Summary: The central objective of S. 2, Sunset Act of 1977, is to ensure effective and systematic reevaluation of federal policy and programs. In its review process, Congress could possibly consider related programs in groups rather than individually. In this way, committees could report results of their program reviews in packages, with a single report covering all the programs in that package. For greatest effectiveness, the review package should cover the full range of programs having closely related objectives. The coverage of the program review process should be as near to universal as possible, including coverage of off budget programs. Congress should establish a flexible review schedule which provides for the evaluation of both short term and long term program objectives. Congress should consider alternative scheduling processes, such as establishing and modifying the schedule in the annual budget resolution, to facilitate coordination and adjustments in the schedule. Congress must also decide what measure of flexibility with regard to the scope and conduct of individual program reviews is appropriate. In addition, Congress should give serious consideration to providing for some sort of monitoring of the effectiveness of the sunset evaluation process itself. A forthcoming GAO report will outline a proposed process of oversight planning that could be used by congressional committees to help ensure that the evaluations performed are both feasible and acceptable. The sunset process should be carefully integrated with the existing congressional budget process to ensure that the budget process is not disrupted.
