[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 18 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Page 997]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Transmitting the Report on Federal Advisory 
Committees

May 5, 1994

To the Congress of the United States:

    As provided by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended 
(Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C., App. 2, 6(c)), I am submitting my first 
Annual Report on Federal Advisory Committees for fiscal year 1993 for 
your consideration and action.
    Consistent with my efforts to create a Government that works better 
and costs less, I issued Executive Order No. 12838 on February 10, 1993, 
requiring the executive branch to conduct a comprehensive review of all 
advisory committees. Based upon this assessment, each department and 
agency was directed to reduce by at least one-third the number of 
committees not required by the Congress. I am pleased to advise that 
this initiative has resulted in a net reduction of 284 unproductive 
advisory committees, exceeding our elimination target of 267, by 6 
percent, or 17 committees. In addition, we have identified approximately 
30 unneeded statutory groups.
    While progress has been achieved in assuring that the work of 
advisory committees remains focused on national, rather than special 
interests, I am asking for your support in effecting other needed 
improvements. The Administration will forward to the Congress a 
legislative proposal to terminate 30 advisory committees required by 
statute, but for which compelling needs no longer exist. I urge the 
Congress to act quickly and favorably on this proposal, and I welcome 
any recommendations of the Congress regarding additional groups that may 
be eliminated through our joint efforts to increase the effectiveness 
and efficiency of the Government. Toward this end, I hope the Congress 
will show increased restraint in the creation of new statutory 
committees.
    I have directed the executive branch to exercise continued restraint 
in the creation and management of advisory committees. This will allow 
us to obtain further savings recommended by the Vice President and the 
National Performance Review. Consistent with Executive Order No. 12838, 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget will continue to 
approve new agency-sponsored committees when necessary and appropriate. 
In addition the General Services Administration, as apart of its overall 
responsibilities under the Act, will periodically prepare legislation to 
propose the elimination of committees no longer required by the 
Government.
    We stand ready to work with the Congress to assure the appropriate 
use of advisory committees and to achieve the purposes for which this 
law was enacted.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
May 5, 1994.