The USA Act of 2024: New Oversight Requirements for Federal Agencies

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill would change the operational requirements for federal agencies by mandating public testimony and written responses to congressional committees, with a provision to reduce the pay of non-responsive agency officers to $1 per year.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal agency officers

They are subject to new mandatory testimony requirements, reporting obligations, and potential pay penalties for non-responsiveness.

Congressional committee chairs and ranking members

They gain new authority to require testimony and receive mandatory written responses from agencies.

Senate-confirmed nominees

They are required to testify before their relevant Senate committee before their nomination can be confirmed.

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

They are tasked with compiling and analyzing annual reports on agency retrospective reviews.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

The USA Act of 2024 would require federal agency officials to testify before Congress regarding major new rules and Senate-confirmed nominations. It also mandates retrospective cost-benefit reviews of major regulations and establishes strict 30-day deadlines for agencies to respond to formal congressional inquiries.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

This bill would change the operational requirements for federal agencies by mandating public testimony and written responses to congressional committees, with a provision to reduce the pay of non-responsive agency officers to $1 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if an agency official does not respond to a congressional letter?

If they fail to respond within 60 days, they must appear and testify before the committee. If the letter was from both House and Senate leadership and no response is provided within 90 days, the official's pay is reduced to $1 per year until they respond.

Can a committee chair skip the mandatory testimony requirement?

Yes, a chair may waive the requirement on a case-by-case basis if they issue a written determination that the testimony is unnecessary.

Does this bill apply to all federal rules?

No, the testimony and retrospective review requirements specifically apply to 's' as defined by existing law.

News Coverage

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Related Legislation

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This resolution seeks to nullify the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 'Phase 3' greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, such

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Shift toward mandatory retrospective review

The bill moves beyond prospective rulemaking oversight by mandating that agencies perform and publish cost-benefit analyses five years after a rule is implemented.

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Connected Entities

organizationComptroller General“Recipient of retrospective reports.”Map →

organizationHouse of Representatives“Reference to committees within the House.”Map →

personSenate-confirmed nominees“Requires testimony for nominees requiring Senate approval.”Map →

organizationOffice of Information and Regulatory Affairs“Recipient of retrospective reports.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs“The bill was initially referred to this committee.”Map →

organizationFederal Agency“Responsible for submitting retrospective reports.”Map →

organizationSenate“The bill was introduced in the Senate.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy65
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment40
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level