GSA Act of 2015

To amend title 5, United States Code, to institute spending limits and transparency requirements for Federal conference and travel expenditures, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Spending Accountability Act of 2015 GSA Act of 2015 2. Limits and transparency for conference and travel spending (a) Amendment Chapter 57 section 5711 5712. Limits and transparency for conference and travel spending (a) Conference transparency and spending limits (1) Public availability of conference materials Each agency shall post on the public website of that agency detailed information on any presentation made by any employee of that agency at a conference (except to the extent the head of an agency excludes such information for reasons of national security or information described under section 552(b)) including— (A) the prepared text of any verbal presentation made; and (B) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual recordings. (2) Limits on amount expended on a conference (A) In general Except as provided under subparagraph (B), an agency may not expend more than $500,000 to support a single conference. (B) Exception The head of an agency may waive the limitation under subparagraph (A) for a specific conference after making a determination that the expenditure is justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose. The head of an agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on any waiver granted under this subparagraph, including the justification for such waiver. (C) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude an agency from receiving financial support or other assistance from a private entity to pay or defray the costs of a conference the total cost of which exceeds $500,000. (b) International conference rule An agency may not pay the travel expenses for more than 50 employees of that agency who are stationed in the United States, for any international conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that attendance for such employees is in the national interest, or the head of the agency determines that attendance for such employees is critical to the agency’s mission. The Secretary of State and the head of an agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on any waiver granted under this subsection, including the justification for such waiver. (c) Reporting on travel and conference expenses required At the beginning of each quarter of each fiscal year, each agency shall post on the public website of that agency a report on each conference that costs more than $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding 3 months that includes— (1) the itemized expenses paid by the agency, including travel, lodging, and meal expenses, and any other agency expenditures to otherwise support the conference; (2) the primary sponsor of the conference; (3) the location of the conference; (4) the date of the conference; (5) a brief explanation of how the participation of employees from such agency at the conference advanced the mission of the agency; (6) the title of any employee, or any individual who is not a Federal employee, whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were paid by the agency; (7) the total number of individuals whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were paid by the agency; and (8) in the case of a conference for which that agency was the primary sponsor, a statement that— (A) describes the cost to the agency of selecting the specific conference venue; (B) describes why the location was selected, including a justification for such selection; (C) demonstrates the cost efficiency of the location; (D) provides a cost benefit analysis of holding a conference rather than conducting a teleconference; and (E) describes any financial support or other assistance from a private entity used to pay or defray the costs of the conference, and for each case where such support or assistance was used, the head of the agency shall include a certification that there is no conflict of interest resulting from such support or assistance. (d) Format and publication of reports Each report posted on the public website under subsection (c) shall— (1) be in a searchable electronic format; and (2) remain on that website for at least 5 years after the date of posting. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency The term agency (2) Conference The term conference (A) is held for consultation, education, discussion, or training; and (B) is not held entirely at a Government facility. (3) International conference The term international conference (A) the Government of the United States; and (B) any foreign government, international organization, or foreign nongovernmental organization. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 57 section 5711 5712. Limits and transparency for conference and travel spending. . (c) Annual travel expense limits (1) In general In the case of each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, an agency (as defined under section 5712(e) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) may not make, or obligate to make, expenditures for travel expenses, in an aggregate amount greater than 70 percent of the aggregate amount of such expenses for fiscal year 2010. (2) Exemptions The agency may exclude certain travel expenses from the limitation under paragraph (1) only if the agency head determines that inclusion of such expenses would undermine national security, international diplomacy, health and safety inspections, law enforcement, or site visits required for oversight or investigatory purposes. (3) Report to Congress In each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, the head of each agency shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing— (A) the justification for any expenses excluded (under paragraph (2)) from the limitation under paragraph (1); and (B) the positive or negative impacts, if any, of the limitation under paragraph (1) on the agency’s mission, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to perform core functions. (4) Identification of travel expenses (A) Responsibilities Not later than September 30, 2015, and after consultation with the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish guidelines for the determination of what expenses constitute travel expenses for purposes of this subsection. The guidelines shall identify specific expenses, and classes of expenses, that are to be treated as travel expenses. (B) Exemption for military travel The guidelines required under subparagraph (A) shall exclude military travel expenses in determining what expenses constitute travel expenses. Military travel expenses shall include travel expenses involving military combat, the training or deployment of uniformed military personnel, and such other travel expenses as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

Summary: Government Spending Accountability Act of 2015 or the GSA Act of 2015 Requires each federal agency to post on its public website detailed information on employee presentations at conferences, including: (1) the prepared text of any verbal presentation; and (2) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual recordings. Limits to $500,000 the amount that any agency may spend to support a single conference. Allows an agency head to waive such limitation for a specific conference after making a determination that a higher expenditure is justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose. Prohibits an agency from paying the travel expenses for more than 50 employees stationed in the United States to attend any international conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that attendance of more than 50 employees is in the national interest, or the agency head determines that the attendance of such employees is critical to the agency's mission. Requires each agency to post on its public website quarterly reports on each conference costing more than $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months. Limits agency travel expenses for FY2016-FY2020 to 70% of the aggregate amount of such expenses for FY2010. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to establish guidelines for determining what expenses constitute travel expenses for purposes of the ceiling imposed on such expenses. Exempts from such limitation military travel expenses.