I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 586 
To establish the Independent Government Waste Reduction Board to make 
recommendations to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness 
of Federal programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2015 
Mrs. BUSTOS (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. 
DELANEY, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. CARNEY, Mr. ASHFORD, Mr. COOPER, 
Ms. KUSTER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. 
CARSON of Indiana, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, and Ms. MICHELLE 
LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in 
addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Independent Government Waste Reduction 
Board to make recommendations to improve the econ-
omy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Government Waste Reduction Act of 2015’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Establishment of Board. 
Sec. 3. Duties of the Board. 
Sec. 4. Powers of the Board. 
Sec. 5. Board personnel matters. 
Sec. 6. Congressional consideration of Board recommendations. 
Sec. 7. Agency defined. 
Sec. 8. Termination of the Board. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Inde-
pendent Government Waste Reduction Board (hereafter in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Board’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Board shall be 
composed of 15 members appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent 
of Congress. 
(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members of 
the Board shall include individuals with na-
tional recognition for their expertise in agen-
cies, efficiency, waste reduction, finance and ec-
onomics, actuarial sciences, who provide a mix 
of different professionals, broad geographic rep-
resentation, and a balance between urban and 
rural representatives. 
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(C) ETHICAL DISCLOSURE.—The President 
shall establish a system for public disclosure by 
members of the Board of financial and other 
potential conflicts of interest relating to such 
members. Members of the Board shall be treat-
ed as officers in the executive branch for pur-
poses of applying title I of the Ethics in Gov-
ernment Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521). 
(D) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—No indi-
vidual may serve as a member of the Board if 
that individual engages in any other business, 
vocation, or employment. 
(E) CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS.—In 
selecting individuals for nominations for ap-
pointments to the Board, the President shall 
consult with— 
(i) the majority leader of the Senate 
concerning the appointment of 3 members; 
(ii) the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives concerning the appointment of 
3 members; 
(iii) the minority leader of the Senate 
concerning the appointment of 3 members; 
and 
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(iv) the minority leader of the House 
of Representatives concerning the appoint-
ment of 3 members. 
(2) TERM
OF
OFFICE.—Each member shall 
hold office for the duration of the Board. 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson shall 
be appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, from among 
the members of the Board. 
(B) DUTIES.—The Chairperson shall be 
the principal executive officer of the Board, and 
shall exercise all of the executive and adminis-
trative functions of the Board, including func-
tions of the Board with respect to— 
(i) the appointment and supervision of 
personnel employed by the Board; 
(ii) the distribution of business among 
personnel appointed and supervised by the 
Chairperson and among administrative 
units of the Board; and 
(iii) the use and expenditure of funds. 
(C) GOVERNANCE.—In carrying out any of 
the functions under subparagraph (B), the 
Chairperson shall be governed by the general 
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policies established by the Board and by the de-
cisions, findings, and determinations the Board 
shall by law be authorized to make. 
(D) REQUESTS
FOR
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
Requests or estimates for regular, supple-
mental, or deficiency appropriations on behalf 
of the Board may not be submitted by the 
Chairperson without the prior approval of a ma-
jority vote of the Board. 
(4) REMOVAL.—Any member may be removed 
by the President for neglect of duty or malfeasance 
in office, but for no other cause. 
(c) VACANCIES; QUORUM; SEAL; VICE CHAIRPERSON; 
VOTING ON REPORTS.— 
(1) VACANCIES.—No vacancy on the Board 
shall impair the right of the remaining members to 
exercise all the powers of the Board. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Board shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business, but a lesser number of members 
may hold hearings. 
(3) SEAL.—The Board shall have an official 
seal, of which judicial notice shall be taken. 
(4) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Board shall elect 
a Vice Chairperson to act in the absence or disability 
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of the Chairperson or in case of a vacancy in the of-
fice of the Chairperson. 
(5) VOTING ON PROPOSALS.—Any proposal of 
the Board must be approved by the majority of 
members present. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall— 
(1) review the reports described in subsection 
(b)(1); 
(2) analyze organizational practices and man-
agement challenges of agencies and make rec-
ommendations; 
(3) assess Federal programs for economy, effi-
ciency, and effectiveness, and identify best practices 
of agencies; 
(4) establish a process for prioritizing the ac-
tivities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), in-
cluding establishing criteria and a schedule for car-
rying out the activities; 
(5) consult with appropriate agencies and pro-
vide opportunities for individuals to make rec-
ommendations that support the work of the Board; 
and 
(6) serve as a repository for best practices to 
support agencies in efforts to improve effectiveness. 
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(b) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board 
shall submit to Congress and the President a report that 
includes the following: 
(1) Recommendations for specific implementa-
tion of the recommendations from each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The March 2011 Government Account-
ability Office report to Congress, entitled ‘‘Op-
portunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in 
Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and 
Enhance Revenue’’ (GAO–11–318SP). 
(B) The February 2012 Government Ac-
countability Office report to Congress, entitled 
‘‘Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap 
and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and En-
hance Revenue’’ (GAO–12–342SP). 
(C) The April 2013 Government Account-
ability Office report to Congress, entitled ‘‘Ac-
tions Needed to Reduce Fragmentation, Over-
lap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Finan-
cial Benefits’’ (GAO–13–279SP). 
(D) The April 2014 Government Account-
ability Office report to Congress, entitled ‘‘Ad-
ditional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmenta-
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tion, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve 
Other Financial Benefits’’ (GAO–14–343SP). 
(2) A summary of the recommendations. 
(3) An explanation of each recommendation 
contained in the report and the reasons for including 
such recommendation. 
(4) An opinion by the Government Account-
ability Office on whether each recommendation is 
consistent with the intent of such Government Ac-
countability Office reports. 
(5) A legislative proposal that implements the 
recommendations. 
(6) Recommendations for organizational prac-
tices and management challenges of agencies ana-
lyzed in subsection (a)(2). 
(7) Recommendations for implementing the best 
practices of agencies identified in subsection (a)(3) 
in other agencies. 
(8) Proposals for administrative action or exec-
utive action that include recommendations— 
(A) for improvement or investment in Fed-
eral programs; or 
(B) achieving efficiency and effectiveness 
in Federal programs. 
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(9) Other information determined appropriate 
by the Board. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENTS.—Each recommendation in 
the report submitted under subsection (b)— 
(A) shall result in a decrease of overall 
Government spending or an increase of Govern-
ment revenue; and 
(B) shall not result in— 
(i) any cut in benefits for veterans, 
members of the Armed Forces, or their 
families; or 
(ii) any cut in benefits for seniors, in-
cluding— 
(I) the elimination of guaranteed 
health insurance benefits for seniors 
or people with disabilities; 
(II) the conversion of Medicare 
into a voucher plan that provides lim-
ited payments to seniors or people 
with disabilities to purchase health 
care in the private health insurance 
market; 
(III) cuts in Medicaid health in-
surance benefits; 
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(IV) cuts in nursing home care; 
or 
(V) privatization of Social Secu-
rity benefits. 
(2) CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.— 
The Board shall consult regularly with the Govern-
ment Accountability Office and other agencies in 
making the recommendations required under this 
section. 
(d) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which a report is submitted 
under subsection (b), the report shall be made available 
to the public. 
SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE BOARD. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Board may hold such hearings, 
sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 
and receive such evidence as the Board considers advisable 
to carry out this Act. 
(b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Board may 
secure directly from any agency information necessary to 
enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the 
Chairperson, the head of that agency shall furnish that 
information to the Board on an agreed upon schedule. 
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(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Board may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other agencies. 
(d) GIFTS.—The Board may accept, use, and dispose 
of gifts or donations of services or property. 
(e) OFFICES.—The Board shall maintain a principal 
office and such field offices as it determines necessary, and 
may meet and exercise any of its powers at any other 
place. 
SEC. 5. BOARD PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION
OF
MEMBERS
AND
CHAIR-
PERSON.—Each member of the Board, other than the 
Chairperson, shall be compensated at a rate equal to the 
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level III of the Ex-
ecutive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code. The Chairperson shall be compensated at a 
rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 
basic pay prescribed for level II of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Board 
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agen-
cies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
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places of business in the performance of services for the 
Board. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson may, with-
out regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
appoint and terminate an executive director and 
such other additional personnel as may be necessary 
to enable the Board to perform its duties. The em-
ployment of an executive director shall be subject to 
confirmation by the Board. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson may fix 
the compensation of the executive director and other 
personnel without regard to chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States 
Code, relating to classification of positions and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay 
for the executive director and other personnel may 
not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Board without reimbursement, and such detail shall be 
without interruption or loss of civil service status or privi-
lege. 
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(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which 
do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 
basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF BOARD REC-
OMMENDATIONS. 
(a) INTRODUCTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On the day on which the re-
port is submitted by the Board to the Congress 
under section 3(b), the legislative proposal (de-
scribed in section 3(a)(5)) contained in the report 
shall be introduced (by request) in the Senate by the 
majority leader of the Senate or by Members of the 
Senate designated by the majority leader of the Sen-
ate and shall be introduced (by request) in the 
House by the majority leader of the House or by 
Members of the House designated by the majority 
leader of the House. 
(2) NOT IN SESSION.—If either House is not in 
session on the day on which such legislative proposal 
is submitted, the legislative proposal shall be intro-
duced in that House, as provided in subparagraph 
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(A), on the first day thereafter on which that House 
is in session. 
(3) ANY MEMBER.—If the legislative proposal is 
not introduced in either House within 5 days on 
which that House is in session after the day on 
which the legislative proposal is submitted, then any 
Member of that House may introduce the legislative 
proposal. 
(4) REFERRAL.—The legislation introduced 
under this subsection in the House of Representa-
tives shall be referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform of the House of Rep-
resentatives. The legislation introduced under this 
subsection in the Senate shall be referred to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate. 
(b) DISCHARGE.—If the committee to which a legisla-
tive proposal described in subsection (a) is referred has 
not reported the bill containing such proposal by the end 
of the 20-day period beginning on the date on which the 
Board submits the report to Congress under section 3(b), 
such committee shall be, at the end of such period, dis-
charged from further consideration of such bill, and such 
bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the 
House involved. 
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(c) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) CONSIDERATION.—On or after the third 
day after the date on which the committee to which 
such a bill is referred has reported, or has been dis-
charged (under subsection (b)) from further consid-
eration of, such a bill, it is in order (even though a 
previous motion to the same effect has been dis-
agreed to) for any Member of the respective House 
to move to proceed to the consideration of the bill. 
A member may make the motion only on the day 
after the calendar day on which the Member an-
nounces to the House concerned the Member’s inten-
tion to make the motion, except that, in the case of 
the House of Representatives, the motion may be 
made without such prior announcement if the mo-
tion is made by direction of the committee to which 
the bill was referred. The motion is highly privileged 
in the House of Representatives and is privileged in 
the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not 
subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, 
or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of 
other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by 
which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall 
not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consid-
eration of the bill is agreed to, the respective House 
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shall immediately proceed to consideration of the bill 
without intervening motion, order, or other business, 
and the bill shall remain the unfinished business of 
the respective House until disposed of. 
(2) DEBATE.—Debate on the bill, and on all 
debatable motions and appeals in connection there-
with, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, 
which shall be divided equally between those favoring 
and those opposing the bill. An amendment to the 
bill is not in order. A motion further to limit debate 
is in order and not debatable. A motion to postpone, 
or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other 
business, or a motion to recommit the bill is not in 
order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the 
bill is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. 
(3) VOTE
ON
FINAL
PASSAGE.—Immediately 
following the conclusion of the debate on the bill and 
a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate 
if requested in accordance with the rules of the ap-
propriate House, the vote on final passage of the bill 
shall occur. 
(4) APPEALS.—Appeals from the decisions of 
the Chair relating to the application of the rules of 
the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the 
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case may be, to the procedure relating to the bill 
shall be decided without debate. 
(d) CONSIDERATION BY OTHER HOUSE.— 
(1) BEFORE PASSAGE.—If, before the passage 
by one House of a bill of that House described in 
subsection (b), that House receives from the other 
House a bill described in subsection (b), then the 
following procedures shall apply— 
(A) the bill of the other House shall not be 
referred to a committee and may not be consid-
ered in the House receiving it except in the case 
of final passage as provided in subparagraph 
(B)(ii); and 
(B) with respect to a bill described in sub-
section (b) of the House receiving the bill (i) 
the procedure in that House shall be the same 
as if no bill had been received from the other 
House; but (ii) the vote on final passage shall 
be on the bill of the other House. 
(2) AFTER PASSAGE.—Upon disposition of the 
bill received from the other House, it shall no longer 
be in order to consider the bill that originated in the 
receiving House. 
(e) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE.—This sec-
tion is enacted by Congress— 
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