Federal Advisory Committee Database Act
Summary
The "Federal Advisory Committee Database Act" (S. 2317) aims to amend Title 5 of the United States Code to enhance the responsibilities of the Administrator of General Services concerning Federal advisory committees. The bill mandates the continuous collection and publication of detailed information about these committees. This includes their membership, authority, activities, and financial data, all made available on a public website.
Expected Effects
The Act will increase transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees by making their operations and recommendations more accessible to the public. It also standardizes the reporting and management of these committees across different agencies. No additional funds are authorized, so agencies will need to absorb the costs.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in government operations.
- Enhanced public access to information about advisory committees.
- Standardized reporting across different agencies.
- Improved accountability of committee members and activities.
- Better oversight of committee spending and recommendations.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on agencies without additional funding.
- Risk of inconsistent data reporting if guidelines are not strictly enforced.
- Possible delays in data publication due to the complexity of information gathering.
- The act does not authorize additional funds, so agencies will need to absorb the costs.
- The act may not address underlying issues of committee effectiveness or influence.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the principle of government transparency and accountability, which are implicit in the Constitution's emphasis on a government of the people. While no specific clause directly addresses advisory committees, the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and the press supports the idea of open government and access to information. The necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8) could be interpreted to allow Congress to enact laws that ensure the efficient functioning of government, including the management of advisory committees.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).