[House Document 106-209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-209


 
             ANNUAL REPORT ON FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT ON FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR 
              FISCAL YEAR 1998, PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. APP.




   March 13, 2000.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
        Committee on Government Reform and ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-011                     WASHINGTON : 2000


To the Congress of the United States:
    As provided by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 
as amended (Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C., App. 2, 6(c)), I 
hereby submit the Twenty-seventh Annual Report on Federal 
Advisory Committees, covering fiscal year 1998.
    In keeping with my commitment to create a more responsive 
government, the executive branch continues to implement my 
policy of maintaining the number of advisory committees within 
the ceiling of 534 required by Executive Order 12838 of 
February 10, 1993. Accordingly, the number of discretionary 
advisory committees (established under general congressional 
authorizations) was again held to substantially below that 
number. During fiscal year 1998, 460 discretionary committees 
advised executive branch officials. The number of discretionary 
committees supported represents a 43 percent reduction in the 
801 in existence at the beginning of my Administration.
    Through the planning process required by Executive Order 
12838, the total number of advisory committees specifically 
mandated by statute also continues to decline. The 388 such 
groups supported at the end of fiscal year 1998 represents a 
modest decrease from the 391 in existence at the end of fiscal 
year 1997. However, compared to the 439 advisory committees 
mandated by statute at the beginning of my Administration, the 
net total for fiscal year 1998 reflects nearly a 12 percent 
decrease since 1993.
    The executive branch has worked jointly with the Congress 
to establish a partnership whereby all advisory committees that 
are required by statute are regularly reviewed through the 
legislative reauthorization process and that any such new 
committees proposed through legislation are closely linked to 
compelling national interests. Furthermore, my Administration 
will continue to direct the estimated costs to fund required 
statutory groups in fiscal year 1999, or $45.8 million, toward 
supporting initiatives that reflect the highest priority public 
involvement efforts.
    Combined savings achieved through actions taken during 
fiscal year 1998 to eliminate all advisory committees that are 
no longer needed, or that have completed their missions, 
totaled $7.6 million. This reflects the termination of 47 
committees, originally established under both congressional 
authorities or implemented by executive agency decisions. 
Agencies will continue to review and eliminate advisory 
committees that are obsolete, duplicative, or of a lesser 
priority than those that would serve a well-defined national 
interest. New committees will be established only when they are 
essential to the conduct of necessary business, are clearly in 
the public's best interests, and when they serve to enhance 
Federal decisionmaking through an open and collaborative 
process with the American people.
    I urge the Congress to work closely with the General 
Services Administration and each department and agency to 
examine additional opportunities for strengthening the 
contributions made by Federal advisory committees.

                                                William J. Clinton.
    The White House, March 9, 2000.
    
    
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