Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO), the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, is interested in looking to apply the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) to the legislative branch of the government. Currently, GPRA is a program that requires federal agencies to set goals and measure results through annual performance report. For more information on GPRA click here. Allard wants to see legislative agencies follow the GPRA, noting during a hearing yesterday, "I want to look into whether we apply all of the formulating in the GPRA or just a part of [it]." His interest in seeing GPRA applied to legislative agencies was fueled by a funding request for FY 2006 from the Library of Congress which is significantly higher (7 percent) than the funding request was for FY 2005. The GPRA ideally would be used to evaluate programs and the resources necessary to run them effectively. Allard indicated that he will need to spend time discussing this idea with other members of the Committee before it goes anywhere. To read an article in The Hill on this issue, click here.

OIRA met with representatives from Environmental Defense on April 13 regarding the regional haze rule. Under a consent agreement with Environmental Defense, EPA was required to promulgate a rule providing guidance for reducing emissions that affect visibility in national parks by April 15. The rule would cut emissions from 25 source categories, including power plants. EPA asked for a two-month extension, which Environmental Defense granted.