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H.R.5151 / 111th Congress

Congressional Oversight and Spending Transparency (COST) Act of 2010

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 27, 2010

Congressional Oversight and Spending Transparency (COST) Act of 2010 - Prohibits the amount authorized to be appropriated for FY2011 for the Members' Representational Allowance under the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act from exceeding the appropriated amount for FY2009.

Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to prohibit the use of funds of the House of Representatives for official mail of a Member of the House for any material other than a document transmitted under the official letterhead used for the Member's stationery.

Requires quarterly reports by the Chief Administrative Officer of receipts and expenditures for official mail of the House to include, in the required statement of costs incurred for official mail by each person entitled to use the congressional frank, a breakdown of the costs incurred for each category of mass mailings and communications covered by the statement.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6] · R–AZ

Committees

  • Committee on House Administration
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.5151 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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