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
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.