The bipartisan Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015 Act (H.R. 2322) is sponsored by Reps. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Lou Barletta, R-Pa., subcommittee chairman for economic development, public buildings and emergency management and ranking members Andre Carson, D-Ind., and Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.

The bill provides a streamlined way for GSA to enter into leases that lock in current low real estate prices. By cutting out some of the time it takes to enter into new leases lawmakers are hoping to reduce costly hold-over leases and unneeded extensions.

The ability to quickly negotiate well-priced, 10-year leases could save taxpayers more than $500 million a year, according to the lawmakers supporting the bill.

GSA would also be able to more easily consolidate office space and combine multiple projects into one – and submit it as one project for approval, cutting down on time, according to bill supporters.

The Transportation and infrastructure Committee has already saved taxpayers about $2.5 billion through better management of real estate, and this bill would increase that savings, according to Barletta.

"We should approach leasing and renovation decisions the way private businesses would – with the bottom line in mind. There's a window of opportunity that the private sector is capitalizing on and it's time the federal government did the same," Barletta said.

But federal employees would also see the effects of the bill in the new office space - the legislation would cap the space utilization of new office space to 170-square-feet per employee.

The legislation also requires GSA to submit annual reports to Congress on the number and square footage of leases expiring in a five year period, and include the average length of time for all new leases.

"This legislation gives GSA the flexibility to make smarter decisions when it comes to federal buildings," DeFazio said. "From reducing the federal footprint to considering the long-term costs of leasing versus construction, this legislation gives GSA more tools to better manage federal buildings."

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