I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1701 

To establish a commission to study the relocation of select executive agencies 

or divisions of such agencies outside the Washington metropolitan area, 

to make recommendations to Congress on appropriate findings, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 12, 2019 

Mr. RYAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to study the relocation of select 

executive agencies or divisions of such agencies outside 

the Washington metropolitan area, to make recommendations to Congress on appropriate findings, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Government 

5 Decentralization Commission Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 

2 There is established in the General Services Adminis3 tration a commission to be known as the ‘‘Federal Govern4 ment Decentralization Commission’’ (in this Act referred 

5 to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

6 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

7 The Commission shall— 

8 (1) study the relocation of executive agencies or 

9 divisions of executive agencies outside the Wash10 ington metropolitan area; and 

11 (2) submit to Congress a plan for the relocation 

12 of recommended agencies or divisions. 

13 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 

14 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

15 shall be composed of the Administrator of General Serv16 ices (or a designee) and 10 other members, appointed as 

17 follows: 

18 (1) Two members shall be appointed by the ma19 jority leader of the Senate. 

20 (2) Two members shall be appointed by the 

21 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

22 (3) Two members shall be appointed by the mi23 nority leader of the Senate. 

24 (4) Two members shall be appointed by the mi25 nority leader of the House of Representatives. 


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1 (5) Two members shall be appointed by the Ad2 ministrator of the General Service Administration. 

3 (b) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The 

4 initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not 

5 later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

6 Act. 

7 (c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission— 

8 (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commis9 sion; and 

10 (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the 

11 original appointment was made. 

12 (d) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis13 sion shall serve without pay. 

14 (e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com15 mission shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel 

16 expenses, at rates consistent with those authorized under 

17 subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 

18 (f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Commis19 sion shall be the Administrator of General Services (or a 

20 designee). 

21 SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND STAFF PROVIDED 

22 BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRA23 TION. 

24 Administrative and support staff for the Commission 

25 shall be provided by the General Services Administration. 


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1 SEC. 6. SUBMISSION OF PLAN TO CONGRESS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 

4 develop and submit to Congress a plan for the relocation 

5 of executive agencies or divisions of executive agencies out6 side the Washington metropolitan area. 

7 (b) REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAN.—The plan shall in8 clude the following: 

9 (1) An identification of new locations for execu10 tive agencies or divisions of executive agencies out11 side the Washington metropolitan area, which shall 

12 be prioritized— 

13 (A) by relocation to a low-income commu14 nity; or 

15 (B) by relocation to areas with expertise in 

16 the mission and goal of the executive agency or 

17 division. 

18 (2) A consideration of national security implica19 tions of the relocation. 

20 (3) An economic and workforce development 

21 study on how the relocation of an executive agency 

22 or division would impact the new location. 

23 (4) A list of potential site acquisitions and par24 tial prospectus for executive agencies or divisions of 

25 executive agencies, which shall include— 


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1 (A) a brief description of the building to be 

2 constructed, altered, or leased; 

3 (B) the location of the building; and 

4 (C) an estimate of the maximum cost of 

5 the acquisition and the relocation. 

6 SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘executive 

9 agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive 

10 agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United States 

11 Code, except that the term does not include the Ex12 ecutive Office of the President. 

13 (2) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘low14 income community’’ has the meaning given that 

15 term in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code 

16 of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 45D(e)). 

17 (3) WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA.—The 

18 term ‘‘Washington metropolitan area’’ means the ge19 ographic area located within the boundaries of— 

20 (A) the District of Columbia; 

21 (B) Montgomery and Prince George’s 

22 Counties in the State of Maryland; and 

23 (C) Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, and 

24 Prince William Counties and the City of Alex25 andria in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 


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1 SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 

2 The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 

3 submission of the plan under section 6. 

4 SEC. 9. FUNDING. 

5 No new appropriations may be obligated to carry out 

6 this Act. 

Æ 


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