Hearings of the
Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House
H.R. 350 - Mandates Information Act of 1999
The purpose of the hearing was to review the implications of expanding the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act point of order procedures to private sector mandates. In particular, the hearing examined H.R. 350, the Mandates Information Act of 1999, legislation that is intended to increase congressional accountability and public awareness, and to improve congressional deliberation on proposed Federal private sector mandates.
On March 22, 1995, President Clinton signed into law the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, which amended title IV of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974. A key component of the Republican "Contract With America," UMRA was one of the first bills enacted by the 104th Congress. The law, which took effect on January 1, 1996, was designed to provide information to Congress and the public about Federal mandates on state and local governments without full information on the costs and effects of such legislation.