I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3883 
To establish the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations of the United 
States to facilitate the fullest cooperation, coordination, and mutual 
accountability among all levels of government, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 23, 2019 
Mr. CONNOLLY (for himself and Mr. BISHOP of Utah) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 
of the United States to facilitate the fullest cooperation, 
coordination, and mutual accountability among all levels 
of government, 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 ‘‘Restore the Partner-
ship Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a permanent, bipartisan commis-
sion to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Intergovern-
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mental Relations of the United States’’ (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE. 
In order to facilitate the fullest cooperation, coordina-
tion, and mutual accountability among all levels of govern-
ment and thus better serve the American people in an in-
creasingly complex society, it is essential that a commis-
sion be established to give continuing attention to fed-
eralism and intergovernmental issues. It is intended that 
the Commission, in the performance of its duties, will— 
(1) convene representatives of Federal, State, 
Tribal, and local governments for the consideration 
of common problems; 
(2) provide a forum for discussing ways to im-
prove the administration and coordination of Federal 
grant-in-aid, regulatory, tax, and other programs re-
quiring intergovernmental cooperation, and to give 
State, Tribal, and local governments more flexibility 
and discretion in implementing Federal policies and 
programs; 
(3) give critical attention to the conditions, con-
trols, and oversight involved in the administration of 
such Federal programs; 
(4) share lessons and best practices with Fed-
eral, State, Tribal, and local governments; 
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(5) encourage discussion and study during the 
early stages of emerging public challenges that are 
likely to require intergovernmental cooperation; 
(6) advise the executive and legislative branches 
on ways to improve the intergovernmental operations 
of the White House and Federal agencies, including 
their offices of intergovernmental affairs and use of 
administrative waivers; 
(7) identify the intergovernmental impacts of 
rulings by the United States Supreme Court on Fed-
eral, State, Tribal, and local governments; and 
(8) recommend, within the framework of the 
United States Constitution, the appropriate alloca-
tion of governmental functions, responsibilities, reve-
nues, and expenditures among the levels of govern-
ment. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 31 members, as follows: 
(1) Six members appointed by the President of 
the United States, 3 of whom shall be officers of the 
executive branch of the government, and 3 of whom 
shall be private citizens, each of whom, respectively, 
shall have experience or familiarity with relations be-
tween the levels of government. 
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(2) Three members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate, who shall be Members of the 
Senate. 
(3) Three members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, who shall be Members 
of the House. 
(4) Four members appointed by the President 
of the United States from a panel of at least 8 Gov-
ernors submitted by the National Governors Associa-
tion. 
(5) Four members appointed by the President 
of the United States from a panel of at least 8 mem-
bers of State legislative bodies submitted by the Na-
tional Conference of State Legislatures. 
(6) Four members appointed by the President 
of the United States from a panel of at least 8 may-
ors submitted jointly by the National League of Cit-
ies and the United States Conference of Mayors. 
(7) Four members appointed by the President 
of the United States from a panel of at least 8 elect-
ed county officers submitted by the National Asso-
ciation of Counties. 
(8) One member appointed by the President of 
the United States from a panel of at least 4 town 
or township elected governing board members sub-
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mitted by the National Association of Towns and 
Townships. 
(9) Two members appointed by the President of 
the United States from a panel of at least 4 Tribal 
officials submitted by the National Congress of 
American Indians. 
(b) POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION.— 
The political and geographic composition of the Commis-
sion shall be as follows: 
(1) The private-citizen members under para-
graph (1) of subsection (a) shall be appointed with-
out regard to political affiliation. 
(2) Two of the appointees under paragraphs (2) 
and (3) of subsection (a), respectively, shall be from 
the majority party of the applicable house. 
(3) Not more than 2 of the appointees under 
paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (a), 
respectively, shall be from any 1 political party. 
(4) Not more than 1 of the appointees under 
paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (9) of subsection (a), 
respectively, shall be from any 1 State. 
(5) At least 1 of the appointees under para-
graph (6) of subsection (a) shall be from cities with 
a population of more than 500,000 and at least 1 
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of the appointees shall be from cities with a popu-
lation of less than 50,000. 
(6) At least 1 of the appointees under para-
graph (7) of subsection (a) shall be from counties 
with a population of more than 500,000 and at least 
1 of the appointees shall be from counties with a 
population of less than 50,000. 
(7) The appointee under paragraph (8) of sub-
section (a) shall not be a member of the party of the 
President. 
(8) One of the appointees under paragraph (9) 
of subsection (a) shall be a tribe engaged in class II 
gaming or class III gaming, as such terms are de-
fined by section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory 
Act (25 U.S.C. 2703), respectively, and 1 shall be 
a tribe that is not engaged in such gaming. 
(c) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Each initial appoint-
ment under subsection (a) shall be made not later than 
60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The term of office of each 
member of the Commission shall be two years; mem-
bers shall be eligible for reappointment; and, except 
as provided under paragraph (2), members shall 
serve until their successors are appointed. 
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(2) TERMINATION OF SERVICE IN OFFICIAL PO-
SITION
FROM
WHICH
ORIGINALLY
APPOINTED.— 
Where any member ceases to serve in the official po-
sition from which originally appointed under section 
3(a), the place of the member on the Commission 
shall be deemed to be vacant. 
(3) VACANCIES IN MEMBERSHIP.—Any vacancy 
in the membership of the Commission shall be filled 
for the remainder of the vacant term in the same 
manner in which the original appointment was 
made; except that where the number of vacancies is 
fewer than the number of members specified in 
paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of section 3(a), 
each panel of names submitted in accordance with 
the aforementioned paragraphs shall contain at least 
2 names for each vacancy. 
SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) INITIAL MEETING.—The President shall convene 
the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act at such time and place as the Presi-
dent may designate. 
(b) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The President 
shall designate a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from 
among the members of the Commission. The Commission 
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may subsequently establish a process for electing a Chair-
man and Vice Chairman. 
(c) QUORUM.—Seventeen members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum, but 2 or more members, 
representing more than 1 of the class of members de-
scribed in section 4(a), shall constitute a quorum for the 
purpose of conducting hearings. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(1) engage in such activities and make such 
studies, investigations, convenings, and communica-
tions as are necessary or desirable in the accomplish-
ment of the purposes set forth in section 3; 
(2) consider, on its own initiative, mechanisms 
for fostering better relations and more productive 
partnerships between and among the levels of gov-
ernment; 
(3) make available technical assistance to the 
executive and legislative branches of the Federal 
Government in the review of proposed legislation to 
determine its overall effect on all levels of govern-
ment; 
(4) recommend, within the framework of the 
United States Constitution, the appropriate alloca-
tion of governmental functions, responsibilities, reve-
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nues, and expenditures among the levels of govern-
ment; 
(5) recommend ways to improve the manage-
ment, performance, and coordination of Federal 
grant-in-aid and regulatory programs on State, Trib-
al, and local governments, including metrics to in-
form intergovernmental improvements; and 
(6) recommend methods of coordinating and 
simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and 
practices to achieve a more orderly and less competi-
tive fiscal relationship between the levels of govern-
ment and to reduce the burden of compliance for 
taxpayers. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on 
or before January 31 of each year thereafter, the 
Commission shall submit a report to the President 
and Congress that— 
(A) identifies trends in federalism, emerg-
ing and persistent issues needing intergovern-
mental attention, data needs, and areas requir-
ing intergovernmental cooperation and coordi-
nation for better outcomes; 
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(B) summarizes any actions taken in ac-
cordance with the recommendations of the Com-
mission contained in any prior report, and the 
results thereof; 
(C) contains recommendations described in 
subsection (a) made in the year preceding the 
submission of the report; 
(D) provide details on the activities, ad-
ministration, expenditures, and receipts of the 
Commission; and 
(E) communicate any other matters the 
Commission deems important. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
REPORTS.—The Commission 
may submit additional reports to the President, to 
Congress or any committee of Congress, and to any 
unit of government or organization as the Commis-
sion may deem appropriate. 
(c) HEARINGS.—Congress shall hold hearings on any 
recommendations of the Commission not later than 90 
days after receiving a report described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
SEC. 7. POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission or, 
on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee 
or members thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out 
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the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings, take such 
testimony, and sit and act at such times and places as 
the Commission deems advisable. Any member authorized 
by the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations 
to witnesses appearing before the Commission or any sub-
committee or members thereof. 
(b) COOPERATION BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.— 
(1) REQUEST
FOR
INFORMATION.—Each de-
partment, agency, and instrumentality of the execu-
tive branch of the government, including each inde-
pendent agency, is authorized and directed, con-
sistent with law, to furnish to the Commission, upon 
request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman, 
such information as the Commission deems nec-
essary to carry out its functions under this Act. 
(2) 
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
Commission 
shall furnish to any department, agency, or instru-
mentality of the executive branch, including inde-
pendent agencies, any recommendations directed to-
ward said department, agency, or instrumentality, 
and said department, agency, or instrumentality 
shall furnish the Commission within 90 days a writ-
ten response that shall be included in any publica-
tion of the Commission’s recommendations. 
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