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106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5588
To establish the Government Program Evaluation Commission.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 27, 2000
Mr. ARCHER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To establish the Government Program Evaluation
Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a bipartisan commission to be
known as the Government Program Evaluation Commis-
sion (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 2. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall make a complete study and
evaluation of existing Federal programs and activities and
projected expansions of such programs and activities for
the purpose of determining, in light of the fundamental
needs of the Nation and its vital objectives—
(1) the effectiveness of each such program or
activity in terms of its present and projected costs;
(2) whether each such program or activity
should be continued and, if so, the level at which it
should be continued; and
(3) in the allocation of Federal funds, the rel-
ative priority that should be assigned to each such
program or activity.
SEC. 3. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1, 2002,
the Commission shall submit to the President and the
Congress a comprehensive report.
(b) CONTENTS.—The report shall contain a detailed
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion, together with its recommendations (including any
recommendations as to constitutional amendments, legis-
lative enactments, and administrative actions) for changes
in Federal programs and activities, that the Commission
determines are necessary to meet the fundamental needs
and vital objectives of the Nation.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 12 members from private life, as fol-
lows:
(1) 4 members appointed by the President.
(2) 4 members appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate.
(3) 4 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(b) LIMITATION.—Of each class of 4 members re-
ferred to in subsection (a), not more than 2 members may
be from each of the 2 major political parties.
(c) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission
shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the same
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commis-
sion shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from
among its members.
(e) QUORUM.—7 members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum.
(f) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission
shall serve without pay for their service on the Commis-
sion.
SEC. 5. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may appoint and
fix the compensation of such personnel as it considers ap-
propriate.
(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE
LAWS.—The staff of the Commission may be appointed
without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chap-
ter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title, relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, ex-
cept that an individual so appointed may not receive pay
in excess of the maximum rate of basic pay under the Gen-
eral Schedule.
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
considers appropriate. The Commission may administer
oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
(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 Chairman or Vice Chair-
man of the Commission, the head of that department or
agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after sub-
mitting the report required by section 3.
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