[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23368-23371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 7217) to amend title 40, United States 
Code, to enhance authorities with regard to real property that has yet 
to be reported excess, and for other purposes, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7217

       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 Real Property 
     Disposal Enhancement Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. DUTIES OF THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND 
                   EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 524 of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 524. Duties of the General Services Administration and 
       executive agencies

       ``(a) Duties of the General Services Administration.--
       ``(1) Guidance.--The Administrator shall issue guidance for 
     the development and implementation of agency real property 
     plans. Such guidance shall include recommendations on--
       ``(A) how to identify excess properties;
       ``(B) how to evaluate the costs and benefits involved with 
     disposing of real property;
       ``(C) how to prioritize disposal decisions based on agency 
     missions and anticipated future need for holdings; and
       ``(D) how best to dispose of those properties identified as 
     excess to the needs of the agency.
       ``(2) Database.--The Administrator shall establish and 
     maintain a single, comprehensive, and descriptive database of 
     all Federal real property assets under the custody and 
     control of all executive agencies, other than real property 
     assets excluded for reasons of national security. The 
     Administrator shall collect from each executive agency such 
     descriptive information, except for classified information, 
     as necessary in order to describe the nature, use, and extent 
     of the real property holdings of the Federal government. The 
     descriptive information for each piece of real property shall 
     include--
       ``(A) geographic location with address and description;
       ``(B) total size including square footage and acreage;
       ``(C) mission criticality; and
       ``(D) the level of utilization of the property, including 
     whether the real property is excess, surplus, underutilized, 
     or unutilized.
       ``(3) Usability.--(A) The database established and 
     maintained under this section shall be accessible by agencies 
     through a searchable Web site.
       ``(B) A searchable Web site means a Web site that, at a 
     minimum, allows agencies--
       ``(i) to search and aggregate Federal real property by 
     constructed asset, facility/installation, agency, location, 
     and level of utilization; and
       ``(ii) to download data from any such search.
       ``(C) To the extent consistent with national security, the 
     database shall be accessible by the public at no cost through 
     the Web site of the General Services Administration. The 
     Administrator may withhold from public disclosure information 
     included in the database if the Administrator determines that 
     withholding such information would be in the best interest of 
     the Government or the public. At a minimum, the Administrator 
     shall make aggregate information contained in the database 
     available to the public.
       ``(D) Nothing in this paragraph requires an agency to make 
     available to the public information that is exempt from 
     disclosure pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States 
     Code (popularly known as the Freedom of Information Act).
       ``(4) Annual report.--(A) The Administrator shall submit an 
     annual report, for each of the first 5 years after 2008, to 
     the congressional committees listed in subparagraph (C) based 
     on data submitted from all executive agencies, detailing 
     executive agency efforts to reduce their real property assets 
     and the additional information described in subparagraph (B).
       ``(B) The report shall contain the following information 
     for the year covered by the report:
       ``(i) The aggregated estimated market value and number of 
     real property assets under the custody and control of all 
     executive agencies, set forth government-wide and by agency, 
     and for each at the constructed asset level and at the 
     facility/installation level.
       ``(ii) The aggregated estimated market value and number of 
     surplus real property assets under the custody and control of 
     all executive agencies, set forth government-wide and by 
     agency, and for each at the constructed asset level and at 
     the facility/installation level.
       ``(iii)(I) The aggregated cost for maintaining all surplus 
     real property under the custody and control of all executive 
     agencies, set forth government-wide and by agency, and for 
     each at the constructed asset level and at the facility/
     installation level.
       ``(II) For purposes of subclause (I), costs for real 
     properties owned by the Federal government shall include 
     recurring maintenance and repair costs, utilities, cleaning 
     and janitorial costs, and roads and grounds expenses.
       ``(III) For purposes of subclause (I), costs for real 
     properties leased by the Federal government shall include 
     lease costs, including base and operating rent and any other 
     relevant costs listed in subclause (II) not covered in the 
     lease contract.
       ``(iv) The aggregated estimated deferred maintenance costs 
     of all real property under the custody and control of all 
     executive agencies, set forth government-wide and by agency, 
     and for each at the constructed asset level and at the 
     facility/installation level.
       ``(v) For each surplus real property facility/installation 
     disposed of, an indication of--
       ``(I) its geographic location with address and description;
       ``(II) its size, including square footage and acreage;
       ``(III) the date and method of disposal; and
       ``(IV) its estimated market value.
       ``(vi) Such other information as the Administrator 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(C) The congressional committees listed in this 
     subparagraph are as follows:
       ``(i) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and 
     the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
     House of Representatives.
       ``(ii) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
     the Senate.
       ``(5) Assistance.--The Administrator shall assist executive 
     agencies in the identification and disposal of excess real 
     property.

[[Page 23369]]

       ``(b) Duties of Executive Agencies.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each executive agency shall--
       ``(A) maintain adequate inventory controls and 
     accountability systems for property under its control;
       ``(B) continuously survey property under its control to 
     identify excess property;
       ``(C) promptly report excess property to the Administrator;
       ``(D) perform the care and handling of excess property; and
       ``(E) transfer or dispose of excess property as promptly as 
     possible in accordance with authority delegated and 
     regulations prescribed by the Administrator.
       ``(2) Specific requirements with respect to real 
     property.--With respect to real property, each executive 
     agency shall--
       ``(A) develop and implement a real property plan in order 
     to identify properties to declare as excess using the 
     guidance issued under subsection (a)(1);
       ``(B) identify and categorize all real property owned, 
     leased, or otherwise managed by the agency;
       ``(C) establish adequate goals and incentives that lead the 
     agency to reduce excess real property in its inventory;
       ``(D) when appropriate, use the authorities in section 
     572(a)(2)(B) of this title in order to identify and prepare 
     real property to be reported as excess.
       ``(3) Additional requirements.--Each executive agency, as 
     far as practicable, shall--
       ``(A) reassign property to another activity within the 
     agency when the property is no longer required for the 
     purposes of the appropriation used to make the purchase;
       ``(B) transfer excess property under its control to other 
     Federal agencies and to organizations specified in section 
     321(c)(2) of this title; and
       ``(C) obtain excess properties from other Federal agencies 
     to meet mission needs before acquiring non-Federal 
     property.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The item relating to section 524 
     in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of 
     such title is amended to read as follows:

``524. Duties of the General Services Administration and executive 
              agencies.''.

     SEC. 3. ENHANCED AUTHORITIES WITH REGARD TO PREPARING 
                   PROPERTIES TO BE REPORTED AS EXCESS.

       Section 572(a)(2) of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(B) Additional authority.--(i) From the fund described in 
     paragraph (1), subject to clause (iv), the Administrator may 
     obligate an amount to pay the direct and indirect costs 
     related to identifying and preparing properties to be 
     reported excess by another agency.
       ``(ii) The General Services Administration shall be 
     reimbursed from the proceeds of the sale of such properties 
     for such costs.
       ``(iii) Net proceeds shall be dispersed pursuant to section 
     571 of this title.
       ``(iv) The authority under clause (i) to obligate funds to 
     prepare properties to be reported excess does not include the 
     authority to convey such properties by use, sale, lease, 
     exchange, or otherwise, including through leaseback 
     arrangements or service agreements.
       ``(v) Nothing in this subparagraph is intended to affect 
     subparagraph (D).''.

     SEC. 4. ENHANCED AUTHORITIES WITH REGARD TO REVERTED REAL 
                   PROPERTY.

       (a) Authority to Pay Expenses Related to Reverted Real 
     Property.--Section 572(a)(2)(A) of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) The direct and indirect costs associated with the 
     reversion, custody, and disposal of reverted real 
     property.''.
       (b) Requirements Related to Sales of Reverted Property 
     Under Section 550.--Section 550(b)(1) of title 40, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(1) In general.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``If the official, 
     in consultation with the Administrator, recommends reversion 
     of the property, the Administrator shall take control of such 
     property, and, subject to subparagraph (B), sell it at or 
     above appraised fair market value for cash and not by lease, 
     exchange, leaseback arrangements, or service agreements.
       ``(B) Prior to sale, the Administrator shall make such 
     property available to State and local governments and certain 
     non-profit institutions or organizations pursuant to this 
     section and sections 553 and 554 of this title.''.
       (c) Requirements Related to Sales of Reverted Property 
     Under Section 553.--Section 553(e) of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``This Section.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``If the 
     Administrator determines that reversion of the property is 
     necessary to enforce compliance with the terms of the 
     conveyance, the Administrator shall take control of such 
     property and, subject to paragraph (2), sell it at or above 
     appraised fair market value for cash and not by lease, 
     exchange, leaseback arrangements, or service agreements.
       ``(2) Prior to sale, the Administrator shall make such 
     property available to State and local governments and certain 
     non-profit institutions or organizations pursuant to this 
     section and sections 550 and 554 of this title.''.
       (d) Requirements Related to Sales of Reverted Property 
     Under Section 554.--Section 554(f) of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``This Section.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``If the Secretary, 
     in consultation with the Administrator, recommends reversion 
     of the property, the Administrator shall take control of such 
     property and, subject to paragraph (2), sell it at or above 
     appraised fair market value for cash and not by lease, 
     exchange, leaseback arrangements, or service agreements.
       ``(b) Prior to sale, the Administrator shall make such 
     property available to State and local governments and certain 
     non-profit institutions or organizations pursuant to this 
     section and sections 550 and 553 of this title.''.

     SEC. 5. AGENCY RETENTION OF PROCEEDS.

       The text of section 571 of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Proceeds From Transfer or Sale of Real Property.--Net 
     proceeds described in subsection (d) shall be deposited into 
     the appropriate real property account of the agency that had 
     custody and accountability for the real property at the time 
     the real property is determined to be excess. Such funds 
     shall be expended only as authorized in annual appropriations 
     Acts and only for activities as described in section 524(b) 
     of this title and disposal activities, including paying costs 
     incurred by the General Services Administration for any 
     disposal-related activity authorized by this title. Proceeds 
     may also be expended by the agency for maintenance and 
     repairs of the agency's real property necessary for its 
     disposal or for the repair or alteration of the agency's 
     other real property, provided that proceeds shall not be 
     authorized for expenditure in an appropriations Act for any 
     repair or alteration project that is subject to the 
     requirements of section 3307 of this title without a 
     prospectus submitted by the General Services Administration 
     and approved by the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
       ``(b) Effect on Other Sections.--Nothing in this section is 
     intended to affect section 572(b), 573, or 574 of this title.
       ``(c) Disposal Agency for Reverted Property.--For the 
     purposes of this section, for any real property that reverts 
     to the United States under sections 550, 553, and 554 of this 
     title, the General Services Administration, as the disposal 
     agency, shall be treated as the agency with custody and 
     accountability for the real property at the time the real 
     property is determined to be excess.
       ``(d) Net Proceeds.--The net proceeds referred to in 
     subsection (a) are proceeds under this chapter, less expenses 
     of the transfer or disposition as provided in section 572(a) 
     of this title, from a--
       ``(1) transfer of excess real property to a Federal agency 
     for agency use; or
       ``(2) sale, lease, or other disposition of surplus real 
     property.
       ``(e) Proceeds From Transfer or Sale of Personal 
     Property.--(1) Except as otherwise provided in this 
     subchapter, proceeds described in paragraph (2) shall be 
     deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
       ``(2) The proceeds described in this paragraph are proceeds 
     under this chapter from--
       ``(A) a transfer of excess personal property to a Federal 
     agency for agency use; or
       ``(B) a sale, lease, or other disposition of surplus 
     personal property.
       ``(3) Subject to regulations under this subtitle, the 
     expenses of the sale of personal property may be paid from 
     the proceeds of sale so that only the net proceeds are 
     deposited in the Treasury. This paragraph applies whether 
     proceeds are deposited as miscellaneous receipts or to the 
     credit of an appropriation as authorized by law.''.

     SEC. 6. DEMONSTRATION AUTHORITY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 40, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 530. Demonstration program of inapplicability of 
       certain requirements of law

       ``(a) Authority.--Effective for fiscal years 2009 and 2010, 
     the requirements of section 501(a) of the McKinney Vento 
     Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11411(a)) shall not apply 
     to eligible properties.
       ``(b) Eligible Properties.--A property is eligible for 
     purposes of subsection (a) if it meets both of the following 
     requirements:
       ``(1) The property is selected for demolition by an agency 
     and is a Federal building or other Federal real property 
     located on land not determined to be excess, for which there 
     is an ongoing Federal need, and not to be used in any lease, 
     exchange, leaseback arrangement, or service agreement.
       ``(2) The property is--
       ``(A) located in an area to which the general public is 
     denied access in the interest of

[[Page 23370]]

     national security and where alternative access cannot be 
     provided for the public without compromising national 
     security; or
       ``(B) the property is--
       ``(i) uninhabitable;
       ``(ii) not a housing unit; and
       ``(iii) selected for demolition by an agency because 
     either--

       ``(I) the demolition is necessary to further an identified 
     Federal need for which funds have been authorized and 
     appropriated; or
       ``(II) the property poses risk to human health and safety 
     or has become an attractive nuisance.

       ``(c) Limitations.--
       ``(1) No property of the Department of Veterans Affairs may 
     be considered an eligible property for purposes of subsection 
     (a).
       ``(2) With respect to an eligible property described in 
     subsection (b), the land underlying the property remains 
     subject to all public benefit requirements and notifications 
     for disposal.
       ``(d) Notification to Congress.--(1) A list of each 
     eligible property described in subsection (b) that is 
     demolished or scheduled for demolition, by date of demolition 
     or projected demolition date, shall be sent to the 
     congressional committees listed in paragraph (2) and 
     published on the Web site of the General Services 
     Administration biannually beginning 6 months after the date 
     of the enactment of this section.
       ``(2) The congressional committees listed in this paragraph 
     are as follows:
       ``(A) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and 
     the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
     House of Representatives.
       ``(B) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
     the Senate.
       ``(e) Relationship to Other Provisions of Law.--Nothing in 
     this section may be construed as interfering with the 
     requirement for the submission of a prospectus to Congress as 
     established by section 3307 of this title or for all 
     demolitions to be carried out pursuant to section 527 of this 
     title.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 529 
     the following new item:

``530. Demonstration program of inapplicability of certain requirements 
              of law.''.

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, for several Congresses, proposals have 
been introduced to address real property management issues within the 
Federal Government, but have failed to become law. Today, however, I am 
pleased to be part of the bipartisan effort that we are discussing, the 
Federal Real Property Disposal Act, and am hopeful that this bill will 
be able to clean up the federal real property inventory.
  I would like to thank Representative Moore, Chairman Waxman and 
Senators Carper and Coburn for their work on this important issue. With 
all the talk of spending, this bill has the opportunity to bring about 
great savings for the American taxpayer.
  The Government Accountability Office has listed federal real property 
as one of its high risk issues since 2003 due to incomplete data and 
the numbers of excess properties and aging facilities.
  In 2004, President Bush issued an Executive Order to improve the 
management of federal real property. Since then $7 billion worth of 
unneeded assets and properties have been removed from the government 
inventory.
  The Federal Government has a goal of disposing of $9 billion in 
unneeded real property by the end of fiscal year 2009. Jim Nussle, the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent me a letter last 
year endorsing a bill I introduced in the House and that Senators Tom 
Carper and Tom Coburn introduced in the Senate.
  Director Nussle wrote: ``To reach this objective, I believe we must 
improve and streamline the current process that Federal agencies face 
in disposing of real property assets.''
  Some people never want the government to sell any property, and 
government at all levels continues to acquire more and more every year. 
But if we keep shrinking the tax base, schools and other agencies will 
have a much harder time in the future getting increases in their 
funding.
  In June of 2007, the Office of Management and Budget reported that 
the Federal Government owned over 21,000 excess properties and assets 
with a total replacement value of nearly $18 billion. That is more than 
the gross domestic product of over half the countries in the world.
  The bill that we are taking up today builds on a proposal that 
overwhelmingly passed the House earlier this year.
  Under the Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act, an agency 
would be able to retain a portion of the proceeds from a sale of a 
property deemed excess. This will provide agencies an incentive to get 
rid of unneeded properties and allow them to use the proceeds to 
maintain current property or prepare excess property for disposal.
  The reporting requirements in H.R. 7217 will provide what I believe 
will be very useful and valuable information, not only on the numbers 
and values of Federal properties, but on the costs of maintaining 
properties, like utilities, repairs, and janitorial services.
  Agencies spend well over $100 million dollars a year on the 
maintenance and upkeep of properties that are not even being used. H.R. 
7217 will help agencies reduce these unnecessary costs.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I believe that H.R. 7217 gives additional 
resources to those agencies that might not otherwise be able to prepare 
and dispose of properties the ability to reap the benefits and apply 
them toward mission-critical properties. It also saves hard-earned 
taxpayer dollars that could definitely be used more appropriately.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 7217, the 
Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act. H.R. 7217 is the 
byproduct of bipartisan bicameral collaboration and I want to 
congratulate Representatives Moore and Duncan for their commitment to 
federal real property reform. I also want to acknowledge Senators 
Carper and Coburn for their dedication also. I must also recognize the 
hard work and efforts of Ranking Member Davis.
  What we have before us is a sensible bill which will help move 
surplus real property out of the federal inventory. The bill allows the 
General Services Administration (GSA) to help pay the costs of other 
agencies' disposal activities. In particular, GSA will be able to help 
agencies pay costs with regard to properties that have yet to be 
declared excess. These costs include environmental cleanup, demolition, 
surveying, and life cycle costing.
  In addition, this bill modifies existing law to make clear that when 
a property has been transferred to a nonprofit organization or a state 
or local government for a public purpose, and that public purpose is no 
longer being met, the property must revert to the Federal Government, 
which must dispose of it.
  The bill also allows all agencies to retain the proceeds from the 
sale of federal surplus properties. These proceeds will be used for 
disposal activities and also may be used for maintenance and repairs.
  Moreover, the bill includes a pilot program, under which agencies 
can, for certain properties scheduled for demolition, avoid the 
quarterly suitability canvas performed by Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD), allowing agencies to try and dispose of such properties on an 
accelerated timeframe.
  Furthermore, this bill ensures strong data collection and reporting 
so the Federal Government can keep track of the real property in its 
inventory. Madam Speaker, passage of this bill, a work in progress for 
over six years, will make federal real property reform a reality. I 
urge passage.
  Attached is an exchange of letters regarding jurisdiction.
         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                               Washington, DC, September 29, 2008.
     Hon. Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House 
         of Representatives, 2157 Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC
       Dear Chairman Waxman: I write to you regarding H.R. 7217, a 
     bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to enhance 
     authorities with regard to real property that has yet to be 
     reported excess, and for other purposes. This bill is the 
     product of negotiations between the House and Senate on 
     provisions contained in H.R. 5787, the ``Federal Real 
     Property Disposal Enhancement Act of 2008'', and S. 1667, a 
     bill to establish a pilot program for the expedited disposal 
     of Federal real property.
       H.R. 7217 contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to 
     bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious 
     manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential 
     referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration 
     of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision 
     to forego a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, 
     reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure over this legislation.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of the measure on the House 
     Floor.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                          James L. Oberstar, M.C.,
                                                         Chairman.

[[Page 23371]]

     
                                  ____
         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 29, 2008.
     Hon. James Oberstar,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, 2165 Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oberstar: I write to you regarding H.R. 7217, 
     a bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to enhance 
     authorities with regard to real property that has yet to be 
     reported excess, and for other purposes. This bill is the 
     product of negotiations between the House and Senate on 
     provisions contained in H.R. 5787, the ``Federal Real 
     Property Disposal Enhancement Act of 2008'', and S. 1677, a 
     bill to establish a pilot program for the expedited disposal 
     of Federal real property.
       I agree that provisions in H.R. 7217 are of jurisdictional 
     interest to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure. I appreciate your willingness to waive rights 
     to further consideration of H.R. 7217, and I acknowledge that 
     through this waiver, your Committee is not relinquishing its 
     jurisdiction over the relevant provisions of H.R. 7217.
       This exchange of letters will be placed in the 
     Congressional Record as part of the consideration of H.R. 
     7217 in the House.
       I thank you for working with me to pass this important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, today we take up the Federal 
Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act of 2008. This bill is a common 
sense reform that I have long supported.
  The federal government is the largest landholder in the country. As 
such, it is essential for the federal government to manage its 
properties as efficiently and effectively as possible.
  More importantly, property which is no longer of use to the federal 
government should be removed from the inventory.
  Unfortunately, over the years, federal property disposal processes 
have become increasingly cumbersome and unwieldy, and agencies often 
decide it's easier to sit on a property than try to get rid of it.
  In fact, OMB estimates a backlog of more than 21,000 in properties in 
need of maintenance and repair, carrying a price tag of more than $18 
billion.
  When I chaired the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I spent 
a considerable amount of time working to reform the federal real 
property disposal system.
  This bill does not go as far as I would like us to go in reforming 
our federal property laws.
  But the databases and reporting requirements included in this 
legislation will at least allow us to know the extent of the problem.
  Good government doesn't just mandate that we don't spend what we 
don't need to spend . . . it also mandates that we don't keep what we 
don't need to keep.
  It's time the government does a better job at meeting that goal so 
I'll be supporting this legislation and I encourage my colleague to do 
the same.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________