A bill to establish a Commission on Federal Paperwork.
PL 93-556 (H.R.16424), enacted 12/27/1974

88 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-556-DEC. 27, 1974 
1789 
Public Law 93-556 
A N A C T 
December27, 1974 
[H.R. 16424] 
To establish a Commission on Federal Paperwork. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
Commission on 
Federal Paper-
work. 
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE 
Establishment. 
44 u s e 3501 
ote. 
SECTION 1. (a) The Congress hereby finds that Federal information ^ 
reporting requirements have placed an unprecedented paperwork bur-
den upon private citizens, recipients of Federal assistance, businesses, 
governmental contractors, and State and local governments. 
(b) The Congress hereby affirms that it is the policy of the Federal 
Government to minimize the information reporting burden, consistent 
with its needs for information to set policy and operate its lawful 
programs. 
(c) The Congress hereby determines that a renewed effort is required 
to assure that this policy is fully implemented and that it is necessary 
to reexamine the policies and procedures of the Federal Government 
which have an impact on the paperwork burden for the purpose of 
ascertaining what changes are necessary and desirable in its informa-
tion policies and practices. 
ESTABLISHMENT 
OF T H E 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 2. To accomplish the purpose set forth in the first section of this 
'*'' use 3soi 
Act, there is hereby established a Commission on Federal Paperwork 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Commission"). 
FUNCTIONS OF T H E 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 3. (a) The Commission shall study and investigate statutes, 
policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and practices of the Federal 
Government relating to information gathering, processing, and dis-
semination, and the management and control of these information 
activities. The Commission shall consider— 
(1) the nature and extent of current Federal requirements for 
information from other public and private entities; 
(2) the effect of existing statutes on the information require-
ments of the Federal Government and authorities of existing Fed-
eral agencies to collect information; 
(3) the nature and extent of management and control over the 
determination of Federal information needs and the choice of 
information gathering, processing, and dissemination methods; 
(4) the nature and extent to which Federal agencies cooperate 
with State and local governments and private agencies in collect-
ing, processing, and disseminating information; 
(5) the procedures used and the extent to which considerations 
of economy and efficiency impact upon Federal information activi-
ties, particularly as these matters relate to costs burdening the 
Federal Government and providers of information; 
(6) the ways in which policies and practices relating to the 
maintenance of confidentiality of inforaiation impact upon Fed-
eral information activities; and 
(Y) such other matters as the Commission may decide affect 
Federal reporting requirements, 
(b) The Commission shall ascertain what changes are possible and 
desirable in existing statutes, policies, rules, regulations, procedures, 
and practices relating to Federal information activities in order to— 
44 u s e 3501 
note. 
1790 
PUBLIC LAW 93-556-DEC. 27, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
Final report 
to Congress and 
President, 
Interim reports 
and recommenda-
tions. 
Report to Con-
gress and Presi-
dent. 
44 use 3501 
note. 
(1) assure that necessary information is made available to 
Federal officials and those acting on behalf of Federal officials; 
(2) minimize the burden imposed by Federal reporting require-
ments on private citizens, recipients of Federal assistance, 
businesses, governmental 
contractors, and 
State and 
local 
governments; 
(3) guarantee appropriate standards of confidentiality for 
information held by private citizens or the Federal Government, 
and the release thereof; 
(4) provide that information held by the Federal Govern-
ment is processed and disseminated to maximize its usefulness to 
all Federal agencies and the public; 
(5) reduce the duplication of information collected by the Fed-
eral Government and by State and local governments and other 
collectors of information; and 
(6) reduce the costs of Federal paperwork. 
(c) The Commission shall make a final report to the Congi'ess and 
the President within two years of the date of the first meeting of 
the Commission. The final report shall contain a review of its findmgs 
and its recommendations for changes in statutes, policies, rules, regu-
lations, procedures and practices. In the event Congress is not in 
session at the end of such two-year period, the final report shall be 
submitted to the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate. 
The Commission may make such interim reports and recommendations 
as it deems advisable. 
(d) Upon submission of the Commission's final report, the Office 
of Management and Budget, in coordination with the executive agen-
cies, shall take action to (1) formulate the views of the executive 
agencies on the recommendations of the Commission; (2) to the extent 
practicable within the limits of their authority and resources, carry 
out recommendations of the Commission in which they concur; and 
(3) propose legislation needed to carry out or to provide authority to 
carry out other recommendations of the Commission in which they 
concur. At least once every six months, the Office of Management and 
Budget shall report to the Congress and the President on the 
status of action taken or to be taken as provided herein. A final report 
shall be submitted within two years. 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. (a) The Commission shall be composed of fourteen members, 
as follows: 
(1) two Members of the Senate (who shall not be members of 
the same political party) appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
(2) two Members of the House of Ilepresentatives (who shall 
not be members of the same political party) appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
(3) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
one other official or employee of the executive branch of the Fed-
eral Government appointed by the President of the United 
States; 
(4) the Comptroller General of the United States; 
(5) two from among officials of State and local governments 
(who shall not be members of the same political party) appointed 
by the President of the United States; and 
(6) five from among persons in the private sector, including 
small business, labor, and other interested groups (no more than 
three of whom shall be of the same political party), appointed 
by the President of the United States. 
88 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-556-DEC. 27, 1974 
1791 
(b) The Commission shall select a Chairman and a Vice Chairman 
from among its members. 
(c) Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 
(d) Any vacancies in the Commission shall not affect its powers, 
but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), members of the 
Commission shall each receive as compensation the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 for each day 
(including travel time) during which they are engaged in the actual 
performance of duties vested in the Commission. 
(b) Members of the Commission who are Members of Congress or 
who are full-time officers or employees of the United States shall 
receive no additional compensation for their service on the Commission. 
(c) While away from their homes or regular places of business in 
the performance of service for the Commission, members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently 
in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
of title 6 of the United States Code. 
44 use 3501 
note. 
5 use 5332 
note. 
Travel ex-
penses. 
POWERS o r THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 6. (a) The Commission, or at its direction, any subcommittee 
or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provi-
sions of this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, receive such evidence and administer such 
oaths, as the Commission or such subcommittee or member may deem 
advisable. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of such 
evidence may be required from any place within the United States at 
any designated place of hearing within the United States. Any mem-
ber of the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to wit-
nesses appearing before the Commission or before such subcommittee 
or member. 
(b) (1) The Commission may require by subpenas the attendance 
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
records, correspondence, memoranda, papers and documents as the 
Commission may deem advisable. Subpenas may be issued under the 
signature of the Chairman or Vice Chairman and may be served by 
any person designated by the Chairman or Vice Chairman. The sub-
penas of the Commission shall be served in a manner provided for 
subpenas issued by a United States district court under the Federal 
Rules of Civil Procedure for the United States district courts. 
(2) If a person issued a subpena under paragraph (1) is guilty of 
contumacy or refuses to obey such subpena, any district court of the 
United States within the judicial district within which the hearing 
is conducted or within the judicial district within which such person 
is found or resides or transacts business may, upon application made 
by the Attorney General of the United States, order such person to 
appear before the Commission or a subcommittee or member thereof, 
to produce evidence or to give testimony touching the matter under 
inquiry. Any failure of any such person to obey any such order of the 
court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. 
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a person shall be 
excused from testifying or from producing such books, records, cor-
respondence, memoranda, papers or documents or other evidence in 
obedience to a subpena if such person states in writing to the court 
ordering his attendance and testimony that the required testimony or 
Hearings. 
44 use 3501 
note. 
Subpena power,, 
28 use app. 
Enforcement 
and punishment. 
Exceptions. 
5 u s e 101 et 
seq. 
5331 
1792 
PUBLIC LAW 93-557-DEC. 27, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
evidence may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a criminal 
penalty. 
Compensation. 
^g) The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
personnel as it deems advisable without regard to the provisions of 
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and such personnel may be paid without regard to the pro-
5 use 5101, 
visions of chapter 51 and subchapter I I I of chapter 5S of such title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at a rate 
not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the General Schedule. 
In addition, the Commission may procure the services of experts and 
consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of 
the annual rate of basic pay in effect for the maximum rate authorized 
by the General Schedule. 
(d) The Commission is authorized to negotiate and enter into con-
tracts with private organizations and educational institutions to carry 
out such studies and prepare such reports as the Commission deter-
mines are necessary in order to carry out its duties. 
COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES 
44 use 3501 
gEQ_ 7, ^a) Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the 
Federal Government is authorized and directed to furnish to the Com-
mission, upon request made by the Chairman, such data, reports, and 
other information not otherwise prohibited by law as the Commission 
deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act. 
(b) The head of each department or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment is authorized to provide to the Commission such services as the 
Commission requests on such basis, reimbursable or otherwise, as may 
be agreed between the department or agency and the Chairman or Vice 
Chairman of the Commission. All such requests shall be made by the 
Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Commission. 
Contract au-
thority. 
44 u s e 3501 
note. 
44 u s e 3501 
note. 
TERMINATION OF T H E 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 8. One hundred and twenty days after the submission of the final 
report provided for in section 3 of this Act, the Commission shall cease 
to exist. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 9. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Com-
mission such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. 
Approved December 27, 1974. 
Public Law 93-557 
December 27, 1974 
A N A C T 
• 
To amend the Act incorporating the American Legion so as to redefine eligibility 
for membership therein. 
American Le-
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assennhled^ That section 5 of 
^'Membership 
the Act entitled "An Act to incorporate the American Legion", 
eligibility. 
approved September 16, 1919 (41 Stat. 285; 36 U.S.C. 45), is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 5. No person shall be a member of this corporation unless he 
has served in the naval or military services of the United States at 
some time during any of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to