text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Government Reform Act of 2003''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
  
      There is established a national commission to be known as the 
  ``Government Reform Commission''.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) The term ``Commission'' means the Government Reform 
          Commission.
              (2) The term ``documents'' means books, records, papers, 
          accounts, transcripts, transcriptions, and reports, in whatever 
          form or medium they may be preserved.
              (3) The term ``executive agency'' has the meaning given the 
          term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
              (4) The term ``member'' means a member of the Commission.
  
  SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
  
      (a) Numbers, Appointment, and Qualifications.--The Commission shall 
  be composed of 12 members, appointed by the President, from among 
  persons who possess--
              (1) a degree or an advanced degree in the field of business 
          management or public administration; or
              (2) a significant background in business supervision, 
          management, and administration.
      (b) Consultation.--Of the members appointed under subsection (a)--
              (1) one member shall be appointed following consultation 
          with the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
              (2) one member shall be appointed following consultation 
          with the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
              (3) one member shall be appointed following consultation 
          with the President pro Tempore of the Senate; and
              (4) one member shall be appointed following consultation 
          with the minority leader of the Senate.
      (c) Additional Requirements.--The members shall also satisfy the 
  following additional requirements:
              (1) Each member shall be a United States citizen and shall 
          reside in the United States.
              (2) Not more than four members shall be from the same 
          political party, excluding those members appointed following 
          consultation required under subsection (b).
              (3) A member may not currently hold or have held within the 
          preceeding five years any paid position with any local or State 
          government or executive agency.
              (4) A member may not be a party to an ongoing and 
          continuing contract with any local or State government or 
          executive agency, or be an employee of an entity that is a 
          party to such a contract.
              (5) A member may not be a lobbyist, as defined by either 
          State or Federal law at the time of the appointment of the 
          member.
      (d) Operation.--
              (1) Appointment.--Members shall be appointed not later than 
          30 days from the date of enactment of this Act.
              (2) Chairperson.--The President shall designate one member 
          to serve as chairperson of the Commission.
              (3) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for a term of 
          two years and may be reappointed for a second term of two 
          years. No member shall serve more than four years on the 
          Commission.
              (4) Quorum.--Six members shall constitute a quorum for the 
          purpose of conducting a session of the Commission, but a lesser 
          number may conduct hearings.
              (5) Compensation.--Members shall serve without pay, but 
          members 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.
              (6) Professional staff.--The Commission may employ, 
          pursuant to laws and regulations governing the civil service, 
          an executive secretary and any clerical, professional, and 
          technical assistants as may be necessary.
              (7) Mandatory resignation.--In the event that a member 
          accepts a position as an officer or employee of any local or 
          State government or executive agency, the member shall resign 
          from the Commission within 30 days from the date the member 
          accepts such position.
              (8) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
          in the manner in which the original appointment was made. The 
          appointment of the replacement member shall be made not later 
          than 30 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
  
  SEC. 5. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND POWERS.
  
      (a) Review of Executive Agencies.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                      (A) examine the current configuration of executive 
                  agencies and investigate their duties and 
                  responsibilities; and
                      (B) review the operational jurisdictions of 
                  executive agencies to determine whether areas of 
                  overlap exist and whether the mission of any agency has 
                  become obsolete.
              (2) Process.--As part of the review under paragraph (1), 
          the Commission shall identify and address--
                      (A) opportunities for increasing efficiency and 
                  reducing costs in executive agencies as a result of 
                  executive action or legislation;
                      (B) areas within executive agencies where 
                  managerial accountability can be enhanced and 
                  administrative control can be improved;
                      (C) any Federal programs that have accomplished 
                  their original objectives and should be terminated;
                      (D) any Federal services that could be provided at 
                  lower cost by the private sector;
                      (E) budget process reforms that could yield 
                  savings, increase accountability and efficiency, and 
                  enhance public confidence in the budget process; and
                      (F) areas for further study based on likelihood for 
                  potential savings.
      (b) Review of Prior Reform Efforts.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall review existing 
          Government Accounting Office, Congressional Budget Office, and 
          Inspector General reports, together with any other existing 
          governmental and nongovernmental recommendations, including 
          recommendations offered by the President's Private Sector 
          Survey on Cost Control, for reducing waste in executive 
          agencies.
              (2) Reports.--Based on the review under paragraph (1), the 
          Commission shall periodically submit to the President and 
          Congress reports which shall include the following:
                      (A) A list of such recommendations to reduce waste 
                  in executive agencies that the Commission determines 
                  are most significant.
                      (B) The estimated cost savings of the 
                  recommendations.
                      (C) A determination of whether the recommendations 
                  can be implemented by executive order or whether they 
                  instead require legislative action.
      (c) Proposed Reorganization Plan.--
              (1) In general.--Upon completion of the reviews required 
          under subsections (a) and (b), but not later than July 15, 
          2004, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress 
          a proposed reorganization plan for executive agencies. The 
          proposed reorganization plan shall provide for the realignment 
          or closure of executive agencies to reduce duplication of 
          services and increase productivity.
              (2) Visitation.--The Commission may not recommend an 
          executive agency for realignment or closure unless at least one 
          member has visited the executive agency prior to January 1, 
          2004, as part of the review conducted under subsection (a).
              (3) Transmittal.--The Commission shall transmit a copy of 
          the proposed reorganization plan to the Director of the Office 
          of Management and Budget, who shall prepare and issue a public 
          report that details the predicted savings in Federal 
          expenditures that would result from implementing the 
          reorganization plan.
      (d) Hearings and Sessions.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall meet in session at 
          least once per month at the call of the chairperson. 
          Additionally, as part of its review process, the Commission 
          shall conduct three public hearings across the United States. 
          The final hearing shall be held in Washington, D.C., not later 
          than March 1, 2004.
              (2) Additional powers.--The Commission may--
                      (A) meet at additional times and places that it may 
                  consider appropriate;
                      (B) issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of 
                  witnesses and the production of documents;
                      (C) administer oaths; and
                      (D) contract, as it considers appropriate, for the 
                  provision of services, facilities, studies, and reports 
                  that will assist the Commission in carrying out its 
                  duties, responsibilities, and powers.
  
  SEC. 6. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION ON REORGANIZATION PLAN.
  
      (a) Presidential Consideration.--No later than August 1, 2004, the 
  President shall act on the proposed reorganization plan submitted by 
  the Commission, either by approving the plan without alteration or 
  amendment, or by returning the plan to the Commission for review. If 
  the President returns the plan to the Commission, the President shall 
  include such proposed revisions to the plan as the President considers 
  appropriate.
      (b) Review and Revision.--If the proposed reorganization plan is 
  returned to the Commission for revision, the Commission shall have 30 
  days in which to review the Presidential recommendations submitted 
  under subsection (a) and to revise the plan. The Commission may, at its 
  discretion, incorporate any recommendations proposed by the President 
  to the plan.
      (c) Resubmission.--At the conclusion of the 30-day period, the 
  Commission shall resubmit the reorganization plan to the President and 
  Congress and retransmit a copy of such plan to the Director of the 
  Office of Management and Budget. The Director shall prepare and issue a 
  revised public report that details the predicted savings in federal 
  expenditures that would result from implementing the revised 
  reorganization.
      (d) Effect of Rejection.--If the President rejects the resubmitted 
  reorganization plan, such rejection shall conclude the reorganization 
  process for the year under this Act. The Commission may, following 
  reconsideration and at least one public hearing, resubmit a revised 
  reorganization plan in the following year.
  
  SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON REORGANIZATION PLAN.
  
      (a) Submission to Congress.--If the President approves the proposed 
  reorganization plan submitted by the Commission, the President shall 
  submit the reorganization plan, free of alterations or amendments, to 
  Congress.
      (b) Effective Date.--
              (1) Congressional consideration.--The reorganization plan 
          submitted under subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a 
          reorganization plan submitted under chapter 9 of title 5, 
          United States Code, except that the reorganization plan shall 
          take effect on the first day following 60 calendar days of 
          continuous session of Congress, beginning on the date on which 
          the plan is submitted, or a later date as may be provided by 
          the plan, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution rejecting 
          the reorganization plan.
              (2) Suspension of section.--This Act shall be valid for all 
          intents and purposes notwithstanding section 905(b) of title 5, 
          United States Code.
      (c) Reorganization.--Unless the reorganization plan is rejected as 
  provided in subsection (b), those executive agencies recommended for 
  realignment or closure in the reorganization plan shall be realigned or 
  closed beginning as soon as practicable after the effective date of the 
  reorganization plan, and completed within three years after the 
  effective date.
  
  SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
  
      The Commission shall terminate at the end of the 30-day period 
  beginning on the effective date of the reorganization plan or the date 
  a joint resolution rejecting the reorganization plan is enacted.
  
  SEC. 9. FUNDING AND SUPPORT.
  
      The Commission shall be funded, staffed, and equipped without cost 
  to the Federal Government. To accomplish this objective, the Secretary 
  of Commerce shall engage in a joint project with a nonprofit 
  organization in accordance with the first section of Public Law 91-412 
  (15 U.S.C. 1525).
target: Government Reform Act of 2003 - Establishes a Government Reform Commission to: (1) examine the current configuration of executive agencies and investigate their duties and responsibilities; (2) review agency operational jurisdictions to determine whether areas of overlap exist and whether the mission of any agency has become obsolete; (3) review and report to the President and Congress on existing Government Accounting Office, Congressional Budget Office, and Inspector General reports, together with any other existing governmental and nongovernmental recommendations, including those offered by the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, for reducing waste in executive agencies; (4) submit to the President and Congress a proposed reorganization plan which shall provide for the realignment or closure of executive agencies to reduce duplication of services and increase productivity; and (5) transmit a copy of the plan to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who shall issue a public report detailing the predicted savings in Federal expenditures that would result from implementing such plan.Sets forth separate provisions for presidential and congressional consideration of and actions on the proposed reorganization plan.
feat_title: To create a national commission, modeled after the successful Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, to establish a timely, independent, and fair process for realigning or closing outdated, ineffective, or inefficient executive agencies.