Expedited Rescission Authority of Federal Funding : An Examination

The Impoundment Control Act (ICA), established a new framework for congressional notification and review of rescissions requested by a President. The 1974 law requires the President inform Congress of all proposed rescissions in a special message, containing specified information on each proposed rescission. With regard to congressional oversight of presidential rescissions, the ICA provides that the funds must be made available for obligation unless both houses of Congress take action to approve a rescission request included in the message received from the President within 45 days of "continuous session"; days in which either chamber is in recess for more than three days are not counted. This book examines the expedited rescission authority of federal funding with testimony presented during the hearing on "Enhancing the President''s Authority to Eliminate Wasteful Spending and Reduce the Budget Deficit".