I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1091
To establish the Commission on Information Technology and Paperwork
Reduction.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 24, 1993
Mr. CLINGER (for himself, Mr. FAWELL, and Mr. ZIMMER) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations
A BILL
To establish the Commission on Information Technology and
Paperwork Reduction.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Federal information reporting requirements
continue to place an unprecedented paperwork bur-
den upon private citizens, recipients of Federal as-
sistance, businesses, government contractors and
grantees, and State and local governments.
(2) A renewed effort is required to assure that
the policy stated in subsection (b) is fully imple-
mented.
(3) It is necessary to reexamine the policies and
procedures of the Federal Government which have
an impact on the paperwork burden, for the purpose
of ascertaining what changes are necessary and de-
sirable in its information policies and practices so as
to eliminate unnecessary paperwork burdens and en-
sure that the Federal Government collects and main-
tains all information needed to set policy, implement
laws, and operate programs.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the policy of the Federal Govern-
ment to minimize the information reporting burden, con-
sistent with agency missions and the needs for information
to set policy, implement laws, and operate programs.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
To accomplish the purpose set forth in section 1(b),
there is hereby established the Commission on Information
Technology and Paperwork Reduction (hereinafter in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS.
(a) REVIEW OF FORMER COMMISSION.—The Com-
mission shall study and review the principal findings and
recommendations of the Commission on Paperwork estab-
lished by the Act of December 27, 1974 (Public Law 93–
556) to determine which of those recommendations have
been implemented and why any other of those rec-
ommendations have not been implemented.
(b) INVESTIGATE FEDERAL INFORMATION LAWS,
ETC.—The Commission shall study and investigate stat-
utes, policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and practices
of the Federal Government relating to information gather-
ing and processing, and the management and control of
these information activities. The Commission shall con-
sider—
(1) the nature and extent of current Federal
collections of information from other public and pri-
vate profit and not-for-profit entities;
(2) the effect of existing statutes on the infor-
mation requirements of the Federal Government and
authorities of existing Federal agencies to collect in-
formation on a timely basis;
(3) the nature and extent of management and
control over the determination of Federal informa-
tion needs and the choice of information gathering
and processing methods;
(4) the nature and extent to which Federal
agencies cooperate with State and local governments
and private entities in collecting and processing in-
formation;
(5) the procedures used and the extent to which
considerations of economy and efficiency impact
Federal information activities, particularly as these
matters relate to costs burdening the Federal Gov-
ernment and providers of information;
(6) the nature and extent of advances in infor-
mation technology and its use in minimizing burden
and maximizing utility in the collection, processing,
and maintenance of information by the Government;
(7) the nature and extent to which information
resources management responsibilities and the Presi-
dent’s responsibility to review agency paperwork
rulemaking should continue to be integrated in the
Executive Office of the President;
(8) the nature and extent to which the Paper-
work Reduction Act has been appropriately and ef-
fectively implemented by the Office of Management
and Budget; and
(9) such other matters as the Commission de-
termines affect Federal information resources man-
agement.
(c) ASCERTAIN CHANGES.—The Commission shall
ascertain and describe what changes are possible and de-
sirable in existing statutes, policies, rules, regulations,
procedures, and practices relating to Federal information
activities in order to—
(1) assure that necessary information is made
available to Federal officials and those acting on be-
half of Federal officials;
(2) minimize the burden imposed by Federal re-
porting requirements on private citizens, recipients
of Federal assistance, businesses, government con-
tractors and grantees, and State and local govern-
ments;
(3) provide that information held by the Fed-
eral Government is processed and maintained to
maximize its usefulness to all Federal agencies and
the public;
(4) reduce the duplication of information col-
lected by the Federal Government and by State and
local governments and other collectors of informa-
tion; and
(5) reduce the costs of Federal paperwork.
(d) FINAL REPORT.—The Commission shall submit
a final report to the Congress and the President within
2 years after the date of the first meeting of the Commis-
sion. The final report shall contain a review of its findings
and its recommendations for changes in statutes, policies,
rules, regulations, procedures, and practices. The Commis-
sion may make such interim reports and recommendations
as it deems advisable.
(e) ACTION BY OMB.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Upon submission of the
Commission’s final report, the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget, in coordination with
the executive agencies, shall take action to—
(A) formulate the views of the executive
agencies on the recommendations of the Com-
mission;
(B) to the extent practicable within the
limits of their authority and resources, carry
out recommendations of the Commission in
which the executive agencies concur; and
(C) propose legislation needed to carry out
or to provide authority to carry out other rec-
ommendations of the Commission in which the
executive agencies concur.
(2) REPORTS.—At least once every 6 months,
the Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et shall report to the Congress and the President on
the status of action taken or to be taken as provided
in this subsection. The Director shall submit a final
report to the Congress and the President not later
than 1 year following the submission of the Commis-
sion’s final report under subsection (d).
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
The Commission shall be composed of 15 members,
as follows:
(1) 2 Members of the Senate, who shall not be
members of the same political party, appointed by
the President of the Senate.
(2) 2 Members of the House of Representatives,
who shall not be members of the same political
party, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The Comptroller General of the United
States.
(4) The Director of the Office of Management
and Budget and 2 other officials or employees of the
executive branch of the Federal Government ap-
pointed by the President.
(5) 2 members appointed by the President from
among officials of State and local governments, who
shall not be members of the same political party.
(6) 5 members appointed by the President from
among persons in the private sector representing
such interests as small business, labor, health care,
education, environment, Federal Government pro-
curement, and information technology, no more than
3 of whom shall be of the same political party.
SEC. 5. COMPENSATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), members of the Commission shall each receive as com-
pensation the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic
pay in effect for level 4 of the Executive Schedule for each
day (including travel time) during which they are engaged
in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commis-
sion.
(b) FEDERAL OFFICIALS.—Members of the Commis-
sion who are Members of Congress or who are full-time
officers or employees of the United States shall receive no
additional compensation for their service on the Commis-
sion.
(c) TRAVEL
EXPENSE.—While away from their
homes or regular places of business in the performance
of service for the Commission, members of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as a person
employed intermittently in the Government service is al-
lowed such expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
SEC. 6. POWERS.
(a) MEETINGS.—The Commission, or at its direction,
any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the pur-
pose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, receive such evidence and administer such
oaths, as the Commission or such subcommittee or mem-
ber may consider advisable. Such attendance of witnesses
and the production of such evidence may be required from
any place within the United States at any designated place
of hearing within the United States. Any member of the
Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to wit-
nesses appearing before the Commission or before such
subcommittee or member.
(b) PERSONNEL.—Members of the Commission shall
elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from among its
members. The Commission shall appoint an Executive Di-
rector who shall receive as compensation the equivalent
of the basic pay in effect for Level 5 of the Executive
Schedule. The Commission may appoint and fix the com-
pensation of such other personnel as it deems advisable
without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
and such personnel 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, at a rate not to exceed the rates provided in
section 5376 of title 5, United States Code. In addition,
the Commission may procure the services of experts and
consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5,
United States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in sec-
tion 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) CONTRACTS FOR STUDIES AND REPORTS.—The
Commission may, subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, negotiate and enter into contracts with private orga-
nizations and educational institutions to carry out such
studies and prepare such reports as the Commission deter-
mines are necessary in order to carry out its duties.
SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) FURNISHING INFORMATION.—Each department,
agency, and instrumentality of the Federal Government
shall furnish to the Commission, upon request made by
the 
Chairman, 
such 
data, 
reports, 
and 
other
nonconfidential information not otherwise prohibited by
law as the Commission considers necessary to carry out
its functions under this Act.
(b) SERVICES.—The head of each department or
agency of the Federal Government may, upon request
made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Commis-
sion, provide to the Commission such services as the Com-
mission requests on such basis, reimbursable or otherwise,
as may be agreed between the department or agency and
the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Commission.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act $8,000,000.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall cease to exist 120 days after
the submission of its final report under section 3.
SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on the date which is 45
days after the date of its enactment.
Æ