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H.R. 1608 116th Congress House

Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019

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

Introduced: March 7, 2019 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 13, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 12, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 12, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2667-2670)
Mar 12, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2667-2670)
Mar 12, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1608.
Mar 12, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2667-2671)
Mar 12, 2019
Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Mar 7, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 7, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 13, 2019

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 2019

This bill revises provisions regarding federal advisory committees, including to (1) require designation of committee members as special government employees or representatives, (2) apply the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to subcommittees and subgroups, and (3) require publication of certain information about advisory committees.

The bill requires appointments to advisory committees to be made without regard to political affiliation or campaign activity, unless required by federal statute. Each agency, prior to appointing members to an advisory committee, must solicit nominations for potential committee members. The agency shall solicit nominations at least once every two years.

The bill provides statutory authority for the designation of advisory committee members as special government employees (if they are appointed to exercise their individual best judgement) or representatives (if they are appointed to represent a nongovernment entity). Agencies may not designate committee members as representatives to avoid federal ethics rules.

Each agency shall make available on its website specified information about each of the agency's advisory committees, including membership, meeting minutes, and notices of future meetings. The General Services Administration must also publish this information.

The bill revises requirements for Advisory Committee Management Officers, including to require them to be senior officials with expertise in implementing FACA.

The Government Accountability Office shall report on agency compliance with FACA.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1220 Identical bill Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1608: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1608/
MLA
"H.R. 1608: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1608/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1608, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1608/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1608: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1608/)
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