[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9511-S9512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REPORT ON FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996--MESSAGE 
                       FROM THE PRESIDENT--PM 66

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

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 am submitting the 
Twenty-Fifth Annual Report on Federal Advisory Committees, covering 
fiscal year 1996.
  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. As a result, the number of 
discretionary advisory committees (established under general 
congressional authorizations) was held to 501, or 37 percent fewer than 
those 801 committees in existence at the beginning of my 
Administration. Savings achieved through the elimination of 
discretionary committees during fiscal year 1996 totalled $2.5 million.
  Through the advisory committee planning process required by Executive 
Order 12838, departments and agencies have worked to minimize the total 
number of advisory committees specifically mandated by statute. The 407 
such groups supported at the end of fiscal year 1996 represents a 
modest 7 percent decrease over the 439 in existence at the beginning of 
my Administration. However, more can be done to assure that the total 
costs to fund these groups in fiscal year 1997, or $38.5 million, are 
dedicated to support high-priority public involvement efforts.
  During fiscal year 1996, the General Services Administration (GSA) 
initiated a process for collaborating with executive departments and 
agencies to increase public participation opportunities at all levels 
of American society. Building upon my Administration's commitment to 
expand access to Federal decisionmakers, managers at all levels will be 
provided with more timely guidance that includes enhanced options for 
achieving objectives, better training, and exposure to a variety of 
tools and techniques, which when used in conjunction with advisory 
committees, offer additional flexibility to address a wide variety of 
public participation needs.
  Actions to broaden the scope and effectiveness of public 
participation within the Federal sector will continue during fiscal 
year 1997. During the year, GSA will develop newly updated guidance 
implementing FACA. At the same time, GSA will continue to support and 
work closely with such agencies as the Council on Environmental Quality 
and the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to align its 
efforts with key Administration policies relating to ecosystem and land 
management priorities.
  My Administration will continue to work with the Congress to assure 
that all advisory committees that are required by statute are regularly 
reviewed through the congressional reauthorization process and that 
remaining committees are instrumental in achieving national interests.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  

[[Page S9512]]

  The White House, September 17, 1997.

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