[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 42 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Pages 1505-1506]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Transmitting the Proposed ``Freedom to Manage 
Act of 2001''

October 17, 2001

To the Congress of the United States:

    I am pleased to transmit for immediate consideration and prompt 
enactment the ``Freedom to Manage Act of 2001.'' This legislative 
proposal would establish a procedure under which the Congress can act 
quickly and decisively to remove those structural barriers to efficient 
management imposed by law and identified by my Administration.

[[Page 1506]]

    This proposal is part of the ``Freedom to Manage'' initiative 
outlined in the ``President's Management Agenda'' issued in late August. 
The initiative includes additional legislative proposals, to be 
transmitted separately, that would give Federal agencies and managers 
the tools to more efficiently and effectively manage the Federal 
Government's programs by: (1) providing Federal managers with increased 
flexibility to manage personnel; (2) giving agencies the responsibility 
to fund the full Government share of the accruing cost of all retirement 
and retiree health care benefits for Federal employees; and (3) giving 
agencies greater flexibility in managing and disposing of property 
assets.
    In transmitting the Freedom to Manage Act, I am asking the Congress 
to join with my Administration in making a commitment to reform the 
Federal Government by eliminating obstacles to its efficient operations. 
Specifically, the Freedom to Manage Act would establish a process for 
expedited congressional consideration of Presidential proposals to 
eliminate or reduce barriers to efficient Government operations through 
the repeal or amendment of laws that create obstacles to efficient 
management or the provision of new authority to agencies.
    The Freedom to Manage Act would provide that if the President 
transmits to the Congress legislative proposals relating to the 
elimination or reduction of barriers to efficient Government operations, 
either through repeal or amendment of current law or the provision of 
new authority, special expedited congressional procedures would be used 
to consider these proposals. If a joint resolution is introduced in 
either House within 10 legislative days of the transmittal containing 
the President's legislative proposals, it would be held in committee for 
no more than 30 legislative days. It would then be brought to the floor 
of that House very quickly after committee action is completed for a 
vote under special procedures allowing for limited debate and no 
amendments. Finally, a bill passed in one House could then be brought 
directly to the floor of the other House for a vote on final passage.
    As barriers to more efficient management are removed, the Nation 
will rightly expect a higher level of performance from its Federal 
Government. Giving our Federal managers ``freedom to manage'' will 
enable the Federal Government to improve its performance and 
accountability and better serve the public. I urge the Congress to give 
the Freedom to Manage Act 2001 prompt and favorable consideration so we 
can work together in the coming months to implement needed and overdue 
reforms.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 October 17, 2001.