[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7571-S7572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today in response to 
President Clinton's threat to veto the conference agreement on 
legislation to rescind $16 billion in already appropriated but, as yet, 
unspent funds under H.R. 1158.
  The President has stated that the conference agreement cuts too 
deeply into education programs in order to finance ``pork barrel'' 
construction of courthouses and highways. However, I would remind the 
President that the House and Senate rescission conference report blocks 
the planned consolidation of the Food and Drug Administration at 
Clarksburg and Prince Georges County, thereby saving the taxpayers an 
estimated $810 million. In addition to money for the FDA project, a 
total of $110.8 million was trimmed from funding for six other 
Government buildings in the D.C. metropolitan area under the GSA.
  Moreover, the President's statement on the rescissions package 
indicated that Congress would receive a list of $438 million in 
additional cuts of building projects to be added to the current 
conference report of $580 million from the GSA. Even at this late date, 
I welcomed the proposed list to provide additional savings. 
Regrettably, I was surprised to receive word from the General Services 
Administration that the Office of Management and Budget has directed 
the GSA to discontinue efforts to compile this list, especially in 
light of previous accusations of ``pork barrel'' projects being 
contained in the conference report.
  If the President is serious about this effort, the GSA must be 
allowed to proceed with this promised list for congressional review. I 
would further like to remind the President that the current House-
Senate conference report provides the American taxpayer with a sizeable 
victory through the elimination of the planned consolidation of the 
Food and Drug Administration at Clarksburg and Prince Georges County.
  Since the conception of the proposal to move the Food and Drug 
Administration to the Montgomery County site, I have continually
 questioned the need for this move, especially at a time when the 
Federal Government is closing and selling Federal properties. As the 
chairman of the Subcommiteee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I 
have contacted both General Services Administrator Roger Johnson and 
Budget Director Alice Rivlin to apprise them of my concern.

  I might also add that, to date, I have not yet received a reply from 
Budget Director Rivlin to my letter of March 28 in regard to this 
matter. It is my hope that this does not indicate a lack of 
communication between the General Services Administration and the 
Office of Management and Budget.
  In February, during a meeting with the General Services Administrator 
Roger Johnson, I questioned the need for this costly move and asked why 
the Federal Government would need to purchase privately-owned property 
for the ``consolidation'' of one Federal agency. Administrator Johnson 
responded that he shared my concern and that the ``GSA would continue 
to look for opportunities to utilize existing Federal land.''
  Following our meeting, Administrator Johnson provided me with written 
assurance that the project, and purchase of private properties, would 
not go forward until a complete review of available Federal property 
had been examined.
  I am pleased to report that such an examination was well underway 
when it was announced that the conference report included a rescission 
of $810 million for this project, providing a victory for American 
taxpayers.
  I commend my colleagues who served as conferees on this most 
important bill for their decision to eliminate this wasteful spending.
  In this austere budget environment, it is my intention to continue to 
make our capital assets work better in the area of the General Services 
Administration. As the chairman of the Environment and Public Works 
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I believe that 
Federal real property should meet certain priority 
criteria. [[Page S7572]] 
  It is my view that the Senate should support only those General 
Service Administration projects and programs which have been justified 
as necessary, cost-effective and compelling by
 utilizing a more disciplined asset management program. This approach 
should be targeted to worthwhile projects directly related to the 
General Services Administration's mission.

  To accomplish this objective, the GSA should require that Federal 
real property activities meet certain broad principles. My suggested 
criteria for priority consideration would be, in sequential order:
  First, those projects necessary to ensure the life, safety, and 
health of the tenant;
  Second, those projects which achieve a high priority ranking based on 
urgency of need and positive return on investment criteria;
  Third, those projects which fully utilize opportunities for cost 
savings;
  Fourth, those projects necessary to avoid expensive, short-term 
holdover situations due to lease expirations; and finally,
  Fifth, those projects which represent a fixed need for a permanent 
Federal agency.
  Based on these criteria, it is my hope that the GSA will adopt a 
strategic planning approach and reformat its submissions of proposals 
to the Congress accordingly. As subcommittee chairman, I will urge the 
Environment Committee to judge the top priorities of each of the 
categories under the GSA's real property programs against one another 
on a case-by-case basis. However, the process for determining the 
highest priorities within each category should be a disciplined 
process.
  In the future, I will continue my effort to convince GSA to adopt a 
more disciplined approach to provide real savings for the American 
taxpayer.


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