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H.R. 3785 102nd Congress House

Fiscal Accountability Act of 1991

Official title: To require authorizations of new budget authority for Government programs at least every ten years, to provide for review of Government programs every ten years, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 14, 1991 See on congress.gov
Economics and Public Finance Administrative procedureAppropriationsAuthorizationCongressional committees (House)
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Congressional committees (Senate)Congressional oversightCost effectivenessEvaluationExecutive reorganizationFederal advisory bodiesFederal budgetsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGovernment regulationHouse rules and procedureLegislationPlanningProductivity in governmentPublic administrationSenate rules and procedureSunset legislation
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 18, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.
Nov 14, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
Nov 14, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.
Nov 14, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 18, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fiscal Accountability Act of 1991 - Title I: Reauthorizations of Government Programs - Requires each Government program to be reauthorized at least once during each sunset reauthorization cycle. (Sunset reauthorization cycle means the period of five Congresses beginning with the 103d Congress and with each sixth Congress following the 103d Congress.)

Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority.

Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified items, such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and specified retirement pay and benefits.

Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs.

Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist the Congress in carrying out reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process.

Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1992.

Directs the congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and to suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of the Congress and that such revisions be reported to each House.

Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction.

Sets forth procedures for such review and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation.

Title IV: Citizens' Commission On The Organization And Operation Of Government - Authorizes establishment of a Citizens' Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government as an independent instrumentality of the United States. Requires the Commission to conduct a study and investigation of the organization and methods of operation of Federal executive entities and authorities. Requires Commission reports to the President and specified congressional committees detailing its findings and recommendations for changes to increase the effectiveness of Government programs, services, and activities. Authorizes appropriations.

Title V: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a regulatory duplication and conflicts report for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress.

Requires specified congressional committees to report on a review of the procedures established under this Act by December 31, 1998, and every five years thereafter.

Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3785: Fiscal Accountability Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3785/
MLA
"H.R. 3785: Fiscal Accountability Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3785/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3785, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3785/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3785: Fiscal Accountability Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3785/)
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