Criminal Law Library BlogAs ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 17, 2023
This bill would:
• Authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide danger pay allowances to employees who
Articles Posted in Legislative Information
The State of the Economy of the United States: As Viewed by GAO and CBO
In an earlier posting, CBO Projections: The 2023 Budget, we provided Congressional Budget Office (CBO) documents which discuss, from a budgetary perspective, their analysis and projections of what the federal budget and economy would look like over the next 20 years, if current laws generally remain unchanged. In this posting we focus primarily on material provided by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide more general dimension to this discussion. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 formed the then named General Accounting Office to investigate all matters related to the use of public funds. The Act also required GAO to report its findings to Congress and recommend ways to increase economy and efficiency in government spending. It is an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress.
Both the GAO and the CBO are partners in supporting Congress in its effort to ensure accountability to the American people. While both can be involved in the development and analysis of federal and defense budgets, sometimes collaborating in these initiatives, the GAO is also responsible for monitoring expenditures, including excessive spending, and issuing legal decisions on matters such as those related to disputes involving the awarding of government contracts, and has the power to investigate activities of the executive branch, although its enforcement powers are considered negligible.
Regarding The State of the Economy of the United States: As Viewed by GAO and CBO, there are indications from the various federal agencies reporting on these matters that over the long term the nation’s fiscal health may be in peril if current fiscal policies remain unchanged..
CBO Projections: The 2023 Long-Term Budget Outlook
Report June 28, 2023:
Introduction:
The U.S. faces a challenging fiscal outlook in the coming years, according to CBO’s projections. Measured as a percentage of GDP, large and sustained deficits lead to high and rising federal debt that exceeds any previously recorded level.
CBO: Estimated Budgetary Effects of HR. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 1023
This posting contains additional information not included in my June 22,2023 posting: HR. 3564 Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023.
As posted on the website of the House Committee on Rules on June 20, 2023
Congressional Budget Office: S.1075, Taiwan Protection and National Resilience Act of 2023
As reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 13, 2023.
Summary:
S. 1074 would require the Departments of State and Defense to identify and report to the Congress on U.S. goods and services that China relies on and Chinese goods and services that the federal government procures and relies on. The bill also would require those departments to report on policies to reduce the federal government’s reliance on Chinese imports and respond to potential coercive action by the Chinese government. On the basis of information about the costs of similar reports, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2023-2028 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
S. 308, Ending China’s Developing National Status Act
As reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 13, 2023
Summary:
S. 308 would require the Department of State to influence international organizations to reclassify China as a developed country instead of as a developing country. On the basis of information about the costs of diplomatic efforts to influence the actions of other nations and international organizations, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2023-2028 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
H.R. 3564, Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023
Received June 23,2023.
Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.
For the past several months I have been receiving directly from CBO links to which I now plan to begin posting selectively on this blog in the interest of information sharing. If there appears to be sufficient interest among readers of this blog over a period of time, I plan to continue posting selections I receive from CBO.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) : H.R. 1165, Data Privacy Act of 2023
Received : June 13, 2023.
Summary:
H.R. 1165 would amend title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) to expand and equally apply protections for consumers and customers with respect to the use of data by financial institutions. The bill would redefine the terms consumer and customer and would require financial institutions to provide opportunities for consumers and customers to opt out of having their personal data disclosed to third parties. H.R. 1165 would require financial institutions to notify people about the information they collect and hold and, upon request, delete nonpublic personal information held by the institution. Finally, the bill would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on whether the GLBA’s data safeguards adequately protect people’s nonpublic personal information.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO): Estimated Budgetary Impact of The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
INTRODUCTION:
Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress non partisan, objective analysis of budgeting and economic issues to support the congressional budget process. Each year, CBO economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation.
For the past several months I have been receiving directly from CBO links to which I now plan to begin posting selectively on this blog in the interest of information sharing. If there appears to be sufficient interest among readers of this blog over a period of time, I plan to continue posting selections I receive from CBO.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)
INTRODUCTION
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) HR 5376 was signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 16, 2022, after a tortuous route through the legislative process.
HR 5376 grew out of the Build Back Better Act (BBB) which passed the House on September 27, 2021, but failed to pass in the Senate. The provisions of BBB did, however, become the vehicle for helping move President Biden’s legislative initiatives forward.