[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H279-H280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MODERNIZING GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ACT
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 274) to provide for reimbursement for the use of modern
travel services by Federal employees traveling on official Government
business, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 274
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 ``Modernizing Government
Travel Act''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE REIMBURSEMENT FOR USE OF MODERN
TRAVEL SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services
shall prescribe regulations under section 5707 of title 5,
United States Code, to provide for the reimbursement for the
use of a transportation network company or innovative
mobility technology company by any Federal employee traveling
on official business under subchapter I of chapter 57 of such
title, except that the Director of the Administrative Office
of the United States Courts shall prescribe such regulations
with respect to employees of the judicial branch of the
Government.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Innovative mobility technology company.--The term
``innovative mobility technology company'' means an
organization, including a corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, sole proprietorship, or any other
entity, that applies technology to expand and enhance
available transportation choices, better manage demand for
transportation services, and provide alternatives to driving
alone.
(2) Transportation network company.--The term
``transportation network company''--
(A) means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship,
or other entity, that uses a digital network to connect
riders to drivers affiliated with the entity in order for the
driver to transport the rider using a vehicle owned, leased,
or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point
chosen by the rider; and
(B) does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool
arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the
driver.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
Section 5707(c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended
to read as follows:
``(c)(1) Not later than November 30 of each year, the head
of each agency shall submit to the Administrator of the
General Services, in a format prescribed by the Administrator
and approved by the Director the Office of Management and
Budget--
``(A) data on total agency payments for such items as
travel and transportation of people, average costs and
durations of trips, and purposes of official travel;
``(B) data on estimated total agency payments for employee
relocation; and
``(C) an analysis of the total costs of transportation
service by type, and the total number of trips utilizing each
transportation type for purposes of official travel.
``(2) The Administrator of the General Services shall make
the data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) publically
available upon receipt.
``(3) Not later than January 31 of each year, the
Administrator of the General Services shall submit to the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 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) an analysis of the data submitted pursuant to
paragraph (1) for the agencies listed in section 901(b) of
title 31 and a survey of such data for each other agency; and
``(B) a description of any new regulations promulgated or
changes to existing regulations authorized under this
section.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous remarks on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 274, the Modernizing Government Travel Act, is a
bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.
Mr. Will Hurd of Texas and Congressman Mark Meadows of North Carolina
have all come together on this bill. It is a good bill.
This bill came up in the 114th Congress. The same bill passed through
the committee by regular order, and then in a close vote--much like the
Clemson-Alabama game last night--when we voted on this bill last
session was 415-0. I think there was a pretty good sense from the past
Congress that is a good bill, and it should pass.
Federal employees' current transportation options on official travel
are limited. While some agencies allow employees to be reimbursed for
the use of sharing economy services, such as Lyft or Uber, not all of
them do. As a result, the whole Federal Government does not benefit
from the cost savings that can occur while being associated with these
services.
The Modernizing Government Travel Act allows the Federal Government
to reap the benefits of the sharing economy. The bill ensures that new
transportation services as they emerge, Federal employees can quickly
take advantage of the efficiencies of the new technologies that may be
offered.
By opening up a new market for transportation services, H.R. 274 will
also help spur innovation and competition, creating greater cost
savings. We have some 2 million Federal employees. So this is an
important part and it shouldn't be glanced over. There could be
considerable savings along the way.
We must ensure that there is accountability for travel expenditures.
Our committee, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and
other watchdog groups outside of government are looking at these
expenses. We have a duty and obligation to ensure that we are dealing
with Federal taxpayer dollars responsibly. This bill mandates that
agencies report their travel costs for each type of travel service to
the General Services Administration, the GSA. The GSA must publish that
data, helping make the Federal Government more transparent and
accountable. The GSA will also report to Congress on agency official
travel costs in order to make sure that they inform future
transportation policy decisions. I urge passage of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I was trying to think of a BYU football analogy to go with the
Clemson-Alabama analogy, but I haven't been able to come up with one
yet. I will work on it.
I rise in support of H.R. 274, the Modernizing Government Travel Act,
as amended. I appreciate the good work of Representatives Moulton,
Hurd, Meadows, Bustos, and Swalwell on this bipartisan measure.
H.R. 274 would expand the transportation options for Federal
employees on official government travel by allowing them to be
reimbursed for the use of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft.
This bill would also allow for the use of future mobility technologies
not yet known or available to be covered as by reimbursable travel
expenses. The General Services Administration would be directed to
issue implementing regulations. The bill would require Federal agencies
to submit to GSA detailed information on their travel costs, including
breakdowns of costs by transportation type by November 30 of each year.
GSA would be required to submit annual reports to Congress containing
an analysis or survey of agencies' travel costs as well as descriptions
of new or revised regulations.
[[Page H280]]
H.R. 274 is a commonsense, good government bill, and I urge my
colleagues to join me in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), the cosponsor of this bill and someone
who has been very involved in this subject.
Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, it is way past time that our government
reconsiders the way that it views technology. Adherence to decades-old
policy regarding technology costs our taxpayers billions of dollars,
stifles creativity, and needlessly prevents our government from
utilizing private sector technologies.
This bill, the Modernizing Government Travel Act, is simple. It will
allow Federal employees to utilize the services of innovative companies
while on official travel. Last Congress, as the chairman alluded to,
this bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, 415-0.
Private sector companies have had a tremendous impact on the way that
people travel, and we should allow our government to recognize these
changes. By widening the scope of reimbursable forms of transportation,
we are encouraging the adoption of innovative technologies and
promoting competition.
The bill also requires agencies to report what type of transportation
their employees are taking while on official travel, and this data will
be publicly available, thus increasing transparency and accountability
in how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
{time} 1645
H.R. 274, as amended, is a sensible piece of legislation that can
help modernize our government and ensure that the United States is
moving seamlessly into the 21st century.
I want to thank my colleague, Representative Moulton, for his
leadership on this important issue, as well as Representatives Meadows,
Bustos, and Swalwell for their support for this bill. I ask my
colleagues to join me in the support of H.R. 274.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
my colleague from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton).
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from
California for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 274, the
Modernizing Government Travel Act. This legislation is a bipartisan
effort that demonstrates a consensus amongst all of us that the Federal
Government has failed to keep pace with the technological advances and
innovation that have come to define the 21st century.
Despite the emergence of new technologies designed to improve the way
we travel, today, some Federal employees are unable to be reimbursed
for using more cost-effective, innovative modes of transportation when
traveling on official business.
Innovative ridesharing services supported by mobile apps have
dramatically changed how we get from one place to another. Now, with
just a few taps on a phone, we can access a variety of new
transportation options like rideshare, carshare, and bikeshare that
complement rapid transit, take more cars off our congested roads, and
reduce fuel emissions. According to a recent study, 52 percent of
people using transit for work-related travel chose to use ride-hailing
services and other innovative technologies.
While the General Services Administration allows agencies to
authorize the use of these transportation options by Federal employees,
it has not nor is it required by law to issue comprehensive guidance
across the Federal Government.
H.R. 274 would require the General Services Administration to
implement regulations to allow Federal employees to use transportation
options like rideshare and bikeshare for official travel. The GSA
Administrator would be required to submit annual reports to Congress on
the implementation of these regulations and the resulting amount of
government savings.
I want to thank my friend and colleague, Representative Hurd, for
working with me on this legislation, as well as Representatives
Swalwell, Issa, Meadows, and Bustos for their support. This is truly a
bipartisan effort that will increase the Federal Government's
engagement in the sharing economy while saving taxpayer dollars.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Moulton, first and
foremost, for his service to our country, serving in the armed
services. We really do appreciate that. I can't thank him enough for
that service. But I also appreciate him bringing forward this bill and
his working with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).
I appreciate what Mr. DeSaulnier and our ranking member on our
committee, Mr. Cummings, have done, too, to help move this bill
forward.
So there was good, broad, bipartisan support, strong support in the
114th Congress, passing unanimously, with 415 votes. I think it is
worthy to bring this up early in the Congress and get on with the idea
of saving money and taking advantage of technology, as Mr. Hurd said
and as Mr. Moulton talked about as well, save some money and tap into
the technology that is available to save money for the government and,
ultimately, for the taxpayers. It is their money indeed. So I would
urge its passage.
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 Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 274, 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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