I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2106
To establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Duplicative and
Noncompetitive Federal Regulations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 12, 1993
Mr. LIGHTFOOT (for himself, Mr. ALLARD, Mr. BATEMAN, Mr. BUYER, Mr.
CLINGER, Mr. FIELDS of Texas, Mr. HOBSON, Mr. LEACH, Mr. LIVING-
STON, Mr. PETRI, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. ROGERS, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SUND-
QUIST, Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming, and Mr. WELDON) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government
Operations
A BILL
To establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to Eliminate
Duplicative and Noncompetitive Federal Regulations.
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 ‘‘Blue Ribbon Commis-
sion to Eliminate Duplicative and Noncompetitive Federal
Regulations Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission known as the Blue
Ribbon Commission to Eliminate Duplicative and Non-
competitive Federal Regulations (hereinafter in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) conduct a survey of the private sector to de-
termine which Federal regulations are duplicative or
impede competition;
(2) conduct in-depth reviews of regulations pro-
mulgated by the executive agencies;
(3)(A) review existing Government Accounting
Office reports, Congressional Budget Office reports,
Inspector General reports, and other existing govern-
mental and nongovernmental recommendations for
reducing duplicative or noncompetitive Federal regu-
lations; and
(B) based on the review conducted pursuant to
subparagraph (A), periodically submit to the Presi-
dent and the Congress a report on those rec-
ommendations, with estimated savings, that the
Commission determines are most significant, and in-
clude in the report a determination of whether such
recommendations can be implemented by Executive
order or whether it requires legislative action; and
(4) submit to the President and the Congress
recommendations for streamlining Federal regula-
tions and reducing costs and unnecessary paperwork
that result from such regulations for both the
Federal Government and the private sector.
(b) PARTICULAR AREAS TO BE EXAMINED.—In ful-
filling the duties required by (a), the Commission shall
identify and address—
(1) opportunities for increased efficiency and
reduced costs in regulations promulgated by the
Federal Government that can be realized by execu-
tive action or legislation without jeopardizing safety
or environmental quality;
(2) specific reforms of the regulatory process
that would yield savings, increase accountability and
efficiency, and enhance public confidence in the reg-
ulatory process; and
(3) specific areas in the Federal Government
where potential savings would justify further study.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The membership
of the Commission shall be as follows:
(1) Thirteen members shall be appointed by the
President from among individuals who are not offi-
cers or employees of a Federal, State, of local gov-
ernment and who are especially qualified to serve on
the Commission by virtue of their education, train-
ing or experience.
(2) The majority leader and minority leader of
the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader of
the House of Representatives may submit rec-
ommendations to the President concerning appoint-
ments to the Commission.
(3) Not more than seven members of the Com-
mission shall be of the same political party.
(b) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a member
of the Commission becomes an officer or employee of a
Federal, State, or local government, such individual may
continue as a member of the Commission for not longer
than the thirty-day period beginning on the date such indi-
vidual becomes such an officer or employee.
(c) APPOINTMENT
OF ORIGINAL MEMBERS.—Ap-
pointments shall be made within thirty days of enactment
of this Act.
(d) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission.
(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled within thirty days in the manner in which the
original 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.—Five members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mission shall be elected by the members of the Commis-
sion from among the members.
(i) MEETINGS.—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 at a rate determined by the Commission.
(b) STAFF.—With the approval of the Commission,
the Director of the Commission may appoint such person-
nel 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) CONTRACTUAL AUTHORITY.—The Commission
may contract with and compensate government and pri-
vate agencies or persons for supplies or services without
regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C.
5).
(e) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
(a) PERIODIC
REPORTS.—Pursuant to section
3(a)(3), the Commission shall issue periodic reports to the
President and the Congress.
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than two years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
submit to the President and the Congress a final report
setting forth the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion and specific recommendations for legislative and ad-
ministrative actions that the Commission determines to be
appropriate.
SEC. 8. FUNDING.
The Commission shall 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 the first section of
Public Law 91–412 (15 U.S.C. 1525) for the purpose of
aiding the Commission in exercising its power and per-
forming its duties under this Act.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), the Commission shall terminate not later than the ex-
piration of the thirty-day period beginning on the date on
which the Commission submits its final report under sec-
tion 7(b).
(b) EXTENSION
OF LIFE
OF COMMISSION.—The
President may extend the life of the Commission for a six
month period beginning on the date on which the Commis-
sion terminates under subsection (a), and for successive
six month periods thereafter.
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