[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 32 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1028-H1031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EDWARD ``TED'' KAUFMAN AND MICHAEL LEAVITT PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITIONS 
                        IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2015

  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 1172) to improve the process of presidential 
transition, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1172

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Edward `Ted' Kaufman and 
     Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) In General.--The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 
     U.S.C. 102 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 4, 5, and 6 as sections 5, 6, 
     and 7, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 3 the following:

     ``SEC. 4. TRANSITION SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES BEFORE ELECTION.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of 
     General Services;
       ``(2) the term `agency' means an Executive agency, as 
     defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(3) the term `eligible candidate' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 3(h)(4); and
       ``(4) the term `Presidential election' means a general 
     election held to determine the electors of President and Vice 
     President under section 1 or 2 of title 3, United States 
     Code.
       ``(b) General Duties.--The President shall take such 
     actions as the President determines necessary and appropriate 
     to plan and coordinate activities by the Executive branch of 
     the Federal Government to facilitate an efficient transfer of 
     power to a successor President, including by--
       ``(1) establishing and operating a White House transition 
     coordinating council in accordance with subsection (d); and
       ``(2) establishing and operating an agency transition 
     directors council in accordance with subsection (e).
       ``(c) Federal Transition Coordinator.--The Administrator 
     shall designate an employee of the General Services 
     Administration who is a senior career appointee to--
       ``(1) carry out the duties and authorities of the General 
     Services Administration relating to Presidential transitions 
     under this Act or any other provision of law;
       ``(2) serve as the Federal Transition Coordinator with 
     responsibility for coordinating transition planning across 
     agencies, including through the agency transition directors 
     council established under subsection (e);
       ``(3) ensure agencies comply with all statutory 
     requirements relating to transition planning and reporting; 
     and
       ``(4) act as a liaison to eligible candidates.
       ``(d) White House Transition Coordinating Council.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months before the 
     date of a Presidential election, the President shall 
     establish a White House transition coordinating council for 
     purposes of facilitating the Presidential transition.
       ``(2) Duties.--The White House transition coordinating 
     council shall--
       ``(A) provide guidance to agencies and the Federal 
     Transition Coordinator regarding preparations for the 
     Presidential transition, including succession planning and 
     preparation of briefing materials;
       ``(B) facilitate communication and information sharing 
     between the transition representatives of eligible candidates 
     and senior employees in agencies and the Executive Office of 
     the President; and
       ``(C) prepare and host interagency emergency preparedness 
     and response exercises.
       ``(3) Membership.--The members of the White House 
     transition coordinating council shall include--

[[Page H1029]]

       ``(A) senior employees of the Executive branch selected by 
     the President, which may include the Chief of Staff to the 
     President, any Cabinet officer, the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget, the Administrator, the Director of the 
     Office of Personnel Management, the Director of the Office of 
     Government Ethics, and the Archivist of the United States;
       ``(B) the Federal Transition Coordinator;
       ``(C) the transition representative for each eligible 
     candidate, who shall serve in an advisory capacity; and
       ``(D) any other individual the President determines 
     appropriate.
       ``(4) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the White House 
     transition coordinating council shall be a senior employee in 
     the Executive Office of the President, designated by the 
     President.
       ``(e) Agency Transition Directors Council.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President shall establish and 
     operate an agency transition directors council, which shall--
       ``(A) ensure the Federal Government has an integrated 
     strategy for addressing interagency challenges and 
     responsibilities around Presidential transitions and turnover 
     of noncareer appointees;
       ``(B) coordinate transition activities between the 
     Executive Office of the President, agencies, and the 
     transition team of eligible candidates and the President-
     elect and Vice-President-elect; and
       ``(C) draw on guidance provided by the White House 
     transition coordinating council and lessons learned from 
     previous Presidential transitions in carrying out its duties.
       ``(2) Duties.--As part of carrying out the responsibilities 
     under paragraph (1), the agency transition directors council 
     shall--
       ``(A) assist the Federal Transition Coordinator in 
     identifying and carrying out the responsibilities of the 
     Federal Transition Coordinator relating to a Presidential 
     transition;
       ``(B) provide guidance to agencies in gathering briefing 
     materials and information relating to the Presidential 
     transition that may be requested by eligible candidates;
       ``(C) ensure materials and information described in 
     subparagraph (B) are prepared not later than November 1 of a 
     year during which a Presidential election is held;
       ``(D) ensure agencies adequately prepare career employees 
     who are designated to fill non-career positions under 
     subsection (f) during a Presidential transition; and
       ``(E) consult with the President's Management Council, or 
     any successor thereto, in carrying out the duties of the 
     agency transition directors council.
       ``(3) Membership.--The members of the agency transition 
     directors council shall include--
       ``(A) the Federal Transition Coordinator and the Deputy 
     Director for Management of the Office of Management and 
     Budget, who shall serve as Co-Chairpersons of the agency 
     transition directors council;
       ``(B) other senior employees serving in the Executive 
     Office of the President, as determined by the President;
       ``(C) a senior representative from each agency described in 
     section 901(b)(1) of title 31, United States Code, the Office 
     of Personnel Management, the Office of Government Ethics, and 
     the National Archives and Records Administration whose 
     responsibilities include leading Presidential transition 
     efforts within the agency;
       ``(D) a senior representative from any other agency 
     determined by the Co-Chairpersons to be an agency that has 
     significant responsibilities relating to the Presidential 
     transition process; and
       ``(E) during a year during which a Presidential election 
     will be held, a transition representative for each eligible 
     candidate, who shall serve in an advisory capacity.
       ``(4) Meetings.--The agency transition directors council 
     shall meet--
       ``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), not less than once per 
     year; and
       ``(B) during the period beginning on the date that is 6 
     months before a Presidential election and ending on the date 
     on which the President-elect is inaugurated, on a regular 
     basis as necessary to carry out the duties and authorities of 
     the agency transition directors council.
       ``(f) Interim Agency Leadership for Transitions.--
       ``(1) Oversight and implementation of transition.--Not 
     later than 6 months before the date of a Presidential 
     election, the head of each agency shall designate a senior 
     career employee of the agency and a senior career employee of 
     each major component and subcomponent of the agency to 
     oversee and implement the activities of the agency, 
     component, or subcomponent relating to the Presidential 
     transition.
       ``(2) Acting officers.--Not later than September 15 of a 
     year during which a Presidential election occurs, and in 
     accordance with subchapter III of chapter 33 of title 5, 
     United States Code, for each noncareer position in an agency 
     that the head of the agency determines is critical, the head 
     of the agency shall designate a qualified career employee to 
     serve in the position in an acting capacity if the position 
     becomes vacant.
       ``(g) Memorandums of Understanding.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than November 1 of a year 
     during which a Presidential election occurs, the President 
     (acting through the Federal Transition Coordinator) shall, to 
     the maximum extent practicable, negotiate a memorandum of 
     understanding with the transition representative of each 
     eligible candidate, which shall include, at a minimum, the 
     conditions of access to employees, facilities, and documents 
     of agencies by transition staff.
       ``(2) Existing resources.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, the memorandums of understanding negotiated 
     under paragraph (1) shall be based on memorandums of 
     understanding from previous Presidential transitions.
       ``(h) Equity in Assistance.--Any information or other 
     assistance provided to eligible candidates under this section 
     shall be offered on an equal basis and without regard to 
     political affiliation.
       ``(i) Reports.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President, acting through the 
     Federal Transition Coordinator, shall submit to the Committee 
     on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate reports describing the 
     activities undertaken by the President and agencies to 
     prepare for the transfer of power to a new President.
       ``(2) Timing.--The reports under paragraph (1) shall be 
     provided 6 months and 3 months before the date of a 
     Presidential election.''.
       (b) Other Improvements.--Section 3 of the Presidential 
     Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (8)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)(i)--

       (I) by inserting ``and during the term of a President'' 
     after ``during the transition''; and
       (II) by striking ``after inauguration''; and

       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or Executive 
     agencies (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States 
     Code)'' before the period; and
       (B) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``including, to the 
     greatest extent practicable, human resource management system 
     software compatible with the software used by the incumbent 
     President and likely to be used by the President-elect and 
     Vice President-elect'' before the period;
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``30 days'' and 
     inserting ``180 days'';
       (3) in subsection (g), by inserting ``except for activities 
     under subsection (a)(8)(A),'' before ``there shall be no''; 
     and
       (4) in subsection (h)(2), by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(D) An eligible candidate shall have a right to the 
     services and facilities described in this paragraph until the 
     date on which the Administrator is able to determine the 
     apparent successful candidates for the office of President 
     and Vice President.''.
       (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 3 of the Pre-Election Presidential Transition 
     Act of 2010 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is repealed.
       (2) The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 
     note) is amended--
       (A) in section 3--
       (i) in subsection (a)(4)(B), by striking ``section 6'' and 
     inserting ``section 7'';
       (ii) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by striking ``section 3 of this Act'' and inserting 
     ``this section''; and
       (iii) in subsection (h)(3)(B)(iii), by striking ``section 
     5'' each place it appears and inserting ``section 6'';
       (B) in section 6, as redesignated by subsection (a) of this 
     section, by striking ``section 6(a)(1)'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``section 7(a)(1)''; and
       (C) in section 7(a)(2), as redesignated by subsection (a) 
     of this section, by striking ``section 4'' and inserting 
     ``section 5''.
       (3) Section 8331(1)(K) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``section 4'' and inserting ``section 
     5''.
       (4) Section 8701(a)(10) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``section 4'' and inserting ``section 
     5''.
       (5) Section 8901(1)(I) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``section 4'' and inserting ``section 
     5''.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL ARCHIVES PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION.

       Section 2203(g) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) When the President considers it practicable and in 
     the public interest, the President shall include in the 
     President's budget transmitted to Congress, for each fiscal 
     year in which the term of office of the President will 
     expire, such funds as may be necessary for carrying out the 
     authorities of this subsection.''.

     SEC. 4. REPORTS ON POLITICAL APPOINTEES APPOINTED TO 
                   NONPOLITICAL PERMANENT POSITIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term 
     ``Executive agency'' in section 105 of title 5, United States 
     Code;
       (2) the term ``covered civil service position'' means a 
     position in the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of 
     title 5, United States Code) that is not--
       (A) a temporary position; or
       (B) a political position;
       (3) the term ``former political appointee'' means an 
     individual who--
       (A) is not serving in an appointment to a political 
     position; and
       (B) served as a political appointee during the 5-year 
     period ending on the date of the request for an appointment 
     to a covered civil service position in any agency;
       (4) the term ``political appointee'' means an individual 
     serving in an appointment to a political position; and
       (5) the term ``political position'' means--
       (A) a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 
     of title 5, United States Code (relating to the Executive 
     Schedule);
       (B) a noncareer appointment in the Senior Executive 
     Service, as defined under paragraph (7) of section 3132(a) of 
     title 5, United States Code; or
       (C) a position in the executive branch of the Government of 
     a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule 
     C of subpart C

[[Page H1030]]

     of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
       (b) Reporting on Current or Recent Political Appointees 
     Appointed to Covered Civil Service Positions.--
       (1) Annual report.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall 
     submit 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 an annual 
     report regarding requests by agencies to appoint political 
     appointees or former political appointees to covered civil 
     service positions. Each report shall cover one calendar year 
     and shall--
       (A) for each request by an agency that a political 
     appointee be appointed to a covered civil service position 
     during the period covered by the report, provide--
       (i) the date on which the request was received by the 
     Office of Personnel Management;
       (ii) subject to subsection (c), the name of the individual 
     and the political position held by the individual, including 
     title, office, and agency;
       (iii) the date on which the individual was first appointed 
     to a political position in the agency in which the individual 
     is serving as a political appointee;
       (iv) the grade and rate of basic pay for the individual as 
     a political appointee;
       (v) the proposed covered civil service position, including 
     title, office, and agency, and the proposed grade and rate of 
     basic pay for the individual;
       (vi) whether the Office of Personnel Management approved or 
     denied the request; and
       (vii) the date on which the individual was appointed to a 
     covered civil service position, if applicable; and
       (B) for each request by an agency that a former political 
     appointee be appointed to a covered civil service position 
     during the period covered by the report, provide--
       (i) the date on which the request was received by the 
     Office of Personnel Management;
       (ii) subject to subsection (c), the name of the individual 
     and the political position held by the individual, including 
     title, office, and agency;
       (iii) the date on which the individual was first appointed 
     to any political position;
       (iv) the grade and rate of basic pay for the individual as 
     a political appointee;
       (v) the date on which the individual ceased to serve in a 
     political position;
       (vi) the proposed covered civil service position, including 
     title, office, and agency, and the proposed grade and rate of 
     basic pay for the individual;
       (vii) whether the Office of Personnel Management approved 
     or denied the request; and
       (viii) the date on which the individual was first appointed 
     to a covered civil service position, if applicable.
       (2) Quarterly report in certain years.--In the last year of 
     the term of a President, or, if applicable, the last year of 
     the second consecutive term of a President, the report 
     required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted quarterly and 
     shall cover each quarter of the year, except that the last 
     quarterly report shall also cover January 1 through 20 of the 
     following year.
       (c) Names and Titles of Certain Appointees.--If determined 
     appropriate by the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, a report submitted under subsection (b) may 
     exclude the name or title of a political appointee or former 
     political appointee--
       (1) who--
       (A) was requested to be appointed to a covered civil 
     service position; and
       (B) was not appointed to a covered civil service position; 
     or
       (2) relating to whom a request to be appointed to a covered 
     civil service position is pending at the end of the period 
     covered by that report.

     SEC. 5. REPORT ON REGULATIONS PROMULGATED NEAR THE END OF 
                   PRESIDENTIAL TERMS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered presidential transition period'' 
     means each of the following:
       (A) The 120-day period ending on January 20, 2001.
       (B) The 120-day period ending on January 20, 2009.
       (C) The 120-day period ending on January 20, 2017.
       (2) The term ``covered regulation'' means a final 
     significant regulatory action promulgated by an Executive 
     department.
       (3) The term ``significant regulatory action'' means any 
     regulatory action that is likely to result in a rule that 
     may--
       (A) have an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or 
     more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a 
     sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
     environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
     tribal governments or communities;
       (B) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere 
     with an action taken or planned by another agency;
       (C) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, 
     grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and 
     obligations of recipients thereof; or
       (D) raise novel legal or policy issues.
       (4) The term ``Executive department'' has the meaning given 
     that term under section 101 of title 5, United States Code.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit 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 a report regarding covered regulations 
     promulgated during each covered presidential transition 
     period.
       (2) Contents of report.--The report required under 
     paragraph (1) shall, to the extent feasible, for each covered 
     presidential transition period--
       (A) compare the number, scope, and impact of, and type of 
     rulemaking procedure used for, covered regulations 
     promulgated during the covered presidential transition period 
     to the number, scope, and impact of, and type of rulemaking 
     procedure used for, covered regulations promulgated during 
     the 120-day periods ending on January 20 of each year after 
     1996, other than 2001, 2009, and 2017;
       (B) determine the statistical significance of any 
     differences identified under subparagraph (A) and whether and 
     to what extent such differences indicate any patterns;
       (C) evaluate the size, scope, and effect of the covered 
     regulations promulgated during the covered presidential 
     transition period; and
       (D) assess the extent to which the regularly required 
     processes for the promulgation of covered regulations were 
     followed during the covered presidential transition period, 
     including compliance with the requirements under--
       (i) chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Congressional Review Act'');
       (ii) the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
     of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601 note);
       (iii) sections 202, 203, 204, and 205 of the Unfunded 
     Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1532-1535);
       (iv) chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Regulatory Flexibility Act''); and
       (v) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').

     SEC. 6. ANALYSIS OF THREATS AND VULNERABILITIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than February 15, 2016, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee 
     on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
     and the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and 
     Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report 
     analyzing the threats and vulnerabilities facing the United 
     States during a presidential transition, which--
       (1) shall identify and discuss vulnerabilities related to 
     border security and threats related to terrorism, including 
     from weapons of mass destruction;
       (2) shall identify steps being taken to address the threats 
     and vulnerabilities during a presidential transition; and
       (3) may include recommendations for actions by components 
     and agencies within the Department of Homeland Security.
       (b) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
     be prepared in unclassified form, but may contain a 
     classified annex.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. 
Kelly) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  I rise today in support of S. 1172, the Edward ``Ted'' Kaufman and 
Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015, 
introduced by Senator Thomas Carper of Delaware.
  By building on the Pre-Presidential Transaction Act of 2010, S. 1172 
improves the process of Presidential transition by mandating several 
processes that have been effective in past Presidential transitions.
  The bill promotes early planning and supports communication by 
codifying the working groups put in place for the 2010 transition, 
which was one of the smoothest in our Nation's history.
  S. 1172 directs the White House to establish a transition council. It 
requires the General Services Administration to designate a Federal 
transition coordinator, and it ensures agencies designate staff to 
manage their internal transition activities needed to support the 
process of transitioning from one Presidential administration to 
another.
  The bill requires that the transition teams be in place no later than 
6 months before election day, and it authorizes GSA to provide services 
for the incoming administration up to 6 months after inauguration.

                              {time}  1800

  S. 1172 also requires a report to Congress on national security 
threats related to terrorism and border security during a transition. 
The bill further requires the Office of Personnel Management to provide 
quarterly reports to

[[Page H1031]]

Congress detailing requests by agencies to appoint political appointees 
and former political appointees to nonpolitical civil service 
positions.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1172 will help ensure the incoming President has the 
information necessary to oversee our complex government. Together, 
these commonsense steps will support future Presidents as they prepare 
to govern immediately after inauguration. Regardless of party, key 
management actions must be taken during transitions to support the 
smooth operation of government.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill was also referred to the Committee on Homeland 
Security, and we deeply appreciate their cooperation in getting this 
bill to the floor.
  I also would like to thank Senators Johnson and Carper for their work 
to ensure the upcoming transition remains nonpartisan and supports the 
continuance of essential government operations.
  Mr. Speaker, as we prepare for an upcoming Presidential transition, I 
urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                Washington, DC, December 11, 2015.
     Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 9, 2015, the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform ordered reported with an 
     amendment S. 1172, the Edward ``Ted'' Kaufman and Michael 
     Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015, by 
     unanimous consent. The bill was referred primarily to the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with an 
     additional referral to the Committee on Homeland Security.
       I ask that you allow the Homeland Security Committee to be 
     discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it 
     may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no 
     way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the 
     bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future 
     referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be 
     necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee 
     on Homeland Security represented on the conference committee. 
     Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any 
     response in the bill report filed by the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform, as well as in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration, to 
     memorialize our understanding.
       Thank you for your consideration of my request.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jason Chaffetz,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                Washington, DC, December 11, 2015.
     Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Thank you for letter regarding S. 
     1172, the ``Edward `Ted' Kaufman and Michael Leavitt 
     Presidential Transitions and Improvements Act of 2015.'' As a 
     result of your having consulted with us on provisions in S. 
     1172 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Homeland Security, I agree to discharge our 
     Committee from further consideration of this bill so that it 
     may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for 
     consideration.
       The Committee on Homeland Security takes this action with 
     our mutual understanding that by forgoing consideration of S. 
     1172 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over 
     subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and 
     that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and 
     involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so 
     that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. 
     Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of 
     an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and I ask 
     that your support any such request.
       To memorialize our understanding, please include a copy of 
     this letter exchange in the report filed by the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform, as well as in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                                                         Chairman.
  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. I appreciate the 
leadership of Senator Tom Carper in advocating for this bill which 
would improve the transition process for Presidential administrations.
  When a new President takes office, it can take months for the new 
administration to put people in place. This bill would ensure that the 
Federal Government can continue its important functions during this 
transition and allow the head of an agency to put career employees in 
noncareer positions temporarily if necessary.
  Under this legislation, a senior-level interagency transition council 
would be established to help develop an effective strategy for each 
Presidential transition. The General Services Administration would also 
be required to designate a Federal transition coordinator, and agencies 
would be required to designate senior career officials to oversee 
transition activities.
  This bill would also help the National Archives carry out its mission 
by authorizing the President to include funds for the Archives to 
efficiently receive records from the outgoing administration.
  Several changes were made to this legislation during consideration by 
the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to address concerns 
raised by Ranking Member Cummings. For example, the Senate version of 
this bill would have required the Office of Personnel Management to 
report every quarter on requests for political appointees to convert to 
career employees. The bill before us today would still require OPM to 
report this information, but it would only be on an annual basis during 
nonelection years.
  This bill will help future Presidents have a smooth and productive 
transition. I support this bill, and I have no additional speakers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 1172, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________