Congress

Bill aims to save government billions of dollars on leased space

The legislation represents a \"limited, tremendous\" opportunity to fix the General Service Administration\'s leasing process, as half of federal buildings\' le...

Federal News Network Staff

May 18, 2015 5:08 pm

2 min read

By Dena Levitz
Federal News Radio

New legislation aims to save taxpayers billions of dollars by revamping how federal office space is managed.

The Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015 (H.R. 2322) is being introduced as half of the General Service Administration’s leased inventory is set to expire within the next five years. Annually, the GSA spends about $5 billion on office leases for federal agencies and is also responsible for securing and protecting thousands of federal buildings.

Under the legislation, the agency would be better able to facilitate consolidations, reduce space and negotiate the best possible office space lease deals, which would spur the savings. Specifically, it establishes a Streamlined Leasing Pilot Program to reduce the administrative red tape on most GSA leases and address upfront costs related to securing less expensive space. Also, the bill clarifies congressional oversight of property exchanges, ensures federal construction projects remain within budget and sets clearer timeframes on authorized projects.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Lou Barletta (R-Pa.); Subcommittee Ranking Member Andre Carson (D- Ind.); Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Penn.); and Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) are the ones who brought the bill forward.

“As a former law enforcement official, I believe it is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the millions of federal workers and daily visitors, and to keep federal buildings safe,” Carson said in a press release. “With increased oversight and additional legislative authority I believe the Federal Protective Service can thrive in its mission of protecting Federal Facilities, their occupants, and visitors by providing superior law enforcement and protective security services.”

Now, in particular, there’s a “limited, tremendous opportunity” to make this stride, according to Shuster, given the sheer number of federal leases ending in the next few years.

And DeFazio emphasized, via the release, that The Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act gives GSA more tools with which to manage federal buildings, “from reducing the federal footprint to considering the long-term costs of leasing versus construction.”

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