A bill to establish a Commission on Federal Paperwork.
Public Law 93-556 · H.R. 16424 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Dec 27, 1974 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Horton (R-NY-34)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Chester Holifield, Rep. Gus Yatron
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Expresses the findings of Congress, including that Federal information reporting requirements have placed an unprecedented paperwork burden upon private citizens, recipients of Federal assistance, businesses, governmental contractors, and State and local governments.
Establishes a Commission on Federal Paperwork to study procedures and practices of the Federal Government relating to information gathering, dissemination, and the management and control of information activities. Enumerates the areas to be considered by the Commission in its studies.
Directs the Commission to make a final report to the Congress and the President within two years of the date of its first meeting.
Sets forth the membership composition of the Commission and their compensation. Details the administrative powers of the Commission. Calls for cooperation between Federal agencies and the Commission.
Authorizes to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.
- Dec 27, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-556.
- Dec 16, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 12, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Dec 11, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Oct 8, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Oct 7, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Oct 1, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Aug 14, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.