Unfunded Mandates Reform Act : History, Impact, and Issues

Author / Creator

Library of Congress. Government Division

Available as

Online

Summary

This report is one in a series of updates. For the most recent coverage of this report series, please see 14-R4-0957g in the 2014 issue. Provides background on P.L. 104-4, the Unfunded Mandates Ref...

This report is one in a series of updates. For the most recent coverage of this report series, please see 14-R4-0957g in the 2014 issue.

Provides background on P.L. 104-4, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995, which requires CBO to prepare, and Congressional committees and Federal agencies to consider, an assessment of the financial impact on State and local governments and the private sector of proposed legislation and regulations mandating nonfederal spending. Examines debates over what constitutes an unfunded Federal mandate and UMRA implementation. Focuses on UMRA requirement that CBO issue written cost estimate statements for Federal mandates in legislation, its procedures for raising points of order in the House of Representatives and the Senate concerning unfunded Federal mandates in legislation, and its requirement that Federal agencies prepare written cost estimate statements for Federal mandates in rules. Assesses UMRA impact on Federal mandates and arguments concerning UMRA future, focusing on UMRA definitions, exclusions, and exceptions that currently exempt many Federal actions with potentially significant financial impacts on nonfederal entities.

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