The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has proposed legislation to reform the General Services Administration‘s authority to manage federal real estate and the Federal Protective Service‘s authority to secure federal buildings.A committee summary of the bill posted Monday says the Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015 (H.R. 2322) eyes new savings from consolidated or reduced space and negotiated office space lease deals.
Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), as well as Chairman Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Andre Carson (D-Ind.) of the subcommittee for economic development, public buildings and emergency management introduced the bill, the report said.
“We should approach leasing and renovation decisions the way private businesses would – with the bottom line in mind,” said Barletta.
“If we don’t cut the red tape that ties GSA’s hands and prevents the agency from getting better lease deals currently available in this buyer’s market, we will lose this limited, tremendous opportunity to save taxpayers billions of dollars,” added Shuster.
The bill includes provisions that aim to streamline the leasing program, increase agency accountability and oversight of federal buildings and upgrade building security.
