BPLA (Contents)

Budget Process Law Annotated (1993)

Section 701

[PAGES 343-345]

TITLE VII PROGRAM REVIEW AND EVALUATION

review and evaluation by standing committees

Sec.701. Section 136(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 190d) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentences: “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.”⁹³⁷

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937. Public Law 97-258 repealed section 702. See “An Act: to Revise, Codify, and Enact Without Substantive Change Certain General and Permanent Laws, Related to Money and Finance, as Title 31, United States Code, ‘Money and Finance’,” Pub. L. 97-258, 96 Stat. 871, 1082 (1982). Section 702 was codified in sections 702, 717, 719, and 731 of title 31. As originally enacted in 1974, section 702 read as follows: 

review and evaluation

Sec. 702. Section 204 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 [31 U.S.C. 1154] is amended to read as follows: 

“review and evaluation 

 “Sec. 204. (a) The Comptroller General shall review and evaluate the results of Government programs and activities carried on under existing law when ordered by either House of Congress or upon his own initiative, or when requested by any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or any joint committee of the two Houses, having jurisdiction over such programs and activities.

[Page 344]

 “(b) The Comptroller General, upon request of any committee of either House of Congress or any joint committee of the two Houses shall—

“(1) assist such committee or joint committee in developing a statement of legislative objectives and goals and methods for assessing and reporting actual program performance in relation to such legislative objectives and goals. Such statements shall include, but are not limited to, recommendations as to methods of assessment, information to be reported, responsibility for reporting, frequency of reports, and feasibility of pilot testing; and

“(2) assist such committee or joint committee in analyzing or assessing program reviews or evaluation studies prepared by and for any Federal agency.

Upon the request of any Member of either House, the Comptroller General shall furnish to such Member a copy of any such statement other material compiled in carrying out paragraph (1) or (2) which has been released by the committee or joint committee for which it was compiled.

“(c) The Comptroller General shall develop and recommend to the Congress methods for review and evaluation of Government programs and activities carried under existing laws.

“(d) In carrying out his responsibilities under this section the Comptroller General is authorized to establish an Office of Program Review and Evaluation within the General Accounting Office.

“(e) The Comptroller General shall include in his annual report to the Congress a review of activities under this section, including his recommendations of methods for review and evaluation of Government programs and activities under  subsection (c).” 

[Note #937 continues on page 345]

(b) Item 204 in the table of contents of such Act is amended to read as follows: 

“Sec. 204. Review and evaluation.”

Counsel Notes

SECTION 701, in Current Law

Section 701 as in the current Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 97-344).

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