I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 271
To establish a Second National Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Waste
in Government.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. ROYCE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Government Reform and Oversight
A BILL
To establish a Second National Blue Ribbon Commission
to Eliminate Waste in Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Second National Blue
Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Waste in Government
Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission known as the Sec-
ond National Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate
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Waste in Government (in this Act referred to as the
‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the duty of the Com-
mission—
(1) to conduct a private sector survey on man-
agement and cost control in the Federal Govern-
ment;
(2) to conduct in-depth reviews of the oper-
ations of the executive agencies;
(3) to review existing Government Accounting
Office (GAO), Congressional Budget Office (CBO),
and inspector general reports and other existing gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental recommendations
for reducing waste including recommendations from
the President’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Con-
trol, and based on this review periodically submit to
the President and Congress a list of those rec-
ommendations with estimated savings the Commis-
sion determines are most significant and shall in-
clude in the report a determination of whether the
recommendation can be implemented by Executive
order or whether it requires legislative action; and
(4) to submit to the President and the Congress
recommendations for improving the budget process,
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management and reducing waste and costs in the
Federal Government.
(b) PARTICULAR AREAS TO BE EXAMINED.—In ful-
filling the duties described in subsection (a), the Commis-
sion shall identify and address—
(1) opportunities for increased efficiency and
reduced costs in the Federal Government that can
be realized by executive action or legislation;
(2) areas in the Federal Government where
managerial accountability can be enhanced and ad-
ministrative control can be improved;
(3) specific Federal programs that have accom-
plished their objectives and ought to be terminated;
(4) specific Federal program services that could
be provided at a lower cost by the private sector;
(5) specific reforms of the budget process that
would yield savings, increase accountability and effi-
ciency, and enhance public confidence in the budget
process; and
(6) specific areas in the Federal Government
where further study can be justified by potential sav-
ings.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 12 members appointed as follows:
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(1) 12 individuals appointed by the President
from among individuals who are not officers or em-
ployees of any government and who are especially
qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of
their education, training, or experience.
(2) The majority leader and minority leader of
the Senate, as well as the Speaker and minority
leader of the House of Representatives may submit
recommendations to the President concerning ap-
pointments to the Commission.
(3) Not more than 6 members of the Commis-
sion shall be of the same political party.
(b) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If an individ-
ual is appointed to the Commission, and later becomes an
officer or employee of a government, such individual may
continue as a member of the Commission for not longer
than the 30-day period beginning on the date such individ-
ual becomes such an officer or employee.
(c) APPOINTMENT
OF
MEMBERS.—Appointments
shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(d) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission.
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(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled within 30 days in the manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made.
(f) COMPENSATION.—
(1) RATES
OF
PAY.—Except as provided in
paragraph (2), members of the Commission shall
serve without pay.
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
Commission shall receive travel expenses, including
per diem in lieu of subsidence, in accordance with
sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(g) QUORUM.—5 members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings.
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mission shall be elected by the members from among the
members.
(i) MEETING.—The Commission shall meet at least
once each month at the call of the Chairperson of the
Commission.
SEC. 5. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission and
paid by a rate determined by the Commission.
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(b) STAFF.—With the approval of the Commission,
the Director of the Commission may appoint personnel as
the Director considers appropriate.
SEC. 6. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—Any member or
agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Com-
mission, take any action which the Commission is author-
ized to take by this section.
(c) INFORMATION.—The Commission may secure di-
rectly from any Federal agency information necessary to
enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the chair-
person of the Commission, the head of the Federal agency
shall furnish the information to the Commission.
(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may
contract with and compensate government and private
agencies or persons for supplies or services without regard
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
(a) PERIODIC
REPORTS.—Pursuant to section
3(a)(3), the Commission shall issue periodic reports to the
President and the Congress.
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(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than the expiration
of the 24-month period beginning on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the
President and the Congress a final report setting forth
the finding and conclusions of the Commission and specific
recommendations for legislative and administrative actions
that the Commission determines to be appropriate.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the
expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on
which the Commission submits its final report under sec-
tion 7(b).
SEC. 9. FUNDING.
The Commission is to be funded, staffed and
equipped, to the extent practicable and permitted by law,
by the private sector without cost to the Federal Govern-
ment. To accomplish this objective, it is expected that the
Secretary of Commerce will engage in a joint project, with
a nonprofit organization, pursuant to section 1 of Public
Law 91–412 (15 U.S.C. 1525), for the purpose of provid-
ing support for the Commission as described in section
5 and section 6 of this Act.
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