Reps. Hoogendyk, Drolet and Bradstreet offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 370.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to strengthen the provisions of the Data Quality Act to ensure that federal regulations are made on the basis of sound information.

            Whereas, In 2000, an amendment to an appropriations act established a requirement that proposed federal regulations can be challenged when the data behind regulatory decisions is found to be in question.  This amendment, which is known as the Data Quality Act, has already been invoked by numerous interested parties.  The parties using this provision to reexamine a proposed rule have included organizations across the political spectrum; and

            Whereas, While public focus is often placed upon lawmaking, it is often the case that regulations promulgated to carry out the details of a specific provision of law have a more profound impact than anticipated.  While burdensome regulations may be the most obvious instance of this, regulations that are largely ineffective also can hamper the development of public policy; and

            Whereas, The Data Quality Act provides for a higher standard for the quality of information a governmental agency uses by permitting challenges to proposed regulations.  The enactment allows companies or other entities to petition the government to challenge the scientific findings upon which a regulation is based.  This type of action could result in a redrafting of the regulation; and

            Whereas, While the Data Quality Act holds significant promise in the effort to make sure that government decisions are based on factual, comprehensive information, there are concerns that the measure is not as uniform in its application as it could be.  Clarifying when a petition warrants further action would be a productive enhancement to the Data Quality Act; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to strengthen the provisions of the Data Quality Act to ensure that federal regulations are made on the basis of sound information.  We urge that the instances when and how this legislation can be invoked be clarified to encourage public participation in the regulatory process; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.