113 HR 5152 IH: Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency III Act of 2014
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-07-17
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency III Act of 2014
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Software license management.
Sec. 3. United States Postal Service fleet efficiency.
Sec. 4. Government computer energy optimization.
Sec. 5. Removal of benefits for Federal employee convicted of certain offenses.
Sec. 6. Codification of Office of Management and Budget criteria.
Sec. 7. Increase energy efficiency of Federal buildings.
Sec. 8. Reduce redundant health payments for seniors.
Sec. 9. Efficient Medicare billing.
2.Software license management
(a)Software license policies requiredNot later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall issue software licensing policies for agencies
to follow that include the following:
(1)An identification of clear roles, responsibilities, and central oversight authority within each
agency for managing enterprise software license agreements.
(2)A requirement that each agency establish an accurate inventory of enterprise software license
agreements by identifying and collecting information about software
license agreements using automated discovery and inventory tools.
(3)A requirement that each agency regularly track and maintain software licenses to assist the agency
in implementing decisions throughout the software license management life
cycle.
(4)A requirement that each agency analyze software usage and other data to make cost-effective
decisions.
(5)A requirement that each agency provide training relevant to software license management.
(6)A requirement that each agency establish goals and objectives to better manage enterprise software
license agreements.
(7)A requirement that each agency consider the software license management life-cycle phases
(including requisition, reception, deployment and maintenance, retirement,
and disposal phases) to implement effective decisionmaking and
incorporate existing standards, processes, and metrics.
(b)In this section, the term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
3.United States Postal Service fleet efficiency
(a)
The purposes of this section are to provide for the upgrade of the vehicle fleet of the United
States Postal Service, to improve mail delivery services to benefit
customers and the environment, to increase savings by reducing maintenance
or other costs, and to set benchmarks to maximize fuel economy and reduce
emissions for the Postal fleet with the goal of making the Postal Service
a national leader in efficiency and technology innovation.
(b)Authority To enter into energy savings performance contractsSection 804(4) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287c(4)) is amended—
(1)in subparagraph (A), by striking or
after the semicolon;
(2)in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or
; and
(3)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(C)in the case of a contract in which the United States Postal Service is a party—
(i)the purchase or lease of low emission and fuel efficient vehicles;
(ii)a measure to upgrade a vehicle owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by or assigned to
the United States Postal Service to increase average fuel economy and
reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide of such vehicle; or
(iii)the construction of infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations, to support
vehicles described in clauses (i) and (ii)..
(c)
(1)Postal fleet requirements
(A)The Postmaster General shall develop guidelines for contracted vehicles and vehicles purchased or
leased for use by the Postal Service, that, at a minimum, provide—
(i)for light-duty vehicles—
(I)that emissions of carbon dioxide comply with applicable standards developed by the Environmental
Protection Agency under title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et
seq.) and may not exceed, on average, 250 grams per mile; and
(II)to meet applicable average fuel economy standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration under chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, of 34.1
miles per gallon; and
(ii)for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, that comply with applicable standards—
(I)for emissions of carbon dioxide developed by the Environmental Protection Agency under title II of
the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.); and
(II)for average fuel economy developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under
chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code.
(B)The standards described in subparagraph (A) shall apply to contracted vehicles and vehicles
purchased or leased for use by the Postal Service after the date that is 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(C)Reduction in consumption of petroleum productsThe Postmaster General shall reduce the total consumption of petroleum products by vehicles in the
Postal fleet by a minimum of 2 percent annually through the end of fiscal
year 2025, relative to the baseline established for fiscal year 2005.
(2)Replacing vehicles within the Postal fleetThe Postmaster General shall conduct a cost-benefit analysis of vehicles in the Postal fleet to
determine if the cost to maintain any such vehicle outweighs the benefit
or savings of replacing the vehicle.
(3)To inform and prioritize purchases, the Postmaster General shall review and identify Postal
delivery routes to determine if motor vehicles used on such routes can be
replaced with technologies that increase average fuel economy or reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide.
(4)The Postmaster General shall submit a report to Congress—
(A)not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, that contains a plan to achieve
the requirements of paragraph (1) and recommendations for vehicle body
design specifications for vehicles purchased for the Postal fleet that
would increase average fuel economy and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide
of any such vehicle; and
(B)annually, that describes—
(i)the progress in meeting the annual target described in paragraph (1)(C); and
(ii)any changes to Postal delivery routes or vehicle purchase strategies made pursuant to paragraph
(3).
(5)To meet the requirements of this section, the Postmaster General may not—
(A)reduce the frequency of delivery of mail to fewer than 6 days each week;
(B)close post offices or postal distribution facilities;
(C)take any action that would restrict or diminish a collective bargaining agreement or eliminate or
reduce any employee benefits; or
(D)enter into a contract with a private company to perform duties that, as of the date of the
enactment of this Act, are performed by bargaining unit employees.
(d)In this section:
(1)The term contracted vehicle—
(A)means any motor vehicle used in carrying out a contract for surface mail delivery pursuant to
section 5005(a)(3) of title 39, United States Code; and
(B)does not include any motor vehicle used in carrying out a contract for surface mail delivery
pursuant to sections 406 and 407 of such title.
(2)The term motor vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle designed for transporting persons or property on a street or
highway.
(3)The term Postal delivery route means the transportation route for surface mail delivery.
(4)The term Postal fleet means any vehicle that is owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by or assigned to the
Postal Service.
(5)The term Postal Service means the United States Postal Service.
4.Government Computer Energy Optimization
(a)Agency requirement To shut down computersExcept as provided in subsection (b), not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the head of each agency shall make all reasonable efforts to
ensure that desktop computers are shut down for at least 4 hours out of
every 24-hour time period.
(b)The requirement in subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1)desktop computers that are used by a person for 16 or more hours per day; and
(2)computers that perform automated functions essential to the agency for 16 or more hours per day.
(c)In this section, the term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
5.Removal of benefits for Federal employee convicted of certain offenses
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual may not be paid an annuity under chapter
83 or 84 (as the case may be) of title 5, United States Code, if the
individual is convicted of an offense described under section
8332(o)(2)(B) of such title, committed after the date of enactment of this
Act, for which every act or omission of the individual that is needed to
satisfy the elements of the offense directly relates to the performance of
the individual's official duties.
(b)Any such individual shall be entitled to be paid any amounts contributed by the individual towards
the annuity during the period of service covered by subsection (a),
pursuant to, or in a similar manner as, the terms of section 8316 of such
title.
(c)
(1)Employing agency contributionsAny contributions made under section 8432 of such title by an employing agency for the benefit of
an individual convicted of an offense described in subsection (a) shall be
forfeited. Such contributions shall be returned to the general fund of the
Treasury.
(2)Any contributions made by the individual pursuant to section 8432 of such title shall be payable to
the individual, upon application of such individual.
(3)The computation of amounts required by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made on the date of the
conviction of the individual and shall consist of the value of the
contributions, including interest accrued, on such date.
(d)The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe any regulations necessary to
carry out this section.
6.Codification of Office of Management and Budget criteriaThe Secretary of Defense shall implement the following criteria in requests for overseas
contingency operations:
(1)For theater of operations for non-classified war overseas contingency operations funding, the
geographic areas in which combat or direct combat support operations occur
are: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, the
Horn of Africa, Persian Gulf and Gulf nations, the Arabian Sea, the Indian
Ocean, the Philippines, and other countries on a case-by-case basis.
(2)Permitted Inclusions in the Overseas Contingency Operation Budget:
(A)Major Equipment:
(i)Replacement of losses that have occurred but only for items not already programmed for replacement
in the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP), but not including accelerations,
which must be made in the base budget.
(ii)Replacement or repair to original capability (to upgraded capability if that is currently
available) of equipment returning from theater. The replacement may be a
similar end item if the original item is no longer in production.
Incremental cost of non-war related upgrades, if made, should be included
in the base.
(iii)Purchase of specialized, theater-specific equipment.
(iv)Funding for major equipment must be obligated within 12 months.
(B)Ground Equipment Replacement:
(i)For combat losses and returning equipment that is not economical to repair, the replacement of
equipment may be given to coalition partners, if consistent with approved
policy.
(ii)In-theater stocks above customary equipping levels on a case-by-case basis.
(C)Equipment Modifications:
(i)Operationally required modifications to equipment used in theater or in direct support of combat
operations and that is not already programmed in FYDP.
(ii)Funding for equipment modifications must be able to be obligated in 12 months.
(D)Munitions:
(i)Replenishment of munitions expended in combat operations in theater.
(ii)Training ammunition for theater-unique training events.
(iii)While forecasted expenditures are not permitted, a case-by-case assessment for munitions where
existing stocks are insufficient to sustain theater combat operations.
(E)Aircraft Replacement:
(i)Combat losses by accident that occur in the theater of operations.
(ii)Combat losses by enemy action that occur in the theater of operations.
(F)Military Construction:
(i)Facilities and infrastructure in the theater of operations in direct support of combat operations.
The level of construction should be the minimum to meet operational
requirements.
(ii)At non-enduring locations, facilities and infrastructure for temporary use.
(iii)At enduring locations, facilities and infrastructure for temporary use.
(iv)At enduring locations, construction requirements must be tied to surge operations or major changes
in operational requirements and will be considered on a case-by-case
basis.
(G)Research and development projects for combat operations in these specific theaters that can be
delivered in 12 months.
(H)Operations:
(i)Direct war costs:
(I)Transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies to, from and within the theater of operations.
(II)Deployment-specific training and preparation for units and personnel (military and civilian) to
assume their directed missions as defined in the orders for deployment
into the theater of operations.
(ii)Within the theater, the incremental costs above the funding programmed in the base budget to:
(I)Support commanders in the conduct of their directed missions (to include Emergency Response
Programs).
(II)Build and maintain temporary facilities.
(III)Provide food, fuel, supplies, contracted services and other support.
(IV)Cover the operational costs of coalition partners supporting U.S. military missions, as mutually
agreed.
(iii)Indirect war costs incurred outside the theater of operations will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis.
(I)Health:(i)Short-term care directly related to combat.
(ii)Infrastructure that is only to be used during the current conflict.
(J)Personnel:
(i)Incremental special pays and allowances for servicemembers and civilians deployed to a combat
zone.
(ii)Incremental pay, special pays and allowances for Reserve Component personnel mobilized to support
war missions.
(K)Special Operations Command:
(i)Operations that meet the criteria in this guidance.
(ii)Equipment that meets the criteria in this guidance.
(L)Prepositioned supplies and equipment for resetting in-theater stocks of supplies and equipment to
pre-war levels.(M)Security force funding to train, equip, and sustain Iraqi and Afghan military and police forces.
(N)Fuel:
(i)War fuel costs and funding to ensure that logistical support to combat operations is not degraded
due to cash losses in the Department of Defense’s baseline fuel program.
(ii)Enough of any base fuel shortfall attributable to fuel price increases to maintain sufficient
on-hand cash for the Defense Working Capital Funds to cover seven days
disbursements.
(3)Excluded items from Overseas Contingency Funding that must be funded from the base budget:
(A)Training vehicles, aircraft, ammunition, and simulators, but not training base stocks of
specialized, theater-specific equipment that is required to support combat
operations in the theater of operations, and support to
deployment-specific training described above.
(B)Acceleration of equipment service life extension programs already in the Future Years Defense Plan.
(C)Base Realignment and Closure projects.
(D)Family support initiatives:
(i)Construction of childcare facilities.
(ii)Funding for private-public partnerships to expand military families’ access to childcare.
(iii)Support for servicemembers’ spouses' professional development.
(E)Programs to maintain industrial base capacity including war-stoppers
.
(F)Personnel:
(i)Recruiting and retention bonuses to maintain end-strength.
(ii)Basic Pay and the Basic allowances for Housing and Subsistence for permanently authorized end
strength.
(iii)Individual augmentees on a case-by-case basis.
(G)Support for the personnel, operations, or the construction or maintenance of facilities at United
States Offices of Security Cooperation in theater.
(H)Costs for reconfiguring prepositioned supplies and equipment or for maintaining them.
(4)Items proposed for increases in reprogrammings or as payback for prior reprogrammings must meet the
criteria above.
7.Increase energy efficiency of Federal buildings
(a)Congress finds the following:
(1)Private sector funding and expertise can help address the energy efficiency challenges facing the
United States.
(2)The Federal Government spends more than $6 billion annually in energy costs.
(3)Reducing Federal energy costs can help save money, create jobs, and reduce waste.
(4)Energy savings performance contracts and utility energy savings contracts are tools for utilizing
private sector investment to upgrade Federal facilities without any
up-front cost to the taxpayer.
(5)Performance contracting is a way to retrofit Federal buildings using private sector investment in
the absence of appropriated dollars. Retrofits seek to reduce energy use,
improve infrastructure, protect national security, and cut facility
operations and maintenance costs.
(b)Use of energy and water efficiency measures in Federal buildings
(1)Implementation of identified energy and water efficiency measuresSection 543(f)(4) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(f)(4)) is amended
to read as follows:
(4)
Implementation of identified energy and water efficiency measures
(A)Not later than 2 years after the completion of each evaluation under paragraph (3), each energy
manager shall consider—
(i)
implementing any energy- or water-saving or conservation measure that the Federal agency identified
in the evaluation conducted under paragraph (3) that is life cycle
cost-effective; and
(ii)
bundling individual measures of varying paybacks together into combined projects.
(B)The energy manager, as part of the certification system under paragraph (7) and using guidelines
developed by the Secretary, shall provide reasons for not implementing any
life cycle cost-effective measures under subparagraph (A).
.
(2)Section 543(f)(10)(C) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(f)(10)(C)) is
amended—
(A)by striking Each Federal agency
and inserting the following:
(i)Each Federal agency; and
(B)by adding at the end the following new clauses:
(ii)Each Federal agency shall use the benchmarking systems selected or developed for the agency under
paragraph (8) to track energy savings realized by the agency through the
implementation of energy- or water-saving or conservation measures
pursuant to paragraph (4), and shall submit information regarding such
savings to the Secretary to be published on a public website of the
Department of Energy.
(iii)Each Federal agency shall consider using energy savings performance contracts or utility energy
service contracts to implement energy- or water-saving or conservation
measures pursuant to paragraph (4).
(iv)It shall be the goal of the Federal Government, in the implementation of energy- or water-saving or
conservation measures pursuant to paragraph (4), to enter into energy
savings performance contracts or utility energy service contracts equal to
$1,000,000,000 in each year during the 5-year period beginning on January
1, 2014.
(v)Not later than September 30 of each year during the 5-year period referred to in clause (iv), each
Federal agency shall submit to the Secretary information regarding
progress made by the agency towards achieving the goal described in such
clause. Not later than 60 days after each such September 30, the
Secretary, acting through the Federal Energy Management Program, shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report describing the progress made by the Federal Government
towards achieving such goal..
8.Reduce redundant health payments for seniors
(a)The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
and the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a study examining the extent
to which payments may be made under both the Medicare Advantage program
and under the veterans health care system or the TRICARE program for
health care furnished to individuals who are eligible under such Medicare
Advantage program and the veterans health care system or the TRICARE
program.
(b)The Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a). The
report shall contain recommendations that—
(1)preserve access to benefits under the Medicare program for individuals eligible for such benefits;
(2)focus on satisfaction and health outcomes of such individuals with respect to such benefits;
(3)provide for the efficient use of Federal funds;
(4)account for the adequacy of the veterans health care system and the TRICARE program; and
(5)minimize disruption to the availability of Medicare Advantage plans and networks of providers
participating in such plans.
(c)In this section:
(1)The term Medicare Advantage program means the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
(2)The term TRICARE program has the meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, United States Code.
(3)The term veterans health care system means the health care system established under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.
9.Efficient Medicare billing
(a)Option To receive Medicare Summary Notice electronically
(1)Section 1806 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–7) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
(c)Format of statements from Secretary
(1)Electronic option beginning in 2015Subject to paragraph (2), for statements described in subsection (a) that are furnished for a
period in 2015 or a subsequent year, in the case that an individual
described in subsection (a) elects, in accordance with such form, manner,
and time specified by the Secretary, to receive such statement in an
electronic format, such statement shall be furnished to such individual
for each period subsequent to such election in such a format and shall not
be mailed to the individual.
(2)One-time revocation optionAn individual who makes an election described in paragraph (1) may revoke such election once.
(3)The Secretary shall ensure that, in the most cost effective manner and beginning January 1, 2017, a
clear notification of the option to elect to receive statements described
in subsection (a) in an electronic format is made available, such as
through the notices distributed under section 1804, to individuals
described in subsection (a). For notices distributed under section 1804 on or after January 1, 2017, the Secretary shall ensure
that such notice includes a clear notification of the option to elect to
receive statements described in subsection (a) in an electronic format..
(2)Encouraged expansion of electronic statementsTo the extent to which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines appropriate, the
Secretary shall—
(A)apply an option similar to the option described in subsection (c)(1) of section 1806 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–7) (relating to the provision of the
Medicare Summary Notice in an electronic format), as added by subsection
(a), to other statements and notifications under title XVIII of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); and
(B)provide such Medicare Summary Notice and any such other statements and notifications on a more
frequent basis than is otherwise required under such title.
(b)Section 1874A(b)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk–1(b)(1)(B)) is amended by
striking 5 years
and inserting 10 years
.