Kendra S. Horn: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4931, the Presidential Transition Act of 2000, represents a bipartisan effort to update the…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4931, the Presidential Transition Act of 2000, represents a bipartisan effort to update the Presidential Transition Act of 1963. H.R. 4931 would allow transition funds to be used for a formal training and orientation process for incoming appointees to senior administration positions, including cabinet members. On November 2, 1999, the House passed a bill with similar provisions, H.R. 3137, by a voice vote under suspension of the rules. On June 8, 2000, Senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee introduced a companion bill, S. 2705, the Presidential Transition Act of 2000. The Senator added some well thought out provisions that call for study and proposals to improve the financial disclosure process for presidential nominees. In addition, the changes made in the Senate bill would require the administer of the General Services Administration to develop a transition directory. This directory would be a compilation of Federal publications supplementary material that would provide a new presidential appointees with a manual of information about the organization, statutory and administrative authorities, functions and duties of each department and agency in the Executive Branch. H.R. 4931, which we are considering today, includes those Senate amendments.”