I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 305
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Office of
Inspector General Oversight Council.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. TOWNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Government Reform
A BILL
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish
an Office of Inspector General Oversight Council.
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 ‘‘Office of Inspector
General Oversight Council Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GEN-
ERAL OVERSIGHT COUNCIL.
The Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–
452; 5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
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‘‘SEC. 13. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT
COUNCIL.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established
as an independent establishment in the executive branch
a council to be known as the ‘Office of Inspector General
Oversight Council’ (in this section referred to as the
‘Council’), the purpose of which shall be to oversee and
review the actions and activities of the Offices of Inspector
General of establishments and designated Federal entities.
‘‘(b) 
COMPOSITION; 
QUALIFICATIONS.—(1) 
The
Council shall be composed of seven members (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘Members’), who shall be appointed
as follows:
‘‘(A) One member shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
‘‘(B) One member shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives.
‘‘(C) One member shall be appointed by the
majority leader of the Senate.
‘‘(D) One member shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the Senate.
‘‘(E) Three members shall be selected jointly by
the Inspectors General of establishments and des-
ignated Federal entities.
‘‘(2) Members shall be appointed from among—
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‘‘(A) Inspectors General of establishments and
designated Federal entities; and
‘‘(B) private United States citizens.
‘‘(c) APPOINTMENT; STAGGERING OF TERMS.—(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (4), Members shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years. Any vacancy in the Coun-
cil shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap-
pointment.
‘‘(2) Members shall be limited to service of 2 terms
on the Council.
‘‘(3) All appointments to the Council shall be made
not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of the Office of Inspector General Oversight Council Act
of 1999.
‘‘(4) Members initially appointed to the Council
under subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (b)(1)
shall be so appointed for a term of two years.
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council shall be as
follows:
‘‘(1) To hear and investigate complaints with
respect to decisions and actions of Offices of Inspec-
tor General regarding fraud and abuse in programs
and operations of establishments and other des-
ignated Federal entities and other activities prohib-
ited by law, rule, or regulation.
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‘‘(2) To issue recommendations and advice re-
garding such complaints.
‘‘(3) In hearing and investigating such com-
plaints, to provide a means by which information re-
garding fraud and abuse, violations of law, rules, or
regulations, mismanagement, waste of funds, abuse
of authority, or danger to public health or safety
may be disclosed without fear of retaliation or dis-
closure of the identity of the person bringing the
complaint.
‘‘(e) PAY OF MEMBERS.—Members of the Council
shall not be paid by reason of their work on the Council.
‘‘(f) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—The members of the
Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services
for the Council.
‘‘(g) INFORMATION.—The Council may secure di-
rectly from any department or agency of the United States
information that the Council considers necessary to enable
the Council to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.
‘‘(h) COOPERATION
FROM
GOVERNMENT
OFFI-
CIALS.—In carrying out its duties, any United States Gov-
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ernment official responsible for providing the Council with
information necessary for the fulfillment of its responsibil-
ities shall cooperate fully with the Council.
‘‘(i) STAFF.—The Council may appoint a staff direc-
tor and such additional personnel as may be necessary to
enable the Council to perform its duties. The Council may
fix the pay of the staff director and other personnel, except
that the rate of pay fixed under this paragraph for the
staff director may not exceed the rate payable for level
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title
5, United States Code, and the rate of pay for other per-
sonnel may not exceed the maximum rate payable for
grade GS–15 of the General Schedule.
‘‘(j) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Council may procure temporary
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 pay pay-
able for level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of such title.
‘‘(k) POSTAL AND PRINTING SERVICES.—The Coun-
cil may use the United States mails and obtain printing
and binding services in the same manner and under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the
United States.
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‘‘(l) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—The Council
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
‘‘(m) NOTIFICATION
TO CONGRESS.—The Council
shall—
‘‘(1) notify the Committee on Government Re-
form and Oversight of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the
Senate regarding activities and recommendations of
the Council; and
‘‘(2) notify the Committee on National Security
of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate regarding activities
and recommendations of the Council with respect to
the Department of Defense.’’.
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