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 otherwise required by federal statute. RequiresDirects each agency head toto: (1) ensure that: (1)that no individual who has a relevant conflict of interest is appointed to an advisory committee that reports to the agency, unless the conflict is unavoidable and the need for the individual's serviceservices outweighs the potential impacts of the conflict; and (2) require that each individual to be appointed inform the agency of any actual or potential conflict that exists before the appointment or that arises while the individual is serving; and (3) ensure that advisory committee reports are the result of the committee's judgment, independent from the agency. Requires:

Declares that: (1) this Act is not intended to preclude agency heads from requiring the recusal of individuals with conflicts from particular aspects of the committee's work; and (2) an individual representative's association with the entity whose views are being represented shall not itself be considered to be a conflict of interest.

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;;interest&quot; and identifying the method for disclosure and the period back in time an interest is considered a conflict; and (3) the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

(Sec. 3) Regards an individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the federal government as a member of a committee if the individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings as if the individual were a member, even if the individual does not have the right to vote or veto the committee's advice or recommendations.

(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 730 days after for meeting transcripts or recordings). Authorizes an agency to withhold from disclosure any information that would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Requires the Administrator of General Services to provide electronic access to such information on the General Services Administration's (GSA) official public(GSA's) 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 individualagency official authorized to exercise such authority.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Comptroller General to review and report on theagency compliance by agencies with suchthe Federal Advisory Committee 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: 6/24/2008: Passed/agreed6/25/2008: Referred to in House.Senate committee. Status: On motion to suspendReceived in the rulesSenate and pass the bill, as amended AgreedRead twice and referred to by voice vote.the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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