[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H5193-H5196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GOVERNMENT SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2013

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 313) to amend title 5, United States Code, to institute 
spending limits and transparency requirements for Federal conference 
and travel expenditures, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 313

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Government Spending 
     Accountability Act of 2013'' or the ``GSA Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITS AND TRANSPARENCY FOR CONFERENCE AND TRAVEL 
                   SPENDING.

       (a) Amendment.--Chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
     is amended by inserting after section 5711 the following:

     ``Sec. 5712. Limits and transparency for conference and 
       travel spending

       ``(a) Conference Transparency and Spending Limits.--
       ``(1) Public availability of conference materials.--Each 
     agency shall post on the

[[Page H5194]]

     public website of that agency detailed information on any 
     presentation made by any employee of that agency at a 
     conference (except to the extent the head of an agency 
     excludes such information for reasons of national security or 
     information described under section 552(b)) including--
       ``(A) the prepared text of any verbal presentation made; 
     and
       ``(B) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials 
     presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual 
     recordings.
       ``(2) Limits on amount expended on a conference.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided under subparagraph 
     (B), an agency may not expend more than $500,000 to support a 
     single conference.
       ``(B) Exception.--The head of an agency may waive the 
     limitation under subparagraph (A) for a specific conference 
     after making a determination that the expenditure is 
     justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a 
     compelling purpose. The head of an agency shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on any waiver 
     granted under this subparagraph, including the justification 
     for such waiver.
       ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph 
     shall be construed to preclude an agency from receiving 
     financial support or other assistance from a private entity 
     to pay or defray the costs of a conference the total cost of 
     which exceeds $500,000.
       ``(b) International Conference Rule.--An agency may not pay 
     the travel expenses for more than 50 employees of that agency 
     who are stationed in the United States, for any international 
     conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that 
     attendance for such employees is in the national interest, or 
     the head of the agency determines that attendance for such 
     employees is critical to the agency's mission. The Secretary 
     of State and the head of an agency shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on any waiver 
     granted under this subsection, including the justification 
     for such waiver.
       ``(c) Reporting on Travel and Conference Expenses 
     Required.--At the beginning of each quarter of each fiscal 
     year, each agency shall post on the public website of that 
     agency a report on each conference that costs more than 
     $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the 
     preceding 3 months that includes--
       ``(1) the itemized expenses paid by the agency, including 
     travel, lodging, and meal expenses, and any other agency 
     expenditures to otherwise support the conference;
       ``(2) the primary sponsor of the conference;
       ``(3) the location of the conference;
       ``(4) the date of the conference;
       ``(5) a brief explanation of how the participation of 
     employees from such agency at the conference advanced the 
     mission of the agency;
       ``(6) the title of any employee, or any individual who is 
     not a Federal employee, whose travel expenses or other 
     conference expenses were paid by the agency;
       ``(7) the total number of individuals whose travel expenses 
     or other conference expenses were paid by the agency; and
       ``(8) in the case of a conference for which that agency was 
     the primary sponsor, a statement that--
       ``(A) describes the cost to the agency of selecting the 
     specific conference venue;
       ``(B) describes why the location was selected, including a 
     justification for such selection;
       ``(C) demonstrates the cost efficiency of the location;
       ``(D) provides a cost benefit analysis of holding a 
     conference rather than conducting a teleconference; and
       ``(E) describes any financial support or other assistance 
     from a private entity used to pay or defray the costs of the 
     conference, and for each case where such support or 
     assistance was used, the head of the agency shall include a 
     certification that there is no conflict of interest resulting 
     from such support or assistance.
       ``(d) Format and Publication of Reports.--Each report 
     posted on the public website under subsection (c) shall--
       ``(1) be in a searchable electronic format; and
       ``(2) remain on that website for at least 5 years after the 
     date of posting.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given that 
     term under section 5701, but does not include the government 
     of the District of Columbia.
       ``(2) Conference.--The term `conference' means a meeting, 
     retreat, seminar, symposium, or event that--
       ``(A) is held for consultation, education, discussion, or 
     training; and
       ``(B) is not held entirely at a Government facility.
       ``(3) International conference.--The term `international 
     conference' means a conference occurring outside the United 
     States attended by representatives of--
       ``(A) the Government of the United States; and
       ``(B) any foreign government, international organization, 
     or foreign nongovernmental organization.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5711 
     the following:

``5712. Limits and transparency for conference and travel spending.''.

       (c) Annual Travel Expense Limits.--
       (1) In general.--In the case of each of fiscal years 2014 
     through 2018, an agency (as defined under section 5712(e) of 
     title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) may 
     not make, or obligate to make, expenditures for travel 
     expenses, in an aggregate amount greater than 70 percent of 
     the aggregate amount of such expenses for fiscal year 2010.
       (2) Exemptions.--The agency may exclude certain travel 
     expenses from the limitation under paragraph (1) only if the 
     agency head determines that inclusion of such expenses would 
     undermine national security, international diplomacy, health 
     and safety inspections, law enforcement, or site visits 
     required for oversight or investigatory purposes.
       (3) Report to congress.--In each of fiscal years 2014 
     through 2018, the head of each agency shall submit to the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing--
       (A) the justification for any expenses excluded (under 
     paragraph (2)) from the limitation under paragraph (1); and
       (B) the positive or negative impacts, if any, of the 
     limitation under paragraph (1) on the agency's mission, cost-
     effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to perform core 
     functions.
       (4) Identification of travel expenses.--
       (A) Responsibilities.--Not later than September 30, 2013, 
     and after consultation with the Administrator of General 
     Services and the Director of the Administrative Office of the 
     United States Courts, the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget shall establish guidelines for the 
     determination of what expenses constitute travel expenses for 
     purposes of this subsection. The guidelines shall identify 
     specific expenses, and classes of expenses, that are to be 
     treated as travel expenses.
       (B) Exemption for military travel.--The guidelines required 
     under subparagraph (A) shall exclude military travel expenses 
     in determining what expenses constitute travel expenses. 
     Military travel expenses shall include travel expenses 
     involving military combat, the training or deployment of 
     uniformed military personnel, and such other travel expenses 
     as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and 
     Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General 
     Services and the Director of the Administrative Office of the 
     United States Courts.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Last year, the public became aware of the now-infamous GSA Las Vegas 
conference that cost taxpayers some $820,000.
  In the wake of that public outcry, the Office of Management and 
Budget issued a May 2012 memo outlining new policies and procedures for 
Federal travel and conferences. In the memo, OMB told agency heads to 
reduce travel spending for fiscal year 2013 to 70 percent of the fiscal 
2010 levels. Senior-level review was instituted for all events, with 
senior-level approval and public reporting for events costing some 
$100,000 or more, and a general prohibition on events costing half a 
million or more, unless the agency signed a waiver.
  The Oversight Committee learned that in fiscal year 2012 alone, 
nearly 900 Federal conferences costing in excess of $100,000 were held. 
The total cost of these events exceeded $340 million.
  H.R. 313 codifies OMB's travel and conference guidelines with some 
important changes. While exempting military travel, the bill eliminates 
loopholes in the OMB guidance in order to ensure that agencies actually 
achieve a 70 percent reduction in nonmilitary-related travel.
  The bill also mandates transparency by requiring agencies to post 
online, on a quarterly basis, detailed, itemized reports of all 
conference spending. And it requires that materials presented at the 
conference by a Federal employee be made available online.
  Last year, the House approved unanimously substantially similar 
legislation that was also reported from the Oversight Committee. I 
would like to thank Mr. Farenthold for his leadership on this bill, and 
Mr. Pocan for

[[Page H5195]]

working with us at the committee markup to help make important 
improvements to this bill.
  I urge all Members to support this good government and commonsense 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 313, as amended. I support the intent of 
this legislation to reduce wasteful travel and conference spending and 
to shine light on the Federal Government expenditures in those areas.
  The recent instances of excessive spending at a 2010 Las Vegas 
conference held by the General Services Administration and two 2011 
Orlando conferences hosted by the Veterans Affairs Department gave good 
cause for the introduction of this measure. I believe that safeguards 
and heightened congressional and public scrutiny are needed to prevent 
incidents like those from happening again.
  This bill is similar to legislation that passed the House in the last 
Congress and similar to administration guidance issued to agencies. 
Legislation would require agencies to reduce travel spending by 30 
percent below fiscal year 2010 levels in each of the next 5 fiscal 
years and limit expenditures on any single conference to $500,000.
  I also thank Chairman Issa for working with us to make some changes 
to the bill to address some of our major concerns. We added language to 
the bill to allow agency heads or the Secretary of State to waive the 
50 percent limit on the number of employees who may attend 
international conferences. This change was made to address concerns 
raised by Representatives Rush Holt, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and others 
in the scientific community about the potential negative effect of the 
limit on the free and open exchange of scientific and technical 
knowledge.
  We also established $10,000 as the minimum threshold amount a 
conference would have to cost before agencies would be required to 
provide cost information in their quarterly reporting.
  Lastly, we appreciate the addition of the language in the bill 
exempting travel expenses from the required 30 percent reduction when 
the reduction would undermine national security, international 
diplomacy, health and safety inspections of law enforcement, or site 
visits required for oversight investigations.
  I believe that H.R. 313 has been greatly improved by the exchanges. I 
offer my support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
my distinguished colleague from the State of Texas (Mr. Farenthold).
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the ranking member's 
support of this bill.
  This is not an anti-travel, anti-conference bill. This is a 
commonsense transparency and good government bill. It was designed to 
stop wasteful spending.
  You hear a lot of talk here around Washington, D.C., about we've got 
to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse. Well, we are doing that here today 
with H.R. 313. What we are doing is saying if there is a government 
conference, it needs to be for government purposes and real work needs 
to be done.
  We are not asking the taxpayers to foot the bill for a vacation for 
Federal employees. We don't need clowns, we don't need mind readers, we 
don't need a Star Trek video, we don't need pictures of agency 
representatives in a bathtub with a glass of wine.
  We need Federal employees conducting Federal business and doing what 
the taxpayers are paying them to do. Many of these conferences are 
great opportunities for training, great opportunities in the scientific 
community to move forward with advancements. But what we've got to do 
is make sure taxpayers' money is not wasted, that it is spent wisely. 
We need a culture in this government where Federal employees, each and 
every one of them, know it is not their money they're spending; it's 
the hardworking American taxpayers' money that they are spending.
  That's what we are doing here today. We are putting limits on the 
amount that can be spent. In certain cases, you can go over these 
limits, but we need to have someone held accountable for these 
conferences. So when you get into the big-dollar amounts, an agency 
head, somebody who is politically accountable, has to sign off for it, 
somebody who actually is thinking all the time about what is the public 
going to think about this.
  This is a great solution we've crafted in a bipartisan manner that 
doesn't end conferences, but promotes responsible conferences.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 313.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from 
Nevada (Ms. Titus).
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the time.
  I would first respectfully correct the record because the GAO 
conference was not in Las Vegas; it was in Henderson, Nevada, which is 
in District 3.
  Like my colleagues, I believe that government agencies should spend 
every cent in the most careful and responsible way possible, and it is 
our job as Members of Congress to ensure that all government spending 
is effective and efficient.
  While there are still improvements that can be made, and I agree with 
many of the comments that have been issued on the floor already, 
Congress and the administration have already taken many steps to 
eliminate excessive travel, require transparency, and improve 
oversight.
  I rise today, however, because I believe that H.R. 313 sends the 
wrong message about business travel. I am proud to represent Las Vegas, 
one of the premier business destinations in the United States. Last 
year, we hosted some 21,000 meetings and conventions attended by almost 
5 million business travelers. These business meetings supported 60,000 
jobs with an economic impact of $6.7 billion.
  Business travel is an important aspect of the economy, with over $250 
billion in direct spending by business travelers, which supports 2.2 
million jobs nationwide. Even in this age of technology, where lots of 
business is conducted via the Internet, small businesses across Nevada 
tell me all the time that the opportunity to meet face-to-face to 
discuss new programs, cultivate business at a trade show, or learn 
about new products and designs is just irreplaceable.
  I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to cultivate 
this important aspect of our economy while also ensuring that our tax 
dollars are well spent.

                              {time}  1345

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Heck).
  Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of reining in 
excessive government spending and waste, and I thank my colleague from 
Texas for his work on this important matter.
  As the Representative who represents Henderson, Nevada, I am pleased 
Congress and the administration worked together to reduce wasteful 
government spending and to prevent flagrant abuses of taxpayer funds on 
lavish conferences and travel. These efforts will certainly increase 
oversight and transparency. However, I urge my colleagues to avoid 
those unnecessary restrictions on government travel which could 
significantly affect conference cities like Las Vegas and Henderson.
  Despite the inexcusable actions of a few, government conferences can 
benefit the public and private sectors and contribute to our economic 
health. Cancelling conferences outright solves nothing. The 
cancellation of a 2013 Military Health System Conference to train 
military medical personnel actually cost the government more than 
$800,000 in replacement expenses and lost revenue. I am concerned that 
those approving government conferences under these new standards may 
limit agency travel to specific geographic locations solely to avoid 
the perception of the misuse of taxpayer funds.
  These decisions should not be about perception but should be based on 
cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and the best interests of taxpayers. 
That's why I cosponsored H.R. 1880, the Protecting Resort Cities from 
Discrimination Act, to prohibit Federal agencies from implementing 
policies that discourage travel to perceived resort or vacation 
destinations. Cities like Las Vegas, Henderson, and Orlando are 
equipped with an abundance of affordable rooms and conference spaces, 
and independent studies

[[Page H5196]]

confirm that the per attendee cost of government conferences is nearly 
half that of similar private sector conferences, but these cities 
should not suffer from poor judgment by a handful of government 
workers.
  Again, I strongly support the efforts to eliminate the waste and 
abuse of taxpayer funds. Federal travel and conference participation 
benefits our economy when done appropriately and responsibly. So I 
support this legislation, and I ask to continue to work together to 
encourage accountability and transparency for government travel to 
ensure conference cities like Las Vegas, Henderson, and others can 
continue to provide their valuable services.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the legislation, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Florida (Mr. Ross).
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Government 
Spending Accountability Act, which will rein in out-of-control 
government spending by providing much-needed reforms and transparency 
for Federal employee travel and government-sponsored conferences.
  As someone who introduced similar legislation last year, I want to 
thank Chairman Farenthold for his continued work on this important 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, reports of lavish and out-of-control spending by various 
Federal agencies, most notably by the General Services Administration, 
have highlighted the need for serious reform for these types of 
fiscally irresponsible practices. However, other agencies have been 
responsible for carelessly wasting taxpayer funds as well.
  One example of this waste took place an hour from my home in 
Lakeland, Florida. In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs held two 
human resources training conferences in Orlando, Florida, at a cost of 
$6.1 million to the taxpayers. Last year, an inspector general report 
published within the Department of Veterans Affairs found that the 
Department conference planners allowed up to $762,000 in unauthorized 
or wasteful spending. This included gifts, spa treatments, tickets for 
helicopter rides, and golf packages.
  Mr. Speaker, the men and women in uniform are some of the best and 
proudest that America has to offer. They take an oath to uphold not 
only the Constitution of this United States but also to give the 
ultimate sacrifice of their lives. Here, the veterans administration 
agency, which is charged with making sure that their benefits are 
adequately and appropriately provided, has been indicted with wasting 
these taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, at a time when veterans are 
waiting in line for benefits they fought and sacrificed to earn, 
taxpayers should not be subsidizing lavish hotel bills and golf 
outings.
  Once again, I want to thank the chairman for introducing this 
legislation, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in passing 
this good government legislation.
  Mr. MEADOWS. I want to thank the ranking member for his support of 
this legislation, and I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 
313, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member 
for making small changes to this legislation to address concerns that I 
raised about this bill last year. However, the premise of the bill 
remains the same and for that reason, I oppose H.R. 313, the so-called 
``Government Spending Accountability Act''. H.R. 313 is fundamentally 
flawed because it would make significant changes to federal employees' 
ability to travel to conferences and meetings.
  This bill institutes prohibitions and impediments that would hinder 
American scientists' ability to collaborate and communicate with 
scientists at other institutions and laboratories.
  Although I appreciate the sponsors' efforts to ensure oversight on 
travel expenditures, I'm not sure they realize the impact that this 
legislation would have on science and technology, which is the engine 
of American innovation. The informal conversations, as well as the 
formal presentations and everything else that goes on between 
scientists from different institutions, from different countries, lead 
to new collaborations that have the promise of new discoveries. These 
are not fancy junkets.
  Scientific conferences are critically important. For example, the 
American Chemical Society and, the American Physical Society have 
stated that the development of an anticancer drug was the result of 
collaboration between a team of scientists from three laboratories that 
took place at one of these conferences. This bill would hinder that 
kind of collaboration. In a time when the federal government should be 
making science a priority, passing a bill that would make scientists 
jump through hurdles and get around impediments would, in fact, weaken 
American scientists, weaken American science, and impede the ability of 
American scientists to innovate.
  That is not wise. This is not the way to build our economy and to 
foster advancements in innovation. We should be investing more in 
research and development, which means, of course, investing in 
scientists, but also investing in their ability to pursue science.
  Would Congress do better if we did not meet in person, if we stayed 
home and got on conference calls every once in a while? I don't think 
so. I think the gains that are made in good legislation that come from 
conferences, from working together as colleagues as we gather for 
votes, or in committees, are invaluable. The same can be said for 
scientific conferences--better innovation can occur when scientists 
meet together, face-to-face.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 313, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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