Centralized Regulatory Review; Enhancing Highway Safety Highlighted During OMB Congressional Testimony
During testimony before the House Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, OIRA Administrator Dr. John Graham discussed OMB's Return Letter to NHTSA on the draft Tire Pressure Monitoring System rule. Dr. Graham's testimony explained how permitting use of an indirect pressure monitoring system would improve the affordability of adding anti-lock brakes to vehicles, a system OMB believes has substantial safety benefits.

Data Quality Act: Guidelines Apply to Public Submissions to Agencies
In remarks to the National Economists Club, OIRA Administrator Dr. John Graham said that Data Quality requirements apply to third-parties submitting information to federal agencies. Since the guidelines apply to virtually all information disseminated by agencies, Dr. Graham explained that trade associations and other third parties which submit information to the government intended for citation or other use, must ensure that their information complies with Data Quality standards. Federal contractors are also required to adhere to OMB's Data Quality requirements.

OIRA Administrator Encourages Public Participation in Development of Data Quality Guidelines
In a speech to the National Academy of Engineering, OIRA Administrator Dr. John Graham encouraged the public to participate in the development of the Data Quality guidelines being prepared by every federal agency, including independent agencies. Dr. Graham also discussed the importance of centralized regulatory review, including its role in strengthening the use of science, engineering and economics in federal regulation.

OMB PAPERS
OIRA Administrator Discusses Role of Precaution in Risk Assessment in Speech to European Conference
In a speech to an international conference examining precaution and risk management, OIRA Administrator Dr. John Graham discussed the important role of science in setting risk management priorities.

OMB PAPERS
OMB Administrator Emphasizes the Importance of Data Quality
During a speech on Executive Regulatory Review to the Weidenbaum Center Forum, OMB Administrator Dr. John Graham stressed the importance of the government-wide data quality guidelines being developed by each agency. Dr. Graham noted that each agency's guidelines would be subject to OMB review and the guidelines have the potential to enhance the quality and accountability of federal regulation.

OMB Issues Data Quality Guidelines Which Provide the Foundation for a Unified Federal Risk Assessment Program
For more than two decades, the federal government has been attempting to establish guidelines for a consistent assessment of comparable risks across various agencies. OMB's recently promulgated Data Quality guidelines will go a long way in reducing such interagency differences. Inconsistencies will be narrowed, in part, because of the modifications made by OMB to its previously published interim Data Quality guidelines, based upon public comment. The Data Quality guidelines, coupled with OMB's regulatory review authorities set forth in Executive Order 12866, require that OMB review the risk assessments that underlie federal regulations to ensure both consistency across agencies and compliance with the guidelines.