I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3640

To require the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to develop a methodology 

for measuring the cost of living in each State, and to require the 

Comptroller General to determine how certain Federal benefits would 

be increased if the determination of those benefits were based on that 

methodology. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 21, 2003

Mr. TIERNEY (for himself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. GEORGE MILLER

of California, Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA ́, Mr. OLVER, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. OWENS, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To require the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to develop 

a methodology for measuring the cost of living in each 

State, and to require the Comptroller General to determine how certain Federal benefits would be increased 

if the determination of those benefits were based on 

that methodology.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cost of Living Meas3 urement and Index Act of 2003’’. 

4 SEC. 2. COST OF LIVING METHODOLOGY. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of Labor Sta6 tistics shall develop a methodology for determining the 

7 cost of living in each State, which accounts for the costs 

8 of housing, goods, and services. 

9 (b) ELEMENTS OF METHODOLOGY.—The method10 ology developed under this section shall include indices for 

11 measuring the cost of living in a State. 

12 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 

13 of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Labor Sta14 tistics shall transmit to the Congress and the Comptroller 

15 General a report that contains the methodology developed 

16 under this section. 

17 SEC. 3. STUDY BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall 

19 conduct a study in which the methodology developed under 

20 section 2 is applied to determine how Federal benefits pro21 vided to beneficiaries in each State under the programs 

22 described in subsection (b) would be distributed if—

23 (1) the cost of living in each State, as deter24 mined under the methodology, were a factor in the 

25 determination of such benefits; and 
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1 (2) the methodology were applied so that Fed2 eral benefits vary only to the extent that such deter3 mination would result in an increase of benefits to 

4 beneficiaries in a State. 

5 (b) INCLUDED FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS.—The 

6 study under subsection (a) shall include determination of 

7 increases in benefits provided under the following: 

8 (1) The Elementary and Secondary Education 

9 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.). 

10 (2) Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 

11 1986, relating to the earned income tax credit. 

12 (3) All Federal housing assistance programs. 

13 (4) The Temporary Assistance to Needy Fami14 lies Program. 

15 (5) The Food Stamp Program. 

16 (6) All other Federal nutrition assistance pro17 grams, but only to the extent that they provide 

18 vouchers, coupons, cash grants, or cash reimburse19 ments. 

20 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 

21 of receipt of the report from the Commissioner of Labor 

22 Statistics under section 2(c), the Comptroller General 

23 shall transmit a report to the Congress that contains the 

24 following: 
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1 (1) The results of the study conducted under 

2 subsection (a). 

3 (2) A description of the increases in benefits de4 termined under subsection (b). 

5 (3) A description of any additional data that 

6 should be obtained and considered to confirm or im7 prove those results and determinations. 

8 (4) Recommendations for any changes in the 

9 methodology developed under section 2 that would 

10 ensure more accurate determination of the cost of 

11 living in a State, including any appropriate changes 

12 in the indices that should be used to measure such 

13 cost. 

14 (5) An estimate of the costs to the Federal 

15 Government of using the methodology developed 

16 under section 2 to determine Federal benefits under 

17 the programs referred to in subsection (b) of this 

18 section, including any change in such costs that 

19 would result from implementing the recommenda20 tions made under paragraph (4) of this subsection. 

21 (6) Recommendations for any changes in law 

22 that are necessary or appropriate to ensure that the 

23 cost of living in a State, as determined under the 

24 methodology developed in section 2, is a factor in 

25 the determination of Federal benefits provided to 
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1 beneficiaries in that State under the programs de2 scribed in subsection (b), but only to the extent that 

3 such determination would result in an increase of 

4 benefits to beneficiaries in a State. 

5 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

6 For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are 

7 authorized to be appropriated to the Commissioner of 

8 Labor Statistics $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.

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