Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008

To amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes.

5/15/2008--Reported to House amended. Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008 -
(Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Advisory Committee Act to require appointments to advisory committees to be made without regard to political affiliation or activity, unless required by federal statute. Requires each agency head to ensure that:
(1) no individual who has a relevant conflict of interest is appointed to an advisory committee that reports to the agency, unless the conflict is unavoidable and the need for the individual's service outweighs the potential impacts of the conflict; and
(2) advisory committee reports are the result of the committee's judgment, independent from the agency. Requires:
(1) the public disclosure of any such conflict of interest;
(2) the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to promulgate regulations defining "conflict of interest"; and
(3) the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

(Sec. 3) Regards an individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the federal government as a member of a committee if the individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings as if the individual were a member, even if the individual does not have the right to vote or veto the committee's advice or recommendations.

(Sec. 4) Requires public disclosure of:
(1) any communication between an interagency advisory committee established by the President or the Vice President and a person who is not a federal officer or employee;
(2) charters of advisory committees;
(3) the process used to establish and appoint committee members;
(4) specified information about current members;
(5) each committee's decision-making process;
(6) transcripts or recordings of committee meetings;
(7) determinations to close meetings; and
(8) notices of future committee meetings. Requires agency heads to make such information available electronically 15 days before each meeting (or 7 days after for meeting transcripts or recordings). Requires the Administrator of General Services to provide electronic access to such information on the General Services Administration's (GSA) official public Internet site.
Requires committee charters to include:
(1) the authority under which the committee is established;
(2) the estimated number of members and a description of the expertise needed to carry out the committee's objectives;
(3) a description of whether the committee will be composed of special government employees, representatives, or members from both categories; and
(4) whether the committee has the authority to create subcommittees and, if so, the individual authorized to exercise such authority.
(Sec. 5) Requires the Comptroller General to review and report on the compliance by agencies with such Act, including whether agencies are appropriately appointing advisory committee members as either special government employees or representatives.


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Sponsor

• Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
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Committees

• House Oversight and Government Reform

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.5687

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 03, 2008		June 24, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Passed by voice vote in the House on Jun 24, 2008. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Jun 24, 2008: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5687.
• Jun 24, 2008: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Jun 24, 2008: Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Added to calendar on May 15, 2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 411..
• May 15, 2008: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-650.
• Added to calendar on Apr 09, 2008: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote..
• Apr 09, 2008: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Apr 03, 2008: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• Introduced on Apr 03, 2008.

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Blog Coverage

July 03, 2008 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO OPEN UP FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The bill, HR 5687, was passed by voice vote under suspension of the rules, a procedure reserved for noncontroversial measures. The bill requires agencies to set new procedures to ensure advisory committee members do not have conflicts ...

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May 15, 2008 Shadow Government

are sponsoring the Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008 (HR 5687), which is meant to improve balance, transparency and independence. In April, Waxman's committee passed the bill. Veteran journalist Jim Morris was the ...

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April 08, 2008 Bill Action: Scheduled for Debate: HR 5687: Federal Advisory ...

This bill has been added to a schedule of legislation to be considered for debate, or has been recommended by a committee to be considered. [This event matched these trackers: Active Legislation ]

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