The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 3310, which would waive fines for
first-time violators of Federal information collection requirements. The
waiver provision could seriously hamper agencies' ability to ensure safety,
protect the environment, detect criminal activity, and carry out a number
of other statutory responsibilities. If H.R. 3310 were presented to the
President in its current form, the Attorney General, the Secretary of
Transportation, the Secretary of Labor, and the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency would recommend that he veto it.
As current law already requires agencies to help first-time small business
violators who make a good faith effort to comply, the primary beneficiaries
of H.R. 3310 would appear to be those who do not act in good faith, and
those who intentionally or willfully violate the applicable regulations.
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