March 27, 2025
Ms. Ernst (for herself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To require the heads of Federal agencies to submit to Congress an annual report regarding official time authorized under title 5, United States Code, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act
.
Sec. 2. Annual report regarding labor matters
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Agency; collective bargaining agreement; employee; labor organization
The terms agency, collective bargaining agreement, employee, and labor organization have the meanings given those terms in section 7103 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Section 7131
The term section 7131 means section 7131 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) Annual report
Not later than June 30 of each year that begins after the year in which this Act is enacted, the head of each agency shall submit to Congress, and post on the public website of the agency, a report that details the following for the year covered by the report:
(1)
The total cost to the agency of official time authorized under section 7131.
(2)
A detailed explanation of the purpose for which the agency made each authorization of official time under section 7131.
(3)
With respect to each employee of the agency for whom official time was authorized under section 7131—
(A)
the position and annual rate of basic pay of the employee;
(B)
the value of any bonus awarded to the employee;
(C)
the cost to the agency of providing benefits (including health insurance, retirement contributions, and any other financial benefit other than basic pay and a bonus) to the employee;
(D)
the total number of hours the employee spent on activities for which the official time was authorized; and
(E)
the exact percentage that the number of hours described in subparagraph (D) represented with respect to the total number of hours worked by the employee for the applicable year.
(4)
The total amount of compensation paid to employees of the agency to—
(A)
negotiate collective bargaining agreements;
(B)
negotiate agreements between the agency and a labor organization to address matters of employment with respect to which a collective bargaining agreement does not apply;
(C)
process grievances pursuant to procedures established under a collective bargaining agreement; and
(D)
engage in mediation, arbitration, or impasse resolution in connection with collective bargaining disputes.
(5)
The total amount of fees paid by the agency to arbitrators hearing grievances pursuant to procedures described in paragraph (4)(C).
(6)
The total amount paid by the agency for travel and lodging expenses incurred by agency staff (including employees for whom official time was authorized under section 7131 and representatives of the agency) who were traveling for the purposes of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.
(7)
The total amount of expenses paid the agency (or with respect to which a labor organization has requested reimbursement from the agency) for retaining experts to assist in the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement.
(8)
The total amount of expenses paid by the agency (or with respect to which a labor organization has requested reimbursement from the agency) for retaining factfinders, mediators, or arbitrators to settle a dispute arising under a collective bargaining agreement.
(9)
The total number of hours for which the agency permitted labor organizations, or employees of the agency for whom official time was authorized under section 7131, to use agency property at no cost or at a discounted rate.
(10)
The amount of real estate made available by the agency to labor organizations, which shall be measured by square footage and in consultation with the Administrator of General Services.
(11)
The total monetary value of the uses described in paragraphs (9) and (10), which shall include—
(A)
the cost of maintaining real estate made available to a labor organization; and
(B)
the cost of acquiring each asset made available to a labor organization.
(12)
The amount of each reimbursement collected by the agency with respect to a use described in paragraph (9) or (10).
(13)
The total amount of the expenses (including the cost of administrative support and the cost of acquiring technology) incurred by the agency for purposes of activities conducted by a labor organization or a private individual with respect to official time authorized by the agency under section 7131.
(14)
An explanation of any increase, as compared to the report submitted in the previous year, in the amount of official time authorized by the agency under section 7131.
(15)
The total amount of penalties levied against the agency relating to collective bargaining with a labor organization, including the value of arbitration awards paid to, or monetary settlements with, a labor organization or a member of a labor organization.
(c) GAO audits
The Comptroller General of the United States shall, not less frequently than once every 4 years—
(1)
audit the accounting practices that each agency uses to document the items described in subsection (b); and
(2)
if the Comptroller General finds, in carrying out paragraph (1), that an agency is not using generally accepted accounting principles, at minimum, brief the relevant authorizing committees of Congress regarding that failure by the agency.