    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 17, 1997]
    [Page 1190]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1190]]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report on Federal Advisory
    Committees
    September 17, 1997

    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 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

    The White House,

    September 17, 1997.