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S.Res.119 / 115th Congress

COST Savings Resolution

Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2430)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 6, 2017

Congressional Oversight to Start Taxpayer Savings Resolution or the COST Savings Resolution

Requires each standing committee of the Senate (except the Committee on Appropriations) with jurisdiction, after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports annually to Congress on federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives with duplicative goals and activities, to conduct hearings on the report's recommendations for consolidation and elimination of the program, agency, office, or initiative.

Requires each standing committee of the Senate (except the Committee on Appropriations) with jurisdiction over any agency or program area on a High Risk List published by the GAO to conduct hearings on the vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or need for transformation, of the agency or program area.

Authorizes committees to hold joint hearings for any program, agency, office, initiative, or program area over which more than one standing committee has jurisdiction.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] · R–CO

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2430)

  2. Introduced in Senate

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 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Res.119 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

Examine S.Res.119 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.Res.119 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.Res.119 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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