WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), highlighted the Committee’s vote to report the Federal Real Property Asset Management Reform Act of 2013 to the full Senate. This legislation, cosponsored by Committee Members Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), would assist federal agencies in improving the management of federal property by establishing an expedited process through which unneeded federal property can be disposed of more quickly. The legislation also establishes a framework for federal agencies to better manage existing space in a more cost-effective manner.
This legislation would require that each agency conduct an inventory of property under its control in order to help determine whether surplus property can be sold. Additionally, the legislation creates the Federal Real Property Council (FRPC), which would be charged with conducting an annual assessment of federal properties. More information on the Federal Real Property Asset Management Reform Act of 2013 can be found here.
“Today’s bipartisan vote proves that the Federal Real Property Asset Management Reform Act of 2013 is commonsense legislation that both Democrats and Republicans can get behind,” said Chairman Carper. “This legislation will help to reduce waste and inefficiency by requiring all federal agencies to not only maintain a comprehensive inventory of their properties, but to also take a hard look at which assets they actually need and which could be sold or put to better use. My thanks go to Dr. Coburn and our other colleagues their contributions and for coming together to support this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the full Senate to ensure that this important legislation is passed as quickly as possible.”
“Now that the committee has agreed we need to reform our government’s property management problems, we need to move this bill through the Senate as soon as possible,” Dr. Coburn said.