I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4409 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 19, 2012 Mr. Barrow introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To provide for reforming and consolidating agencies of the Federal Government to improve efficiency and save money, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Government Agency Reform Act of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Partially as a result of unnecessary Federal spending, the United States national debt is over $15 trillion. (2)Bureaucratic complexity and redundancy waste time and money for consumers, businesses, and taxpayers. (3)In March 2011, the Government Accountability Office released a report entitled Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue that identifies areas where greater efficiencies could be found in Government operations. Some of the findings include: (A)Seven different Federal agencies have programs dedicated to meeting the water needs in the United States-Mexico border region. (B)There are 82 Federal programs dedicated to improving teacher quality. (C)There are 56 programs in 20 different Federal agencies designed to target financial literacy. (D)There are 80 Federal programs to boost transportation opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. (E)There are over 20 programs in seven different Federal agencies working to combat homelessness. (4)The Department of Commerce’s core business and trade functions, the Small Business Administration, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the United States Trade and Development Agency all serve important, but sometimes overlapping functions for consumers and businesses in the United States. Consolidating these agencies could save $3 billion and eliminate over 1,000 duplicative Federal jobs while improving the service provided to taxpayers and consumers. (5)The Federal Government provides important services that can be improved while saving money by consolidating and reforming Federal agencies.

3.

Consolidation authority

(a)

Efficiency-Enhancing plan defined

Section 902 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by striking and after the semicolon; (2)in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (4)efficiency-enhancing plan means a reorganization plan that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget determines will result in, or is likely to result in— (A)a decrease in the number of agencies; and (B)cost savings in performing the functions that are the subject of that plan. . (b)

Modernizing reorganization authority

Section 905(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the following: or renaming an existing executive department, abolishing or transferring an executive department or independent regulatory agency, or all the functions thereof, or consolidating two or more executive departments or two or more independent regulatory agencies, or all the functions thereof.

4.

Duration and scope of authority

(a)

In general

Section 905(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking if the plan and all that follows and inserting the following: “if the plan is— (1)transmitted to Congress (in accordance with section 903(b)) on or before the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Government Agency Reform Act of 2012; and (2)an efficiency-enhancing plan. . (b)

Exercise of rulemaking power

Section 908(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking December 31, 1984 and inserting the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Government Agency Reform Act of 2012.