________________________________________
GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
to accompany
S. 2964
TO ELIMINATE OR MODIFY CERTAIN MANDATES OF THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
August 30, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of July 14, 2016
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2016
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin, Chairman
JOHN McCAIN, Arizona THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri
RAND PAUL, Kentucky JON TESTER, Montana
JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
JONI ERNST, Iowa GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
BEN SASSE, Nebraska
Christopher R. Hixon, Staff Director
Gabrielle D'Adamo Singer, Chief Counsel
Drew C. Baney, Professional Staff Member
Gabrielle A. Batkin, Minority Staff Director
John P. Kilvington, Minority Deputy Staff Director
Mary Beth Schultz, Minority Chief Counsel
Ellen W. Harrington, Minority Professional Staff Member
Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk
Calendar No. 576
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-305
======================================================================
GAO MANDATES REVISION ACT OF 2016
_______
August 30, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of July 14, 2016
_______
Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2964]
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 2964) to eliminate
or modify certain mandates of the Government Accountability
Office, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Summary...............................................
II. Background and Need for the Legislation...........................
III. Legislative History...............................................
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis.......................................
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact...................................
VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.........................
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported.............
I. Purpose and Summary
S. 2964, the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016, seeks to
save money and make the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
more efficient and effective by eliminating or modifying ten
statutorily-mandated GAO reports, audits, and examinations that
are no longer necessary or are outdated. Specifically the bill
repeals five mandates and modifies the frequency, deadline, or
structure of five other mandates.
II. Background and the Need for Legislation
The GAO supports Congress in its responsibilities to ensure
the accountability of the Federal Government as it spends
taxpayer dollars.\1\ Congress traditionally directs GAO to
examine problems in government programs and operations. These
inquiries are initiated through requests from Members of
Congress and result in published reports.\2\ Congress can also
enact legislation mandating that particular inquiries be
conducted.
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\1\31 U.S.C. Sec. 717 (1982).
\2\Gov't Accountability Office, About GAO Reports, http://
www.gao.gov/about/products/about-gao-reports.html.
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Sometimes these reporting requirements become unnecessary,
duplicative, or are difficult to effectively carryout. For
instance, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, Benefits
Improvement, and Protection Act of 2000 required the GAO to
determine whether the reduction in beneficiary coinsurance
resulted in savings to Medicare beneficiaries.\3\
Unfortunately, GAO was unable to complete the study because it
was methodologically difficult, if not impossible, to isolate
the effect of the reduction of beneficiary coinsurance on
actual savings for Medicare beneficiaries.\4\
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\3\Pub. L. No. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763.
\4\Document from Staff, Gov't Accountability Office, to Staff, S.
Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Nov. 13, 2015) (on
file with Committee staff) (hereinafter, 2015 GAO Document).
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Reoccurring mandates may pose a challenge for GAO and
should be reevaluated periodically to assess their scope,
frequency, and necessity.\5\ For example, the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 included a provision
requiring GAO to issue an oversight report every 60 days on the
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).\6\ GAO has issued 56
reports in response to this mandate. Although many of the TARP
programs have been terminated or are in the process of winding
down, GAO is still legally required to release a report every
60 days on this issue.\7\ Reevaluating and eliminating
recurring mandates that may no longer be necessary would save
money and allow GAO to better utilize its limited resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\Id.
\6\Pub. L. No. 110-343, 122 Stat. 3765.
\7\2015 GAO Document.
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The GAO regularly evaluates its statutorily-mandated
reports to identify those relating to programs at a low risk of
mismanagement or other problems, or where GAO's recurring work
otherwise generally added little value to the administration or
oversight of the program. In 2012, GAO identified eight
statutorily-mandated reports to eliminate or modify, and worked
with Congress to pass the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2012 to
enact these changes.\8\
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\8\Pub. L. No. 112-234, 126 Stat. 1624.
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In November 2015, GAO reviewed its current statutorily-
mandated reports and provided the Committee with a list of
recommended changes.\9\ GAO worked with the various
congressional committees of jurisdiction to ensure that changes
to these mandates would not interfere with ongoing
congressional oversight. S. 2964 repeals or modifies ten
congressionally mandated reporting requirements from the list
compiled by GAO in November 2015. If enacted, the bill would
save money and make GAO more efficient by repealing and
modifying mandates that are no longer necessary, or are
necessary, but on a less frequent basis. While the bill
modifies existing statutorily-mandated reports, it does not
create new congressionally-mandated reports for GAO.
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\9\2015 GAO Document.
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LIST OF REPORTS AND REASONING FOR THE CHANGE
The bill would repeal or modify the following
congressionally-mandated reports:
Single Audit Act Monitoring and Reporting (Repeal)
The Single Audit Act requires any non-Federal entity that
receives $750,000 or more in Federal award money each fiscal
year to undergo a compliance audit, or ``single audit''.\10\
GAO is required to report on any bills and resolutions that are
inconsistent with the Single Audit Act.\11\ In the nearly 20
years of carrying out this requirement, GAO has identified
inconsistencies in only a handful of instances, thus providing
little benefit to Congress while using significant personnel
resources.\12\ The bill repeals this reporting requirement to
make GAO more efficient.
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\10\31 U.S.C. Sec. 7506 (1984).
\11\Id.
\12\2015 GAO Document.
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Review of Medigap Premium Levels (Repeal)
The law currently requires GAO to issue a report that would
examine whether a change in Medicare coinsurance for certain
outpatient hospital services in the early 2000's led to a
change in Medigap premiums.\13\ GAO attempted to complete the
mandate, but found it was methodologically difficult, if not
impossible, to isolate the effect of the reduction of
beneficiary coinsurance on actual savings for Medicare
beneficiaries.\14\ Since the report cannot be completed, GAO
recommended removing the mandate from statute, and the bill
thus repeals this report.
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\13\Pub. L. No. 106-554, Appendix F; 114 Stat. 2763A-473.
\14\2015 GAO Document.
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Report on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Dispute
Resolution Pilot Program (Repeal)
The law currently requires GAO to review and report on the
Dispute Resolution Pilot Program within 270 days after the end
of the program on December 31, 2015.\15\ FEMA and GAO confirmed
that no cases were filed under the pilot program by the
deadline. GAO has no material on which to report. Thus, the
bill repeals this reporting requirement.\16\
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\15\42 U.S.C. Sec. 5189a note (1988).
\16\2015 GAO Document.
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Biennial Survey Regarding Transportation Intelligence Reports (Repeal)
The GAO is required by Congress to conduct a study and
report on a survey of recipient satisfaction with
transportation intelligence reports.\17\ Two reports and two e-
supplements were issued by GAO.\18\ Furthermore, the
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) response to the
2014 GAO report suggests that many of the issues were
addressed, and the recommendation follow-up process will allow
GAO to continue to monitor TSA's progress. The bill repeals the
reporting requirement.
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\17\49 U.S.C. Sec. 114(u) (2001).
\18\Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-12-44, Transportation Security
Information Sharing: Stakeholders Generally Satisfied but TSA Could
Improve Analysis, Awareness and Accountability (2011), available at
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1244.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office,
GAO-12-67SP, Transportation Security Information Sharing: Results of
GAO's Survey of Stakeholder Satisfaction With TSA Products and
Mechanisms (2011), available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-
67SP; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-14-506, Transportation Security
Information Sharing: Stakeholder Satisfaction Varies; TSA Could Take
Additional Actions To Strengthen Efforts (2014), available at http://
www.gao.gov/products/gao-14-506; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-14-
488SP, Transportation Security Information Sharing: Results of GAO's
Survey of Stakeholder Satisfaction With TSA Products and Mechanisms
(2014), available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-488SP.
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Report on New Oyster Safety Regulations (Repeal)
Thirty days after the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) issues proposed regulations or guidance on
oyster safety, the GAO is required under the law to compare
proposed regulations to similar rules for other regulated foods
and evaluate the impact of post-harvest processing on the
competitiveness of the domestic oyster industry.\19\ This
requires GAO to constantly monitor new regulations, and should
the trigger event occur, any interested member can request the
study from GAO. The bill repeals the requirement.
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\19\21 U.S.C. Sec. 342 note (2011).
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TARP Review (Modify)
The law requires GAO to report on the activities and
performance of TARP.\20\ Because most TARP programs are
completed or about to end, this report does not need to be
completed as often. S. 2946 changes the reporting requirement
from every 60 days to annually.
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\20\12 U.S.C. Sec. 5226(a)(3) (2011).
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Study on Financial Services Regulations (Modify)
The law currently requires GAO to conduct an annual study
of financial services regulations, analyzing the rules' impact
on the financial marketplace, along with the rulemaking
agencies' efforts to avoid issuing duplicative or conflicting
rules.\21\ Four comprehensive reports have been released with
agency recommendations focusing on aspects of the nearly 400
rulemakings required by the Dodd-Frank Act.\22\ GAO believes
more meaningful analyses can be provided on the rules' impact
if it is done on a selective and targeted basis, and since the
majority of Dodd-Frank rules have now been proposed or
finalized, further GAO study of the agencies' rulemaking
process will soon be moot.\23\ The bill modifies the reporting
requirement to allow the Comptroller General the ability to
review financial service regulations periodically as determined
appropriate.
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\21\12 U.S.C. Sec. 5496b(a) (2012).
\22\Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 12-151, Dodd-Frank Act
Regulations: Implementation Could Benefit from Additional Analyses and
Coordination (2011), available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/
d12151.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 14-67, Dodd-Frank
Regulations: Agencies Conducted Regulatory Analyses and Coordinated but
Could Benefit from Additional Guidance on Major Rules (2013) available
at http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/659586.pdf; Gov't Accountability
Office, GAO 15-81, Dodd-Frank Regulations: Regulators' Analystical and
Coordination Efforts (2014) available at http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/
667633.pdf; Gov't Accountability Office, GAO 16-169, Dodd-Frank
Regulations: Impacts on Community Banks, Credit Unions and Systemically
Important Institutions (2015), available at http://www.gao.gov/assets/
680/674459.pdf.
\23\2015 GAO Document.
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Report on Conflict Minerals (Modify)
The law requires GAO to report annually on the
effectiveness of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules
meant to prohibit the trade and exploitation of conflict
minerals originating in the Congo from financing or benefitting
armed groups who commit violence in the region.\24\ The bill
will require that annual reports be issued through 2020, and
then in 2022 and 2024.\25\
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\24\15 U.S.C. Sec. 78m note (2011).
\25\2015 GAO Document.
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Update on Medicare ESRD Bundled Payment System (Modify)
The law requires GAO to examine the inclusion of ``oral-
only'' end-stage renal disease (ESRD) drugs as they relate to
Medicare's bundled payments.\26\ The inclusion of ``oral-only''
ESRD drugs in Medicare's bundled payment, originally set for
2015, has been delayed to 2023.\27\ To reflect the delay, the
bill will mandate a reporting deadline of December 31,
2023.\28\
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\26\Pub. L. No. 112-240, 126 Stat. 2354.
\27\Pub. L. No. 113-93, 128 Stat. 1061; Pub L. No. 113-295, 128
Stat. 4065.
\28\2015 GAO Document.
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Alternatives to Medical Tort Litigation (Modify)
The law requires the Comptroller General to appoint, lead,
and support an expert panel to advise the Secretary of HHS on
the award of grants to states for the development,
implementation, and evaluation of alternatives to medical tort
litigation.\29\ The bill addresses independence and budget
concerns for GAO by only requiring the Comptroller General to
appoint members of the review panel rather than lead it.\30\
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\29\42 U.S.C. Sec. 280g-15 (2011).
\30\2015 GAO Document.
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III. Legislative History
The GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016, S. 2964, was
introduced on May 19, 2016, by Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) and
Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The Committee considered S. 2964 at a business meeting on
May 25, 2016. No amendments were offered. The Committee ordered
the bill reported favorably en bloc by voice vote on May 25,
2016. Senators present for the vote on the bill were Senators
Johnson, Portman, Paul, Lankford, Ayotte, Ernst, Sasse, Carper,
McCaskill, Tester, Baldwin, Heitkamp, Booker, and Peters.
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported
Section 1. Short title
This section establishes the short title of the bill as the
``GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016.''
Section 2. Reports eliminated
This section repeals five statutory mandates currently
imposed on GAO.
Subsection (a) repeals GAO's requirement to monitor and
report on legislation that is not consistent with the Single
Audit Act of 1984 and the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996,
and makes a technical and conforming amendment.
Subsection (b) repeals a GAO report on whether a change in
Medicare coinsurance led to a change in Medigap premiums.
Subsection (c) repeals a GAO report on a FEMA appeals pilot
program.
Subsection (d) repeals a GAO report on a survey of
recipient satisfaction with transportation intelligence
reports.
Subsection (e) repeals a law that requires GAO to create a
report comparing new oyster regulations to similar rules for
other regulated foods, and the impact of the regulations on the
domestic oyster industry.
Section 3. Reports modified
This section modifies five congressionally required GAO
reports.
Subsection (a) modifies the frequency of audits of the TARP
from every 60 days to every year.
Subsection (b) modifies the frequency of a GAO study of
financial services regulations from annually to periodically as
determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.
Subsection (c) modifies the frequency of a GAO report on
the effectiveness of Securities and Exchange Commission rules
meant to prohibit the trade and exploitation of conflict
minerals originating in the Congo from financing or benefitting
armed groups from annual reports, to annual reports through
2020, and reports in 2022 and 2024.
Subsection (d) amends the due date of a report examining
the inclusion of oral-only end-stage renal disease drugs as
they relate to Medicare's bundled payments from December 31,
2015 to December 31, 2023.
Subsection (e) modifies GAO's role in leading an expert
panel on alternatives to medical tort litigation.
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact
Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has
considered the regulatory impact of this bill and determined
that the bill will have no regulatory impact within the meaning
of the rules. The Committee agrees with the Congressional
Budget Office's statement that the bill contains no
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs
on state, local, or tribal governments.
VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
June 22, 2016.
Hon. Ron Johnson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S.
Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2964, the GAO
Mandates Revision Act of 2016.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew
Pickford.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
S. 2964--GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016
The Congress often requires that the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) perform an annual examination of a
program, agency, or other federal activity. S. 2964 would
modify or repeal 10 of those activities.
Based on information from GAO, CBO estimates that
implementing the legislation would reduce discretionary costs
by about $1 million over the 2017-2021 period; any such
reductions would be subject to future appropriations actions
consistent with the provisions of this bill. GAO has an annual
budget of more than $500 million and prepares hundreds of
products for the Congress each year. CBO expects that
implementing S. 2964 would not have a significant effect on the
agency's overall workload.
Enacting S. 2964 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO
estimates that enacting S. 2964 would not increase direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2964 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew
Pickford. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by The Bill, as Reported
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
S. 2964 as reported are shown as follows (existing law proposed
to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is printed in
italic, and existing law in which no change is proposed is
shown in roman):
UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 52--EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION
* * * * * * *
Subchapter I--Troubled Assets Relief Program
* * * * * * *
SEC. 5226. OVERSIGHT AND AUDITS
(a) Comptroller General Oversight.--
(1) * * *
(2) * * *
(3) Reporting.--The Comptroller General shall submit
reports of findings under this section[, regularly and
no less frequently than once every 60 days,] annually
to the appropriate committees of Congress, and the
Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief
Program established under this chapter on the
activities and performance of the TARP. The Comptroller
may also submit special reports under this subsection
as warranted by the findings of its oversight
activities.
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 53--WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
* * * * * * *
Subchapter V--Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
* * * * * * *
PART A--BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
* * * * * * *
SEC. 5496B. GAO STUDY OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
(a) Study[Not later than the end of the 180-day period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the] The Comptroller General of the United
States shall periodically, as the Comptroller General
determines is appropriate, conduct a study of financial
services regulations, including activities of the Bureau. Such
study shall include an analysis of----
(1) the impact of regulation on the financial
marketplace, including the effects on the safety and
soundness of regulated entities, cost and availability
of credit, savings realized by consumers, reductions in
consumer paperwork burden, changes in personal and
small business bankruptcy filings, and costs of
compliance with rules[, including whether relevant
Federal agencies are applying sound cost-benefit
analysis in promulgating rules;]; and;
[(2) efforts to avoid duplicative or conflicting
rulemakings, including an evaluation of the
consultative process under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
section 5512(b)(2) of this title, information requests,
and examinations; and]
[(3)] (2) other matters related to the operations of
financial services regulations deemed by the
Comptroller General to be appropriate.
* * * * * * *
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 2B--SECURITIES EXCHANGES
* * * * * * *
SEC. 78M. PERIODICAL AND OTHER REPORTS
* * * * * * *
Conflict Minerals
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
(c) * * *
(d) Reports.--
(1) Baseline report.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act (July 21, 2010) and
annually thereafter [until the termination of the
disclosure requirements under section 13(p) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934] through 2020, in 2022,
and in 2024, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to appropriate congressional
committees a report that includes an assessment of the
rate of sexual- and gender-based violence in war-torn
areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
adjoining countries.
(2) Regular report on effectiveness.--Not later than
2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act
(July 21, 2010) and annually thereafter through 2020,
in 2022, and in 2024, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that includes the
following:
* * * * * * *
TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 9--FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT
* * * * * * *
Subchapter IV--Food
* * * * * * *
SEC. 342. ADULTERATED FOOD
* * * * * * *
Guidance Relating to Post Harvest Processing of Raw Oysters
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
[(c) Review and Evaluation.--Not later than 30 days after
the Secretary issues a proposed regulation or guidance
described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the
United States shall----
[(1) review and evaluate the report described in (a)
and report to Congress on the findings of the estimates
and analysis in the report;
[(2) compare such proposed regulation or guidance to
similar regulations or guidance with respect to other
regulated foods, including a comparison of risks the
Secretary may find associated with seafood and the
instances of those risks in such other regulated foods;
and
[(3) evaluate the impact of post harvest processing
on the competitiveness of the domestic oyster industry
in the United States and in international markets.]
[(d)] (c) Waiver.--The requirement of preparing a report
under subsection (a) shall be waived if the Secretary issues a
guidance that is adopted as a consensus agreement between
Federal and State regulators and the oyster industry, acting
through the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.
[(e)] (d) Public Access.--Any report prepared under this
section shall be made available to the public.
* * * * * * *
TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE V--General Assistance Administration
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 75--REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE AUDITS
* * * * * * *
Sec.
7501. Definitions.
7502. Audit requirements; exemptions.
7503. Relation to other audit requirements.
7504. Federal agency responsibilities and relations with non-Federal
entities.
7505. Regulations.
[7506. Monitoring responsibilities of the Comptroller General.]
[7507] 7506. Effective date
[SEC. 7506. MONITORING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
[(a) The Comptroller General shall review provisions
requiring financial audits of non-Federal entities that receive
Federal awards that are contained in bills and resolutions
reported by the committees of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
[(b) If the Comptroller General determines that a bill or
resolution contains provisions that are inconsistent with the
requirements of this chapter, the Comptroller General shall, at
the earliest practicable date, notify in writing--
[(1) the committee that reported such bill or
resolution; and
[(2)(A) the Committee on Governmental Affairs
of the Senate (in the case of a bill or
resolution reported by a committee of the
Senate); or
[(B) the Committee on Government Reform and
Oversight of the House of Representatives (in
the case of a bill or resolution reported by a
committee of the House of Representatives).]
SEC. [7507] 7506. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This chapter shall apply to any non-Federal entity with
respect to any of its fiscal years which begin after June 30,
1996.
* * * * * * *
TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
* * * * * * *
Subchapter II--General Powers and Duties
* * * * * * *
PART P--ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 280G-15. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES TO
CURRENT MEDICAL TORT LITIGATION.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(d) Application.--
(1) * * *
(2) Review panel.--
(A) * * *
(B) * * *
(C) Chairperson.--The Comptroller General[,
or an individual within the Government
Accountability Office designated by the
Comptroller General, shall] shall designate a
member of the review panel to be the
chairperson of the review panel.
(D) Availability of information.--The
[Comptroller General] Secretary shall make
available to the review panel such information,
personnel, and administrative services and
assistance as the review panel may reasonably
require to carry out its duties.
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 68--DISASTER RELIEF
* * * * * * *
Subchapter IV--Major Disaster Assistance Programs
* * * * * * *
SEC. 5189A. APPEALS OF ASSISTANCE DECISIONS.
* * * * * * *
Dispute Resolution Pilot Program
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
(c) * * *
[(d) Report.--
[(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the
termination of authority under this section under
subsection (c), the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a report analyzing the
effectiveness of the program under this section.
[(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include--
[(A) a determination of the availability of
data required to complete the report;
[(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of
the program under this section, including an
assessment of whether the program expedited or
delayed the disaster recovery process;
[(C) an assessment of whether the program
increased or decreased costs to administer
section 403, 406, or 407 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, 5173);
[(D) an assessment of the procedures and
safeguards that the independent review panels
established to ensure objectivity and accuracy,
and the extent to which they followed those
procedures and safeguards;
[(E) a recommendation as to whether any
aspect of the program under this section should
be made a permanent authority; and
[(F) recommendations for any modifications to
the authority or the administration of the
authority under this section in order to
improve the disaster recovery process.]
* * * * * * *
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
* * * * * * *
Subtitle I--Department of Transportation
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 1--ORGANIZATION
* * * * * * *
SEC. 114. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(u) Transportation Security Information Sharing Plan.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Appropriate congressional committees.--
The term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' has the meaning given that term in
[subsection (t)] subsection (s)(4)(E).
* * * * * * *
[(7) Survey and report.----
[(A) In general.--The Comptroller General of
the United States shall conduct a biennial
survey of the satisfaction of recipients of
transportation intelligence reports
disseminated under the Plan.
[(B) Information sought.--The survey
conducted under subparagraph (A) shall seek
information about the quality, speed,
regularity, and classification of the
transportation security information products
disseminated by the Department of Homeland
Security to public and private stakeholders.
[(C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of
2007, and every even numbered year thereafter,
the Comptroller General shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, a report
on the results of the survey conducted under
subparagraph (A). The Comptroller General shall
also provide a copy of the report to the
Secretary.]
[(8)] (7) Security clearances.--The Secretary shall,
to the greatest extent practicable, take steps to
expedite the security clearances needed for designated
public and private stakeholders to receive and obtain
access to classified information distributed under this
section, as appropriate.
[(9)] (8) Classification of material.--The Secretary,
to the greatest extent practicable, shall provide
designated public and private stakeholders with
transportation security information in an unclassified
format.
* * * * * * *
AMERICAN TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT OF 2012
* * * * * * *
SEC. 632. REVISIONS TO THE MEDICARE ESRD BUNDLED PAYMENT SYSTEM TO
REFLECT FINDINGS IN THE GAO REPORT.
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
(c) * * *
(d) Updated GAO Report.--Not later than [December 31, 2015]
December 31, 2023, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to Congress a report that updates the report
submitted to Congress under section 10336 of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124
Stat. 974). The updated report shall include an analysis of how
the Secretary of Health and Human Services has addressed points
raised in the report submitted under such section 10336 with
respect to the Secretary's preparations to implement payment
for oral-only ESRD-related drugs in the bundled prospective
payment system under section 1881(b)(14) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(14)).
* * * * * * *
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SCHIP BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION ACT
OF 2000
* * * * * * *
SEC. 111. ACCELERATION OF REDUCTION OF BENEFICIARY COPAYMENT FOR
HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT SERVICES.
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
[(c) GAO Study of Reduction in Medigap Premium Levels
Resulting From Reductions in Coinsurance.--The Comptroller
General of the United States shall work, in concert with the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to evaluate
the extent to which the premium levels for medicare
supplemental policies reflect the reductions in coinsurance
resulting from the amendment made by subsection (a). Not later
than April 1, 2004, the Comptroller General shall submit to
Congress a report on such evaluation and the extent to which
the reductions in beneficiary coinsurance effected by such
amendment have resulted in actual savings to medicare
beneficiaries.]