I 
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and fair process for realigning or closing outdated, ineffective, or ineffi-
cient 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 re-
aligning or closing outdated, ineffective, or inefficient 
executive agencies.
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 ‘‘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 Govern-
ment 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 mean-
ing 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
QUALIFICA-
TIONS.—The Commission shall be composed of 12 mem-
bers, 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 super-
vision, 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 Rep-
resentatives; 
(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 cit-
izen 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 sub-
section (b). 
(3) A member may not currently hold or have 
held within the preceeding five years any paid posi-
tion with any local or State government or executive 
agency.
(4) A member may not be a party to an ongo-
ing 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 ap-
pointment of the member. 
(d) OPERATION.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be ap-
pointed not later than 30 days from the date of en-
actment of this Act. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The President shall des-
ignate 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 ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(6) PROFESSIONAL
STAFF.—The Commission 
may employ, pursuant to laws and regulations gov-
erning 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 execu-
tive agency, the member shall resign from the Com-
mission 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 re-
placement 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 ac-
complished their original objectives and should 
be terminated; 
(D) any Federal services that could be pro-
vided at lower cost by the private sector; 
(E) budget process reforms that could 
yield savings, increase accountability and effi-
ciency, and enhance public confidence in the 
budget process; and 
(F) areas for further study based on likeli-
hood for potential savings. 
(b) REVIEW OF PRIOR REFORM EFFORTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall review 
existing Government Accounting Office, Congres-
sional Budget Office, and Inspector General reports, 
together with any other existing governmental and 
nongovernmental recommendations, including rec-
ommendations 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 re-
duce waste in executive agencies that the Com-
mission determines are most significant. 
(B) The estimated cost savings of the rec-
ommendations. 
(C) A determination of whether the rec-
ommendations can be implemented by executive 
order or whether they instead require legislative 
action. 
(c) PROPOSED REORGANIZATION PLAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon completion of the re-
views required under subsections (a) and (b), but 
not later than July 15, 2004, the Commission shall
submit to the President and Congress a proposed re-
organization plan for executive agencies. The pro-
posed reorganization plan shall provide for the re-
alignment 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 expend-
itures that would result from implementing the reor-
ganization 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 proc-
ess, the Commission shall conduct three public hear-
ings across the United States. The final hearing 
shall be held in Washington, D.C., not later than 
March 1, 2004.
nization 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 ac-
complish 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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