ML19281B525
| ML19281B525 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/16/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Brooks J HOUSE OF REP., GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19281B526 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905250321 | |
| Download: ML19281B525 (2) | |
Text
h# N UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j.,%
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March 16, 1979
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The Honorable lack Brooks Chairman Comittee on Government Operations
'Jnited States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515 2 ear Mr. Chaiman:
At your request, we have reviewed (1) H.R. 544, Government Economy and Spending Refom Act of 1979; (2) H.R. 2, Sunset Act of 1979; and (3) ii.R.1059, Sunset Prcgram Reauthorization and Evaluation Act of 1979.
The 'iRC strongly supports the objectives of these bills; that is, to prcmote goverrcental efficiency through elimination of inactive and cverlapping federal programs and by periodic review of existing budget autho ri ty.
Other than Title VII, H.R. 2 as introduced is substantially the same as F. 2 which passed the Senate last year.
Therefore, I have enclosed our coments on S. 2 whici, remain relevant to the bills currently under consideration.
'de have the following comments to add as well.
Since the NRC's budget authority is ordinarily granted on an annual basis, this agency's programs are scrutinized even more frequently than would be required by the present bills.
It might better serve the intent of these bills to have an annual review of the agency's five-year bucget plan jointly conducted by the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget.
Such a review would have the advantage cf eliminating possible overlap between the Executive Branch and the Congress and also provide a mechanism for automatically updating these projections on an annual basis.
A major concern of this agency is the potential inefficiency that dup-licative budget review would generate.
For example, Section 202 of H.R.
544 requires both the Senate and the House Committees having legislative jurisdiction over a program to establish their own zero-base program review plan.
This could subject NRC to at least five zero base reviews each five years with considerable duplication of content, substantial expenditure of effort and a significant slowing of the Congressional review / budget process.
7905250 M
The Honorable Jack Brooks 2
It is also not clear how these bills affect appropriations bills. As you know, Appropriation Acts are typically for a lesser amount cf funds than that authorized.
When this occurs, we are uncertain about how the objectives and planned accomplishments for authorization bills would be adjusted to reflect the change in funds appropriated.
H.R. 2 does provide for a new addition in Title VII, which requires detailed review before tax expenditure provisions are reauthorized.
This provision is consistent with the intent of the sunset legislation as it includes a significant portion of public expenditures.
We appreciate this opportunity to canment on the proposed legislation.
Sincerely,
}gdwfua
'a Joseph M. Hendrie
Enclosure:
S 2 comments
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