Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) is celebrating the House of Representatives' passage of two bills that tackle issues related to federal facilities.
The first, H.R. 6480, is a bipartisan bill requiring the Administrator of General Services to annually report to Congress on all building and square-footage leases, including signatures, terminations, occupancy, dispositions, and all plans to relocate federal agencies.
The bill, cosponsored by Representative Scott Perry (R-PA), tackles the fact that the General Services Administration (GSA) has not published a comprehensive State of the Portfolio since 2013, which left Congress in the dark about sudden lease terminations, building emptying, and displacement under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last year.
"Following last year's abrupt federal lease terminations by DOGE, it's clear that Congress needs greater transparency into how federal property is managed to ensure taxpayer money is used responsibly, and Americans aren't losing access to critical services," said Rep. Stanton in his press release.
The Federal Building Threat Notification Act, also sponsored by Rep. Perry, updates federal safety standards during emergencies, directing the GSA Administrator and the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish clear, comprehensive guidelines for informing building tenants of threats and for providing instructions for safety responses to heightened risks.
Such guidelines are not just for natural disasters, but also for incidents of violence, as Rep. Stanton's press release suggests that 2024 alone saw 3,500 reported incidents at federal facilities, including over 700 threats, 142 weapons violations, nine incidents of arson, three homicides, and even a kidnapping.
In addition to his comments on DOGE's actions, the Arizona congressman emphasized that "at the same time, federal employees deserve safe, secure workplaces—and in times of crisis, clear communication can be the difference between life and death."
Both bills passed the House in a unanimous vote and are heading to the Senate.
