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H.R. 1320 111th Congress House

Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010

Official title: To amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 5, 2009 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesCongressional oversightGeneral Services Administration
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Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesOffice of Government EthicsPolitical parties and affiliation
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 27, 2010
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 26, 2010
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 26, 2010
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 250 - 124 (Roll no. 467). (text: CR H6017-6018)
Jul 26, 2010
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6020-6021)
Jul 26, 2010
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 26, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1320.
Jul 26, 2010
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6017-6020)
Jul 26, 2010
Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jun 4, 2009
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 68.
Jun 4, 2009
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 111-135.
Mar 10, 2009
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 1.
Mar 10, 2009
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 5, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Mar 5, 2009
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jul 26, 2010 House · vote #467 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 250–124 See who voted →
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 Latest action July 27, 2010

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to require appointments to advisory committees to be made without regard to political affiliation or activity, unless otherwise required by federal statute.

Directs the head of an agency, prior to appointing members to an advisory committee, to give interested persons an opportunity to suggest potential committee members. Directs the agency to: (1) include a request for comments in the required notice regarding establishment of the advisory committee; (2) provide a mechanism for interested persons to comment through the agency's official website; and (3) consider any comments submitted in selecting members.

Requires an individual appointed to an advisory committee who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the federal government to be designated as: (1) a special government employee if the individual is providing advice based on the individual's expertise or experience; or (2) a representative if the individual is representing the views of an entity or entities outside of the federal government. Prohibits an agency from designating committee members as representatives to avoid subjecting them to federal ethics rules and requirements.

Requires the designated ethics official for each agency to: (1) determine whether each agency advisory committee member's designation is appropriate and to redesignate members if necessary; and (2) certify to the agency head that such determination has been made following the initial appointment of members and at the time a committee's charter is renewed (or, in the case of a committee with an indefinite charter, every two years).

Directs the agency head to: (1) inform each individual appointed to an agency advisory committee about whether the individual is appointed as a special government employee or as a representative, the differences between the two, and applicable ethics requirements; and (2) obtain a signed confirmation that each member received such information. Requires the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to provide guidance to agencies on such ethics requirements.

Directs the agency head to develop and implement strategies to minimize the need for written determinations regarding whether an employee's financial interest is likely to affect the integrity of the services which the government may expect from such employee.

Requires the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations to implement FACA.

(Sec. 3) Deems: (1) an individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the federal government to be a member of an advisory committee if the individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings, even if the individual does not have the right to vote; and (2) an advisory committee to be established by an agency or the President if it is formed, created, or organized under contract, other transactional authority, cooperative agreement, grant, or otherwise at the request or direction of an agency or the President.

(Sec. 4) Requires the head of an agency to which an advisory committee reports to make available on the agency's official public Internet site: (1) the committee's charter; (2) the process used to establish and appoint committee members; (3) specified information about current members, including special government employees for whom conflict of interest certifications were made; (4) information about any recusals from any meeting or other work of the committee; (5) a summary each committee's decision-making process; (6) transcripts or recordings of committee meetings; (7) determinations to close meetings; and (8) notices of future meetings. Requires the Administrator to provide electronic access to such information on the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Internet site. Expands the information required to be disclosed about advisory committee charters.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Comptroller General to review and report on agency compliance with FACA.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to specify the applicability of FACA provisions to trade advisory committees.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1320: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1320/
MLA
"H.R. 1320: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1320/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1320, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1320/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1320: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1320/)
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