I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2207 
To establish a Commission to examine the long-term global challenges facing 
the United States and develop legislative and administrative proposals 
to improve interagency cooperation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2009 
Mr. FORBES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 a Commission to examine the long-term global 
challenges facing the United States and develop legisla-
tive and administrative proposals to improve interagency 
cooperation. 
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 ‘‘Interagency Coopera-
tion Commission Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) FEDERAL DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Fed-
eral department’’ means any department, agency, or 
office that the President designates from time to 
time as a cabinet-level department and the Office of 
the Director of National Intelligence. 
(2) INTERAGENCY
COOPERATION.—The term 
‘‘interagency cooperation’’ means the coordination, 
oversight, and implementation of policy and oper-
ations between individual Federal departments. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Interagency Cooperation Commission’’ (hereinafter re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall examine 
the long-term global challenges facing the United States 
and develop legislative and administrative proposals to im-
prove interagency cooperation. 
(b) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—In developing such 
proposals, the Commission shall— 
(1) address the role and impact in facilitating 
or impeding interagency cooperation of— 
(A) tasking and resource authority within 
interagency organizations or programs, includ-
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ing personnel and acquisition decisions and the 
accountability for such decisions; 
(B) the annual Federal budget process and 
execution of budgetary authority, including the 
specific process for interagency organizations or 
programs; 
(C) strategic planning, vision, values, 
goals, policies, and procedures within each Fed-
eral department; 
(D) human resources policies and proce-
dures, including recruitment, training, exer-
cises, education, assignments, and career and 
leadership development; 
(E) interoperability of equipment, and in 
particular, communications and information 
technology assets; 
(F) Federal acquisition processes and reg-
ulations; and 
(G) congressional oversight and budgeting 
for interagency government organizations or 
programs; and 
(2) examine the interdepartmental cooperation 
within the Department of Defense, including the 
common organizational structures, reference mate-
rials, and budget processes, and examine the value 
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of such structures as models for broader government 
commonality. 
(c) ASSESSMENTS TO INCLUDE.—In addressing the 
issues in subsection (b), the Commission shall conduct a 
review and assessment of— 
(1) past challenges of government operations 
that were significantly impacted by a lack of inter-
agency cooperation; 
(2) past successful government operations that 
have resulted, in part, from a high level of inter-
agency cooperation; 
(3) the impact of the Goldwater-Nichols Act 
(Public Law 99–433) within the Department of De-
fense and which recommended reforms, if any, could 
be replicated to facilitate more effective interagency 
cooperation; 
(4) the effectiveness of current interagency 
structures and processes to engage in strategic plan-
ning, oversee and implement long-term United 
States policy in global affairs, such as an evaluation 
of joint interagency coordination groups, the Na-
tional Counterterrorism Center, United States em-
bassies, and unified combatant commands; 
(5) simulation-based assessments of global sce-
narios the United States may face in the long-term, 
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and recommendations based on such Assessments to 
reform interagency processes to effectively exploit fu-
ture opportunities and threats; and 
(6) the legal decisionmaking authority and re-
sources needed in each Federal department and at 
the highest levels of government to execute reforms 
proposed in the Commission’s legislative and admin-
istrative proposals. 
(d) POLICY SOLUTIONS.—Legislative and adminis-
trative proposals developed to address the issues described 
in paragraph (b) may include reforms to— 
(1) interagency policy coordination structures 
and processes, including the long-term interagency 
strategic planning capabilities and processes within 
the United States Government that support the Na-
tional Security Strategy and other Presidential level 
policy guidance; 
(2) interagency policy implementation and over-
sight structures and processes, including but not 
limited to the process for establishing decision-
making authority, including resources and personnel 
actions; 
(3) the annual Federal budgeting process, in-
cluding executive planning activities, legislative au-
thorization and appropriation activities, and execu-
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tion activities, and specifically reforms that promote 
or provide incentives for interagency planning; 
(4) common standards and references utilized 
by Federal departments, including using the same 
divisions 
of 
global 
regions 
when 
creating 
intradepartmental structures; 
(5) strategic planning, vision, values, goals, 
policies, and procedures within each Federal depart-
ment; 
(6) human resources policies and procedures, 
including recruitment, training, exercises, education, 
assignments, and career and leadership development; 
(7) acquisition processes and regulations that 
reduce unnecessary duplication of effort or improve 
interoperability; 
(8) the visibility of capabilities, information, 
and expertise across the Federal government; 
(9) Congressional oversight of interagency orga-
nizations and programs; and 
(10) any other reforms designed to address the 
issues described in paragraph (b). 
SEC. 5. HEARINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall hold at 
least 1 hearing for each Federal department and the Na-
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tional Security Council, and shall, to the extent feasible, 
ensure that there is broad participation in such hearings. 
(b) HEARING FORMAT.—During each hearing, the 
Commission shall make a presentation to employees, hear 
testimony from appropriate officials and employees, and 
generate comments and suggestions regarding the issues 
described in section 4, policies designed to address such 
issues, and tradeoffs between such policies. 
SEC. 6. REPORT. 
The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, submit a report to the 
Congress and the President containing— 
(1) a detailed description of the activities of the 
Commission; 
(2) a summary of comments and suggestions 
generated from the hearings; 
(3) a detailed description of the institutional 
interagency problems faced by the United States and 
the consequences of not addressing those problems; 
(4) a list of policy options for addressing those 
problems; and 
(5) criteria for the legislative and administra-
tive proposals to be developed by the Commission. 
SEC. 7. LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROPOSALS. 
(a) LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which the report is submitted under sec-
tion 6, and by a unanimous vote of the members, the 
Commission shall submit a legislative proposal to the 
Congress and the President addressing the issues 
described in section 4. 
(2) PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.—The proposal 
shall, to the extent feasible, be designed to— 
(A) improve the coordination and effective-
ness of Federal departments in order to better 
serve the Nation and protect United States in-
terests; 
(B) meet the criteria set forth in the Com-
mission report described in section 6; 
(C) be presented in two separate reports, 
with— 
(i) one report that includes all legisla-
tive recommendations that do not affect 
Congressional oversight or budgeting; and 
(ii) one report that includes changes 
to the Congressional oversight and budg-
eting process; and 
(D) allow the Commission, by majority 
vote, to include supplemental recommendations 
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that are not in contravention of the original two 
reports submitted under this subsection. 
(3) INCLUSION OF COST ESTIMATE.—The Com-
mission shall submit with the legislative proposal a 
long-term cost estimate prepared by the Congres-
sional Budget Office. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE PROPOSAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which the report is submitted under sec-
tion 6, and by a unanimous vote of the members, the 
Commission shall submit an administrative proposal 
to the Congress, the President, and the head of each 
Federal department addressing the issues described 
in section 4. 
(2) PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.—The proposal 
shall, to the extent feasible, be designed to— 
(A) improve the coordination and effective-
ness of Federal departments in order to better 
serve the Nation and protect United States in-
terests; 
(B) meet the criteria set forth in the Com-
mission report described in section 6; and 
(C) allow the Commission, by majority 
vote, to include supplemental recommendations 
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that are not in contravention of the original re-
port submitted under this subsection. 
SEC. 8. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of eight voting members appointed pursuant to 
paragraph (1) and two nonvoting members described in 
paragraph (2). 
(1) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 
be composed of eight voting members, of whom— 
(A) two shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, at least one of which shall be a represent-
ative from the National Security Council; 
(B) two shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; 
(C) one shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives; 
(D) two shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; and 
(E) one shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(2) NONVOTING
MEMBERS.—The Comptroller 
General of the United States and the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office shall each be nonvoting 
members of the Commission and shall advise and as-
sist at the request of the Commission. 
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(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The President shall 
designate two co-chairpersons of the Commission 
from the members appointed under paragraph (1), 
one of whom must be a Republican and one of whom 
must be a Democrat. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The members should have 
knowledge and expertise in matters to be studied by 
the Commission. 
(2) FORMER AFFILIATIONS.—Members should 
have— 
(A) executive branch or legislative branch 
experience relating to two or more Federal de-
partments; 
(B) experience working in the National Se-
curity Council; or 
(C) served under Presidents from two dif-
ferent political parties. 
(c) LIMITATIONS ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.— 
(1) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON COMMISSION.— 
Each appointing authority described in subsection 
(a)(1) who is a Member of Congress may not ap-
point more than 1 Member of Congress to the Com-
mission. 
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(2) CONTINUATION OF VOTING MEMBERSHIP.— 
In the case of an individual appointed pursuant to 
subsection (a)(1) who was appointed while a Member 
of Congress, if such individual ceases to be a Mem-
ber of Congress, that individual shall cease to be a 
member of the Commission. 
(d) DATE FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT.—The ap-
pointing authorities described in subsection (a)(1) shall 
appoint the initial members of the Commission not later 
than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) TERM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The term of each member is 
for the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled not later than 30 days after such va-
cancy occurs and in the manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made. 
(f) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) COMPENSATION NOT PERMITTED.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Com-
mission may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits 
by reason of their service on the Commission. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the 
Commission shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
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for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular place of business 
in the performance of their duties on behalf of the 
Commission. 
SEC. 9. MEETINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet upon 
the call of either of the co-chairpersons or a majority of 
its voting members. 
(b) QUORUM.—Six voting members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum. 
SEC. 10. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) DIRECTOR.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c) 
and to the extent provided in advance in appropria-
tion Acts, the Commission shall appoint and fix the 
pay of a Director. 
(2) DUTIES.—The Director of the Commission 
shall be responsible for the administration and co-
ordination of the duties of the Commission and shall 
perform other such duties as the Commission may 
direct. 
(b) STAFF.—In accordance with rules agreed upon 
by the Commission, subject to subsection (c), and to the 
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extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Di-
rector may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel. 
(c) NON-APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The Director and staff of the Commission may 
be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the com-
petitive service and may be paid without regard to the pro-
visions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of such title relating to classification and General Schedule 
pay rates, except that pay fixed under subsection (a) may 
not exceed $150,000 per year and pay fixed under sub-
section (b) may not exceed the rate payable for level V 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(d) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee 
may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement 
from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the 
rights, status, and privileges of their regular employment 
without interruption. 
(e) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—In accordance 
with rules agreed upon by the Commission and to the ex-
tent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Direc-
tor may procure the services of experts and consultants 
under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but 
at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
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rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 11. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such 
hearings (in addition to the hearings described in section 
5), sit and act at such times and places, take such testi-
mony, and receive such evidence as the Commission con-
siders appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths 
or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any Mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 
Commission, take any action which the Commission is au-
thorized to take under this section. 
(c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other agencies and departments of the United 
States. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the Administrator of the 
General Services Administration shall provide to the Com-
mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative sup-
port services necessary for the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities under this Act. 
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(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent provided 
in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may 
enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge 
its duties under this Act. 
(f) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
SEC. 12. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 
submission of both the legislative and administrative pro-
posals described in section 7. 
SEC. 13. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL OF THE 
PRESIDENT. 
The President may, not later than 90 calendar days 
after the Commission submits its legislative proposal, sub-
mit to the Congress an alternative to the legislative pro-
posal submitted by the Commission. 
SEC. 14. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION. 
(a) INTRODUCTION
OF LEGISLATION.—Not later 
than the fifth legislative day after the Commission submits 
its legislative proposal, the majority leader of each House 
of the Congress, or his designee, shall introduce (by re-
quest) legislation containing the legislative proposal sub-
mitted by the Commission. 
(b) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 
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(1) 
PRIVILEGED
CONSIDERATION.—In 
the 
House of Representatives, the legislation described 
in subsection (a) shall be referred sequentially 
through each committee of jurisdiction, and if after 
a period of 25 legislative days the committee has not 
reported the legislation, then— 
(A) that committee shall be discharged 
from consideration of the legislation; 
(B) the legislation shall be referred to the 
next committee or jurisdiction, or, if it were dis-
charged from the last committee of referral, the 
legislation will be placed on the appropriate cal-
endar; and 
(C) a motion to proceed to the consider-
ation of the legislation shall be highly privileged 
and shall not be debatable, and a motion to re-
consider the vote by which the motion is dis-
posed of shall not be in order. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—The procedures set forth 
in paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6) of section 305(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 pertaining 
to a concurrent resolution on the budget shall apply 
to the legislation described in subsection (a) to the 
extent not inconsistent with this Act. 
(c) IN THE SENATE.— 
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(1) PRIVILEGED CONSIDERATION.—In the Sen-
ate, the legislation described in subsection (a) shall 
be referred sequentially through each committee of 
jurisdiction, and if after a period of 25 legislative 
days the committee has not reported the legislation, 
then— 
(A) that committee shall be discharged 
from consideration of the legislation; 
(B) the legislation shall be referred to the 
next committee or jurisdiction, or, if it were dis-
charged from the last committee of referral, the 
legislation will be placed on the appropriate cal-
endar; and 
(C) a motion to proceed to the consider-
ation of the legislation is highly privileged and 
shall not debatable. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—The procedures set forth 
in paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6) of section 305(b) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 pertaining 
to a concurrent resolution on the budget shall apply 
to the legislation described in subsection (a) to the 
extent not inconsistent with this Act. 
(d) RULEMAKING POWER.—The provisions of this 
section are enacted by the Congress— 
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(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives, re-
spectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of 
each House, respectively, but applicable only with re-
spect to the procedure to be followed in that House 
in the case of a bill introduced pursuant to this sec-
tion, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent 
that it is inconsistent with such rules; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
they relate to the procedure of that House) at any 
time, in the same manner, and to the same extent 
as in the case of any other rule of that House. 
SEC. 15. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. 
The Constitutional authority for this Act is the power 
of Congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and 
proper as enumerated in article I, section 8 of the United 
States Constitution. 
Æ 
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