I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5090
To establish a commission to conduct a comprehensive review of Federal
agencies and programs and to recommend the elimination or realignment
of duplicative, wasteful, or outdated functions, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 10, 2002
Mr. TIAHRT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on 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 conduct a comprehensive review
of Federal agencies and programs and to recommend
the elimination or realignment of duplicative, wasteful,
or outdated functions, and for other purposes.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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission on the
Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com-
mission on the Accountability and Review of Federal
Agencies (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mission’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall con-
sist of 12 members, all of whom shall be appointed
by the President within 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act.
(2) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—
The President shall designate a chairperson and vice
chairperson from among the members of the Com-
mission.
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem-
bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment.
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the Commission have
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing.
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the chairperson.
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) DEFINITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the term ‘‘agency’’, as used in this sec-
tion, has the meaning given the term ‘‘executive
agency’’ under section 105 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) EXCEPTION.—The term ‘‘agency’’ does not
include the Department of Defense or its subdivi-
sions.
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) evaluate all agencies and programs within
those agencies, using the criteria under subsection
(c); and
(2) submit to Congress—
(A) a plan with recommendations of the
agencies and programs that should be realigned
or eliminated; and
(B) proposed legislation to implement the
plan under subparagraph (A).
(c) CRITERIA.—
(1) DUPLICATIVE.—If 2 or more agencies or
programs are performing the same essential function
and the function can be consolidated or streamlined
into a single agency or program, the Commission
shall recommend that the agency or program be re-
aligned.
(2) WASTEFUL
OR
INEFFICIENT.—The Com-
mission shall recommend the realignment or elimi-
nation of any agency or program that has wasted
Federal funds by—
(A) egregious spending;
(B) mismanagement of resources and per-
sonnel; or
(C) use of such funds for personal benefit
or the benefit of a special interest group.
(3) OUTDATED, IRRELEVANT, OR FAILED.—The
Commission shall recommend the elimination of any
agency or program that—
(A) has completed its intended purpose;
(B) has become irrelevant; or
(C) has failed to meet its objectives.
(d) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission