[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 169 (Monday, November 16, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H12975-H12976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
              EXTENDING AUTHORITY FOR RELOCATION EXPENSES

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 1825) to extend the authority for relocation expenses test programs 
for Federal employees, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1825

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. RELOCATION EXPENSES TEST PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 5739 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3);
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by inserting ``or extended'' after ``approved''; and
       (B) by inserting ``or extension'' after ``of the program'';
       (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c)(1) An agency authorized to conduct a test program 
     under subsection (a) shall annually submit a report on the 
     results of the program to date to the Administrator.
       ``(2) Not later than 3 months after completion of a test 
     program, the agency conducting the program shall submit a 
     final report on the results of the program to the 
     Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``10'' and inserting 
     ``12''; and
       (5) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
       ``(e)(1) The Administrator may not approve any test program 
     for an initial period of more than 4 years.
       ``(2)(A) Upon the request of the agency administering a 
     test program, the Administrator may extend the program.
       ``(B) An extension under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 4 
     years.
       ``(C) The Administrator may exercise more than 1 extension 
     under subparagraph (A) with respect to any test program.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on 
     December 18, 2009.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I present Senate bill 1825 for consideration. This legislation 
will grant the General Services Administration the permanent authority 
to approve Federal agency requests to operate programs that test 
alternative methods of compensating employees for relocation and travel 
expenses.
  Senate 1825 was introduced on October 21, 2009, by Senator Joe 
Lieberman of Connecticut, and it was favorably reported by the Senate 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on November 4, 
2009. In addition, the legislation passed the United States Senate by 
unanimous consent on November 9, 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, the General Services Administration was granted the 
authority to approve Federal agency travel and relocation expenses test 
programs via the Travel Transportation Reform Act of 1998. Through the 
test programs facilitated by the act, Federal agencies have been able 
to test new and innovative methods of reimbursing relocation and travel 
expenses in order to enhance cost savings for the Federal Government. 
Notably, the current authority granted to the General Services 
Administration is scheduled to expire in December of 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1825 will therefore ensure that agencies will 
continue to have the flexibility to use the compensation methods with 
respect to relocation and travel costs that work best for them and that 
are in the best interests of the Federal Government. In addition, I 
would like to note that according to the Congressional Budget Office, 
the net impact of S. 1825 on the Federal budget would not be 
significant.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. 
Lieberman and S. 1825.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1825, which would make permanent 
the authority of the U.S. General Services Administration to approve 
Federal agencies' requests to operate programs to test alternative 
methods of compensating employees for relocation and travel expenses. 
This bill passed the Senate on November 9 by unanimous consent. GSA's 
current authority to authorize such a program would have otherwise 
expired in December of this year.
  By acting now we are allowing successful test programs to continue to 
operate and are giving GSA authority to approve more of them. Many of 
these relocation expense test programs have been successful in not only 
making government run more efficiently but also in achieving cost 
savings. Other provisions of this bill would expand the number of test 
programs that can run at the same time from 10 to 12 and allow them to 
operate for a maximum of 8 years. Based on information from GSA and the 
agencies involved, CBO estimates that there would be no cost to the 
Federal Government if this bill is passed.
  Unfortunately, these relocation and travel expense programs have been 
subject to major scandals over the past few years, and each and every 
agency should watch these expenses very closely; and, hopefully, these 
test programs will lead to a closer and more honest accounting of this 
type of money for the Federal Government and for our taxpayers.
  At a time when the Federal deficit is soaring, it is important that 
we continue successful programs that make the government more efficient 
and hopefully save money.
  I urge my colleagues to support S. 1825.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his kind words. Again I 
ask all the Members from both sides of the

[[Page H12976]]

aisle to join with Senator Lieberman in supporting Senate 1825.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 1825.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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