WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today introduced the Legislative Performance Review Act of 2016. The legislation, originally cosponsored by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), encourages Congress to regularly review federal programs and look for solutions to improve, consolidate, or eliminate duplicative and wasteful spending programs.

“We cannot afford to keep spending taxpayer dollars on expired programs and ones that are never reviewed. My bill will end expired programs, require Congress to review the need for programs before spending more money, and make sure we are only using tax dollars on things that make sense,” Sen. Rand Paul said.

“It is time for Congress to reexamine what we are actually funding in order to improve or eliminate government programs not delivering results,” said Sen. Mike Enzi. “By taking a closer look at these programs and activities, Congress would have more funding flexibility to boost important programs and priorities.”

“Congress should not spend one dime which does not advance the interests of the American people. We must closely scrutinize government spending and eliminate or consolidate all unnecessary and duplicative programs,” Sen. Jeff Sessions said. “This legislation provides valuable tools to reduce existing unnecessary spending and prevent frivolous tax dollar use in the future.”

Top-line bullet points and background information on the Legislative Performance Review Act of 2016 can be found below. To read the legislation in its entirety, click HERE.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Legislative Performance Review Act of 2016 would do the following:

1. Cause authorizers to regularly review program performance by limiting all authorizations to four years.
   1. Allow authorizing committees to request – by resolution – longer authorizations for specific programs in their jurisdiction if they believe a longer review period is more appropriate. 
2. Makes an orderly “wind down” programs over a two-year period if their authorization expires.
3. Require committees to utilize existing Government Performance and Results Act data, Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports, including: the duplication report, Inspector General information, and other evidence of program performance.
4. For new programs, ask authorizers to state the problem to be solved, and why a new program is necessary.
5. Create a point of order against any provision in an appropriations bill that funds a program for a fiscal year in which it is not authorized.
   1. The point of order only strikes the offending text, not the whole bill.
   2. The point of order may be waived by 3/5th vote in the Senate.

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