Comments on H.R. 6979

H.R. 6979 contains a GAO auditing and reporting requirement which GAO believes is unnecessary and undesirable. It would establish a process for congressional disapproval of final rules promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce and would provide that the Comptroller General prepare a report which examines the review of the Secretary's rules and submit the report to Congress. GAO believes that this provision is unnecessary. GAO already has sufficient authority to carry out such studies, and alternative methods exist for congressional committees to obtain needed information with less risk of precluding or disrupting other GAO work. Congressional committee chairmen have jurisdiction to request such a report whenever it is felt to be needed. If the problems now envisioned diminish in the future, GAO would have to carry out the audit, whether needed or not. GAO requested congressional help in removing the provision requiring the Comptroller General's evaluation and report from H.R. 6979.