I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4177 
To establish a commission to review Federal Government administration and 
spending practices. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 28, 2005 
Ms. HARRIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Government Reform 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to review Federal Government 
administration and spending practices. 
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 ‘‘Federal Government 
Spending Accountability and Oversight Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
Federal Government Spending Accountability and Over-
sight Commission (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission— 
(1) shall conduct a survey on cost control in the 
Federal Government; 
(2) shall conduct in-depth reviews of the oper-
ations of Executive agencies to evaluate potential 
improvements in agency operations; and 
(3) shall advise and make recommendations to 
Congress, the President, and the heads of Executive 
agencies with respect to improving management and 
reducing costs. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 24 members appointed as follows: 
(1) 8 individuals appointed by the President. 
(2) 4 individuals appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. 
(3) 4 individuals appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(4) 4 individuals appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(5) 4 individuals appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—
(1) PROHIBITION
ON
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOY-
EES.—Individuals appointed to the Commission shall 
not be officers or employees of a government. 
(2) OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.—Individuals ap-
pointed to the Commission shall possess extensive 
experience in their respective fields, and shall be 
qualified to study government spending and budget 
practices. 
(3) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION.—Not more 
than 4 members of the Commission appointed by the 
President under subsection (a)(1) shall be from the 
same political party. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Appointments 
shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(d) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a member 
is appointed to the Commission, and later becomes an offi-
cer or employee of a government, that member may con-
tinue as a member of the Commission for not longer than 
the 30-day period beginning on the date that member be-
comes such an officer or employee. 
(e) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission.
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the vacancy occurs. 
(f) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve without pay. 
(g) QUORUM.—13 members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings. 
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mission shall be elected by the members. The term of of-
fice of the Chairperson shall be the duration of the Com-
mission. 
(i) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not 
fewer than one time per month at the call of the Chair-
person. 
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor who shall be appointed by the Chairperson. The Direc-
tor shall be paid at a rate to be determined by the Com-
mission. 
(b) STAFF.—With the approval of the Chairperson, 
the Director may appoint personnel as the Director con-
siders appropriate. Such personnel shall be paid at a rate 
to be determined by the Director, with the approval of the 
Chairperson.
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.—If author-
ized by the Commission, any member or agent of the Com-
mission may take any action that the Commission is au-
thorized to take by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head 
of that department or agency shall furnish to the Com-
mittee, its staff, and the Secretary of Commerce such in-
formation, including information relating to the structure, 
organization, personnel, and operations of that depart-
ment or agency, to the extent permitted by law. 
(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may 
contract with and compensate government and private 
agencies or persons for supplies or services, without regard 
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). 
(e) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Commis-
sion may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 
devises of services or property, both real and personal, for 
the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Com-
mission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 
from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, 
or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be 
available for disbursement upon order of the Chairperson. 
For purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, 
property accepted under this subsection shall be consid-
ered as a gift, bequest, or devise to the United States. 
SEC. 7. JOINT PROJECTS. 
The Secretary of Commerce may engage in joint 
projects, or perform services, on matters of mutual inter-
est with the Commission in accordance with Public Law 
91–412 (15 U.S.C. 1525). 
SEC. 8. REPORTS. 
(a) PRELIMINARY
REPORT.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President and Congress a re-
port containing its findings. 
(b) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall submit to the President and Congress a report con-
taining its findings. 
(c) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
submit to the President and Congress a report con-
taining—
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion; and 
(2) specific recommendations for legislative and 
administrative actions determined by the Commis-
sion to be appropriate. 
(d) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing reports re-
quired under this section, the Commission shall consider 
the following: 
(1) Executive or congressional action that can 
increase efficiency and reduce costs in the Federal 
Government. 
(2) Areas where managerial accountability can 
be enhanced and administrative control can be im-
proved. 
(3) Long and short-term opportunities for man-
agerial improvement. 
(4) Specific areas where potential savings jus-
tify further study. 
(5) Information and data relating to govern-
mental expenditures, indebtedness, and personnel 
management. 
(6) Federal programs that can be terminated 
because the objectives of the program have been ter-
minated or are duplicated by another Federal pro-
gram.
(7) Federal programs that can be carried out 
more efficiently and cost-effectively by the private 
sector. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITION OF EXECUTIVE AGENCY. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘Executive agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 105 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 10. FUNDING. 
All of the expenses of the Commission shall be paid 
from non-Federal sources. 
SEC. 11. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 
days after the date of submission of the report required 
under section 8(c). 
Æ