• Provide for training and/or orientation of individuals a President-elect intends to nominate as department heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the President.
  
• Require the General Services Administration to work with the National Archives and Records Administration in compiling a transitions directory for the purposes of training of individuals a President-elect intends to nominate as department heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the President.
  
• Authorize the General Services Administration to consult with presidential campaign organizations before the election for the purposes of preparing the transition headquarters with the appropriate information technology.
  
• Require the Office of Government Ethics to prepare a report on the current appointments process and make suggestions about easing the burden of financial disclosure on Executive Branch nominees. Specifically, the language requires an examination of ways to streamline and standardize financial disclosure required by various Executive Branch organizations. The legislation would clearly establish that nothing the Office of Government Ethics recommends should be considered to lessen the disclosure requirements or weaken the examination for conflicts of interest.

The bill was reported by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on June 14, 2000. After being incorporated in H.R. 4193 and passed by the House of Representatives, it is awaiting the President’s signature.

Legislative History The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-277, 3 U.S. C. 102 note) was enacted to provide for the orderly transfer of executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the inauguration of a new President. Since the time the Presidential Transition Act was passed, transitions have grown more complex and cumbersome, often leaving the new administration without the head start it needs to begin governing on inauguration day.

On November 1999, the House of Representatives, by voice vote, passed H.R.3137, a bill "to amend the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to provide for training of individuals a President-elect intends to nominate as department heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the President." After the bill was referred to the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Committee made changes to it based on recommendations from experts in the area of Presidential transitions. The Senate version, S. 2705, the Presidential Transition Act of 2000, was introduced on June 8, 2000. It was cosponsored by Senators Leiberman, Akaka, Collins, Durbin, Levin and Voinovich. It was ordered favorably reported by the Committee on June 14, 2000. The House of Representatives adopted the language of S. 2705, incorporated it into H.R. 4931, and passed the bill by unanimous consent on September 13, 2000. The Senate passed H.R. 4931 by unanimous consent on September 28, 2000.

H.R. 4931 was signed by the President on October 12, 2000.

Related Information:
"Presidential Transition Act"  June 14, 2000  

Senate Approves "Presidential Transition Act" September 29, 2000

Clinton signs "Presidential Transition Act" October 13, 2000