H.R. 859 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 859 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2013 Mr. Jordan (for himself and Ms. Speier) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To rescind certain excess conference costs from any agency that overspends on conferences, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Taxpayers’ Conference Overspending Prevention Act or the Taxpayers’ COP Act. 2. Report and rescission of excess conference costs (a) Report Not later than October 31 of each fiscal year, each executive agency shall submit to the Congress a report listing the amount of funds that such agency obligated for conferences in the previous fiscal year. The funds described in the report shall include pre-planning, travel, and subsistence costs. (b) Rescission On the date that is 30 days after the date a report is submitted by an executive agency under subsection (a), from the unobligated funds made available to such agency in the current fiscal year for conferences (including pre-planning, travel, and subsistence costs), there is rescinded the total amount by which the total costs for any conference described in such report exceeds $3,000 per agency employee attending such conference, or the total amount by which the costs for any conference described in such report exceeds $600 per day per agency employee attending such conference, whichever is higher. (c) Exception for critical foreign travel (1) Certification The rescission required under subsection (b) shall not apply to amounts described in a report that are greater than the limits provided in such subsection if— (A) the head of the applicable executive agency certifies in writing to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget that the amounts were for foreign travel and that such travel was critical to the agency’s mission; and (B) the Director determines that such certification is valid. (2) Report Any determination by the Director under paragraph (1) shall be included in the report submitted under subsection (a). (d) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Director means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; (2) the term executive agency has the meaning given such term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and (3) the term conference means a meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium, or event that— (A) is held for consultation, education, discussion, or training; and (B) is not held entirely at a Government facility.