I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5437

To require a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop a methodology for measuring the cost of living in each State, and to require

a study by the General Accounting Office to determine how Federal

benefits would be increased in each State if the determination of such

benefits were based on such methodology.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 10, 2000

Mr. TIERNEY (for himself, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Ms.

WOOLSEY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr.

OLVER, Mr. WEINER, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. STARK, Mr.

MCGOVERN, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MOAKLEY,

Mr. NADLER, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr.

DELAHUNT, Ms. LOFGREN, and Ms. PELOSI) 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, and Banking and Financial Services, 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 a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to

develop a methodology for measuring the cost of living

in each State, and to require a study by the General

Accounting Office to determine how Federal benefits

would be increased in each State if the determination

of such benefits were based on such methodology.
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cost of Living Meas5 urement and Index Act of 2000’’.

6 SEC. 2. STUDY BY BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—To improve Government manage8 ment and the economy, efficiency, and management of

9 Government operations and activities that rely on accurate

10 economic information, the Commissioner of Labor Statis11 tics shall conduct a study to develop a methodology for

12 determining the cost of living in each State, that accounts

13 for the costs of housing, goods, and services.

14 (b) ELEMENTS OF METHODOLOGY.—The method15 ology developed under subsection (a) shall include indices

16 for measuring the cost of living in a State.

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

18 of the enactment of this Act the Commissioner shall sub19 mit to the Congress and the Comptroller General of the

20 United States a report that contains the methodology de21 veloped under this section.

22 SEC. 3. STUDY BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the

24 United States shall conduct a study in which the method25 ology contained in the report submitted under section 2
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1 is applied to determine how Federal benefits provided to

2 beneficiaries in each State would be increased if—

3 (1) determination of such benefits were based

4 on the cost of living in each State, as determined

5 under the methodology; and

6 (2) the methodology were applied subject to a

7 hold harmless provision, so that Federal benefits

8 vary under the methodology only by increasing for

9 beneficiaries in States having a higher cost of living,

10 in proportion to such higher cost.

11 (b) INCLUDED FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS.—The

12 study under subsection (a) shall include determination of

13 increases in benefits provided under the following:

14 (1) The Elementary and Secondary Education

15 Act of 1965.

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

17 1986, relating to the earned income tax credit.

18 (3) All Federal housing assistance programs.

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

20 of receipt of the report from the Commissioner of Labor

21 Statistics under section 2 the Comptroller General shall

22 submit a report to the Congress that contains the fol23 lowing:

24 (1) The determinations required under sub25 sections (a) and (b).
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1 (2) A description of any additional data that

2 should be obtained and considered to confirm or im3 prove those determinations.

4 (3) Recommendations for any changes in the

5 methodology developed under section 2 that would

6 ensure more accurate determination of the cost of

7 living in a State, including any appropriate changes

8 in the indices that should be used to measure such

9 cost.

10 (4) The anticipated costs to the Federal Gov11 ernment of using the methodology developed under

12 section 2 in determining Federal benefits under the

13 programs referred to in subsection (b), including any

14 change in such costs that would result from imple15 menting the recommendations under paragraph (3).

16 (5) Recommendations for any changes in law

17 that are necessary or appropriate to ensure that the

18 determination of Federal benefits provided to bene19 ficiaries in a State is based on the cost of living in

20 that State, except to the extent such determination

21 would result in a reduction of benefits to bene22 ficiaries in a State.
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1 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out

3 this Act $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.

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