According to an estimate from the Congressional Budget
Office, the Senate version of the Government Reorganization
and Program Performance Improvement Act of 2005 (S-1399)
would cost $4 million in 2006 and $34 million over the
2006-2010 period.
The bill would establish a seven member Sunset Commission
— with appointments from the President and House and
Senate minority and majority leaders — to review the
performance of federal agencies and programs at least once
every 10-year period, and prepare annual reports for the
President with assessments made throughout the year as
well as recommendations and draft legislation for reforming
or abolishing federal agencies and programs.
According to the Office of Management and Budget, an agency
would be terminated two years after the president submits
recommendations along with the commission’s report, unless
Congress reauthorizes the program or agency by law.
CBO based its cost estimate on the assumption that the bill
would be enacted in the beginning of 2006, and that spending
would resemble that of similar programs such as the National
Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States and
the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
It said that enacting the bill would not affect direct
spending or revenues and that budget savings from
terminations would depend on future legislation.
