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H.R. 31 115th Congress House

Federal Sunset Act of 2017

Official title: To provide for the periodic review of the efficiency and public need for Federal agencies, to establish a commission for the purpose of reviewing the efficienc… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To provide for the periodic review of the efficiency and public need for Federal agencies, to establish a commission for the purpose of reviewing the efficiency and public need of such agencies, and to provide for the abolishment of agencies for which a public need does not exist.

Introduced: January 3, 2017 Introduced by: Richard Hudson Republican · North Carolina See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementPerformance measurement
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 3, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Jan 3, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 3, 2017

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Sunset Act of 2017

This bill establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each federal executive agency, including advisory committees; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. The bill requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. The deadline for abolishing an agency may be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 2037.

The Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Congressional Research Service, shall prepare an inventory of federal programs within each agency, including the budget authority for each such program, to assist Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this bill.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 39 Reintroduced Bill Federal Sunset Act of 2019
  • HR 183 Reintroduction of Federal Sunset Act of 2015
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 1
R
Arrington, Jodey C.
Texas · Apr 24, 2017
Olson, Pete
· Apr 3, 2017
Rice, Tom
· Feb 15, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 31: Federal Sunset Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-31/
MLA
"H.R. 31: Federal Sunset Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-31/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 31, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-31/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 31: Federal Sunset Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-31/)
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