I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9223 
To require analyses of the impact of Government rules, programs, and policies 
on poverty and racial inequity, including the racial wealth gap, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 21, 2022 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Ms. BROWN of Ohio, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 
KELLY of Illinois, and Mr. MFUME) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require analyses of the impact of Government rules, pro-
grams, and policies on poverty and racial inequity, in-
cluding the racial wealth gap, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reviewing the Effects 
of Programs, Orders, and Rules with Thorough Study 
Act’’ or the ‘‘REPORTS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. IMPACT OF FEDERAL AGENCY RULES ON INDIVID-
UALS LIVING AT, NEAR, OR BELOW THE POV-
ERTY LINE AND RACIAL INEQUITY; GAO RE-
PORTS. 
(a) IMPACT OF REGULATIONS ON POVERTY AND RA-
CIAL INEQUITY.—Whenever an agency publishes notice of 
proposed rule making in the Federal Register for a major 
rule, the agency shall, with such notice, publish an anal-
ysis of the actual or potential impact of the major rule 
on— 
(1) individuals living at, near, or below the pov-
erty line; and 
(2) racial inequity. 
(b) GAO REPORT ON IMPACT OF FEDERAL GOVERN-
MENT PROGRAMS OR POLICIES ON POVERTY AND RACIAL 
INEQUITY.—During the calendar year in which the date 
that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act 
falls, and during each of the following nine calendar years, 
the Comptroller General shall publish an electronic report 
on between two and five Government programs or policies 
with a substantial economic impact (as determined by the 
Comptroller General) within the past 5 fiscal years. Any 
such report shall examine the actual or potential impact 
of such programs or policies on— 
(1) individuals living at, near, or below the pov-
erty line; and 
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(2) racial inequity. 
(c) RACIAL WEALTH GAP.—An analysis under sub-
section (a) or a report under subsection (b) may, at the 
discretion of the applicable agency head or the Comptroller 
General (as the case may be), include an analysis of the 
actual or potential impact of the major rule or Govern-
ment program or policy (as the case may be) on the racial 
wealth gap. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 551 of title 5, United States 
Code; 
(2) the term ‘‘major rule’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 804 of such title 5; and 
(3) the terms ‘‘poverty line’’, ‘‘racial inequity’’, 
and ‘‘racial wealth gap’’, shall— 
(A) for purposes of an analysis under sub-
section (a), be defined as considered appro-
priate by the Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget; and 
(B) for purposes of a report under sub-
section (b), be defined as considered appro-
priate by the Comptroller General. 
Æ 
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