Truth in Regulating Act of 2000
PL 106-312 (S.1198), enacted 10/17/2000

X 
114 STAT. 1248 
PUBLIC LAW 106-312—OCT. 17, 2000 
Public Law 106-312 
106th Congress 
An Act 
^ 
To establish a 3-year pilot project for the General Accounting Office to report 
' 
to Congress on economically significant rules of Federal agencies, and for other 
[S. 1198] 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Truth in 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
dfloOO*^'^ ^'^ 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
5 use 801 note. 
This Act may be cited as the 'Truth in Regulating Act of 
2000". 
5 u s e 801 note. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) increase the transparency of important regulatory 
decisions; 
(2) promote effective congressional oversight to ensure that 
agency rules fulfill statutory requirements in an efficient, effec-
tive, and fair manner; and 
(3) increase the accountability of Congress and the agencies 
to the people they serve. 
5 u s e 801 note. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the term— 
(1) "agency" has the meaning given such term under section 
551( 1) of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) "economically significant rule" means any proposed or 
final rule, including an interim or direct final rule, that may 
have an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more 
or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector 
of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environ-
ment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal govern-
ments or communities; and 
(3) "independent evaluation" means a substantive evalua-
tion of the agency's data, methodology, and assumptions used 
in developing the economically significant rule, including— 
(A) an explanation of how any strengths or weaknesses 
in those data, methodology, and assumptions support or 
detract from conclusions reached by the agency; and 
(B) the implications, if any, of those strengths or weak-
nesses for the rulemaking. 
5 u s e 801 note. 
SEC. 4. PILOT PROJECT FOR REPORT ON RULES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) REQUEST FOR REVIEW.—^When an agency publishes an 
economically significant rule, a chairman or ranking member 
of a committee of jurisdiction of either House of Congress 
PUBLIC LAW 10&-312—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1249 
may request the Comptroller General of the United States 
to review the rule. 
(2) REPORT.—^The Comptroller General shall submit a 
report on each economically significant rule selected under 
paragraph (4) to the committees of jurisdiction in each House Deadline, 
of Congress not later than 180 calendar days after a committee 
request is received. The report shall include an independent 
evaluation of the economically significant rule by the Comp-
troller General. 
(3) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—^The independent evalua-
tion of the economically significant rule by the Comptroller 
General under paragraph (2) shall include— 
(A) an evaluation of the agency's analysis of the poten-
tial benefits of the rule, including any beneficial effects 
that cannot be quantified in monetary terms and the identi-
fication of the persons or entities likely to receive the 
benefits; 
(B) an evaluation of the agency's analysis of the poten-
tial costs of the rule, including any adverse effects that 
cannot be quantified in monetary terms and the identifica-
tion of the persons or entities likely to bear the costs; 
(C) an evaluation of the agency's analysis of alternative 
approaches set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking 
and in the rulemaking record, as well as of any regulatory 
impact analysis, federalism assessment, or other analysis 
or assessment prepared by the agency or required for the 
economically significant rule; and 
(D) a summary of the results of the evaluation of 
the Comptroller General and the implications of those 
results. 
(4) PROCEDURES FOR PRIORITIES OF REQUESTS.—^The Comp-
troller Greneral shall have discretion to develop procedures for 
determining the priority and number of requests for review 
under paragraph (1) for which a report will be submitted under 
paragraph (2). 
(b) AUTHORITY OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—^Each agency shall 
promptly cooperate with the Comptroller General in carrying out 
this Act. Nothing in this Act is intended to expand or limit the 
authority of the General Accounting Office. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
5 USC 801 note. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the General 
Accounting Office to carry out this Act $5,200,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2000 through 2002. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PILOT PROJECT. 
5 USC 801 note. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^This Act and the amendments made 
by this Act shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) DURATION OF PILOT PROJECT.^The pilot project under this 
Act shall continue for a period of 3 years, if in each fiscal year, 
or portion thereof included in that period, a specific annual appro-
priation not less than $5,200,000 or the pro-rated equivalent thereof 
shall have been made for the pilot project. 
114 STAT. 1250 
PUBLIC LAW 106-312—OCT. 17, 2000 
(c) REPORT.—^Before the conclusion of the 3-year period, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report reviewing 
the effectiveness of the pilot project and recommending whether 
or not Congress should permanently authorize the pilot project. 
Approved October 17, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1198: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-225 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
May 9, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 3, considered and passed House.