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S. 709: Federal Agency Performance Act of 2023

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The text of the bill below is as of Mar 8, 2023 (Introduced).

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 709

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 8, 2023

(for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To improve performance and accountability in the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Agency Performance Act of 2023.

2.

Establishment of Strategic Reviews and Reporting

(a)

Strategic Reviews

(1)

In general

Section 1121 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

by striking the section heading and inserting Progress reviews and use of performance information; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(c)

Agency reviews of progress towards strategic goals and objectives

(1)

Covered Goal defined

In this subsection, the term covered goal means a goal or objective established in the strategic plan of the agency under section 306(a) of title 5.

(2)

Review

Not less frequently than annually and consistent with guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the head and Chief Operating Officer of each agency, shall—

(A)

for each covered goal, review with the appropriate agency official responsible for the covered goal—

(i)

the progress achieved toward the covered goal—

(I)

during the most recent fiscal year; or

(II)

from recent sources of evidence available at the time of the review; and

(ii)

the likelihood that the agency will achieve the covered goal;

(B)

coordinate with relevant personnel within and outside the agency who contribute to the accomplishment of each covered goal;

(C)

assess progress toward each covered goal by reviewing performance information and other types of evidence relating to each covered goal, such as program evaluations and statistical data;

(D)

identify whether additional evidence is necessary to better assess progress toward each covered goal, and prioritize the development of the evidence described in subparagraph (C), such as through the plans required under section 312 of title 5, if applicable;

(E)

assess whether relevant organizations, program activities, regulations, policies, and other activities contribute as planned to each covered goal;

(F)

as appropriate, leverage the assessment performed under subparagraph (E) as part of the portfolio reviews required under section 503(c)(1)(G);

(G)

identify any risks or impediments that would reduce or otherwise decrease the likelihood that the agency will achieve the covered goal; and

(H)

for each covered goal at greatest risk of not being achieved, identify prospects and strategies for performance improvement, including any necessary changes to program activities, regulations, policies, or other activities of the agency.

(3)

Support

In fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (2), the head and Chief Operating Officer of each agency shall be supported by—

(A)

the Performance Improvement Officer of the agency;

(B)

as appropriate, the Chief Data Officer, Evaluation Officer, Program Management Improvement Officer, and Statistical Official of the agency; and

(C)

any other senior agency official designated by the head of the agency, the sustained involvement of whom may help the agency increase the likelihood of achieving 1 or more covered goals.

.

(2)

Conforming amendment

The table of sections for Chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 1121 and inserting the following:

1121. Progress reviews and use of performance information..

(b)

Summary required

Section 1116 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (6)(E), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(8)

include a summary of the findings of the review of the agency under section 1121(c).

; and

(2)

by striking subsections (f) through (i).

3.

Revisions to the Federal Performance Website

Section 1122 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in subparagraph (C)—

(I)

by inserting required to be included on the single website under subparagraph (A) and the information; before in the program inventory; and

(II)

by striking and at the end;

(ii)

in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(E)

ensure that the website described in subparagraph (A) conforms with the requirements for websites under section 3(a) of the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 note).

; and

(B)

in paragraph (4), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(A)

archive and preserve—

(i)

the information included in the program inventory required under paragraph (2)(B), including the information described in paragraph (3), after the end of the period during which that information is made available; and

(ii)

the information included in the single website under paragraph (2)(A) in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) after the end of the period during which such information is made available on the website; and

;

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:

(6)

the results achieved toward the agency priority goals established under section 1120(b)—

(A)

during the most recent quarter and overall trend data for each quarter compared to the planned level of performance; and

(B)

at the end of the 2-year agency priority goal period compared to the overall planned level of performance;

; and

(3)

in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:

(5)

the results achieved toward the priority goals developed under section 1120(a)(1)—

(A)

during the most recent quarter and overall trend data for each quarter compared to the planned level of performance; and

(B)

at the end of the 4-year Federal Government priority goal period compared to the overall planned level of performance;

.

4.

Federal Government Priority Goals

Section 1120(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting “Such goals shall—

(A)

be updated and revised not less frequently than during the first year of each Presidential term;

(B)

be made publicly available not less frequently than concurrently with the submission of the budget of the United States Government under section 1105(a) made during the first full fiscal year following any year during which a term of the President commences under section 101 of title 3;

(C)

include plans for the successful achievement of each goal within each single Presidential term; and

(D)

explicitly cite to any specific contents of the budget described in subparagraph (B) that support the achievement of each goal.

.

5.

Federal Government Priority Goal Co-Leaders

Section 1115(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

(3)

For each Federal Government performance goal, identify, as appropriate, not fewer than 2 lead Government officials who shall jointly be responsible for coordinating the efforts to achieve the goal, of whom—

(A)

not less than 1 shall be from the Executive Office of the President; and

(B)

not less than 1 shall be from an agency identified as contributing to the Federal Government performance goal described in paragraph (2);

.

6.

Establishment of Deputy Performance Improvement Officers

Section 1124(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)

Establishment

At each agency, the head of the agency, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer of the agency, shall designate—

(A)

a Performance Improvement Officer, who shall be a senior executive of the agency; and

(B)

if the Performance Improvement Officer designated under subparagraph (A) is not a career appointee of the Senior Executive Service, a Deputy Performance Improvement Officer, who shall be a career appointee of the Senior Executive Service.

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Deputy Performance Improvement Officer

A Deputy Performance Improvement Officer designated under paragraph (1)(B) shall support the Performance Improvement Officer in carrying out the functions of the Performance Improvement Officer under paragraph (2).

.

7.

Repeal of Outdated Pilot Projects

(a)

In general

Chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking sections 1118 and 1119.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 9704 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (c); and

(2)

by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to sections 1118 and 1119.

8.

Clarifying Amendments

(a)

Clarification of Requirement To Cite to Evidence-Building Activities in Strategic Plans

Section 306(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (8) by inserting , as applicable after section 312; and

(2)

in paragraph (9), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting with respect to the head of an agency required to develop a plan described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 312, before an assessment.

(b)

Clarification of Timing of Agency Performance Report

Section 1116(b)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking shall occur no less than 150 days after and inserting shall occur not later than 150 days after.