§3717 National Quality Council

Summary

Creates a National Quality Council to set national goals and priorities for quality in business, education, government, and other sectors. The Council must promote and support voluntary use of those goals by companies, unions, associations, governments, charities, and others. It must work to keep the public interested in quality improvements and to encourage quality methods in corporations and agencies. The Council must also hold a White House Conference on Quality Performance in the American Workplace to bring leaders from business, labor, education, government, and other areas together to improve U.S. competitiveness. The Council will have 17 to 20 members appointed by the Secretary. Members must include representatives from manufacturing, service, national quality nonprofits, education (one for K–12 and one for post‑secondary), labor, professional societies, local and state government, the Federal Quality Institute, NIST, the Department of Defense, a civilian federal agency rotated every 2 years, and the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Most members serve 2‑year terms (initially up to half may get 1‑year terms) and may not serve more than two terms in a row. The Secretary names the first chair, then members elect a chair and vice chair each year; neither may serve more than two years in a row. The Council hires an Executive Director who hires staff and must avoid conflicts of interest. Money goes into a National Quality Performance Trust Fund in the U.S. Treasury and is spent only as Congress provides. The Council may not take more than $25,000 a year from one private donor, and gifts over $10,000 from a single source need two‑thirds Council approval. Each year the Council must send the President and Congress a detailed report on its progress, operations and finances, outside contributions, future plans, and any other recommendations.