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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1091 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1091

  To establish the Commission on Information Technology and Paperwork 
                               Reduction.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 1993

 Mr. Clinger (for himself, Mr. Fawell, and Mr. Zimmer) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                               Operations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To establish the Commission on Information Technology and Paperwork 
                               Reduction.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Federal information reporting requirements continue to 
        place an unprecedented paperwork burden upon private citizens, 
        recipients of Federal assistance, businesses, government 
        contractors and grantees, and State and local governments.
            (2) A renewed effort is required to assure that the policy 
        stated in subsection (b) is fully implemented.
            (3) It is necessary to reexamine the policies and 
        procedures of the Federal Government which have an impact on 
        the paperwork burden, for the purpose of ascertaining what 
        changes are necessary and desirable in its information policies 
        and practices so as to eliminate unnecessary paperwork burdens 
        and ensure that the Federal Government collects and maintains 
        all information needed to set policy, implement laws, and 
        operate programs.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the policy of the Federal Government to 
minimize the information reporting burden, consistent with agency 
missions and the needs for information to set policy, implement laws, 
and operate programs.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    To accomplish the purpose set forth in section 1(b), there is 
hereby established the Commission on Information Technology and 
Paperwork Reduction (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS.

    (a) Review of Former Commission.--The Commission shall study and 
review the principal findings and recommendations of the Commission on 
Paperwork established by the Act of December 27, 1974 (Public Law 93-
556) to determine which of those recommendations have been implemented 
and why any other of those recommendations have not been implemented.
    (b) Investigate Federal Information Laws, Etc.--The Commission 
shall study and investigate statutes, policies, rules, regulations, 
procedures, and practices of the Federal Government relating to 
information gathering and processing, and the management and control of 
these information activities. The Commission shall consider--
            (1) the nature and extent of current Federal collections of 
        information from other public and private profit and not-for-
        profit entities;
            (2) the effect of existing statutes on the information 
        requirements of the Federal Government and authorities of 
        existing Federal agencies to collect information on a timely 
        basis;
            (3) the nature and extent of management and control over 
        the determination of Federal information needs and the choice 
        of information gathering and processing methods;
            (4) the nature and extent to which Federal agencies 
        cooperate with State and local governments and private entities 
        in collecting and processing information;
            (5) the procedures used and the extent to which 
        considerations of economy and efficiency impact Federal 
        information activities, particularly as these matters relate to 
        costs burdening the Federal Government and providers of 
        information;
            (6) the nature and extent of advances in information 
        technology and its use in minimizing burden and maximizing 
        utility in the collection, processing, and maintenance of 
        information by the Government;
            (7) the nature and extent to which information resources 
        management responsibilities and the President's responsibility 
        to review agency paperwork rulemaking should continue to be 
        integrated in the Executive Office of the President;
            (8) the nature and extent to which the Paperwork Reduction 
        Act has been appropriately and effectively implemented by the 
        Office of Management and Budget; and
            (9) such other matters as the Commission determines affect 
        Federal information resources management.
    (c) Ascertain Changes.--The Commission shall ascertain and describe 
what changes are possible and desirable in existing statutes, policies, 
rules, regulations, procedures, and practices relating to Federal 
information activities in order to--
            (1) assure that necessary information is made available to 
        Federal officials and those acting on behalf of Federal 
        officials;
            (2) minimize the burden imposed by Federal reporting 
        requirements on private citizens, recipients of Federal 
        assistance, businesses, government contractors and grantees, 
        and State and local governments;
            (3) provide that information held by the Federal Government 
        is processed and maintained to maximize its usefulness to all 
        Federal agencies and the public;
            (4) reduce the duplication of information collected by the 
        Federal Government and by State and local governments and other 
        collectors of information; and
            (5) reduce the costs of Federal paperwork.
    (d) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit a final report to 
the Congress and the President within 2 years after the date of the 
first meeting of the Commission. The final report shall contain a 
review of its findings and its recommendations for changes in statutes, 
policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and practices. The Commission 
may make such interim reports and recommendations as it deems 
advisable.
    (e) Action by OMB.--
            (1) In general.--Upon submission of the Commission's final 
        report, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in 
        coordination with the executive agencies, shall take action 
        to--
                    (A) formulate the views of the executive agencies 
                on the recommendations of the Commission;
                    (B) to the extent practicable within the limits of 
                their authority and resources, carry out 
                recommendations of the Commission in which the 
                executive agencies concur; and
                    (C) propose legislation needed to carry out or to 
                provide authority to carry out other recommendations of 
                the Commission in which the executive agencies concur.
            (2) Reports.--At least once every 6 months, the Director of 
        the Office of Management and Budget shall report to the 
        Congress and the President on the status of action taken or to 
        be taken as provided in this subsection. The Director shall 
        submit a final report to the Congress and the President not 
        later than 1 year following the submission of the Commission's 
        final report under subsection (d).

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    The Commission shall be composed of 15 members, as follows:
            (1) 2 Members of the Senate, who shall not be members of 
        the same political party, appointed by the President of the 
        Senate.
            (2) 2 Members of the House of Representatives, who shall 
        not be members of the same political party, appointed by the 
        Speaker of the House of Representatives.
            (3) The Comptroller General of the United States.
            (4) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
        2 other officials or employees of the executive branch of the 
        Federal Government appointed by the President.
            (5) 2 members appointed by the President from among 
        officials of State and local governments, who shall not be 
        members of the same political party.
            (6) 5 members appointed by the President from among persons 
        in the private sector representing such interests as small 
        business, labor, health care, education, environment, Federal 
        Government procurement, and information technology, no more 
        than 3 of whom shall be of the same political party.

SEC. 5. COMPENSATION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), members of 
the Commission shall each receive as compensation the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level 4 of the Executive 
Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which they are 
engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.
    (b) Federal Officials.--Members of the Commission who are Members 
of Congress or who are full-time officers or employees of the United 
States shall receive no additional compensation for their service on 
the Commission.
    (c) Travel Expense.--While away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of service for the Commission, members 
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as a person employed 
intermittently in the Government service is allowed such expenses under 
section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 6. POWERS.

    (a) Meetings.--The Commission, or at its direction, any 
subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out 
the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence and 
administer such oaths, as the Commission or such subcommittee or member 
may consider advisable. Such attendance of witnesses and the production 
of such evidence may be required from any place within the United 
States at any designated place of hearing within the United States. Any 
member of the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before the Commission or before such subcommittee 
or member.
    (b) Personnel.--Members of the Commission shall elect a Chairman 
and Vice-Chairman from among its members. The Commission shall appoint 
an Executive Director who shall receive as compensation the equivalent 
of the basic pay in effect for Level 5 of the Executive Schedule. The 
Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such other personnel 
as it deems advisable without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and such personnel may be paid without regard to the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates, at a rate not to exceed 
the rates provided in section 5376 of title 5, United States Code. In 
addition, the Commission may procure the services of experts and 
consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of 
the annual rate of basic pay in section 5376 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    (c) Contracts for Studies and Reports.--The Commission may, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, negotiate and enter into 
contracts with private organizations and educational institutions to 
carry out such studies and prepare such reports as the Commission 
determines are necessary in order to carry out its duties.

SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Furnishing Information.--Each department, agency, and 
instrumentality of the Federal Government shall furnish to the 
Commission, upon request made by the Chairman, such data, reports, and 
other nonconfidential information not otherwise prohibited by law as 
the Commission considers necessary to carry out its functions under 
this Act.
    (b) Services.--The head of each department or agency of the Federal 
Government may, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of 
the Commission, provide to the Commission such services as the 
Commission requests on such basis, reimbursable or otherwise, as may be 
agreed between the department or agency and the Chairman or Vice 
Chairman of the Commission.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$8,000,000.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall cease to exist 120 days after the submission 
of its final report under section 3.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on the date which is 45 days after the 
date of its enactment.

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