I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2826 

To establish the Commission on Government Transformation to make recommendations to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness, of 

Federal programs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 18, 2015 

Mrs. BUSTOS (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. COOPER, Ms. BROWNLEY

of California, Mr. COFFMAN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. BERA, 

Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. NOLAN, and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period 

to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the Commission on Government Transformation 

to make recommendations to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness, of Federal programs, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Government Trans5 formation Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 

2 There is established a commission to be known as the 

3 ‘‘Commission on Government Transformation’’ (in this 

4 Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

5 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 

7 (1) review work done by governmental and non8 governmental entities, and conduct original research, 

9 on the organizational practices, operations, and re10 form efforts of Federal agencies; 

11 (2) analyze organizational practices and man12 agement challenges of Federal agencies and make 

13 recommendations as described in subsection (b)(2); 

14 (3) assess Federal programs for economy, effi15 ciency, and effectiveness, and identify best practices 

16 of Federal agencies; 

17 (4) establish a process for prioritizing the ac18 tivities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), in19 cluding establishing criteria and a schedule for car20 rying out the activities; 

21 (5) coordinate with appropriate Federal agen22 cies and provide opportunities for individuals to 

23 make recommendations that support the work of the 

24 Commission; 

25 (6) upon request, provide information on Com26 mission activities to the Government Accountability 


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1 Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office 

2 of Management and Budget, other Federal agency 

3 heads, and the Office of the Inspector General of 

4 each Federal agency; and 

5 (7) serve as a repository for best practices to 

6 support Federal agencies in efforts to improve effec7 tiveness. 

8 (b) REPORTS.— 

9 (1) INTERIM ACTIVITY REPORTS.—The Com10 mission shall submit to the President and Congress 

11 interim activity reports that describe the activities of 

12 the Commission not later than 6 months after the 

13 date on which all members of the Commission have 

14 been appointed, and every 6 months thereafter, ex15 cept that an interim report is not required on the 

16 date on which an annual report is submitted as de17 scribed in paragraph (2). 

18 (2) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 12 

19 months after the date on which all members of the 

20 Commission have been appointed, and every 12 

21 months thereafter, the Commission shall submit a 

22 report to the President and Congress. The report 

23 shall include— 

24 (A) the findings and conclusions of the 

25 Commission; 


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1 (B) suggestions for implementing the best 

2 practices of Federal agencies identified in sub3 section (a)(3) in other Federal agencies; 

4 (C) proposals for legislation, administrative 

5 action, or executive action that include rec6 ommendations for improvement or investment 

7 in Federal programs, or elimination, reduction, 

8 or consolidation of Federal programs; and 

9 (D) justification for the recommendations 

10 described in subparagraph (C). 

11 (3) REPORTS ON HISTORICAL DATA.—Not later 

12 than 48 months after the date on which all members 

13 of the Commission have been appointed, and every 

14 24 months thereafter, the Commission shall submit 

15 a report to the President and Congress on historical 

16 data and trends in the information studied by the 

17 Commission, including any available evidence of cost 

18 savings. 

19 (4) REPORTS MADE PUBLIC.—Each report sub20 mitted under this subsection shall be made available 

21 to the public not later than 90 days after the date 

22 on which the report is submitted. 


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1 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 

2 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

3 shall be composed of 7 members to be appointed as fol4 lows: 

5 (1) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap6 point 1 member. 

7 (2) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap8 point 1 member. 

9 (3) The Speaker of the House of Representa10 tives shall appoint 1 member. 

11 (4) The minority leader of the House of Rep12 resentatives shall appoint 1 member. 

13 (5) The President shall appoint 3 members. 

14 (b) RESTRICTION ON GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

15 No individual may serve as a member of the Commission 

16 while employed as an officer or employee of the Federal 

17 Government or any State or local government. 

18 (c) MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA.—The members of the 

19 Commission shall include individuals with recognition for 

20 their expertise in agencies, efficiency, waste reduction, fi21 nance and economics, or actuarial sciences, and who pro22 vide a mix of different professional backgrounds and broad 

23 geographic representation. 

24 (d) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 3 of 

25 the 7 members appointed shall be registered as members 

26 of the same political party. 


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1 (e) DEADLINE TO APPOINT MEMBERS.—All mem2 bers of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 

3 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 (f) TERMS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap6 pointed for a term of 3 years. 

7 (2) REAPPOINTMENT.—Each member may be 

8 reappointed for 1 additional term of 3 years. 

9 (3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 

10 shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

11 appointment was made not later than 90 days after 

12 the date on which the member leaves the Commis13 sion. 

14 (g) CO-CHAIRS.— 

15 (1) SELECTION.—Of the members selected by 

16 the President under subsection (a)(4), 2 members 

17 shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission. 

18 (2) POLITICAL AFFILIATION OF CO-CHAIRS.— 

19 The Co-Chairs of the Commission shall not be from 

20 the same political party. 

21 (h) BASIC PAY.— 

22 (1) RATES OF PAY OF MEMBERS.—Each mem23 ber, other than the Co-Chairs, shall be paid at a rate 

24 equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 


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1 basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 

2 under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 

3 (2) RATE OF PAY OF CO-CHAIRS.—The Co4 Chairs shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily 

5 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level 

6 IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 

7 title 5, United States Code. 

8 (i) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 

9 travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 

10 in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 

11 I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 

12 (j) QUORUM.—Four members of the Commission 

13 shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold 

14 hearings. 

15 (k) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 

16 call of the Co-Chairs or a majority of its members. Mem17 bers may attend meetings via teleconference. 

18 SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

19 (a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Co-Chairs, in consulta21 tion with the President and Congress, shall appoint 

22 and terminate an Executive Director. The Executive 

23 Director shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily 

24 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level 


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1 V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 

2 title 5, United States Code. 

3 (2) STAFF.—The Executive Director, with the 

4 approval of a majority of the members of the Com5 mission, may appoint, set the pay of, and terminate 

6 additional personnel. 

7 (b) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

8 LAWS.—The Executive Director and staff of the Commis9 sion may be appointed without regard to the provisions 

10 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 

11 the competitive service. 

12 (c) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—A member or em13 ployee of the Commission shall not have a conflict of inter14 est that is relevant to any activity of the Commission. 

15 (d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—With the con16 sensus of the Co-Chairs, the Commission may procure 

17 temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) 

18 of title 5, United States Code, at a rate to be determined 

19 by the Co-Chairs. 

20 (e) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 

21 of the Co-Chairs, the head of any Federal department or 

22 agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 

23 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 

24 to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 


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1 SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 

3 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear4 ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 

5 receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 

6 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem7 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

8 Commission, take any action which the Commission is au9 thorized to take by this section. 

10 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 

11 may secure directly from any department or agency infor12 mation necessary to enable it to carry out this section. 

13 Upon request of the Co-Chairs, the head of that depart14 ment or agency shall furnish that information to the Com15 mission on an agreed upon schedule. 

16 (d) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 

17 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

18 the same conditions as other Federal agencies. 

19 SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF 

20 COMMISSION BILL. 

21 (a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section: 

22 (1) COMMISSION BILL.—The term ‘‘Commission 

23 bill’’ means a bill— 

24 (A) the substance of which implements a 

25 recommendation of the Commission submitted 

26 under section 3(b)(2)(C); and 


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1 (B) introduced by request on the date that 

2 is 90 days after the annual report of the Com3 mission is submitted to Congress under section 

4 3(b)(2), or if either House is not in session on 

5 such date, on the first day thereafter on which 

6 that House is in session. 

7 (2) CALENDAR DAY.—The term ‘‘calendar day’’ 

8 means a calendar day other than one on which ei9 ther House is not in session because of an adjourn10 ment of more than 3 days to a date certain. 

11 (b) REFERRAL.—A Commission bill described in sub12 section (a)(1) that is introduced in the House of Rep13 resentatives shall be referred to the Committee on Over14 sight and Government Reform of the House of Represent15 atives. A Commission bill that is introduced in the Senate 

16 shall be referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

17 and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 

18 (c) DISCHARGE.—If the committee to which a Com19 mission bill described in subsection (a)(1) is referred has 

20 not reported the Commission bill by the end of the 20- 

21 day period beginning on the date on which the report is 

22 introduced under subsection (a)(1)(B), such committee 

23 shall be, at the end of such period, discharged from fur24 ther consideration of such bill, and such bill shall be placed 

25 on the appropriate calendar of the House involved. 


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1 (d) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.— 

2 (1) CONSIDERATION.—On or after the third 

3 day after the date on which the committee to which 

4 a Commission bill described in subsection (a)(1) is 

5 referred has reported, or has been discharged (under 

6 subsection (c)) from further consideration of, it is in 

7 order (even though a previous motion to the same 

8 effect has been disagreed to) for any Member of the 

9 respective House to move to proceed to the consider10 ation of the bill. A Member may make the motion 

11 only on the day after the calendar day on which the 

12 Member announces to the House concerned the 

13 Member’s intention to make the motion, except that, 

14 in the case of the House of Representatives, the mo15 tion may be made without such prior announcement 

16 if the motion is made by direction of the committee 

17 to which the bill was referred. The motion is highly 

18 privileged in the House of Representatives and is 

19 privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The 

20 motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion 

21 to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consid22 eration of other business. A motion to reconsider the 

23 vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 

24 to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to 

25 the consideration of the bill is agreed to, the respecVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2826.IH H2826

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1 tive House shall immediately proceed to consider2 ation of the bill without intervening motion, order, 

3 or other business, and the bill shall remain the un4 finished business of the respective House until dis5 posed of. 

6 (2) DEBATE.—Debate on the bill, and on all 

7 debatable motions and appeals in connection there8 with, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, 

9 which shall be divided equally between those favoring 

10 and those opposing the bill. An amendment to the 

11 bill is not in order. A motion further to limit debate 

12 is in order and not debatable. A motion to postpone, 

13 a motion to proceed to the consideration of other 

14 business, or a motion to recommit the bill is not in 

15 order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the 

16 bill is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. 

17 (3) VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE.—Immediately 

18 following the conclusion of the debate on the bill and 

19 a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate, 

20 if requested in accordance with the rules of the ap21 propriate House, the vote on final passage of the bill 

22 shall occur. 

23 (4) APPEALS.—Appeals from the decisions of 

24 the Chair relating to the application of the rules of 

25 the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the 


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1 case may be, to the procedure relating to the bill 

2 shall be decided without debate. 

3 (e) CONSIDERATION BY OTHER HOUSE.— 

4 (1) BEFORE PASSAGE.—If, before the passage 

5 by one House of a Commission bill of that House de6 scribed in subsection (a)(1), that House receives 

7 from the other House a Commission bill, then the 

8 following procedures shall apply— 

9 (A) the Commission bill of the other House 

10 shall not be referred to a committee and may 

11 not be considered in the House receiving it ex12 cept in the case of vote on final passage as pro13 vided in subparagraph (B); and 

14 (B) with respect to a Commission bill of 

15 the House receiving the bill, the procedure in 

16 that House shall be the same as if no bill had 

17 been received from the other House, but the 

18 vote on final passage shall be on the bill of the 

19 other House. 

20 (2) AFTER PASSAGE.—Upon disposition of a 

21 Commission bill received from the other House, it 

22 shall no longer be in order to consider the bill that 

23 originated in the receiving House. 

24 (f) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REP25 RESENTATIVES.—This section is enacted by Congress— 


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1 (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 

2 the Senate and House of Representatives, respec3 tively, and is deemed to be a part of the rules of 

4 each House, respectively, but applicable only with re5 spect to the procedure to be followed in that House 

6 in the case of a Commission bill described in sub7 section (a)(1), and it supersedes other rules only to 

8 the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and 

9 (2) with full recognition of the constitutional 

10 right of either House to change the rules of proce11 dure of that House at any time, in the same man12 ner, and to the same extent as in the case of any 

13 other rule of that House. 

14 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

15 In this Act: 

16 (1) FEDERAL AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 

17 agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive 

18 agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United States 

19 Code. 

20 (2) FEDERAL PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Federal 

21 program’’ means any function or activity of a Fed22 eral agency. 


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1 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Com3 mission for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 such sums as 

4 may be necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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