Spending Control Act of 2010 - Establishes the Grace Commission II to conduct a review of cost control in the federal government every two years with respect to improving management and reducing costs. Directs the Commission to conduct in-depth studies to evaluate potential improvements in the operations of executive agencies and to develop recommendations regarding: (1) opportunities for increased efficiency and reduced costs that can be realized by executive action or legislation; (2) areas where managerial accountability can be enhanced and administrative control can be improved; (3) opportunities for managerial improvements over the short and long terms; (4) specific areas where further study can be justified by potential savings; and (5) ways to reduce governmental expenditures and indebtedness and improve personnel management.
Requires the Commission to submit final reports within 18 months after enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter until it submits its third final report. Requires such reports to contain the Commission's findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative actions and proposed legislation to carry out those recommendations. Sets forth congressional procedures for considering such legislation.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6448 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6448
To establish the Grace Commission II to review and make recommendations
regarding cost control in the Federal Government, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 29, 2010
Mr. Kirk introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the
Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Grace Commission II to review and make recommendations
regarding cost control in the Federal Government, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Spending Control Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established an independent commission to be known as the
``Grace Commission II''.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The duties of the Commission shall be--
(1) to conduct reviews in accordance with section 7; and
(2) to submit reports in accordance with section 8.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of eight
members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
(2) Nominations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the
Senate nominations for appointment to the Commission.
(3) Consultation.--In selecting individuals for nominations
for appointments to the Commission, the President shall consult
with--
(A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives
concerning the appointment of three members;
(B) the majority leader of the Senate concerning
the appointment of three members;
(C) the minority leader of the House of
Representatives concerning the appointment of one
member; and
(D) the minority leader of the Senate concerning
the appointment of one member.
(b) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission.
(c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated
by the President at the time of nomination of members of the
Commission.
(e) Basic Pay.--
(1) Rates of pay.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), each member, other than the Chairman, shall be
paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the
minimum annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code, for each day (including travel
time) during which the member is engaged in the actual
performance of duties vested in the Commission.
(B) Chairman.--The Chairman shall be paid for each
day referred to in subparagraph (A) at a rate equal to
the daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of
basic pay payable for level III of the Executive
Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States
Code.
(C) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code.
(2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or
employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not
receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of
their service on the Commission.
(f) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairman.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR; STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who shall be
appointed by the Commission. The Director shall be paid at the rate of
basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code.
(b) Staff.--
(1) In general.--With the approval of the Commission, the
Director may appoint and fix the pay of personnel as the
Director considers appropriate.
(2) Applicability of certain civil service laws.--The
Director may appoint the personnel of the Commission without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, and any
personnel so appointed may be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of
that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates, except that an individual so appointed may not receive
pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay for GS-18 of the
General Schedule.
(3) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the
Director, the head of any Federal department or agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that
department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure by
contract temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of
title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places,
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers
appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to
witnesses appearing before it.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly
from any department or agency of the United States information
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Chairman, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that
information to the Commission.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
(e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Administrator of the General Services Administration
shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry
out its responsibilities under this Act.
(f) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and
compensate government and private agencies or persons for products and
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.
SEC. 7. COST CONTROL REVIEWS.
(a) In General.--In preparation for submitting reports as required
under section 8, the Commission shall conduct, every two years, a
review of cost control in the Federal Government with respect to
improving management and reducing costs.
(b) Agency Studies.--In conducting a review under this section, the
Commission shall conduct in-depth studies of the operations of the
Executive agencies as a basis for evaluating potential improvements in
agency operations.
(c) Recommendations.--In conducting a review under this section,
the Commission shall develop recommendations in the following areas:
(1) Opportunities for increased efficiency and reduced
costs in the Federal Government that can be realized by
Executive action or legislation.
(2) Areas where managerial accountability can be enhanced
and administrative control can be improved.
(3) Opportunities for managerial improvements over both the
short and long term.
(4) Specific areas where further study can be justified by
potential savings.
(5) Ways to reduce Governmental expenditures and
indebtedness and improve personnel management.
SEC. 8. REPORTS.
(a) Interim Reports.--Not later than 180 days before the date on
which the Commission is required to submit a final report under
subsection (b), the Commission shall submit to Congress and the
President an interim report containing the preliminary results of the
review being conducted under section 7 related to that final report.
(b) Final Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every two years thereafter until
the date on which the Commission submits its third final report
under this paragraph, the Commission shall submit to Congress
and the President a final report containing a detailed
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission
based on the most recent review conducted under section 7,
together with its recommendations for legislative and
administrative actions, and other matters the Commission
considers appropriate.
(2) Proposed legislation.--The Commission shall include in
a final report submitted under paragraph (1) proposed
legislation in the form of an implementation bill to carry out
recommendations developed under section 7(c).
(3) Limitation.--The Commission may include in a report
submitted under this section proposed legislation under
paragraph (2) only if such proposed legislation is agreed to by
not fewer than five of the members of the Commission.
SEC. 9. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
(a) Introduction; Referral; Report or Discharge.--
(1) Introduction.--On the first calendar day on which both
Houses are in session on or immediately following the date on
which a final report is submitted to Congress under section
8(b), the implementation bill included in such report shall be
introduced (by request)--
(A) in the Senate by the majority leader of the
Senate, for himself and the minority leader of the
Senate, or by Members of the Senate designated by the
majority leader and minority leader of the Senate; and
(B) in the House of Representatives by the majority
leader of the House of Representatives, for himself and
the minority leader of the House of Representatives, or
by Members of the House of Representatives designated
by the majority leader and minority leader of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Referral.--An implementation bill introduced under
paragraph (1) shall be referred to any appropriate committee of
jurisdiction in the Senate and any appropriate committee of
jurisdiction in the House of Representatives. A committee to
which an implementation bill is referred under this paragraph
may report such bill to the respective House, but only without
amendment.
(3) Report or discharge.--If a committee to which an
implementation bill is referred has not reported such bill by
the end of the 15th calendar day after the date of the
introduction of such bill, such committee shall be immediately
discharged from further consideration of such bill, and upon
being reported or discharged from the committee, such bill
shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(b) Floor Consideration.--
(1) In general.--When the committee to which an
implementation bill is referred has reported the bill, or has
been discharged from further consideration of the bill under
subsection (a)(3), it is at any time thereafter in order (even
though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed
to) for any Member of the respective House to move to proceed
to the consideration of the implementation bill, and all points
of order against the implementation bill (and against
consideration of the implementation bill) are waived. The
motion is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and
is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is
not subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, or to a
motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A
motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the implementation bill is agreed to,
the implementation bill shall remain the unfinished business of
the respective House until disposed of.
(2) Amendments.--An implementation bill may not be amended
in the Senate or the House of Representatives.
(3) Debate.--Debate on the implementation bill, and on all
debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be
limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the bill. A
motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable.
An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to
proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to
recommit the implementation bill is not in order. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the implementation bill is agreed
to or disagreed to is not in order.
(4) Vote on final passage.--Immediately following the
conclusion of the debate on an implementation bill, and a
single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested
in accordance with the rules of the appropriate House, the vote
on final passage of the implementation bill shall occur.
(5) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules
of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may
be, to the procedure relating to an implementation bill shall
be decided without debate.
(c) Coordination With Action by Other House.--If, before the
passage by one House of an implementation bill of that House, that
House receives from the other House an implementation bill, then the
following procedures shall apply:
(1) Nonreferral.--The implementation bill of the other
House shall not be referred to a committee.
(2) Vote on bill of other house.--With respect to an
implementation bill of the House receiving the implementation
bill--
(A) the procedure in that House shall be the same
as if no implementation bill had been received from the
other House; but
(B) the vote on final passage shall be on the
implementation bill of the other House.
(d) Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives.--This
section is enacted by Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is
deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in
that House in the case of an implementation bill, and it
supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is
inconsistent with such rules; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the
procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and
to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
House.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is one day after
the date on which it submits its third final report under section 8(b).
SEC. 11. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Calendar day.--The term ``calendar day'' means a
calendar day other than one on which either House is not in
session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a date
certain.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Grace
Commission II established by section 2.
(3) Implementation bill.--The term ``implementation bill''
means only a bill that is introduced as provided under section
9(a), and contains the proposed legislation described in
section 8(b)(2), without modification.
(4) Member.--The term ``member'' means a member of the
Commission appointed under section 4(a)(1).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Rules
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