Description:
S. 195 would require the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a website for the public to obtain electronic copies of all Congressionally mandated reports. Under S. 195, all federal agencies would be required to provide GPO with electronic copies of reports required by law each year. The Library of Congress (LOC) would be required to submit to GPO a list of Congressionally mandated reports that must be submitted during a year. Using information from GPO, LOC, and federal agencies that produce thousands of Congressionally mandated reports, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $400,000 a year or $2 million over the 2019-2024 period. Those costs primarily consist of the salaries and expenses associated with four employees who would establish and maintain the website. In addition, there would be some costs for the agencies to collect and submit Congressionally mandated reports. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting S. 195 could affect direct spending by some agencies (such as the Tennessee Valley Authority) because they are authorized to use receipts from fees, the sale of goods, and other collections to cover their operating costs. Because most of those agencies can adjust the amounts they collect as operating costs change, CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible.
