Title: Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Act of 2017
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Act of 2017
This bill establishes in the General Services Administration (GSA) the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program to enable exceptional individuals with proven track records to serve time-limited appointments in executive agencies as Presidential Innovation Fellows to address some of the most significant challenges facing the United States and improve federal efforts that would particularly benefit from expertise using innovative techniques and technology. The functions of the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program established pursuant to Executive Order 13704, as in existence on the day before enactment of this bill, shall be functions of the program established by this bill.
The program shall be administered by a Director, who shall be appointed by the GSA. The director shall appoint such fellows and facilitate their placement in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals.
Each agency shall: (1) work with the director and the program advisory board to attempt to maximize program benefits to the agency and the government, including by identifying initiatives that will have a meaningful effect on the people served and that will benefit from involvement by a fellow; and (2) ensure that each fellow placed at the agency works closely with a responsible senior official.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 163 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 163

  To amend chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, to establish in 
          statute the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 17, 2017

 Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Booker) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
               Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, to establish in 
          statute the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Innovation Fellows 
Program Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
        Government to attract the brightest minds skilled in technology 
        or innovative practices to serve in the Federal Government to 
        work on some of the biggest and most pressing challenges facing 
        the United States.
            (2) The Presidential Innovation Fellows Program will 
        encourage successful entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators 
        to join the Federal Government and work in close cooperation 
        with Federal Government leaders, to create meaningful solutions 
        that can help save lives and Federal funds, fuel job creation, 
        and significantly improve how the Federal Government serves the 
        people of the United States.

SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

        ``Subchapter V--Presidential Innovation Fellows Program

``Sec. 3171. Definitions
    ``In this subchapter--
            ``(1) the term `agency' has the meaning given the term 
        `Executive agency' under section 105;
            ``(2) the term `Administration' means the General Services 
        Administration;
            ``(3) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of 
        General Services;
            ``(4) the term `Advisory Board' means the Presidential 
        Innovation Fellows Program Advisory Board under section 
        3174(a)(1);
            ``(5) the term `Director' means the Director of the 
        Program;
            ``(6) the term `Fellow' means a Presidential Innovation 
        Fellow; and
            ``(7) the term `Program' means the Presidential Innovation 
        Fellows Program under this subchapter.
``Sec. 3172. Establishment and administration
    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Administration the Presidential 
Innovation Fellows Program to enable exceptional individuals with 
proven track records to serve time-limited appointments in agencies as 
Presidential Innovation Fellows to address some of the most significant 
challenges facing the United States and improve efforts by the Federal 
Government that would particularly benefit from expertise using 
innovative techniques and technology.
    ``(b) Administration.--
            ``(1) Director.--The Program shall be administered by a 
        Director, who shall be appointed by the Administrator.
            ``(2) Administrative support.--To the extent permitted by 
        law and that amounts are provided in appropriation Acts, the 
        Administration shall provide the employees, resources, and 
        administrative support necessary to carry out the Program.
    ``(c) Appointment of Fellows.--The Director shall appoint Fellows 
and, in cooperation with agencies, shall facilitate placement of 
Fellows to participate in projects that have the potential for 
significant positive effects and are consistent with the goals of the 
President.
``Sec. 3173. Appointment of Fellows
    ``(a) Application Process.--The Director--
            ``(1) shall prescribe and make publicly available the 
        process for applications and nominations of individuals to be 
        Fellows; and
            ``(2) may accept applications and nominations in accordance 
        with such process.
    ``(b) Program Standards.--The Director shall--
            ``(1) establish, administer, review, and revise, if 
        appropriate, a Government-wide cap on the number of Fellows; 
        and
            ``(2) establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and 
        standards for the Program.
    ``(c) Selection, Appointment, and Assignment of Fellows.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall prescribe appropriate 
        procedures for the selection, appointment, and assignment of 
        Fellows.
            ``(2) Consultation.--Before the selection of Fellows, the 
        Director shall consult with the heads of agencies regarding 
        potential projects and how best to meet the needs of the 
        agencies.
            ``(3) Time limitation.--The appointment of a Fellow shall 
        be for a period of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 
        years.
            ``(4) Placing of fellows.--The Director shall facilitate 
        the process of placing Fellows at agencies requesting a Fellow.
    ``(d) Responsibilities of Agencies.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each agency shall work with the Director 
        and the Advisory Board to attempt to maximize the benefits of 
        the Program to the agency and the Federal Government, including 
        by identifying initiatives that will have a meaningful effect 
        on the people served and that will benefit from involvement by 
        1 or more Fellows.
            ``(2) Coordination of work.--Each agency shall ensure that 
        each Fellow placed at the agency works closely with 1 or more 
        responsible senior officials for the duration of the placement.
``Sec. 3174. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Advisory Board
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is, under the authority of the 
        Administrator, a Presidential Innovation Fellows Program 
        Advisory Board to--
                    ``(A) advise the Director by recommending such 
                priorities and standards as may be beneficial to 
                fulfill the mission of the Program; and
                    ``(B) assist in identifying potential projects and 
                placements for Fellows.
            ``(2) Limitation.--The Advisory Board shall not participate 
        in the selection of Fellows.
    ``(b) Membership.--The members of the Advisory Board shall be as 
follows:
            ``(1) A representative designated by the Administrator, who 
        shall serve as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board.
            ``(2) The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of 
        Management and Budget.
            ``(3) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
            ``(4) The Administrator of the Office of Electronic 
        Government.
            ``(5) The Assistant to the President and Chief Technology 
        Officer.
            ``(6) Other individuals, as designated by the 
        Administrator.
    ``(c) Consultation.--The Advisory Board may consult with industry, 
academia, and nonprofit organizations to ensure the Program is 
continually identifying opportunities to apply advanced skillsets and 
innovative practices in effective ways to address the most significant 
challenges to the United States.
``Sec. 3175. Rule of construction
    ``Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to--
            ``(1) impair or otherwise affect--
                    ``(A) the authority granted by law to an agency, or 
                the head thereof; or
                    ``(B) the functions of the Director of the Office 
                of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, 
                administrative, or legislative proposals; or
            ``(2) create any right or benefit, substantive or 
        procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party 
        against the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
        entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other 
        person.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

         ``subchapter v--presidential innovation fellows program

``3171. Definitions.
``3172. Establishment and administration.
``3173. Appointment of Fellows.
``3174. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Advisory Board.
``3175. Rule of construction.''.
    (c) Transitional Provision.--
            (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``function'' 
        means any duty, obligation, power, authority, responsibility, 
        right, privilege, activity, program, or employee.
            (2) Transition.--The functions of the Presidential 
        Innovation Fellows Program established pursuant to Executive 
        Order 13704 (5 U.S.C. 3301 note), as in existence on the day 
        before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be functions of 
        the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program under subchapter V 
        of title 5, United States Code, as added by this Act.
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