Administration to Push Bill for Fast-Track Reorganization Authority
January 31, 2012
The Obama administration will send a bill to Congress in the next couple of weeks that seeks "fast-track" authority to reorganize federal agencies.
The bill's passage by Congress is deemed critical in the administration's goal to consolidate the Commerce Department and five other agencies that assist U.S. businesses.
If lawmakers approve the bill, the White House will then develop "a very detailed legislative proposal" fleshing out its plan to consolidate the agencies, said Lisa Brown, executive director of the Government Reform for Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative at the Office of Management and Budget.
But the administration will not include details of its restructuring plan in its fiscal 2013 budget request, set to be released Feb. 13, she said.