Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Program Reform Commission Act

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.