Government Performance and Results Act

Government Performance and Results Act is a federal law that aims to improve the performance and accountability of federal agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Defense, and Department of Health and Human Services. The law was enacted to provide a framework for strategic planning and performance measurement in the federal government, as recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration and the General Accounting Office. It has been influenced by the work of David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, authors of Reinventing Government, and has been compared to similar laws in other countries, such as the Canadian Department of National Defence's Program Evaluation and Review Technique. The law has also been linked to the work of Al Gore, who as Vice President of the United States, led the National Performance Review.

Introduction

The Government Performance and Results Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 3, 1993, with the goal of improving the performance and accountability of federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency. The law requires federal agencies to develop strategic plans that outline their mission, goals, and objectives, as well as performance measures to evaluate their progress, similar to those used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Agriculture. This approach has been influenced by the work of Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant, and has been compared to similar initiatives in other countries, such as the Australian Government's National Performance Framework. The law has also been linked to the work of Senator John Glenn, who as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, played a key role in its passage.

Legislative History

The Government Performance and Results Act was introduced in the 103rd United States Congress by Senator William Roth and Representative Constance Morella, with the support of Senator Sam Nunn and Representative John Conyers. The law was influenced by the work of the National Commission on the Public Service, which was established by President Jimmy Carter to study the federal government's personnel system, and the National Academy of Public Administration, which has provided guidance on strategic planning and performance measurement to federal agencies such as the General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management. The law has also been compared to other federal laws, such as the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 and the Clinger-Cohen Act, which have aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal agencies such as the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Treasury.

Provisions and Requirements

The Government Performance and Results Act requires federal agencies to develop strategic plans that outline their mission, goals, and objectives, as well as performance measures to evaluate their progress, similar to those used by the United States Agency for International Development and the National Institutes of Health. The law also requires federal agencies to submit annual performance reports to Congress, which must include information on their progress towards achieving their goals and objectives, as well as any challenges or obstacles they have faced, similar to those faced by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy. This approach has been influenced by the work of Robert Kaplan and David Norton, developers of the Balanced Scorecard, and has been compared to similar initiatives in other countries, such as the United Kingdom's National Health Service.

Implementation and Impact

The implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act has had a significant impact on the federal government, with many agencies reporting improvements in their performance and accountability, similar to those reported by the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. The law has also led to the development of new performance measurement tools and techniques, such as the Program Assessment Rating Tool used by the Office of Management and Budget, and has influenced the work of other countries, such as Canada and Australia, which have developed similar laws and initiatives, such as the Canadian Government's Management, Resources and Results Structure. The law has also been linked to the work of Vice President Al Gore, who as Chairman of the National Performance Review, played a key role in its implementation, and has been compared to other federal initiatives, such as the President's Management Agenda.

Amendments and Reforms

The Government Performance and Results Act has undergone several amendments and reforms since its enactment, including the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011. The law has also been influenced by other federal laws, such as the DATA Act and the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, which have aimed to improve the transparency and accountability of federal agencies such as the Department of State and the Department of Justice. The law has also been compared to similar laws in other countries, such as the European Union's Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Information, and has been linked to the work of Senator Mark Warner, who as Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations, has played a key role in its reform. Category:United States federal legislation