US Congress Senate Bill 679 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Passed on August 10 2012 - 100% progression
Action: 2012-08-10 - Became Public Law No: 112-166.
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Eliminates the requirement of Senate approval (advice and consent) of specified presidentially-appointed positions in federal agencies and departments, as follows: Department of Agriculture: (1) Assistant Secretary for Administration, (2) Administrator of the Rural Utilities Services, and (3) all members of the Board of Directors of the Commodity Credit Corporation; Department of Commerce: Chief Scientist, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Department of Defense (DOD): (1) all members of the National Security Education Board, and (2) Director of the Selective Service System; Department of Education: (1) Assistant Secretary for Management, and (2) Commissioner for Education Statistics; Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; Department of Homeland Security (DHS): (1) Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, (2) Assistant Administrator for Grant Programs, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), (3) Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration, (4) Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, (5) Chief Medical Officer, and (6) Assistant Secretaries for Health Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and Public Affairs; Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; Department of Justice (DOJ): (1) Directors of the Bureaus of Justice Statistics and Justice Assistance, (2) Director of the National Institute of Justice, (3) Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and (4) Director of the Office for Victims of Crime; Department of Labor: (1) Assistant Secretaries for Administration and Management and for Public Affairs, and (2) Director of the Women's Bureau; Department of State: Assistant Secretaries for Public Affairs and for Administration; Department of Transportation (DOT): (1) Assistant Secretaries for Budget and Programs and for Administration, (2) Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and (3) Administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; Department of the Treasury: (1) Assistant Secretaries for Public Affairs and for Management, and (2) Treasurer of the United States; Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Assistant Secretaries for Management, for Human Resources and Administration, for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, and for Operations, Security, and Preparedness; Appalachian Regional Commission: Alternative Federal Co-Chairman; Council of Economic Advisers: all members, except the Chairperson; Corporation for National and Community Service: Managing Director; National Council on Disability: all members, including the Chairperson; National Museum and Library Services Boards: all members; National Science Foundation (NSF): all Board members; Office of National Drug Control Policy: Deputy Directors; Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation: Commissioner; United States Agency for International Development (USAID): Assistant Administrator for Management; Community Development Financial Institution Fund: Administrator; Mississippi River Commission: all Commissioners; National Board for Education Sciences: all members; National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board: all members; and Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development: all members. Eliminates the positions of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information and for Public Affairs. Eliminates the requirement of Senate approval of all appointments to and promotions for the Commissioned Officer Corps in the Public Health Service and in NOAA. Provides that removal of the requirement of Senate confirmation of any position in this Act shall not result in any such position being placed in the Senior Executive Service or alter compensation for such position. Sec. 3) Expands the requirements for the appointment of a Director of the Census, including that such appointment be made without regard to political affiliation and that the appointee have a demonstrated ability in managing large organizations and experience in the collection, analysis, and use of statistical data. Limits the Director's term to five years, beginning on December 1, 2012, and prohibits a Director from serving more than two full terms. Authorizes the President to remove the Director from office after communicating in writing the reasons for removal to Congress not later than 60 days before the removal. (Sec. 4) Establishes the Working Group on Streamlining Paperwork for Executive Nominations (Working Group) to study and report to the President and specified congressional committees on the streamlining of paperwork required for executive nominations and review the impact of background investigations requirements on the appointments process. Requires that the report of the Working Group include: (1) recommendations for the streamlining of paperwork required for executive nominations, and (2) a detailed plan for the creation and implementation of an electronic system for collecting and distributing background information from nominees for positions which require Senate approval. Requires such electronic system to provide for less of a burden on potential nominees for positions which require Senate approval, faster delivery of background information, fewer errors of omission, and a single, searchable form (Smart Form) that will be free to a nominee, will be easy to use, and will streamline the process of vetting a nominee and tracking information provided by a nominee. (Sec. 5) Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report to Congress and the President on presidentially-appointed positions that do not require Senate approval. (Sec. 6) Makes the provisions of this Act relating to Senate approval of presidential appointments effective 60 days after enactment and makes the other provisions effective upon enactment.

Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011

Sen. Charles Schumer [D-NY]	Sen. Lamar Alexander [R-TN]	Sen. Michael Bennet [D-CO]	Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D-NM]
Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]	Sen. Scott Brown [R-MA]	Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]	Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]
Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL]	Sen. Mike Johanns [R-NE]	Sen. Jon Kyl [R-AZ]	Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]
Sen. Richard Lugar [R-IN]	Sen. Mitch McConnell [R-KY]	Sen. Patty Murray [D-WA]	Sen. Jack Reed [D-RI]
Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV]	Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]

2012-07-31 - House - On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Y: 261 N: 116 NV: 54 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2012-07-31 - House - On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (Y: 261 N: 116 NV: 54 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2011-06-29 - Senate - On Passage of the Bill S. 679 (Y: 79 N: 20 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2011-06-29 - Senate - On the Amendment S.Amdt. 511 to S. 679 (Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011) (Y: 25 N: 74 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2011-06-29 - Senate - On the Amendment S.Amdt. 501 to S. 679 (Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011) (Y: 44 N: 55 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2011-06-23 - Senate - On the Amendment S.Amdt. 510 to S. 679 (Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011) (Y: 41 N: 57 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2011-06-23 - Senate - On the Amendment S.Amdt. 499 to S. 679 (Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011) (Y: 47 N: 51 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [FAIL]

Date	Chamber	Action
2012-08-10	House	Became Public Law No: 112-166.
2012-08-10	House	Signed by President.
2012-08-02	House	Presented to President.
2012-07-31	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2012-07-31	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 261 - 116 (Roll no. 537). (text: CR H5405-5408)
2012-07-31	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5448-5449)
2012-07-31	House	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.
2012-07-31	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 679.
2012-07-31	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5405-5410)
2012-07-31	House	Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2011-07-01	House	Held at the desk.
2011-07-01	House	Received in the House.
2011-06-29	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2011-06-29	Senate	Passed Senate, under the order of 6/22/2011, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 79 - 20. Record Vote Number: 101. (text: CR S4178-4181)
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.514 Amendment SA 514 is considered as having been agreed to prior to the adoption, on 6/28/2011, of the manager's package (SA 520) to the bill (S. 679) by Unanimous Consent.
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.514 Amendment SA 514 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.511 Amendment SA 511 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 25 - 74. Record Vote Number: 100.
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.509 Amendment SA 509 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.501 Amendment SA 501, under the order of 6/22/2011, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, the amendment was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 44 - 55. Record Vote Number: 99.
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.514 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4174, S4176, S4191-4192)
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.511 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4174, S4176)
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.509 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4174, S4176)
2011-06-29	Senate	S.AMDT.501 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4174, S4175-4176)
2011-06-29	Senate	Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4174-4181)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.502 Proposed amendment SA 502 withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4147)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.493 Proposed amendment SA 493 withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4147)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.504 Proposed amendment SA 504 withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4147)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.520 Amendment SA 520 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.520 Amendment SA 520 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Schumer. (consideration: CR S4148)To provide a managers' amendment.
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.503 Amendment SA 503 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.517 Amendment SA 517 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.512 Amendment SA 512 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (text as modified: CR S4148)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.517 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145, S4148)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.514 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.512 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145, S4148)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.511 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4144)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.509 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4144, S4148; text as modified: CR S4148)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.504 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.503 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145, S4148)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.502 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.501 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4144)
2011-06-28	Senate	S.AMDT.493 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4145)
2011-06-28	Senate	Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4144-4148)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.503 Amendment SA 503 proposed by Senator Sessions for Senator Paul. (consideration: CR S4065-4066; text: CR S4066)To strike the provision relating to the Director of the Mint.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.502 Amendment SA 502 proposed by Senator Sessions for Senator Paul. (consideration: CR S4065-4066; text: CR S4066)To strike the provision relating to the Treasurer of the United States.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.512 Amendment SA 512 proposed by Senator Sanders for Senator Akaka. (consideration: CR S4061; text: CR S4061)To preserve Senate confirmation of the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.493 Amendment SA 493 proposed by Senator Kirk for Senator McCain. (consideration: CR S4059; text: CR S4059)To preserve congressional oversight into the budget overruns of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.500 Proposed amendment SA 500 withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4058)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.517 Amendment SA 517 proposed by Senator Carper. (consideration: CR S4055-4057; text: CR S4057)To provide that the Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study and submit a report on presidentially appointed positions to Congress and the President.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.510 Amendment SA 510 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 41 - 57. Record Vote Number: 96.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.514 Amendment SA 514 proposed by Senator Toomey. (consideration: CR S4049-4050; text: CR S4049)To strike the provision relating to the Governors and alternate governors of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.499 Amendment SA 499, under the order of 6/22/2011, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 51. Record Vote Number: 95.
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.511 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.510 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046, S4047, S4048, S4055)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.509 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.504 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.501 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.500 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046, S4058)
2011-06-23	Senate	S.AMDT.499 Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046, S4047-4048, S4049)
2011-06-23	Senate	Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4046-4066)
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.504 Amendment SA 504 proposed by Senator Cornyn. (consideration: CR S4018-4019; text: CR S4018)To strike the provisions relating to the Comptroller of the Army, the Comptroller of the Navy, and the Comptroller of the Air Force.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.509 Amendment SA 509 proposed by Senator Portman. (consideration: CR S4016-4017; text: CR S4016)To strike the provisions relating to the Assistant Secretary (Comptroller) of the Navy, the Assistant Secretary (Comptroller) of the Army, and the Assistant Secretary (Comptroller) of the Air Force, the chief financial officer positions, and the Controller of the Office of Management and Budget.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.500 Amendment SA 500 proposed by Senator Coburn. (consideration: CR S4010-4011; text: CR S4011)To prevent the creation of duplicative and overlapping Federal programs.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.499 Amendment SA 499 proposed by Senator Vitter. (consideration: CR S4008-4009; text: CR S4008-4009)To end the appointments of presidential Czars who have not been subject to the advice and consent of the Senate and to prohibit funds for any salaries and expenses for appointed Czars.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.511 Amendment SA 511 proposed by Senator DeMint. (consideration: CR S4008; text: CR S4008)To enhance accountability and transparency among various Executive agencies.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.510 Amendment SA 510 proposed by Senator DeMint. (consideration: CR S4008; text: CR S4008)To strike the provision relating to the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
2011-06-22	Senate	S.AMDT.501 Amendment SA 501 proposed by Senator DeMint. (consideration: CR S4008; text: CR S4008)To repeal the authority to provide certain loans to the International Monetary Fund, the increase in the United States quota to the Fund, and certain other related authorities, and to rescind related appropriated amounts.
2011-06-22	Senate	The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
2011-06-22	Senate	Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S3991-4019; text of amendment in the nature of the substitute: CR S3991-3995)
2011-06-22	Senate	Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3991)
2011-06-22	Senate	Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the bill withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (consideration: CR S3991)
2011-06-21	Senate	By Senator Lieberman from Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs filed written report. Report No. 112-24.
2011-06-16	Senate	Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3883; text: CR S3883)
2011-06-16	Senate	Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S3874)
2011-06-13	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.
2011-06-13	Senate	Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
2011-04-13	Senate	Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2011-03-30	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
2011-03-30	Senate	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1987-1988)

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/679/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s679/BILLS-112s679is.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s679/BILLS-112s679es.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s679/BILLS-112s679rs.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s679/BILLS-112s679enr.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2012537
Roll Call	https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1121/vote_112_1_00095.htm
Roll Call	https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1121/vote_112_1_00096.htm
Roll Call	https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1121/vote_112_1_00099.htm
Roll Call	https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1121/vote_112_1_00100.htm
Roll Call	https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1121/vote_112_1_00101.htm