Home > 105th Congressional Bills > H.R. 1633 (ih) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit for education expenses. ...H.R. 1633 (ih) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit for education expenses. ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1632
To create a national commission, modeled after the successful Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission, to establish a timely,
independent, and fair process for realigning or closing outdated,
ineffective, or inefficient executive agencies.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2003
Mr. Royce introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To create a national commission, modeled after the successful Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission, to establish a timely,
independent, and fair process for realigning or closing outdated,
ineffective, or inefficient executive agencies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Government Reform Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a national commission to be known as the
``Government Reform Commission''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``Commission'' means the Government Reform
Commission.
(2) The term ``documents'' means books, records, papers,
accounts, transcripts, transcriptions, and reports, in whatever
form or medium they may be preserved.
(3) The term ``executive agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(4) The term ``member'' means a member of the Commission.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Numbers, Appointment, and Qualifications.--The Commission shall
be composed of 12 members, appointed by the President, from among
persons who possess--
(1) a degree or an advanced degree in the field of business
management or public administration; or
(2) a significant background in business supervision,
management, and administration.
(b) Consultation.--Of the members appointed under subsection (a)--
(1) one member shall be appointed following consultation
with the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) one member shall be appointed following consultation
with the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
(3) one member shall be appointed following consultation
with the President pro Tempore of the Senate; and
(4) one member shall be appointed following consultation
with the minority leader of the Senate.
(c) Additional Requirements.--The members shall also satisfy the
following additional requirements:
(1) Each member shall be a United States citizen and shall
reside in the United States.
(2) Not more than four members shall be from the same
political party, excluding those members appointed following
consultation required under subsection (b).
(3) A member may not currently hold or have held within the
preceeding five years any paid position with any local or State
government or executive agency.
(4) A member may not be a party to an ongoing and
continuing contract with any local or State government or
executive agency, or be an employee of an entity that is a
party to such a contract.
(5) A member may not be a lobbyist, as defined by either
State or Federal law at the time of the appointment of the
member.
(d) Operation.--
(1) Appointment.--Members shall be appointed not later than
30 days from the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Chairperson.--The President shall designate one member
to serve as chairperson of the Commission.
(3) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for a term of
two years and may be reappointed for a second term of two
years. No member shall serve more than four years on the
Commission.
(4) Quorum.--Six members shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of conducting a session of the Commission, but a lesser
number may conduct hearings.
(5) Compensation.--Members shall serve without pay, but
members shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code.
(6) Professional staff.--The Commission may employ,
pursuant to laws and regulations governing the civil service,
an executive secretary and any clerical, professional, and
technical assistants as may be necessary.
(7) Mandatory resignation.--In the event that a member
accepts a position as an officer or employee of any local or
State government or executive agency, the member shall resign
from the Commission within 30 days from the date the member
accepts such position.
(8) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made. The
appointment of the replacement member shall be made not later
than 30 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
SEC. 5. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND POWERS.
(a) Review of Executive Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall--
(A) examine the current configuration of executive
agencies and investigate their duties and
responsibilities; and
(B) review the operational jurisdictions of
executive agencies to determine whether areas of
overlap exist and whether the mission of any agency has
become obsolete.
(2) Process.--As part of the review under paragraph (1),
the Commission shall identify and address--
(A) opportunities for increasing efficiency and
reducing costs in executive agencies as a result of
executive action or legislation;
(B) areas within executive agencies where
managerial accountability can be enhanced and
administrative control can be improved;
(C) any Federal programs that have accomplished
their original objectives and should be terminated;
(D) any Federal services that could be provided at
lower cost by the private sector;
(E) budget process reforms that could yield
savings, increase accountability and efficiency, and
enhance public confidence in the budget process; and
(F) areas for further study based on likelihood for
potential savings.
(b) Review of Prior Reform Efforts.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall review existing
Government Accounting Office, Congressional Budget Office, and
Inspector General reports, together with any other existing
governmental and nongovernmental recommendations, including
recommendations offered by the President's Private Sector
Survey on Cost Control, for reducing waste in executive
agencies.
(2) Reports.--Based on the review under paragraph (1), the
Commission shall periodically submit to the President and
Congress reports which shall include the following:
(A) A list of such recommendations to reduce waste
in executive agencies that the Commission determines
are most significant.
(B) The estimated cost savings of the
recommendations.
(C) A determination of whether the recommendations
can be implemented by executive order or whether they
instead require legislative action.
(c) Proposed Reorganization Plan.--
(1) In general.--Upon completion of the reviews required
under subsections (a) and (b), but not later than July 15,
2004, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress
a proposed reorganization plan for executive agencies. The
proposed reorganization plan shall provide for the realignment
or closure of executive agencies to reduce duplication of
services and increase productivity.
(2) Visitation.--The Commission may not recommend an
executive agency for realignment or closure unless at least one
member has visited the executive agency prior to January 1,
2004, as part of the review conducted under subsection (a).
(3) Transmittal.--The Commission shall transmit a copy of
the proposed reorganization plan to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget, who shall prepare and issue a public
report that details the predicted savings in Federal
expenditures that would result from implementing the
reorganization plan.
(d) Hearings and Sessions.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall meet in session at
least once per month at the call of the chairperson.
Additionally, as part of its review process, the Commission
shall conduct three public hearings across the United States.
The final hearing shall be held in Washington, D.C., not later
than March 1, 2004.
(2) Additional powers.--The Commission may--
(A) meet at additional times and places that it may
consider appropriate;
(B) issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of
witnesses and the production of documents;
(C) administer oaths; and
(D) contract, as it considers appropriate, for the
provision of services, facilities, studies, and reports
that will assist the Commission in carrying out its
duties, responsibilities, and powers.
SEC. 6. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION ON REORGANIZATION PLAN.
(a) Presidential Consideration.--No later than August 1, 2004, the
President shall act on the proposed reorganization plan submitted by
the Commission, either by approving the plan without alteration or
amendment, or by returning the plan to the Commission for review. If
the President returns the plan to the Commission, the President shall
include such proposed revisions to the plan as the President considers
appropriate.
(b) Review and Revision.--If the proposed reorganization plan is
returned to the Commission for revision, the Commission shall have 30
days in which to review the Presidential recommendations submitted
under subsection (a) and to revise the plan. The Commission may, at its
discretion, incorporate any recommendations proposed by the President
to the plan.
(c) Resubmission.--At the conclusion of the 30-day period, the
Commission shall resubmit the reorganization plan to the President and
Congress and retransmit a copy of such plan to the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget. The Director shall prepare and issue a
revised public report that details the predicted savings in federal
expenditures that would result from implementing the revised
reorganization.
(d) Effect of Rejection.--If the President rejects the resubmitted
reorganization plan, such rejection shall conclude the reorganization
process for the year under this Act. The Commission may, following
reconsideration and at least one public hearing, resubmit a revised
reorganization plan in the following year.
SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON REORGANIZATION PLAN.
(a) Submission to Congress.--If the President approves the proposed
reorganization plan submitted by the Commission, the President shall
submit the reorganization plan, free of alterations or amendments, to
Congress.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) Congressional consideration.--The reorganization plan
submitted under subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a
reorganization plan submitted under chapter 9 of title 5,
United States Code, except that the reorganization plan shall
take effect on the first day following 60 calendar days of
continuous session of Congress, beginning on the date on which
the plan is submitted, or a later date as may be provided by
the plan, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution rejecting
the reorganization plan.
(2) Suspension of section.--This Act shall be valid for all
intents and purposes notwithstanding section 905(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
(c) Reorganization.--Unless the reorganization plan is rejected as
provided in subsection (b), those executive agencies recommended for
realignment or closure in the reorganization plan shall be realigned or
closed beginning as soon as practicable after the effective date of the
reorganization plan, and completed within three years after the
effective date.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate at the end of the 30-day period
beginning on the effective date of the reorganization plan or the date
a joint resolution rejecting the reorganization plan is enacted.
SEC. 9. FUNDING AND SUPPORT.
The Commission shall be funded, staffed, and equipped without cost
to the Federal Government. To accomplish this objective, the Secretary
of Commerce shall engage in a joint project with a nonprofit
organization in accordance with the first section of Public Law 91-412
(15 U.S.C. 1525).
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