Circular No. A-135
October 5, 1994
TO THE HEADS OF
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS
SUBJECT: Management
of Federal Advisory Committees
1.
Purpose
2. Background
3. Policy
4. Definitions
5. Required Action
6. OMB Responsibilities
7. GSA Responsibilities
8. Information Contact
9. Termination Review Date
10. Effective Date
- Purpose.
This Circular provides guidance and instructions on the management
of Federal advisory committees and requires Executive Departments
and agencies to establish a committee planning and review process.
- Background.
On February 10, 1993, the President signed Executive Order 12838,
"Termination and Limitation of Federal Advisory Committees," which
requires each Executive Department and agency to reduce the number
of discretionary committees by one-third. New discretionary advisory
committees are subject to review and approval by the Director of
OMB.
On June 28, 1994, the Vice President issued a memorandum reiterating
Administration policy regarding the maintenance of the reduction
targets mandated by Executive Order 12838, as well as new guidance
relating to Executive Branch action on advisory committees proposed
by statute. The Vice President's memorandum also called for additional
savings in committee costs over and above those achieved under E.O.
12838, as recommended by the National Performance Review (NPR).
- Policy.
The Administration is committed to maintaining advisory committees
as a way of ensuring public and expert involvement and advice in
Federal decision-making. At the same time, the number and cost
of advisory committees must be carefully managed. Advisory committees
should get down to the public's business, complete it and then
go out of business.
Agencies should review and eliminate advisory committees that are
obsolete, duplicative, low priority or serve a special, rather than
national interest. New advisory committees should be established
only when essential to the attainment of clearly defined Executive
Branch priorities, as defined by E.O. 12838, and when they will not
exceed an agency's advisory committee ceiling as established by the
Executive order's reduction requirement.
The Administration will generally not support the establishment of
new statutory committees or legislative language that exempts advisory
committees from coverage under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA). In addition, each agency should make a concerted effort to
work with its Congressional oversight committees to reduce the number
of existing committees required by statute.
- Definitions.
For purposes of this Circular, definitions for "advisory committee,"
"agency," and other terms are the same as defined in GSA's
implementation regulations for the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(41 CFR Part 101-6). In addition:
A "non-discretionary advisory committee" is an advisory
committee either mandated by Presidential directive or by statute
and is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. A "non-discretionary
advisory committee" mandated by statute is: (1) specifically
identified by name, specific purpose or function in statute, and
(2) a committee whose creation or termination is beyond an agency's
legal discretion. Advisory committees referenced by general ( non-specific)
authorizing language or committee report language will not be considered "non-discretionary."
In addition, where a statute requires an advisory committee as defined
above, but allows for one or more committees, only one committee
shall be considered to be required by statute.
- Required
Action. Each Executive Department and agency shall report
to OMB annually on the results of its efforts to maintain discretionary
committee levels required by E.O. 12838, and other actions to
reduce its inventory of non-discretionary statutory committees.
This submission will be used by the Director of OMB as the basis
for approving requests to establish new committees.
- Agency
advisory committee management plans will be submitted to
OMB and GSA each year and include:
(a) performance
measures used to evaluate each committee's progress in achieving
its stated goals or mission;
(b)
plans for the establishment of any new advisory committees
during the coming fiscal year;
(c)
a summary of actions taken to ensure the advisory committee
reduction goal is maintained; and
(d)
the results of a review of non-discretionary advisory committees
and plans to continue, terminate or merge these groups
through legislation. This will include a list of those
committees established by specific statutory authority
during the current fiscal year regardless of their coverage
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
- With regard
to non-discretionary advisory committees mandated by statute,
the agency will notify GSA of plans to establish such committees
prior to filing the charter required by section 9(c) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act. Such notification will provide
GSA with at least 10 working days to review the proposed committee
charter and advise the agency of its recommendations.
- OMB Responsibilities. The Office of Management and Budget
shall:
(a) review
and approve agency advisory committee management plans pursuant
to Section 5 and in accordance with the Executive order;
(b)
set advisory committee ceilings for each agency within
the government-wide advisory committee reduction goal
established by the Executive order;
(c)
work with agencies to control the establishment of statutory
advisory committees and develop legislation to terminate
those non-discretionary committees which are no longer
necessary;
(d)
ensure that relevant legislation is reviewed consistent
with OMB Circular A-19; and
(e)
ensure agencies meet the cost reduction target recommended
by the Vice President's National Performance Review.
- GSA Responsibilities.
The General Services Administration shall (in addition to its responsibilities
under the FACA and as an agency under Section 5 above):
(a) prepare
required justifications and recommendations specified in
Section 5 for each advisory committee subject to the FACA
and not sponsored by another department or agency;
(b)
assist OMB in its management and oversight of advisory
committees, including tracking agency compliance with
the reduction goals specified by E.O. 12838;
(c)
develop guidance, specific reporting formats and instructions
to implement Section 5 of this Circular. To the extent
practicable, new reporting requirements will be limited
to information not readily available through existing sources
of data;
(d)
provide recommendations to OMB and each agency regarding
the continuance or management of advisory committees as
required by Section 7(b) of FACA, which mandates an annual
comprehensive review of all advisory committees; and
(e)
implement section 5(2) of this Circular.
- Information
Contact. Questions about this Circular should be addressed
to the Federal Services Branch (202) 395-5090. Questions concerning
the role of GSA should be directed to the Committee Management
Secretariat (202) 273-3556.
- Termination
Review Date. This Circular will be subject to review two
years after issuance.
- Effective
Date. This Circular is effective upon issuance.
Alice M. Rivlin
Acting Director
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