SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL 
TO REVIEW EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS TO 
ENSURE THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE A PUB-
LIC NEED. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 7 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end of sub-
chapter II the following new section: 
‘‘§ 721. Review of Executive departments to ensure 
they continue to serve a public need 
‘‘(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Each year, beginning with 
2014, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
review three Executive departments, in the order of their 
creation, to identify agencies and programs within the ju-
risdiction of the departments that perform similar or re-
lated functions and that no longer serve a public need. 
The Comptroller General shall review every department at 
least once every five years. 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA.—The Comptroller General shall 
evaluate the efficiency and public need for each Executive 
department pursuant to subsection (a) using the following 
criteria: 
‘‘(1) The effectiveness and the efficiency of the 
operation of the programs carried out by each such 
Executive department. 
‘‘(2) Whether the programs carried out by the 
Executive department are cost-effective. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) Whether the Executive department has 
acted outside the scope of its original authority, and 
whether the original objectives of the department 
have been achieved. 
‘‘(4) Whether less restrictive or alternative 
methods exist to carry out the functions of the Exec-
utive department. 
‘‘(5) The extent to which the jurisdiction of, 
and the programs administered by, the Executive de-
partment duplicate or conflict with the jurisdiction 
and programs of other Executive departments. 
‘‘(6) The potential benefits of consolidating pro-
grams administered by the Executive department 
with similar or duplicative programs of other Execu-
tive departments, and the potential for consolidating 
such programs. 
‘‘(7) The number and types of beneficiaries or 
persons served by programs carried out by the Exec-
utive department. 
‘‘(8) The extent to which any trends, develop-
ments, and emerging conditions that are likely to af-
fect the future nature and extent of the problems or 
needs that the programs carried out by the Execu-
tive department are intended to address. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(9) The extent to which the Executive depart-
ment has complied with the provisions contained in 
sections 1115 through 1119 of this title (relating to 
Government performance planning and reporting). 
‘‘(10) Whether the Executive department has 
worked to enact changes in the law that are in-
tended to benefit the public as a whole rather than 
the specific business, institution, or individuals that 
the department regulates. 
‘‘(11) The extent to which the Executive de-
partment has encouraged participation by the public 
as a whole in making its rules and decisions rather 
than encouraging participation solely by those it reg-
ulates. 
‘‘(12) The extent to which the public participa-
tion in rulemaking and decisionmaking of the Execu-
tive department has resulted in rules and decisions 
compatible with the objectives of the department. 
‘‘(13) The extent to which the Executive de-
partment complies with section 552 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly known as the ‘Free-
dom of Information Act’). 
‘‘(14) The extent of the regulatory, privacy, and 
paperwork impacts of the programs carried out by 
the Executive department. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(15) The extent to which changes are nec-
essary in the authorizing statutes of the Executive 
department in order that the function of the depart-
ment can be performed in the most efficient and ef-
fective manner. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDED LEGIS-
LATION.—By February 1 of each year, beginning with 
February 1, 2015, the Comptroller General shall submit 
to Congress a report on the results of the review of the 
Executive departments carried out during the preceding 
year. The report shall include— 
‘‘(1) such recommendations as the Comptroller 
General considers necessary to facilitate the abolish-
ment of agencies and programs within the Executive 
departments that perform similar or related func-
tions that were identified pursuant to subsection (a) 
as no longer serving a public need; and 
‘‘(2) legislative language to implement those 
recommendations in a form appropriate for introduc-
tion in Congress as a bill. 
‘‘(d) EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘Executive department’ means each de-
partment listed in section 101 of title 5, United States 
Code.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end of subchapter II 
the following new item: 
‘‘721. Review of Executive departments to ensure they continue to serve a public 
need.’’. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO ENSURE EXECUTIVE 
DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO SERVE A PUB-
LIC NEED. 
(a) ABOLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 
of each year, beginning with December 31, 2015, the 
three Executive departments that were reviewed by 
the Comptroller General of the United States during 
the preceding year pursuant to section 721 of title 
31, United States Code, shall be abolished. 
(2) WINDING DOWN.—The President, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of each Executive depart-
ment concerned, shall direct the procedures for the 
winding down of the operations of departments abol-
ished under subsection (a). 
(3) EXTENSION.—The date of abolishment for 
an Executive department may be extended for an 
additional two years if Congress enacts legislation 
extending such date by a vote of three-fifths of the 
House of Representatives and of the Senate. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) CONTINUATION OF DEPARTMENTS.— 
(1) APPROVAL OF EXISTENCE.—Congress may 
authorize the continued existence of an Executive 
department scheduled for abolishment by approving 
or rejecting the legislation containing the rec-
ommendations of the Comptroller General with re-
spect to that department, as submitted under section 
721(c)(2) of title 31, United States Code, and intro-
duced as a bill under subsection (c). 
(2) FUTURE
RECOMMENDATIONS.—Action of 
Congress approving of an Executive department 
scheduled for abolishment does not prevent the de-
partment from being abolished in the next cycle for 
consideration. 
(c) PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF COMPTROLLER 
GENERAL’S REPORT.— 
(1) INTRODUCTION.—After February 1 of each 
year, beginning with 2015, the legislation containing 
the recommendations of the Comptroller General 
with respect to the Executive departments reviewed 
during the preceding year, as submitted in the re-
port of the Comptroller General under section 
721(c)(2) of title 31, United States Code, shall be 
introduced in the Senate by the Majority Leader or 
the Majority Leader’s designee, and in the House of 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Representatives by the Speaker or the Speaker’s 
designee. Upon such introduction, the bill, to be 
known as a ‘‘wasteful expenditures bill’’ shall be re-
ferred to appropriate committees of Congress under 
paragraph (2). If the wasteful expenditures bill is 
not introduced in accordance with the preceding sen-
tence, then any member of Congress may introduce 
such bill in the member’s respective House of Con-
gress beginning on the date that is the fifth calendar 
day that such House is in session following the date 
of the submission of such aggregate legislative provi-
sions. 
(2) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.— 
(A) REFERRAL.—A wasteful expenditures 
bill introduced under paragraph (1) shall be re-
ferred to any appropriate committee of jurisdic-
tion in the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives. A committee to which a wasteful expend-
itures bill is referred under this paragraph and 
may review and comment on such bill, may re-
port such bill to the respective House, and may 
not amend such bill. 
(B) REPORTING.—Not later than 60 legis-
lative days after the introduction of the waste-
ful expenditures bill, each Committee of Con-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
gress to which the wasteful expenditures bill 
was referred shall report the bill. 
(C) DISCHARGE
OF
COMMITTEE.—If a 
committee to which is referred a wasteful ex-
penditures bill has not reported such bill at the 
end of 60 legislative days after its introduction 
or at the end of the first day after there has 
been reported to the House involved a wasteful 
expenditures bill, whichever is earlier, such 
committee shall be deemed to have been dis-
charged from further consideration of such bill, 
and such bill shall be placed on the appropriate 
calendar of the House involved. 
(3) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.— 
(A) CONSIDERATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 
legislative days after the date on which a 
committee has reported a wasteful expendi-
tures bill or been discharged from consid-
eration of a wasteful expenditures bill, the 
Majority Leader of the Senate, or the Ma-
jority Leader’s designee, or the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, or the 
Speaker’s designee, shall move to proceed 
to the consideration of the wasteful ex-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
penditures bill. It shall also be in order for 
any member of the Senate or the House of 
Representatives, respectively, to move to 
proceed to the consideration of the waste-
ful expenditures bill at any time after the 
conclusion of such 5-day period. 
(ii) MOTION TO PROCEED.—A motion 
to proceed to the consideration of a waste-
ful expenditures bill is highly privileged in 
the House of Representatives and is privi-
leged in the Senate and is not debatable. 
The motion is not subject to amendment or 
to a motion to postpone consideration of 
the wasteful expenditures bill. If the mo-
tion to proceed is agreed to, the Senate or 
the House of Representatives, as the case 
may be, shall immediately proceed to con-
sideration of the wasteful expenditures bill 
without intervening motion, order, or other 
business, and the wasteful expenditures bill 
shall remain the unfinished business of the 
Senate or the House of Representatives, as 
the case may be, until disposed of. 
(iii) LIMITED
DEBATE.—Debate on 
the wasteful expenditures bill and on all 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
debatable motions and appeals in connec-
tion therewith shall be limited to not more 
than 10 hours, which shall be divided 
equally between those favoring and those 
opposing the wasteful expenditures bill. A 
motion further to limit debate on the 
wasteful expenditures bill is in order and is 
not debatable. All time used for consider-
ation of the wasteful expenditures bill, in-
cluding time used for quorum calls (except 
quorum calls immediately preceding a vote) 
and voting, shall come from the 10 hours 
of debate. 
(iv) AMENDMENTS.—No amendment 
to the wasteful expenditures bill shall be in 
order in the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(v) VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE.—Imme-
diately following the conclusion of the de-
bate on the wasteful expenditures bill, the 
vote on final passage of the wasteful ex-
penditures bill shall occur. 
(vi) 
OTHER
MOTIONS
NOT
IN 
ORDER.—A motion to postpone consider-
ation of the wasteful expenditures bill, a 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
motion to proceed to the consideration of 
other business, or a motion to recommit 
the wasteful expenditures bill is not in 
order. A motion to reconsider the vote by 
which the wasteful expenditures bill is 
agreed to or not agreed to is not in order. 
(B) CONSIDERATION
BY
THE
OTHER 
HOUSE.—If, before the passage by one House 
of the wasteful expenditures bill that was intro-
duced in such House, such House receives from 
the other House a wasteful expenditures bill as 
passed by such other House— 
(i) the wasteful expenditures bill of 
the other House shall not be referred to a 
committee and may only be considered for 
final passage in the House that receives it 
under subparagraph (C); 
(ii) the procedure in the House in re-
ceipt of the wasteful expenditures bill of 
the other House, shall be the same as if no 
wasteful expenditures bill had been re-
ceived from the other House; and 
(iii) 
notwithstanding 
subparagraph 
(B), the vote on final passage shall be on 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the wasteful expenditures bill of the other 
House. 
(C) DISPOSITION.—Upon disposition of a 
wasteful expenditures bill that is received by 
one House from the other House, it shall no 
longer be in order to consider the wasteful ex-
penditures bill that was introduced in the re-
ceiving House. 
(4) LEGISLATIVE
DAY.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘legislative day’’ means a day on which either 
House of Congress is in session. 
(5) RULES OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES.—This section is enacted— 
(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 
of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, respectively, and is deemed to be part of 
the rules of each House, respectively, but appli-
cable only with respect to the procedure to be 
followed in that House in the case of a wasteful 
expenditures bill, and it supersedes other rules 
only to the extent that it is inconsistent with 
such rules; and 
(B) with full recognition of the constitu-
tional right of either House to change the rules 
(so far as they relate to the procedure of that 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:45 May 16, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1954.IH
H1954
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS