Jason Chaffetz

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5 requires the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, often called OIRA, to provide guidelines for agencies on how to effectively conduct regulatory activities. This is a great bill. I wholeheartedly support the bill. We simply want to add a timeline to this bill so that we give the proper incentive, notification, and time to properly institute what this new law would do. The regulatory activities engaged in this bill that OIRA, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, deals with need to include cost and benefit assessments and their economic or risk assessments; coordination, simplification, and harmonization of the agency rules; conforming rulemaking to the notice and comment requirements and formal rulemaking requirements in the Administrative Procedure Act; as well as the application of the Information Quality Act to rulemaking proceedings under what is called the APA. These guidelines required by the underlying bill are moving the country in the right direction and will ensure that agencies produce thoughtful, comprehensive, and well-vetted regulations. The simple amendment that I offer today, Mr. Chairman, to H.R. 5 simply requires OIRA to issue guidance within 270 days. I think this is the right balance of encouragement to have them get going on it right away, but at the same time not allowing this to linger in perpetuity with no end in sight. This amendment provides OIRA, I think, the proper balance. That is why I have offered this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte. I also want to thank Congressman Ratcliffe of Texas. Included in H.R. 5 is the All Economic Regulations Are Transparent Act, or the ALERT Act. I want to highlight that, in the past two Congresses, the ALERT Act was reported favorably out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The ALERT Act itself is simply a transparency bill. It requires the administration to provide meaningful information about upcoming regulations online before those are actually issued. Early online disclosure will create the need for transparency so the public can see what is on the horizon. Each month, Federal agencies will be required to list all regulations expected to be proposed or finalized within the following year. For each regulation on the list, the issuing agency is required to provide basic information to the public about that regulation. This includes the objectives of the regulation, the legal basis for the regulation, and where it stands in the rulemaking process. If the agency expects to finalize the regulation within the following year, the agency is also required to provide information about the impact of the regulation. This includes estimates on the costs, the completion date, and the economic effects of the regulation, including the net effect on jobs--something that doesn't happen now but seems to be just common sense. In this 21st century, Federal agencies should have to show their work online so the public can engage. That is why I like what Mr. Ratcliffe has championed since he has become a Member of this Congress. Let's also understand and remember that, by the administration's own estimates, Federal regulations promulgated over the last 10 years have imposed the cost of at least $100 billion annually on the American taxpayers. Again, I appreciate Chairman Goodlatte's work and commitment on this issue. I want to thank, again, our good friend, Congressman John Ratcliffe, for his work on this. The Oversight and Government Reform Committee has looked upon this very favorably. We are very supportive of the overall bill, as well as this specific provision.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Moulton, first and foremost, for his service to our country, serving in the armed services. We really do appreciate that. I can't thank him enough for that service. But I also appreciate him bringing forward this bill and his working with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows). I appreciate what Mr. DeSaulnier and our ranking member on our committee, Mr. Cummings, have done, too, to help move this bill forward. So there was good, broad, bipartisan support, strong support in the 114th Congress, passing unanimously, with 415 votes. I think it is worthy to bring this up early in the Congress and get on with the idea of saving money and taking advantage of technology, as Mr. Hurd said and as Mr. Moulton talked about as well, save some money and tap into the technology that is available to save money for the government and, ultimately, for the taxpayers. It is their money indeed. So I would urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), the cosponsor of this bill and someone who has been very involved in this subject.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous remarks on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 274) to provide for reimbursement for the use of modern travel services by Federal employees traveling on official Government business, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 274, the Modernizing Government Travel Act, is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. Mr. Will Hurd of Texas and Congressman Mark Meadows of North Carolina have all come together on this bill. It is a good bill. This bill came up in the 114th Congress. The same bill passed through the committee by regular order, and then in a close vote--much like the Clemson-Alabama game last night--when we voted on this bill last session was 415-0. I think there was a pretty good sense from the past Congress that is a good bill, and it should pass. Federal employees' current transportation options on official travel are limited. While some agencies allow employees to be reimbursed for the use of sharing economy services, such as Lyft or Uber, not all of them do. As a result, the whole Federal Government does not benefit from the cost savings that can occur while being associated with these services. The Modernizing Government Travel Act allows the Federal Government to reap the benefits of the sharing economy. The bill ensures that new transportation services as they emerge, Federal employees can quickly take advantage of the efficiencies of the new technologies that may be offered. By opening up a new market for transportation services, H.R. 274 will also help spur innovation and competition, creating greater cost savings. We have some 2 million Federal employees. So this is an important part and it shouldn't be glanced over. There could be considerable savings along the way. We must ensure that there is accountability for travel expenditures. Our committee, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and other watchdog groups outside of government are looking at these expenses. We have a duty and obligation to ensure that we are dealing with Federal taxpayer dollars responsibly. This bill mandates that agencies report their travel costs for each type of travel service to the General Services Administration, the GSA. The GSA must publish that data, helping make the Federal Government more transparent and accountable. The GSA will also report to Congress on agency official travel costs in order to make sure that they inform future transportation policy decisions. I urge passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), who has championed this effort for quite a while. He is passionate about this, and he has poured his heart and soul into it.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 73) to amend title 44, United States Code, to require information on contributors to Presidential library fundraising organizations, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As has been highlighted here by Mr. Clay and by me, there is good bipartisan work that has gone on for far too long. It is time to pass this bill. I really do appreciate the good work Mr. Duncan of Tennessee has done and the work of Ranking Member Cummings of Maryland. The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2017 is the type of good-government, bipartisan legislation that is perfect to be one of the first bills to pass out of the 115th Congress. Last Congress, this legislation passed through the committee by regular order and passed the House of Representatives without opposition. President Franklin Roosevelt established the first Presidential library in 1939. Since then, every former President since Herbert Hoover has had a library dedicated to his Presidential records. Each of the 13 current libraries is managed and operated by the National Archives and Records Administration at an annual cost of roughly $75 million. While these facilities are operated at taxpayer expense, the construction of these libraries is privately financed through donations. As the volume of records for each President has increased over the years, so have construction costs. For example, when it opened in 2004, the Clinton Presidential Center, in part, cost approximately $165 million. Nine years later, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which opened in 2013, cost about $250 million. The Chicago Tribune has reported that President Obama's library might cost as much as $500 million. Despite these escalating costs, there are no transparency requirements for Presidential library fundraising organizations. Here, transparency is important and very much needed. This bill will require Presidential library fundraising organizations to disclose to the National Archives contributions in excess of $200 in any fiscal quarter in a searchable and sortable format. In turn, the National Archives will post this data online. This disclosure requirement would end once control of a library facility is transferred to the National Archives. This ensures compliance costs of this legislation are minimal for both fundraising organizations and the National Archives. This legislation is bipartisan. It is not intended to target any one individual. The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act has passed the House four times since 2002, with overwhelming support with both Democratic and Republican majorities in place at the time. I would like to, again, highlight and thank my colleague, Representative Duncan. I do appreciate his efforts on this. I do hope that the 115th Congress is the time that the Senate will see fit to pass this bill to the President's desk. I have no additional speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, it is a good piece of legislation. I again thank Mr. Clay and Mr. Connolly for their work on this, and I urge its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 70) to amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Committee on Ways and Means for their work on this bill; and I include committee exchanges of letters into the Record. Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, January 4, 2017. Hon. Jason Chaffetz, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Chaffetz, I am writing with respect to H.R. 70, the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2017,'' which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H.R. 70 involves issues that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite the House's consideration of H.R. 70, the Committee on Ways and Means will not assert its jurisdictional claim over this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding and agreement that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in die bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 70, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Kevin Brady, Chairman.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that the primary sponsor is actually the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay). I reserve the balance of my time in order to allow Mr. Clay to speak first on this issue, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 72) to ensure the Government Accountability Office has adequate access to information.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor legendary BYU football coach LaVell Edwards, who passed away December 29, 2016 at the age of 86. During the 29 years he coached at Brigham Young University, Edwards transformed a team that had never been ranked or invited to a bowl game into a perpetual force in college football. Best remembered for leading his team to a national championship in 1984, Edwards also racked up an impressive 257-103 win/loss record. His team won 20 conference championships and qualified for 22 bowl game appearances. LaVell Edwards touched countless lives, including mine, in a profound and positive way. I feel so fortunate to be among the many young men Coach Edwards influenced and molded during his storied career at BYU. My life is forever changed by my experience as a place kicker on his team. Upon retiring from BYU in 2000, Edwards and his wife Patti served a mission for the LDS Church in New York, where, in addition to his missionary role, Edwards was invited to put his talents to work coaching football to Harlem youth. Coach Edwards leaves behind a legacy of success on the field and off. He was a man of integrity whose example his players all wanted to emulate. He is survived by his wife Patti and three children. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. CHAFFETZ

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 71) to provide taxpayers with an annual report disclosing the cost and performance of Government programs and areas of duplication among them, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a very good bill brought to us by lead sponsor Mr. Walberg of Michigan who has done considerable work on this not only at this point, but in Congresses of the past. We have cosponsorship from a number of people on both sides of the aisle--five members within the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I am thankful for the good work by Mr. Walberg and Mr. Cooper, who also serve on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I thank Mr. Clay and, certainly, Mr. Cummings. In the 114th Congress, this bill was able to pass overwhelmingly in the House by a vote of 413-0--with no opposition. It is truly bipartisan and bicameral. It is a good bill. I thank Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma for his work on the Senate side, and we do hope that it will make it swiftly through the Senate. The Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act provides the public and Congress with increased transparency about Federal programs, including how much they cost and any benefits that they provide. It sounds like a good and worthy thing to do, and it passed the previous Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it here in the 115th Congress, and I am glad it is one of the first things that we are doing. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.