[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5407 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5407

   To establish the Program Reform Commission to review and identify 
unnecessary Federal programs and make recommendations for termination, 
 modification, or retention of such programs, and to express the sense 
of the Congress that the Congress should promptly consider legislation 
     that would make the changes in law necessary to implement the 
                            recommendations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 2010

   Mr. Smith of Washington introduced the following bill; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the Program Reform Commission to review and identify 
unnecessary Federal programs and make recommendations for termination, 
 modification, or retention of such programs, and to express the sense 
of the Congress that the Congress should promptly consider legislation 
     that would make the changes in law necessary to implement the 
                            recommendations.

    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 ``Program Reform Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) Federal programs which may have been enacted with a 
        valid purpose can become obsolete, or no longer in the public 
        interest, making such programs unnecessary or undesired;
            (2) it is unfair to force the United States taxpayer to 
        support unnecessary programs that do not provide a substantial 
        public benefit or serve the public interest;
            (3) the Congress has been unable to evaluate methodically 
        those Federal programs that are unfair and unnecessary and 
        require reform or elimination; and
            (4) a Commission to advise the Congress is essential to a 
        comprehensive review of such programs and to the reform or 
        elimination of such programs.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish a fair and deliberative 
process that will result in the timely identification, review, and 
reform or elimination of programs of the Federal Government.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM CRITERIA.

    In order for a department, agency, or the Commission to consider a 
program for recommendations under this Act, the program--
            (1) must be a system of services or projects that is 
        provided by the Federal Government; and
            (2) may not be a service or project that exists for the 
        purposes of research and development in the broad public 
        interest on the basis of a peer reviewed or other open, 
        competitive, merit-based procedure.

SEC. 5. PROGRAM REFORM COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the legislative 
branch of the Federal Government an independent commission to be known 
as the ``Program Reform Commission'' (hereafter in this Act referred to 
as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Duties.--The Commission shall--
            (1) examine the programs of the Federal Government and 
        identify programs that are no longer necessary or that merit 
        modification; and
            (2) submit the report required under section 6(c) to the 
        Congress, making recommendations regarding the termination, 
        modification, or retention of programs.
    (c) Appointment.--
            (1) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives;
                    (C) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate; and
                    (D) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Consultation required.--The Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the 
        minority leader of the Senate shall consult among themselves 
        prior to the appointment of the members of the Commission.
            (3) Background.--The members of the Commission shall 
        represent a broad array of expertise and points of view with 
        respect to the subject matter, programs, and laws the 
        Commission is likely to review.
            (4) Limitation on federal officer.--No officer or employee 
        of a Federal agency may serve as a member of the Commission.
            (5) Terms.--The members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for the life of the Commission.
    (d) Co-Chairs.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be co-chaired by 2 
        members, selected by the 8 members of the Commission.
            (2) House and senate representation.--Of the members 
        selected to be co-chairs--
                    (A) one shall be a member appointed under 
                subsection (c)(1)(A) or subsection (c)(1)(B); and
                    (B) one shall be a member appointed under 
                subsection (c)(1)(C) or subsection (c)(1)(D).
            (3) Political affiliation.--The two members selected to be 
        co-chairs may not be of the same political party.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--No later than April 1, 2011, the 
        Commission shall conduct its first meeting.
            (2) Open meetings.--Each meeting of the Commission shall be 
        open to the public, except that in cases in which classified 
        information, trade secrets, or personnel matters are discussed, 
        the co-chairs may close the meeting. All proceedings, 
        information, and deliberations of the Commission shall be 
        available, upon request, to the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, the majority leader and minority leader of the 
        House of Representatives, the majority leader and minority 
        leader of the Senate, and the chairman and ranking minority 
        member of the relevant Committee of Congress having 
        jurisdiction to report legislation regarding the subject matter 
        thereof.
    (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointment.
    (g) Pay and Travel Expenses.--
            (1) Pay.--Each member of the Commission, other than the co-
        chairs, shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
        of the minimum annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the 
        member is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in 
        the Commission.
            (2) Co-chairs.--The co-chairs shall be paid for each day 
        referred to in paragraph (1) at a rate equal to the daily 
        payment of the minimum annual rate of basic pay payable for 
        level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 
        5, United States Code.
            (3) Travel expenses.--Members of the Commission shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with section 5702 and 5703 of title 
        5, United States Code.
    (h) Director of Staff.--
            (1) Qualifications.--The co-chairs shall appoint as 
        Director an individual who has not, during the 12 months 
        preceding the date of such appointment, served in any of the 
        entities, or worked directly with any of the programs, that the 
        Commission intends to review.
            (2) Pay.--The Director shall be paid at the rate of basic 
        pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Reports.--The Director shall submit periodic reports on 
        administrative and personnel matters to the co-chairs of the 
        Commission and the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of 
        the House of the Representatives.
    (i) Staff.--
            (1) Additional personnel.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and 
        (4), the Director, with the approval of the Commission, may 
        appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel.
            (2) Appointments.--The Director may make such appointments 
        without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
        Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
        any personnel so appointed may be paid without regard to the 
        provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
        that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay 
        rates.
            (3) Legal staff.--The Director shall appoint under 
        paragraph (2) such professional legal staff as are necessary 
        for the performance of the functions of the Commission.
            (4) Detailees.--Upon the request of the Director, the head 
        of any Federal department or agency may detail any of the 
        personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to 
        assist the Commission in accordance with an agreement entered 
        into with the Commission.
            (5) Restrictions on personnel and detailees.--The following 
        restrictions shall apply to personnel and detailees of the 
        Commission:
                    (A) Personnel.--No more than one-third of the 
                personnel detailed to the Commission may be on detail 
                from Federal agencies that deal directly or indirectly 
                with the Federal programs the Commission intends to 
                review.
                    (B) Analysts.--No more than one-fifth of the 
                professional analysts of the Commission may be persons 
                detailed from a Federal agency that deals directly or 
                indirectly with the Federal programs the Commission 
                intends to review.
                    (C) Lead analyst.--No person detailed from a 
                Federal agency to the Commission may be assigned as the 
                lead professional analyst with respect to an entity or 
                program the Commission intends to review if the person 
                has been involved in regulatory or policymaking 
                decisions affecting any such entity or program in the 
                12 months preceding such assignment.
                    (D) Detailee.--A person may not be detailed from a 
                Federal agency to the Commission if, within 12 months 
                before the detail is to begin, that person participated 
                personally and substantially in any matter within that 
                particular agency concerning the preparation of 
                recommendations under this Act.
                    (E) Limitation on staff size.--
                            (i) Restriction on number of staff.--
                        Subject to clause (ii), there may not be more 
                        than 25 persons (including any detailees) on 
                        the staff at any time.
                            (ii) Notification of increase.--The 
                        Commission may increase the number of its 
                        personnel in excess of the limitation under 
                        clause (i) 15 days after submitting 
                        notification of such increase to the Committee 
                        on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
                        of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight 
                        and Government Reform of the House of 
                        Representatives.
                    (F) Prohibition of compensation.--Members of the 
                staff of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
                employees of the United States may not receive 
                additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
                their service for the Commission.
            (6) Assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--The Comptroller General of the 
                United States shall provide assistance, including the 
                detailing of employees, to the Commission in accordance 
                with an agreement entered into with the Commission.
                    (B) Consultation.--The Commission and the 
                Comptroller General of the United States shall consult 
                with the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
                Representatives on the agreement referred to under 
                subparagraph (A) before entering into such agreement.
    (j) Other Authority.--
            (1) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure by 
        contract the temporary or intermittent services of experts or 
        consultants pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Leasing.--The Commission may lease space and acquire 
        personal property.
            (3) Limitation on contract authority.--The authority to 
        enter into contracts under this subsection shall be available 
        only to the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in 
        appropriation Acts.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission such sums as are necessary to carry out 
its duties under this Act.
    (l) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on January 1, 
2013.

SEC. 6. PROCEDURE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO TERMINATE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Agency Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The head of each Federal department or 
        agency shall include in the documents submitted in support of 
        the budget of the agency for fiscal year 2012 a list 
        identifying all programs administered by that department or 
        agency that the head of the department or agency determines no 
        longer are necessary.
            (2) Contents.--Such list shall include--
                    (A) a detailed description of each program in 
                question;
                    (B) a statement identifying and detailing the 
                extent to which each service or project of the program 
                complies with the provisions of section 4;
                    (C) a statement summarizing the legislative history 
                and purpose of such services or projects and the laws 
                or policies directly or indirectly giving rise to the 
                need for such programs; and
                    (D) a recommendation to the Commission regarding 
                the termination, modification, or retention of each 
                program identified in the list.
    (b) Review by the Commission.--
            (1) In general.--At any time after the submission of the 
        budget documents to the Congress, the Commission shall conduct 
        public hearings regarding, and review, the termination, 
        modification, or retention of all programs administered by each 
        Federal department or agency, including the recommendations 
        included in the lists required under subsection (a).
            (2) Testimony under oath.--All testimony before the 
        Commission at a public hearing conducted under this paragraph 
        shall be presented under oath.
    (c) Report and Recommendations of Commission.--
            (1) Report to congress.--
                    (A) Requirement.--No later than March 31, 2012, the 
                Commission shall submit a report to the Congress 
                containing the Commission's findings and 
                recommendations for termination, modification, or 
                retention of each of the programs reviewed by the 
                Commission.
                    (B) Contents.--Such findings and recommendations 
                shall specify--
                            (i) all actions, circumstances, and 
                        considerations relating to or bearing upon the 
                        recommendations; and
                            (ii) to the maximum extent practicable, the 
                        estimated effect of the recommendations upon 
                        the policies, laws, and programs directly or 
                        indirectly affected by the recommendations.
                    (C) Supermajority requirement.--The Commission may 
                not include a recommendation in the report unless 
                inclusion of the recommendation is approved by at least 
                6 members of the Commission.
            (2) Information and justifications.--The Commission shall 
        include in its report information specifying--
                    (A) the reasons and justifications for the 
                recommendations of the Commission;
                    (B) all actions, circumstances, and considerations 
                relating to or bearing upon the recommendations;
                    (C) to the maximum extent practicable, the 
                estimated economic impact of accepting its 
                recommendations;
                    (D) the amount of the projected savings and 
                budgetary impact that would result from the acceptance 
                of each of its recommendations; and
                    (E) the specific changes in Federal statutes 
                necessary to implement the recommendations, including 
                citation of the relevant provisions of existing law.
            (3) Submission to congress.--The report submitted to the 
        Congress under this subsection shall be submitted to the Senate 
        and the House of Representatives on the same day, and shall be 
        delivered to the Secretary of the Senate if the Senate is not 
        in session, and to the Clerk of the House of the 
        Representatives if the House is not in session.
            (4) Federal register.--The report submitted under this 
        subsection shall be printed in the first issue of the Federal 
        Register after such submission.
            (5) Changes in agency or department recommendations.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to the deadline in 
                paragraph (1) and to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this 
                paragraph, in making its recommendations, the 
                Commission may make changes in any of the 
                recommendations made by a department or agency.
                    (B) Public hearing requirement.--Subject to 
                subparagraph (C), the Commission may make a change in 
                the recommendations made by a department or agency only 
                if the Commission conducts a public hearing on the 
                Commission's proposed changes.
                    (C) Limitation on public hearing requirement.--
                Subparagraph (B) shall apply only to a change by the 
                Commission in a department or agency recommendation 
                that would--
                            (i) add or delete a program to or from, 
                        respectively, the list recommended for 
                        termination;
                            (ii) add or delete a program to or from, 
                        respectively, the list recommended for 
                        modification; or
                            (iii) increase or decrease the extent of a 
                        recommendation to modify a program, included in 
                        a department's or agency's recommendation.
            (6) Provision of information to members of congress.--After 
        March 31, 2012, the Commission shall, upon request, promptly 
        provide to any Member of Congress the information used by the 
        Commission in making its recommendations.
            (7) Comptroller general.--The Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall--
                    (A) assist the Commission, to the extent requested, 
                in the Commission's review and analysis of the lists, 
                statements, and recommendations made by departments and 
                agencies under subsection (a); and
                    (B) no later than April 1, 2011, or 60 days after 
                the public release of the President's budget documents 
                for fiscal year 2012, whichever is earlier, submit to 
                the Congress and to the Commission a report containing 
                a detailed analysis of the list, statements, and 
                recommendations of each department or agency.

SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that, following submission of the 
report of the Program Reform Commission under section 6, the House of 
Representatives and the Senate should promptly consider legislation 
that would enact changes in Federal statutes necessary to implement the 
recommendations of the Commission.
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