Presidential transition preparations measure passes House

The next president won’t be inaugurated for almost another year, but Congress is already starting the groundwork to prepare for the transition. 

The House quietly passed legislation by voice vote on Monday to require an Obama administration-led interagency council to be established by May for managing the presidential change.

{mosads}The legislation builds upon the 1963 Presidential Transition Act that authorizes funding to provide office space and staff for the White House transition process. 

Among other provisions, the legislation requires the Office of Personnel Management to report on the number of political appointees who enter the civil service. 

It also directs the General Services Administration to appoint a Federal Transition Coordinator to manage planning across agencies and serve as a liaison to the presidential candidates. 

The measure previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent last year. But since the bill was amended in the House, it must go back to the Senate before it can be sent to President Obama’s desk.