[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16793-16795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            PRE-ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION ACT OF 2010

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 3196) to amend the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to provide 
that certain transition services shall be available to eligible 
candidates before the general election.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3196

       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 ``Pre-Election Presidential 
     Transition Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. CERTAIN PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION SERVICES MAY BE 
                   PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES BEFORE GENERAL 
                   ELECTION.

       (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Presidential Transition 
     Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(h)(1)(A) In the case of an eligible candidate, the 
     Administrator--
       ``(i) shall notify the candidate of the candidate's right 
     to receive the services and facilities described in paragraph 
     (2) and shall provide with such notice a description of the 
     nature and scope of each such service and facility; and
       ``(ii) upon notification by the candidate of which such 
     services and facilities such candidate will accept, shall, 
     notwithstanding subsection (b), provide such services and 
     facilities to the candidate during the period beginning on 
     the date of the notification and ending on the date of the 
     general elections described in subsection (b)(1).

     The Administrator shall also notify the candidate that 
     sections 7601(c) and 8403(b) of the Intelligence Reform and 
     Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provide additional services.
       ``(B) The Administrator shall provide the notice under 
     subparagraph (A)(i) to each eligible candidate--
       ``(i) in the case of a candidate of a major party (as 
     defined in section 9002(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986), on one of the first 3 business days following the last 
     nominating convention for such major parties; and
       ``(ii) in the case of any other candidate, as soon as 
     practicable after an individual becomes an eligible candidate 
     (or, if later, at the same time as notice is provided under 
     clause (i)).
       ``(C)(i) The Administrator shall, not later than 12 months 
     before the date of each general election for President and 
     Vice-President (beginning with the election to be held in 
     2012), prepare a report summarizing modern presidential 
     transition activities, including a bibliography of relevant 
     resources.
       ``(ii) The Administrator shall promptly make the report 
     under clause (i) generally available to the public (including 
     through electronic means) and shall include such report with 
     the notice provided to each eligible candidate under 
     subparagraph (A)(i).
       ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
     services and facilities described in this paragraph are the 
     services and facilities described in subsection (a) (other 
     than paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (7), and 8(A)(v) thereof), but 
     only to the extent that the use of the services and 
     facilities is for use in connection with the eligible 
     candidate's preparations for the assumption of official 
     duties as President or Vice-President.

[[Page 16794]]

       ``(B) The Administrator--
       ``(i) shall determine the location of any office space 
     provided to an eligible candidate under this subsection;
       ``(ii) shall, as appropriate, ensure that any computers or 
     communications services provided to an eligible candidate 
     under this subsection are secure;
       ``(iii) shall offer information and other assistance to 
     eligible candidates on an equal basis and without regard to 
     political affiliation; and
       ``(iv) may modify the scope of any services to be provided 
     under this subsection to reflect that the services are 
     provided to eligible candidates rather than the President-
     elect or Vice-President-elect, except that any such 
     modification must apply to all eligible candidates.
       ``(C) An eligible candidate, or any person on behalf of the 
     candidate, shall not use any services or facilities provided 
     under this subsection other than for the purposes described 
     in subparagraph (A), and the candidate or the candidate's 
     campaign shall reimburse the Administrator for any 
     unauthorized use of such services or facilities.
       ``(3)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 
     eligible candidate may establish a separate fund for the 
     payment of expenditures in connection with the eligible 
     candidate's preparations for the assumption of official 
     duties as President or Vice-President, including expenditures 
     in connection with any services or facilities provided under 
     this subsection (whether before such services or facilities 
     are available under this section or to supplement such 
     services or facilities when so provided). Such fund shall be 
     established and maintained in such manner as to qualify such 
     fund for purposes of section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(B)(i) The eligible candidate may--
       ``(I) transfer to any separate fund established under 
     subparagraph (A) contributions (within the meaning of section 
     301(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
     431(8))) the candidate received for the general election for 
     President or Vice-President or payments from the Presidential 
     Election Campaign Fund under chapter 95 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 the candidate received for the general 
     election; and
       ``(II) solicit and accept amounts for receipt by such 
     separate fund.
       ``(ii) Any expenditures from the separate fund that are 
     made from such contributions or payments described in clause 
     (i)(I) shall be treated as expenditures (within the meaning 
     of section 301(9) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 431(9))) or qualified 
     campaign expenses (within the meaning of section 9002(11) of 
     such Code), whichever is applicable.
       ``(iii) An eligible candidate establishing a separate fund 
     under subparagraph (A) shall (as a condition for receiving 
     services and facilities described in paragraph (2)) comply 
     with all requirements and limitations of section 5 in 
     soliciting or expending amounts in the same manner as the 
     President-elect or Vice-President-elect, including reporting 
     on the transfer and expenditure of amounts described in 
     subparagraph (B)(i) in the disclosures required by section 5.
       ``(4)(A) In this subsection, the term `eligible candidate' 
     means, with respect to any presidential election (as defined 
     in section 9002(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)--
       ``(i) a candidate of a major party (as defined in section 
     9002(6) of such Code) for President or Vice-President of the 
     United States; and
       ``(ii) any other candidate who has been determined by the 
     Administrator to be among the principal contenders for the 
     general election to such offices.
       ``(B) In making a determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), 
     the Administrator shall--
       ``(i) ensure that any candidate determined to be an 
     eligible candidate under such subparagraph--
       ``(I) meets the requirements described in Article II, 
     Section 1, of the United States Constitution for eligibility 
     to the office of President;
       ``(II) has qualified to have his or her name appear on the 
     ballots of a sufficient number of States such that the total 
     number of electors appointed in those States is greater than 
     50 percent of the total number of electors appointed in all 
     of the States; and
       ``(III) has demonstrated a significant level of public 
     support in national public opinion polls, so as to be 
     realistically considered among the principal contenders for 
     President or Vice-President of the United States; and
       ``(ii) consider whether other national organizations have 
     recognized the candidate as being among the principal 
     contenders for the general election to such offices, 
     including whether the Commission on Presidential Debates has 
     determined that the candidate is eligible to participate in 
     the candidate debates for the general election to such 
     offices.''.
       (b) Administrator Required To Provide Technology 
     Coordination Upon Request.--Section 3(a)(10) of the 
     Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(10) Notwithstanding subsection (b), consultation by the 
     Administrator with any President-elect, Vice-President-elect, 
     or eligible candidate (as defined in subsection (h)(4)) to 
     develop a systems architecture plan for the computer and 
     communications systems of the candidate to coordinate a 
     transition to Federal systems if the candidate is elected.''.
       (c) Coordination With Other Transition Services.--
       (1) Security clearances.--Section 7601(c) of the 
     Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 
     U.S.C. 435b note) is amended--
       (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting:
       ``(1) Definition.--In this section, the term `eligible 
     candidate' has the meaning given such term by section 3(h)(4) 
     of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 
     note).'', and
       (B) by striking ``major party candidate'' in paragraph (2) 
     and inserting ``eligible candidate''.
       (2) Presidentially appointed positions.--Section 
     8403(b)(2)(B) of such Act (5 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(B) Other candidates.--After making transmittals under 
     subparagraph (A), the Office of Personnel Management shall 
     transmit such electronic record to any other candidate for 
     President who is an eligible candidate described in section 
     3(h)(4)(B) of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 
     U.S.C. 102 note) and may transmit such electronic record to 
     any other candidate for President.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3 of the Presidential 
     Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(8)(B), by striking ``President-
     elect'' and inserting ``President-elect or eligible candidate 
     (as defined in subsection (h)(4)) for President''; and
       (2) in subsection (e), by inserting ``, or eligible 
     candidate (as defined in subsection (h)(4)) for President or 
     Vice-President,'' before ``may designate''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSITION ACTIVITIES BY THE 
                   INCUMBENT ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The President of the United States, or the 
     President's delegate, may 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--
       (1) the establishment and operation of a transition 
     coordinating council comprised of--
       (A) high-level officials 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 of the General 
     Services Administration, the Director of the Office of 
     Personnel Management, the Director of the Office of 
     Government Ethics, and the Archivist of the United States, 
     and
       (B) any other persons the President determines appropriate;
       (2) the establishment and operation of an agency transition 
     directors council which includes career employees designated 
     to lead transition efforts within Executive Departments or 
     agencies;
       (3) the development of guidance to Executive Departments 
     and agencies regarding briefing materials for an incoming 
     administration, and the development of such materials; and
       (4) the development of computer software, publications, 
     contingency plans, issue memoranda, memoranda of 
     understanding, training and exercises (including crisis 
     training and exercises), programs, lessons learned from 
     previous transitions, and other items appropriate for 
     improving the effectiveness and efficiency of a Presidential 
     transition that may be disseminated to eligible candidates 
     (as defined in section 3(h)(4) of the Presidential Transition 
     Act of 1963, as added by section 2(a)) and to the President-
     elect and Vice-President-elect.

     Any information and other assistance to eligible candidates 
     under this subsection shall be offered on an equal basis and 
     without regard to political affiliation.
       (b) Reports.--
       (1) In general.--The President of the United States, or the 
     President's delegate, shall provide 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 the Executive 
     Departments and agencies to prepare for the transfer of power 
     to a new President.
       (2) Timing.--The reports under paragraph (1) shall be 
     provided six months and three months before the date of the 
     general election for the Office of President of the United 
     States.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may

[[Page 16795]]

have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of Senate Bill 3196, the Pre-Election 
Presidential Transition Act of 2010. This bipartisan legislation makes 
important improvements to the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to 
better equip qualified candidates to prepare, and prepare earlier, for 
the all-too-short process of transitioning from running a campaign to 
running the executive branch of the United States.
  As the non-partisan Partnership for Public Service has warned, 
``Given the complexity and urgency of issues facing an incoming 
administration in a post-9/11 world, we need our president and his 
senior leadership to be ready to govern on day one. An effective 
transition relies on advance preparation and skillful execution, not 
hope and luck.''
  S. 3196 takes important steps to help future Presidents with the 
transition process, and therefore helps them to navigate and prepare 
for governing in an increasingly complex world.
  The Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act will make the decision 
to undertake transition planning easier by providing resources to 
qualified candidates. The bill requires GSA to offer each candidate an 
array of services promptly upon nomination, including fully equipped 
office space, communication services, briefings, and training. 
Candidates will also be authorized to establish a separate 501(c)(4) 
fund to cover transition-related expenses or to supplement GSA's 
services.
  The bill also authorizes the appropriation of funds for use by the 
outgoing Administration to plan and coordinate activities to facilitate 
an efficient transfer of power. This follows the model put in place by 
the Bush Administration, which facilitated a highly efficient and 
effective transition.
  S. 3196 encourages presidential candidates to take steps that are 
necessary to effectively protect national and homeland security during 
the transition period, and I want to thank Senator Kaufman for his 
leadership on this important issue. I encourage all Members to support 
this important bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, when we look at this bill, we have got to think about 
what if 9/11 had happened 6 months before or 9 months before. And what 
if on Inauguration Day terrorists decided that is the time that 
America's leadership would be the weakest, that how could they really 
cause havoc not just with an attack but be able to catch America when 
its political leadership was at its weakest point. I think this bill is 
trying to make sure we avoid that vulnerability.
  It is still a threat I think we must still be concerned about, but I 
think this helps to address the potential gap that exists today, and 
hopefully we'll close that gap to make sure that we tighten up the 
process and make it more outcome-based, and basically reflecting the 
fact that Washington gets it that the world is changing and we need to 
change too. We need to improve. Just because this is the way Washington 
has done something, it doesn't mean that is the way we should not only 
do it in the future. But it is not only that we can't do it in the 
future; we can't afford to do it in the future. If we are going to 
uphold our responsibility to defend this country, to serve this 
country, then we not only have the right to change our procedures; we 
have the responsibility to make these changes. I think this bill 
fulfills that responsibility in a very small manner, but it could be 
very important.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3196.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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