[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 44 (Monday, November 8, 1993)]
[Pages 2268-2269]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Executive Order 12878--Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement Reform

 November 5, 1993

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), and in order to establish a 
Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement Reform, it is hereby ordered as 
follows:
    Section 1. Establishment. (a) There is established the Bipartisan 
Commission on Entitlement Reform (``Commission''). The Commission shall 
comprise 30 members to be appointed by the President. Ten members shall 
be Senators, five each from the Democratic and Republican parties. Ten 
members shall be Members of the House of Representatives, five each from 
the Democratic and Republican parties. Ten members shall be individuals 
from either the public or private sector who have experience and 
expertise in the areas to be considered by the Commission.
    (b) The President shall designate a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson 
from among the members of the Commission.
    Sec. 2. Functions. (a) The Commission shall recommend potential 
long-term budget savings measures involving (1) revisions to statutory 
entitlement and other mandatory programs; and (2) alternative tax reform 
proposals. The Commission shall report its recommendations respecting 
potential entitlement and other mandatory program savings and tax system 
revisions to the National Economic Council and to the Congressional 
leadership by May 1, 1994.
    (b) The Commission shall decide by a three-fifths vote which 
recommendations to include in the report. At the request of any 
Commission member, the report will include that Commission member's 
dissenting views or opinions.
    (c) The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out its 
functions, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, 
as the Commission may find advisable.
    Sec. 3. Administration. (a) To the extent permitted by law, the 
heads of executive de- 

[[Page 2269]]

partments, agencies, and independent instrumentalities shall provide the 
Commission, upon request, with such information as it may require for 
the purposes of carrying out its functions.
    (b) Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 
any Federal agency or instrumentality shall, to the extent possible and 
subject to the discretion of such head, (1) make any of the facilities 
and services of such agency or instrumentality available to the 
Commission; and (2) detail any of the personnel of such agency or 
instrumentality to the Commission, to assist the Commission in carrying 
out its duties.
    (c) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation for 
their work on the Commission. While engaged in the work of the 
Commission, members appointed from among private citizens of the United 
States may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in 
the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707) to the extent funds are 
available for such purposes.
    (d) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
provide the Commission with administrative services, funds, facilities, 
staff, and other support services necessary for the performance of the 
Commission's functions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
perform the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (``Act''), except that of 
reporting to the Congress, in accordance with the guidelines and 
procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.
    (e) The Commission shall adhere to the requirements set forth in the 
Act. All executive branch officials assigned duties by the Act shall 
comply with its requirements with respect to the Commission.
    Sec. 4. General Provision. The Commission shall terminate 30 days 
after submitting its report.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 5, 1993.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 3:10 p.m., November 5, 
1993]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
November 9.