vided by this Act, and how to acquire such assist-
ance and services, and access such databanks.
(2) 1–800–TOLL
FREE
NUMBER.—The Office
shall establish a toll free 1–800 number to provide
a first point of entry into the Office information
database system. An individual calling such number
shall receive information on how to use the Office
databases, how to receive printed materials, and how
to contact appropriate people in other governmental
agencies for information about specific programs,
and answer other requests regarding services of the
Office.
(3) ONLINE
ELECTRONIC
ACCESS
THROUGH
NETWORK.—Databases established by the Office
shall be easily accessible through existing computer
networks and publicly available computer database
access facilities, such as at repository libraries and
by direct call-in via modem, and shall be menu-driv-
en and highly user-friendly.
(4) PRINTED MANUALS AND ORIENTATION MA-
TERIALS.—The Office shall develop and make avail-
able to the public and others a printed manual, and
other printed material, reviewing the major Federal
agencies and programs engaged in economic adjust-
ment, defense conversion, and technology invest-
ments. It shall also serve as a guide to using the
databases and services of the Office, list State and
local contacts and resources, and include a bibliog-
raphy of major reference materials.
(5) ORIENTATION
WORKSHOPS.—The Office
shall offer periodic workshops (1–2 weeks long)
available to selected representatives from defense-de-
pendent communities, businesses, and occupational
groups, to orient and train them in using the Office
and the services of the Office.
(6) INFORMATION
SPECIALISTS.—The Office
shall maintain on-call economic adjustment and con-
version information specialists to address special
problems requiring person-to-person assistance, as
needed.
(c) PROGRAM EVALUATION.—
(1) REVIEW.—The Office shall conduct a regu-
lar review of the various agencies and programs in
the Federal system involving economic adjustment
and defense conversion. Such review shall evaluate
the procedures of these agencies and programs, and
the success of their activities. Such reviews shall be
based on periodic surveys of both Federal officials
and recipients of assistance pursuant to this Act.
The Office shall identify problems with the programs
and barriers to entry, for inclusion in the databases
established pursuant to this Act. Such review shall
include recommendations for improving such pro-
grams.
(2) COMMUNITY
ROUNDTABLES.—The Office
shall conduct, on an annual basis, consultative meet-
ings and briefings with defense-impacted constitu-
encies drawn from local and State governments,
business, labor, community and public interest orga-
nizations and academic institutions. Such meetings
and briefings shall be held in all major defense-de-
pendent regions of the United States, both to intro-
duce its programs and receive comments and rec-
ommendations concerning its services and how to ex-
pand and improve them.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the
Interagency Economic Conversion Information Coordinat-
ing Committee (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Commit-
tee’’).
(b) MEMBERS.—The members of the Committee are
as follows:
(1) Director of the Office, who shall serve as
Chairperson of the Committee.
(2) One Member appointed by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development.
(3) One Member appointed by the Secretary of
Transportation.
(4) Director of the Economic Development Ad-
ministration.
(5) Director of the Office of Economic Adjust-
ment, Department of Defense.
(6) One member appointed by the Secretary of
Labor.
(7) Director of the Advanced Research Projects
Agency, Department of Defense.
(8) Director of the National Institute for
Standards and Technology.
(9) Director of the Small Business Administra-
tion.
(10) One member appointed by the Director of
the National Economic Council.
(c) FUNCTIONS.—It shall be the function of the Com-
mittee—
(1) to advise and make recommendations to the
Office in carrying out the purposes of this Act;
(2) to coordinate and facilitate the information
gathering and monitoring activities of the Office
among Federal departments and agencies;
(3) to help the Office prepare and present infor-
mation in a manner that is publicly accessible, af-
fordable, and user-friendly; and
(4) to assist the Office in making technical as-
sistance personnel available as needed.
(d) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—All members of
the Committee shall serve without compensation in addi-
tion to that received for their services as officers or em-
ployees of the United States.
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mittee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from their homes or regu-
lar places of business in the performance of services for
the Committee.
(f) STAFF.—The Chairman of the Committee may re-
quest any Federal department or agency to detail such
employees to the Committee as may be necessary to enable
the Committee to perform its duties.
(g) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Committee without reimbursement, and such detail shall
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.