Latest News
Thompson Announces GAO Report Results: Unfunded Mandates Act Has Little Effect On Federal Rulemaking, Shows Need For Regulatory Improvement Act
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 6, 1998
News Release: Washington, DC-Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) today announced that in response to his study request, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report showing that the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 has had little effect on the way federal agencies make rules. Thompson is sponsoring legislation to make regulation more effective and efficient.
Levin-Thompson Regulatory Improvement Act Unveiled
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 3, 1998
News Release: Washington, DC -- Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., today launched a bipartisan effort to significantly improve the federal regulatory process. The two unveiled the revised Levin-Thompson Regulatory Improvement Act which they believe will result in smarter, more effective and more efficient regulations by improving the way agencies make regulatory decisions.
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Passes Census of Agriculture Act of 1997
By Homeland Newswire | Nov 6, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs yesterday unanimously approved a bipartisan bill to transfer responsibility for the Census of Agriculture from the Census Bureau to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Thompson Expresses Sympathy For Shipyard Workers, Urges State Officials to Act
By Homeland Newswire | Nov 5, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC-The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee today approved by a unanimous vote legislation (H.R. 1953) that would prohibit Kentucky from taxing Tennesseans who work at Fort Campbell.
Thompson Supports Proposal to Disclose Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
By Homeland Newswire | Jul 22, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC-Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) today supported passage of a provision requiring the federal government to disclose to the public the costs and benefits of federal regulatory programs, which cost the average American household $7,000 per year.
Governmental Affairs Committee and Appropriations Committee Hold Joint Hearing on Government Accountability
By Homeland Newswire | Jun 24, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC -- In a historic first-ever joint hearing of the two committees, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) and Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) today called on federal agencies to actively work for a smaller, leaner government by complying with the Government Performance and Results Acts (GPRA).
Thompson, Stevens Call on Federal Agencies to Give Account
By Homeland Newswire | Jun 24, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC - In a historic firstever joint hearing of the two committees, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) and Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) today called on federal agende's to actively work for a smaller, leaner government by complying with the Government Performance and Re'sults Acts (GPRA).
Committee Approves $5.456 Billion in Reconciliation Savings
By Homeland Newswire | Jun 17, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee today voted to report a reconciliation bill that saves more then $5 billion over the next five years. Chairman Thompson stated, "On balance, I believe this is a responsible bill. It spreads the burden equitably among all current federal employees. At the same time, we have protected federal employees and retirees from a major cost increase in health premiums.".
Measures on Biennial Budgeting and Corporate Subsidies Approved
By Homeland Newswire | May 23, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday approved for full Senate consideration two reform measures. The first, S. 261, is a measure that would provide for a biennial budget and appropriations process which would reduce the amount of time spent on the budget process and provide more time for program oversight and reviewing the performance of the federal government.
Hearing on Biennial Budgeting Scheduled for Apil 23
By Homeland Newswire | Apr 18, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) announced today that the Committee will hold a hearing on the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act (S. 261). The bill will change the current annual budget and appropriations process to a two-year cycle. The measure also increases oversight in the second year, and puts agency reporting requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) more firmly within the budget process.
Possible "Catastrophic" Results...If Courts Struck Down Year 2000 Decennial Census
By Homeland Newswire | Apr 16, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) following hearings today said that it would be "catastrophic" if statutory or Constitutional problems resulted in the 2000 Census results being struck down by the courts. He also said that "the confidence of the people in the conduct of the Census is critical to its successful completion.".
Thompson Calls on OMB to Include Off-Budget Costs in Drafting Strategic Plans for Use by Federal Agencies
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 25, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) today called on the Clinton Administration to assist in making certain that "the agencies, as they develop their strategic plans (under the Government Performance and Results Act), are directly considering the role of regulatory and other off-budget costs in meeting their goals and objectives.".
Governmental Affairs Holds Corporate Welfare Hearing
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 13, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--"It is a matter of fairness and shared sacrifice that we require no less of profit-making enterprises than we ask of all Americans," Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) said today as he opened a hearing on legislation (S.207) that would create a commission to address government programs which provide some corporations with unfair subsidies or tax benefits.
Governmental Affairs To Address GAO's "High-Risk" Programs
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 12, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) today responded to the report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) on federal program areas identified as "high risk" because they are vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. Thompson said he was "deeply...
Thompson Urges New HUD, Commerce Secretaries...To Improve Management Practices By Compliance With New Laws
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 4, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) urged new HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo and Commerce Secretary William Daley to effectively implement bipartisan government management reforms that would help improve their agencies management operations and save millions of dollars in government waste, fraud and abuse.
Governmental Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing on Two-Year Budget Cycle
By Homeland Newswire | Feb 3, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) said today that he would hold hearings on bipartisan legislation he will introduce with Senator Domenici to convert the appropriations and budget process to a two-year cycle.
Strong Agenda Set for Governmental Affairs Committee
By Homeland Newswire | Jan 29, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--At a meeting today to help organize the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee's agenda in the 105th Congress, Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) made it clear that the Committee would undertake a sweeping set of initiatives which would focus on federal oversight, reform of the regulation-writing process and making government more efficient and effective.
Thompson Urges Albright to Improve State Department Efficiency
By Homeland Newswire | Jan 23, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) urged new Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to "provide the leadership necessary for the State Department to meet its management challenges of the next century.".
Thompson Calls on Administration to Cut Paperwork
By Homeland Newswire | Jan 22, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) today strongly urged the Administration to meet its obligations under law and substantially cut back on the paperwork burdens it places on Americans.
THOMPSON ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
By Homeland Newswire | Jan 8, 1997
News Release: Washington, DC--United States Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) was elected Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on January 7 by his colleagues on the Committee. The Republican Conference and the full Senate are expected to confirm his election later this week.