1 10 (e) The Director or Assistant Director may be removed 2 at any time by a resolution of the Senate or the House of 3 Representatives. A vacancy occurring during the term of the 4 Director or Assistant Director shall be filled by appointment, 5 6 as provided in this section. (f) The professional staff members, including the Di 7 rector and Assistant Director, shall be persons selected with 8 out regard to political affiliations who, as a result of training, 9 experience, and attainments, are exceptionally qualified to 10 11 analyze and interpret public policies and programs. FUNCTIONS 12 SEC. 203. (a) The Office shall make such studies as it 13 deems necessary to carry out the purposes of section 201. 14 Primary emphasis shall be given to supplying such analysis 15 as will be most useful to the Congress in voting on the measures and appropriations which come before it, and on 16 17 providing the framework and overview of priority considera18 tions within which a meaningful consideration of individual measures can be undertaken. (b) The Office shall submit to the Congress on March 1 of each year a national goals and priorities report and copies of such report shall be furnished to the Committee on Appro priations of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, the Joint Economic Committee, and other interested com mittees. The report shall include, but not be limited to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 11 (1) an analysis, in terms of national goals and priorities, of the programs in the annual budget submitted by the President, the Economic Report of the President, and the Social Report of the President; (2) an examination of resources available to the Nation, the foreseeable costs and expected benefits of existing and proposed Federal programs, and the re sources and cost implications of alternative sets of national priorities; and (3) recommendations concerning spending priorities among Federal programs and courses of action, including the identification of those programs and courses of action which should be given greatest priority and those which could more properly be deferred. (c) In addition to the national goals and priorities re16 port and other reports and studies which the Office submits 17 to the Congress, the Office shall provide upon request to any 18 Member of the Congress further information, data, or analy19 sis relevant to an informed determination of national goals 20 and priorities. 21 222 22 POWERS OF THE OFFICE SEC. 204. (a) In the performance of its functions under 23 this title, the Office is authorized 24 (1) to make, promulgate, issue, rescind, and amend 66-425 -71-2 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 22 = 13 14 15 rules and regulations governing the manner of the oper ations of the Office; (2) to employ and fix the compensation of such employees, and purchase or otherwise acquire such fur niture, office equipment, books, stationery, and other supplies, as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Office and as may be appropriated for by the Congress; (3) to obtain the services of experts and consultants, in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; and (4) to use the United States mails in the same manner and upon the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. (b) (1) Each department, agency, and instrumentality 16 of the executive branch of the Government, including inde 17 18 pendent agencies, is authorized and directed, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish to the Office, upon request 19 made by the Director, such information as the Director con 20 siders necessary to carry out the functions of the Office. * 2 2 2 2 21 (2) The Comptroller General of the United States shall 22 furnish to the Director copies of analyses of expenditures 23 prepared by the General Accounting Office with respect to any department or agency in the executive branch. (3) The Office of Management and Budget shall furnish 13 1 to the Director copies of special analytic studies, program and 2 financial plans, and such other reports of a similar nature 3 as may be required under the planning-programing-budget4 ing system, or any other law. 5 (c) Section 2107 of title 5, United States Code, is 6 amended by 7 8 9 10 11 127 13 14 (7); (1) striking out the "and" at the end of paragraph (2) striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon and the word. "and"; and (3) adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: "(9) the Director, Assistant Director, and employees 15 of the Office of Goals and Priorities Analysis.". 16 17 JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE HEARINGS SEC. 205. The Joint Economic Committee of the Con18 gress shall hold hearings on the national goals and priorities 19 report and on such other reports and duties of the Office as it 20 deems advisable. 21 222 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES SEC. 206. All expenses and salaries of the Office shall 23 be paid by the Secretary of the Senate from funds appropri24 ated for the Office upon vouchers signed by the Director or, in 25 the event of a vacancy in that Office, the Acting Director. This is in response to your request of February 4, 1971 for the views of this Office on S. 5, the "Full Opportunity and National Goals and Priorities Act." In testimony on S. 5 before the Special Subcommittee on Evaluation and Planning of Social Programs of your Committee, Mr. Dwight A. Ink, an Assistant Director of this Office, set forth our reasons for opposing this bill. We support the objectives of S. 5 to assure that both the Congress and the President receive the best possible advice and counsel about the social environment and social needs. Nevertheless, we believe that the proposals contained in S. 5 are not the most effective means of achieving those objectives. In his testimony, Mr. Ink outlined the responsibilities of this Office, particularly those of our statistical policy staff. In addition, Mr. Ink outlined the roles of the Domestic Council, the Federal departments and agencies, and the Presidential Commission on Federal Statistics in accomplishing the objectives of S. 5. These agencies are currently engaged in a coordinated effort designed to provide necessary information on social programs. example, this Office and the Domestic Council are developing a Performance Measurement System to improve the management of Federal social programs. Also, the President's Departmental Reorganization Program will substantially improve the Cabinet's ability to advise the President on social matters. For For the reasons outlined in Mr. Ink's testimony on Sincerely, Welford It Roumal Wilfred H. Rommel |