Oversight Committee Advances Bills to Improve Government Transparency, Accountability

WASHINGTON – At a full committee business meeting today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed several bills to improve transparency and accountability, including H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent (ALERT) Act of 2013.

“Today, the Committee advanced several bills that will open and improve transparency around the frequently inscrutable regulatory process,” Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said. “The ALERT Act ensures that citizens and business owners no longer have to wonder what costly new rules and regulations agencies are putting on the books next. By making this information regularly reported and accessible to the public, we can increase accountability for the billions of dollars of regulatory costs rules create each year.”

The ALERT Act was adopted as amended by Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA, on a vote of 19-15.

The Committee adopted the following bills:

• H.R. 3308, the Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2013
• H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act of 2013 (ALERT Act)
• H.R. 4011, the Alaska Bypass Fair Competition Act