I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2826 
To establish the Commission on Government Transformation to make rec-
ommendations to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness, of 
Federal programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 18, 2015 
Mrs. BUSTOS (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. COOPER, Ms. BROWNLEY 
of California, Mr. COFFMAN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. BERA, 
Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. NOLAN, and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission on Government Transformation 
to make recommendations to improve the economy, effi-
ciency, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Government Trans-
formation Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Commission on Government Transformation’’ (in this 
Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(1) review work done by governmental and non-
governmental entities, and conduct original research, 
on the organizational practices, operations, and re-
form efforts of Federal agencies; 
(2) analyze organizational practices and man-
agement challenges of Federal agencies and make 
recommendations as described in subsection (b)(2); 
(3) assess Federal programs for economy, effi-
ciency, and effectiveness, and identify best practices 
of Federal 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) coordinate with appropriate Federal agen-
cies and provide opportunities for individuals to 
make recommendations that support the work of the 
Commission; 
(6) upon request, provide information on Com-
mission activities to the Government Accountability 
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Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office 
of Management and Budget, other Federal agency 
heads, and the Office of the Inspector General of 
each Federal agency; and 
(7) serve as a repository for best practices to 
support Federal agencies in efforts to improve effec-
tiveness. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM
ACTIVITY
REPORTS.—The Com-
mission shall submit to the President and Congress 
interim activity reports that describe the activities of 
the Commission not later than 6 months after the 
date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, and every 6 months thereafter, ex-
cept that an interim report is not required on the 
date on which an annual report is submitted as de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—Not later than 12 
months after the date on which all members of the 
Commission have been appointed, and every 12 
months thereafter, the Commission shall submit a 
report to the President and Congress. The report 
shall include— 
(A) the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission; 
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(B) suggestions for implementing the best 
practices of Federal agencies identified in sub-
section (a)(3) in other Federal agencies; 
(C) proposals for legislation, administrative 
action, or executive action that include rec-
ommendations for improvement or investment 
in Federal programs, or elimination, reduction, 
or consolidation of Federal programs; and 
(D) justification for the recommendations 
described in subparagraph (C). 
(3) REPORTS ON HISTORICAL DATA.—Not later 
than 48 months after the date on which all members 
of the Commission have been appointed, and every 
24 months thereafter, the Commission shall submit 
a report to the President and Congress on historical 
data and trends in the information studied by the 
Commission, including any available evidence of cost 
savings. 
(4) REPORTS MADE PUBLIC.—Each report sub-
mitted under this subsection shall be made available 
to the public not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the report is submitted. 
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SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 7 members to be appointed as fol-
lows: 
(1) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point 1 member. 
(2) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point 1 member. 
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives shall appoint 1 member. 
(4) The minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall appoint 1 member. 
(5) The President shall appoint 3 members. 
(b) RESTRICTION ON GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 
No individual may serve as a member of the Commission 
while employed as an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government or any State or local government. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA.—The members of the 
Commission shall include individuals with recognition for 
their expertise in agencies, efficiency, waste reduction, fi-
nance and economics, or actuarial sciences, and who pro-
vide a mix of different professional backgrounds and broad 
geographic representation. 
(d) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 3 of 
the 7 members appointed shall be registered as members 
of the same political party. 
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(e) DEADLINE TO APPOINT MEMBERS.—All mem-
bers of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(f) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 3 years. 
(2) REAPPOINTMENT.—Each member may be 
reappointed for 1 additional term of 3 years. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the member leaves the Commis-
sion. 
(g) CO-CHAIRS.— 
(1) SELECTION.—Of the members selected by 
the President under subsection (a)(4), 2 members 
shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission. 
(2) POLITICAL AFFILIATION OF CO-CHAIRS.— 
The Co-Chairs of the Commission shall not be from 
the same political party. 
(h) BASIC PAY.— 
(1) RATES OF PAY OF MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber, other than the Co-Chairs, shall be paid at a rate 
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 
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basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) RATE
OF
PAY
OF
CO-CHAIRS.—The Co- 
Chairs shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(i) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(j) QUORUM.—Four members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold 
hearings. 
(k) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Co-Chairs or a majority of its members. Mem-
bers may attend meetings via teleconference. 
SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Co-Chairs, in consulta-
tion with the President and Congress, shall appoint 
and terminate an Executive Director. The Executive 
Director shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level 
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V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(2) STAFF.—The Executive Director, with the 
approval of a majority of the members of the Com-
mission, may appoint, set the pay of, and terminate 
additional personnel. 
(b) APPLICATION
OF
CERTAIN
CIVIL
SERVICE 
LAWS.—The Executive Director and staff of the Commis-
sion may be appointed without regard to the provisions 
of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 
the competitive service. 
(c) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—A member or em-
ployee of the Commission shall not have a conflict of inter-
est that is relevant to any activity of the Commission. 
(d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—With the con-
sensus of the Co-Chairs, the Commission may procure 
temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) 
of title 5, United States Code, at a rate to be determined 
by the Co-Chairs. 
(e) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the Co-Chairs, the head of any Federal department or 
agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 
to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 
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SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(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) 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 by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency infor-
mation necessary to enable it to carry out this section. 
Upon request of the Co-Chairs, the head of that depart-
ment or agency shall furnish that information to the Com-
mission on an agreed upon schedule. 
(d) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other Federal agencies. 
SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF 
COMMISSION BILL. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section: 
(1) COMMISSION BILL.—The term ‘‘Commission 
bill’’ means a bill— 
(A) the substance of which implements a 
recommendation of the Commission submitted 
under section 3(b)(2)(C); and 
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(B) introduced by request on the date that 
is 90 days after the annual report of the Com-
mission is submitted to Congress under section 
3(b)(2), or if either House is not in session on 
such date, on the first day thereafter on which 
that House is in session. 
(2) CALENDAR DAY.—The term ‘‘calendar day’’ 
means a calendar day other than one on which ei-
ther House is not in session because of an adjourn-
ment of more than 3 days to a date certain. 
(b) REFERRAL.—A Commission bill described in sub-
section (a)(1) that is introduced in the House of Rep-
resentatives shall be referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform of the House of Represent-
atives. A Commission bill that is introduced in the Senate 
shall be referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
(c) DISCHARGE.—If the committee to which a Com-
mission bill described in subsection (a)(1) is referred has 
not reported the Commission bill by the end of the 20- 
day period beginning on the date on which the report is 
introduced under subsection (a)(1)(B), such committee 
shall be, at the end of such period, discharged from fur-
ther consideration of such bill, and such bill shall be placed 
on the appropriate calendar of the House involved. 
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(d) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) CONSIDERATION.—On or after the third 
day after the date on which the committee to which 
a Commission bill described in subsection (a)(1) is 
referred has reported, or has been discharged (under 
subsection (c)) from further consideration of, it is in 
order (even though a previous motion to the same 
effect has been disagreed to) for any Member of the 
respective House to move to proceed to the consider-
ation of the bill. A Member may make the motion 
only on the day after the calendar day on which the 
Member announces to the House concerned the 
Member’s intention to make the motion, except that, 
in the case of the House of Representatives, the mo-
tion may be made without such prior announcement 
if the motion 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 consid-
eration 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 consideration of the bill is agreed to, the respec-
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tive House shall immediately proceed to consider-
ation of the bill without intervening motion, order, 
or other business, and the bill shall remain the un-
finished business of the respective House until dis-
posed 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, 
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. 
(e) CONSIDERATION BY OTHER HOUSE.— 
(1) BEFORE PASSAGE.—If, before the passage 
by one House of a Commission bill of that House de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1), that House receives 
from the other House a Commission bill, then the 
following procedures shall apply— 
(A) the Commission bill of the other House 
shall not be referred to a committee and may 
not be considered in the House receiving it ex-
cept in the case of vote on final passage as pro-
vided in subparagraph (B); and 
(B) with respect to a Commission bill of 
the House receiving the bill, the procedure in 
that House shall be the same as if no bill had 
been received from the other House, but the 
vote on final passage shall be on the bill of the 
other House. 
(2) AFTER
PASSAGE.—Upon disposition of a 
Commission bill received from the other House, it 
shall no longer be in order to consider the bill that 
originated in the receiving House. 
(f) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES.—This section is enacted by Congress— 
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(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, respec-
tively, and is deemed to be a 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 Commission bill described in sub-
section (a)(1), 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 of proce-
dure of that House at any time, in the same man-
ner, and to the same extent as in the case of any 
other rule of that House. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive 
agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(2) FEDERAL PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Federal 
program’’ means any function or activity of a Fed-
eral agency. 
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SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Com-
mission for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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