September 8, 2026
Mr. Perry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to provide the Comptroller General with certain data, to provide for certain swing space, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act
.
Sec. 2. Strengthening oversight
(a) Comptroller General of the United States
Section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(i) GAO access to data
The Director and Administrator shall provide to the Comptroller General of the United States all data and reports pursuant to this section, including subsections (c), (e), and (f).
(b) Clarification on agencies with independent leasing authority
Subsection (f) of section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (6);
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
(3)
in paragraph (5), as so redesignated—
(A)
by striking the paragraph enumerator and all that follows through with independent leasing authorities
and inserting the following:
(5)
(A) Requirements for Federal agencies with independent leasing authorities
The head of any agency, regardless of whether the agency is covered by section 901 of title 31, United States Code, with independent leasing authorities; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following:
(B) Oversight and accountability
(i) Accounting
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United States a list of all agencies that have an independent leasing authority to procure office space.
(ii) Oversight
The Director shall ensure all agencies with independent leasing authorities are notified of and comply with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 3. Swing space to support building sales
Section 2312 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a) by striking Not later
and inserting Except as provided in subsection (d), not later
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(d) Swing space exception
The Administrator of General Services may retain the Federal building described in subsection (a) so long as such building is used as swing space to facilitate the sale or major renovation of other Federal buildings so long as—
(1)
the cost of retaining such building does not exceed any savings realized by the sale or major renovation of any other Federal building; and
(2)
the Administrator submits to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate annual plans for the use of such building.
Sec. 4. Public Buildings Reform Board
(a) In general
The Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (40 U.S.C. 1303 note) is amended—
(1)
in section 10 by striking December 31, 2026
and inserting December 31, 2028
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new section:
27. Access to utilization data
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Administrator shall provide all data and reports to the Board collected and produced pursuant to section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note).
(b) Conforming amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (40 U.S.C. 1303 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: