2 U.S. Code § 190d - Legislative review by standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives

(a) Scope of assistance

In order to assist the Congress in—

(1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of the application, administration, and execution of the laws enacted by the Congress, and

(2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of such modifications of or changes in those laws, and of such additional legislation, as may be necessary or appropriate,

each standing committee of the Senate [1] and the House of Representatives shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the application, administration, and execution of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of that committee. Such committees may carry out the required analysis, appraisal, and evaluation themselves, or by contract, or may require a Government agency to do so and furnish a report thereon to the Congress. Such committees may rely on such techniques as pilot testing, analysis of costs in comparison with benefits, or provision for evaluation after a defined period of time.

(b) Reports to the Senate and the House of Representatives

In each odd-numbered year beginning on or after January 1, 1973, each standing committee of the Senate shall submit, not later than March 31, to the Senate,¹ and each standing committee of the House shall submit, not later than January 2, to the House, a report on the activities of that committee under this section during the Congress ending at noon on January 3 of such year.

(c) Exceptions

The preceding provisions of this section do not apply to the Committees on Appropriations and the Budget of the Senate ¹ and the Committees on Appropriations, the Budget, House Oversight, Rules, and Standards of Official Conduct of the House.

(Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, title I, § 136, 60 Stat. 832; Pub. L. 91–510, title I, § 118(a)(1), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 92–136, § 1, Oct. 11, 1971, 85 Stat. 376; Pub. L. 93–344, title VII, § 701, title IX, § 903(b), July 12, 1974, 88 Stat. 325, 331; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 206(1), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1742.)

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[1]  See Partial Repeal note below.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration”.

1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–344, § 701, authorized the committees to carry out the required analysis, appraisal, and evaluation themselves, or by contract, or to require a Government agency to do so and furnish a report thereon to the Congress, and authorized the committees to rely on such techniques as pilot testing, analysis of costs in comparison with benefits, or provision for evaluation after a defined period of time.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–344, § 903(b), substituted “Committees on Appropriations and the Budget of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations, the Budget,” for “Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations,”.

1971—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–136 substituted “Congress” for “Senate” in provisions preceding cl. (1) and inserted reference to the House of Representatives in provisions following cl. (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–136 substituted “In each odd-numbered year beginning on or after January 1, 1973, each” for “Each” and “March 31, to the Senate, and each standing committee of the House shall submit, not later than January 2, to the House,” for “March 31 of each odd-numbered year beginning on and after January 1, 1973, to the Senate”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–136 inserted reference to Committees on Appropriations, House Administration, Rules, and Standards of Official Conduct of the House.

1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–510 incorporated existing subject matter in provisions designated as subsec. (a), restricted the text to standing committees of Senate, revised phraseology to require standing committees to review and study, on a continuing basis, application, administration, and execution of laws and parts of laws for prior provision for exercise of continuous watchfulness of execution of laws by administrative agencies concerned, and in providing for assistance to the Senate, rather than the Congress, included analysis and evaluation of laws enacted by Congress and substituted provision for formulation, consideration, and enactment of modifications or changes in the laws and of additional legislation as necessary or appropriate for prior provisions for assistance in developing amendments or related legislation as may be necessary.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 91–510 added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999. Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Ethics of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.

Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Pub. L. 92–136, § 9(a), Oct. 11, 1971, 85 Stat. 378, provided that:

“The amendments made by the first section [amending this section] section 2, and section 5 of this Act [amending section 4301 of this title] shall become effective as of noon on January 3, 1971.”

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–510 effective immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1971, see section 601(1) of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as a note under section 4301 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 2, 1947, see section 142 of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, title I, 60 Stat. 834.

Partial Repeal

Section 2(a), S. Res. 274, Ninety-sixth Congress, Nov. 14, 1979, provided in part that this section, insofar as it relates to the Senate, is repealed. See Standing Rules of the Senate.