H.R. 1104 would amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which governs the operation of most federal advisory committees, to require agencies to disclose additional information about committee activities to the public. It also would expand the act’s reach to additional federal committees and would require the Government Accountability Office to submit reports to the Congress concerning the appointment of advisory committee members. More than 1,000 advisory committees provide advice and guidance to federal agencies on many subjects ranging from organ donation to the operations of the Department of Homeland Security. Those committees, which may also be called commissions, councils, or task forces, have been created to collect a variety of viewpoints on specific policy issues. They can provide advice or make recommendations to federal agencies.
