[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10526-H10527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FEDERAL PERSONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2018

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3031) to amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, to 
improve the management of Federal personal property.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3031

       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 ``Federal Personal Property 
     Management Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. FEDERAL PERSONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.

       (a) Inventory Assessing and Identifying Excess Personal 
     Property.--Section 524(a) of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the end;

[[Page H10527]]

       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) in accordance with guidance from the Administrator 
     of General Services--
       ``(A) on an annual basis, conduct an inventory and 
     assessment of capitalized personal property to identify 
     excess capitalized personal property under its control, 
     including evaluating--
       ``(i) the age and condition of the personal property;
       ``(ii) the extent to which the executive agency utilizes 
     the personal property;
       ``(iii) the extent to which the mission of the executive 
     agency is dependent on the personal property; and
       ``(iv) any other aspect of the personal property that the 
     Administrator determines is useful or necessary for the 
     executive agency to evaluate; and
       ``(B) on a regular basis, conduct an inventory and 
     assessment of accountable personal property under its 
     control, including evaluating--
       ``(i) the age and condition of the personal property;
       ``(ii) the extent to which the executive agency utilizes 
     the personal property;
       ``(iii) the extent to which the mission of the executive 
     agency is dependent on the personal property; and
       ``(iv) any other aspect of the personal property that the 
     Administrator determines is useful or necessary for the 
     executive agency to evaluate.''.
       (b) Thresholds for Capitalization and Accountability.--
     Section 506(a)(1) of title 40, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) Capitalization thresholds.--Establish thresholds for 
     acquisitions of personal property for which executive 
     agencies shall capitalize the personal property.
       ``(F) Accountability thresholds.--Notwithstanding section 
     121(b), for the management and accountability of personal 
     property, establish thresholds for acquisitions of personal 
     property for which executive agencies shall establish and 
     maintain property records in a centralized system.''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Raskin) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALKER. 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 material 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. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Personal Property Management Act of 2018 
would improve inventories and accounting of Federal Government property 
bought with taxpayer dollars. This bill has bipartisan support. I urge 
all Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am rising in support of the Federal Personal Property 
Management Act, which would improve the accountability of unneeded 
equipment, furniture, and information technology resources at Federal 
agencies.
  It may be an appropriate time for us to take up this bill, given all 
the furniture strewn throughout the floors of the House of 
Representatives.
  The GAO recently found that most agencies do not have procedures in 
place to identify unneeded personal property on a regular basis. The 
GSA has issued regulations establishing a governmentwide excess 
property disposal process, but it lacks the authority to tell agencies 
how or when to identify excess property. As a result, agencies retain 
unneeded property that could be used elsewhere in the Federal 
Government, at State or local governments, or in the private sector.

                              {time}  0930

  The report also found there is a wide variation in how Federal 
agencies classify according to value, which makes it difficult to 
measure the total value of the government's personal property holdings.
  The Federal Personal Property Management Act would direct Federal 
agencies to assess and inventory more valuable property assets once a 
year and assets of lower value on a regular basis, according to 
guidance issued by GSA.
  Requiring agencies to regularly inventory their excess property 
should spur agencies to declare excess property more often, allowing 
for its disposal.
  The bill also would give the GSA authority to establish a uniform 
standard for how agencies assess their most valuable property, allowing 
for a better understanding and use of its value.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 3031.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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