[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H1282-H1293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMUNICATION FROM CHAIR OF COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND 
                             INFRASTRUCTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
communication from the chair of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, which was read and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations:

         Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                   Washington, DC, March 20, 2024.
     Hon. Mike Johnson,
     Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: On March 20, 2024, pursuant to section 
     3307 of Title 40, United States Code, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session and 
     adopted, by a vote of 53 yeas to 2 nays, two resolutions 
     included in the General Services Administration's Capital 
     Investment and Leasing Programs with a quorum present.
       The Committee continues to work to reduce the cost of 
     federal property and leases. The two resolutions considered 
     for leased space will result in $35 million in savings from 
     avoided lease costs.
       I have enclosed copies of the resolutions adopted by the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on March 20, 
     2024.
           Sincerely,

                                                   Sam Graves,

                             Chairman, Committee on Transportation
                                               and Infrastructure.

                          Committee Resolution


  LEASE--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, SEATTLE, WA

       Resolved by the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the United States House of Representatives, 
     that pursuant to 40 U.S.C. Sec. 3307, appropriations are 
     authorized for a lease of up to 139,000 rentable square feet 
     of space, including 21 official parking spaces, for the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
     located at 2725 Montlake Boulevard East in Seattle, 
     Washington, at a proposed total annual cost of $7,718,670 for 
     a lease term of up to 20 years, a prospectus for which is 
     attached to and included in this resolution.
       Approval of this prospectus constitutes authority to 
     execute an interim lease for all tenants, if necessary, prior 
     to the execution of the new lease.
       Provided that, the Administrator of General Services and 
     tenant agency(ies) agree to apply an overall utilization rate 
     of 342 square feet or less per person, except that, if the 
     Administrator determines that the overall utilization rate 
     cannot be achieved, the Administrator shall provide an 
     explanatory statement to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives prior to 
     exercising any lease authority provided in this resolution.
       Provided that, except for interim leases as described 
     above, the Administrator may not enter into any leases that 
     are below prospectus level for the purposes of meeting any of 
     the requirements, or portions thereof, included in the 
     prospectus that would result in an overall utilization rate 
     of 342 square feet or higher per person.
       Provided that, the tenant agency agrees to maintain an 
     actual occupancy rate for office space of 60% or more.
       Provided that, the Administrator of General Services 
     disposes of the existing owned building after the tenant 
     agency reports the property excess.
       Provided that, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Administrator shall include in the lease contract(s) a 
     purchase option that can be exercised at the conclusion of 
     the firm term of the lease.
       Provided further, that the General Services Administration 
     shall not delegate to any other agency the authority granted 
     by this resolution.
       Provided further, that the Administrator shall require that 
     the delineated area of the procurement is identical to the 
     delineated area included in the prospectus, except that, if 
     the Administrator determines that the delineated area of the 
     procurement should not be identical to the delineated area 
     included in the prospectus, the Administrator shall provide 
     an explanatory statement to the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives prior to 
     exercising any lease authority provided in this resolution.
       Provided further, not later than 30 calendar days after the 
     date on which a request from the Chairman or Ranking Member 
     of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
     House of Representatives is received by the Administrator of 
     General Services, the Administrator shall provide such Member 
     a response in writing that provides any information requested 
     regarding the project.
       Provided further, prior to entering into this lease or 
     approving a novation agreement involving a change of 
     ownership under this lease, the Administrator of General 
     Services shall require the offeror or the parties requesting 
     the novation, as applicable, to identify and disclose whether 
     the owner of the leased space, including an entity involved 
     in the financing thereof, is a foreign person or a foreign-
     owned entity; provided further, in such an instance, the 
     Administrator of General Services shall notify the occupant 
     agency(ies) in writing, and consult with such occupant 
     agency(ies) regarding security concerns and necessary 
     mitigation measures (if any) prior to award of the lease or 
     approval of the novation agreement.
       Provided further, the Administrator of General Services 
     shall require tenant agency(ies) to agree to reporting actual 
     utilization data on at least an annual basis during occupancy 
     and such reports are transmitted to the Committee.

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                          Committee Resolution


                     LEASE--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
                             ARLINGTON, VA

       Resolved by the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the United States House of Representatives, 
     that pursuant to 40 U.S.C. Sec. 3307, appropriations are 
     authorized for a lease of up to 354,020 rentable square feet 
     of space, including 515 official parking spaces, for the 
     Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency (DARPA) located at 675 N. Randolph Street, 
     Arlington, Virginia, at a proposed total annual cost of 
     $13,806,780 for a lease term of up to 20 years, a prospectus 
     for which is attached to and included in this resolution.
       Approval of this prospectus constitutes authority to 
     execute an interim lease for all tenants, if necessary, prior 
     to the execution of the new lease.
       Provided that, the Administrator of General Services and 
     tenant agency(ies) agree to apply an overall utilization rate 
     of 226 square feet or less per person, except that, if the 
     Administrator determines that the overall utilization rate 
     cannot be achieved, the Administrator shall provide an 
     explanatory statement to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives prior to 
     exercising any lease authority provided in this resolution.
       Provided that, except for interim leases as described 
     above, the Administrator may not enter into any leases that 
     are below prospectus level for the purposes of meeting any of 
     the requirements, or portions thereof, included in the 
     prospectus that would result in an overall utilization rate 
     of 226 square feet or higher per person.
       Provided that, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Administrator shall include in the lease contract(s) a 
     purchase option that can be exercised at the conclusion of 
     the firm term of the lease.
       Provided further, that the General Services Administration 
     shall not delegate to any other agency the authority granted 
     by this resolution.
       Provided further, that the Administrator shall require that 
     the delineated area of the procurement is identical to the 
     delineated area included in the prospectus, except that, if 
     the Administrator determines that the delineated area of the 
     procurement should not be identical to the delineated area 
     included in the prospectus, the Administrator shall provide 
     an explanatory statement to the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives prior to 
     exercising any lease authority provided in this resolution.
       Provided further, not later than 30 calendar days after the 
     date on which a request from the Chairman or Ranking Member 
     of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
     House of Representatives is received by the Administrator of 
     General Services, the Administrator shall provide such Member 
     a response in writing that provides any information requested 
     regarding the project.
       Provided further, prior to entering into this lease or 
     approving a novation agreement involving a change of 
     ownership under this lease, the Administrator of General 
     Services shall require the offeror or the parties requesting 
     the novation, as applicable, to identify and disclose whether 
     the owner of the leased space, including an entity involved 
     in the financing thereof, is a foreign person or a foreign-
     owned entity; provided further, in such an instance, the 
     Administrator of General Services shall notify the occupant 
     agency(ies) in writing, and consult with such occupant 
     agency(ies) regarding security concerns and necessary 
     mitigation measures (if any) prior to award of the lease or 
     approval of the novation agreement.
       Provided further, the Administrator of General Services 
     shall require tenant agency(ies) to agree to reporting actual 
     utilization data on at least an annual basis during occupancy 
     and such reports are transmitted to the Committee.

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