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

== Detailed Summary ==

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Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Advisory Committee Act to require 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,interest is appointed to an advisory committee that reports to the agency, unless the conflict is unavoidable and the need for the individual's service outweighs the potential impacts of the conflict; and (2) advisory committee reports are the result of the committee's judgment, independent judgment.from the agency. Requires: (1) the public disclosure of any such conflict of interest; (2) the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to promulgate regulations defining &quot;conflict of interest&quot;; and (3) the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Requires public disclosure of: (1) any such conflict of interest; (2) any communication between(Sec. 3) Regards an interagency committee or task force established by the President or the Vice President and a personindividual who is not a federalfull-time or permanent part-time officer or employee; (3) chartersemployee 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 recordingsfederal government as a member of a committee meetings;if the individual regularly attends and (8) determinationsparticipates in committee meetings as if the individual were a member, even if the individual does not have the right to close meetings. Requires agency heads to make such information available electronically 15 days before each meeting (or 7 days after for meeting transcriptsvote or veto the committee's advice or recordings).recommendations.

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

Requires committee charters to include: (1) the authority under which the committee is established; (2) the estimated number of members and a description of the expertise needed to carry out the committee's objectives; (3) a description of whether the committee will be composed of special government employees, representatives, or members from both categories; and (4) whether the committee has the authority to create subcommittees and, if so, the individual authorized to exercise such authority.


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(Sec. 5) Requires the Comptroller General to review and report on the compliance by agencies with such Act.Act, including whether agencies are appropriately appointing advisory committee members as either special government employees or representatives.
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== Status of the Legislation ==

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Latest Major Action: 5/15/2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 411.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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