[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 353 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 353
To establish a commission to study the relocation of certain agencies
outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 3, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Ricketts)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to study the relocation of certain agencies
outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Commission to Relocate the Federal
Bureaucracy Act''.
SEC. 2. AGENCY RELOCATION COMMISSION.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the
Commission established under subsection (b).
(3) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means an
agency that is not a security-related agency, as determined by
the President.
(4) Telework.--The term ``telework'' has the meaning given
the term in section 6501 of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Washington, dc metropolitan area.--The term
``Washington, DC metropolitan area'' means--
(A) the District of Columbia;
(B) Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in the
State of Maryland; and
(C) Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, and Prince William
Counties and the City of Alexandria in the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
(b) Establishment.--There is established a Commission to study the
relocation of covered agencies based in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area to other areas throughout the United States.
(c) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of--
(1) the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel
Office;
(2) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
(3) the Comptroller General of the United States;
(4) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(5) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(6) the Secretary of Commerce;
(7) the Secretary of Education;
(8) the Secretary of Energy;
(9) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(10) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(11) the Secretary of the Interior;
(12) the Secretary of Labor;
(13) the Secretary of Transportation;
(14) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(15) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; and
(16) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress
a report on the study described in subsection (b).
(2) Factors.--In developing the report required under
paragraph (1), the Commission shall recommend the transfer of
covered agencies with consideration of--
(A) financial efficiency, including whether the
cost of living of an area is below the national
average;
(B) whether an area has adequate pre-existing
infrastructure and available private land to be used
for the purpose of covered agencies;
(C) whether an area has existing industries
relating to the business of a covered agency that can
serve as public and private sector partners of the
covered agency and strengthen the ability of the
covered agency to carry out the duties of the covered
agency;
(D) whether, at any time during the 5-year period
preceding the date of enactment of this Act, not less
than 50 percent of the workforce of the covered agency
has participated in telework;
(E) whether an area maintains adequate technology
infrastructure to allow agencies to operate
efficiently; and
(F) whether an area is--
(i) a qualified opportunity zone (as
defined in section 1400Z-1(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986); or
(ii) an area that meets one or more of the
criteria described in section 301(a) of the
Public Works and Economic Development Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)).
(3) Community engagement.--In developing the report
required under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consult with
stakeholders that are local to potential relocation sites,
including State and local government officials, business
leaders from relevant industries, representatives from regional
economic development agencies, and residents.
(4) Relocation target.--In developing the report required
under paragraph (1), the Commission shall prioritize achieving
a goal of transferring not fewer than 100,000 employees of
covered agencies outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan
area.
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