H.R. 5687 would amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
(Log inFederal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008 - Amends the Federal Advisory Committee Act to editrequire 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 is appointed who has a relevant conflict of interest, unless the wikiconflict is unavoidable and be the firstneed for the individual's service outweighs the potential impacts of the conflict; and (2) committee reports are the result of independent judgment.

Requires public disclosure of: (1) any such conflict of interest; (2) any communication between an interagency committee or task force established by the President or the Vice President and a person who is not a federal officer or employee; (3) charters of advisory committees; (4) the process used to establish and appoint committee members; (5) specified information about current members; (6) each committee's decision-making process; (7) transcripts or recordings of committee meetings; and (8) determinations to close 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: (1) provide a detailed summaryelectronic access to such information; (2) promulgate regulations defining &quot;conflict of interest&quot;; and (3) issue guidance for agencies and advisory committees on procedures and best practices for ensuring the bill!)advisory committees provide independent advice and expertise.



Requires an individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time federal officer or employee to be regarded as a committee member if the individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings, even if the individual does not have the right to vote on or veto committee advice or recommendations.

Requires the Comptroller General to review compliance by agencies with such Act.
</summary>

<!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 4/9/2008: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
</status>

<!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Points in Favor ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->

== Points Against ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->