[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 162 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 
                         2001--THE F.A.C.T. ACT

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                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join today with Congressman 
Henry Waxman, the Ranking Member of the Government Reform Committee, to 
introduce legislation that will require the President's Commission on 
Social Security to keep their meetings free and open to the public.
  The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which governs the 
President's Social Security Commission, requires all meetings to be 
open to the public. However, under guidance issued quietly by the 
General Services Administration last summer, this Commission and others 
governed by FACA have been allowed to meet in secret subgroups. This 
was never the intention of FACA. The F.A.C.T. Act will close this 
loophole.
  The President's Commission on Social Security has taken advantage of 
this loophole on at least two occasions. Each time, Mr. Waxman and I 
have written to the Commission expressing our deep concern for these 
secret subgroup meetings, to no avail. The Commission has refused to 
open its subgroup work to the public, necessitating introduction of 
this legislation.
  Social Security Reform affects the lives of millions of Americans and 
is a critical source of income for retirees, disabled workers, and 
surviving spouses and children. The privatization of Social Security 
makes the financial challenges of the system substantially worse, 
necessitating large cuts in these critical benefits. Deliberations and 
decisions that result in this outcome should not take place behind 
closed doors. There is too much at stake for America's families.

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