Legislation introduced this week would target certain federal agencies for elimination that are deemed to be unnecessary.
The Federal Agency Sunset Act (H.R. 7226) was introduced by Congressman Ross Spano (R-FL) and would identify the unnecessary agencies via a commission established by the bill should it become law as written. The Federal Agency Sunset Commission would be tasked with rooting out inefficiencies in the federal government and recommending legislation in the form of Joint Resolutions to effect their recommendations. The Commission would be composed of 13 members: 6 from the House, 6 from the Senate, and the final member chosen by the President.
The bill creates a “fast track” process for Joint Resolutions drafted by the Commission, requiring them to be introduced in the Senate and House within 60 days of being proposed to Congress. They must be brought to the floor no later than 90 days after introduction. This Commission is set to expire 12 years after the date of enactment.
Part of the agency elimination process would be identifying functions of federal agencies that would be better left to the private sector.
The bill is companion legislation that has also been introduced in the Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) (S. 3708).
“The federal government is riddled with inefficient processes and redundant agencies that only cost taxpayers money. We need to make our government leaner and to serve the American public in a more efficient way,” said Spano. “Our national debt has skyrocketed out of control, and I believe if we do not make serious reforms, it will be our largest national security threat, crippling us from within.”
