Federal Advisory Committee Act: Overview of Advisory Committees Since 1993.

I am pleased to be here today to discuss our work on federal advisory committees, Congress has recognized that when properly organized and managed, advisory committees can provide a useful source of expertise and advice. However, in 1972, because of its concern about the proliferation and lack of effective management of advisory committees, Congress enacted the Federal Advisory Committee Act FACA. FACA is intended to keep the number of advisory committees to the minimum necessary by ensuring that 1 valid needs exist for establishing and continuing advisory committees, 2 the committees are properly managed and their proceedings are open to the public, and 3 Congress is kept informed of their activities. FACA directs the General Services Administration GSA to establish and maintain a Committee Management Secretariat to oversee advisory committee activities. In 1993, the President issued an executive order that directed agencies to reduce by at least one-third the number of discretionary advisory committees that they sponsored those not mandated by Congress or established by the President by the end of fiscal year 1993. FACA committees are either established under agency authority, authorized by Congress, mandated by Congress, or established by the President.