Federal Government Decentralization Commission Act
Bill: H.R.2345 | Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim (D-OH)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Building Rural Investments, Development, and Growth for the Economy Act or the BRIDGE Act
This bill requires the Department of Commerce and the Department of State to promote the export of goods and services by small- and medium-sized businesses from, and facilitate business investment in, rural areas of the United States. A rural area is an area with a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants that is outside an urbanized area.

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.

    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 ``Federal Government Decentralization 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established in the General Services Administration a 
commission to be known as the ``Federal Government Decentralization 
Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) study the relocation of executive agencies or divisions 
        of executive agencies outside the Washington metropolitan area; 
        and
            (2) submit to Congress a plan for the relocation of 
        recommended agencies or divisions.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 
the Administrator of General Services (or a designee) and 10 other 
members, appointed as follows:
            (1) Two members shall be appointed by the majority leader 
        of the Senate.
            (2) Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (3) Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader 
        of the Senate.
            (4) Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader 
        of the House of Representatives.
            (5) Two members shall be appointed by the Administrator of 
        the General Service Administration.
    (b) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members of the 
Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
            (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
            (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
        appointment was made.
    (d) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission shall serve 
without pay.
    (e) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates consistent 
with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (f) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be the 
Administrator of General Services (or a designee).

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND STAFF PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL 
              SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

    Administrative and support staff for the Commission shall be 
provided by the General Services Administration.

SEC. 6. SUBMISSION OF PLAN TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall develop and submit to 
Congress a plan for the relocation of executive agencies or divisions 
of executive agencies outside the Washington metropolitan area.
    (b) Requirements for Plan.--The plan shall include the following:
            (1) An identification of new locations for executive 
        agencies or divisions of executive agencies outside the 
        Washington metropolitan area, which shall be prioritized--
                    (A) by relocation to a low-income community; or
                    (B) by relocation to areas with expertise in the 
                mission and goal of the executive agency or division.
            (2) A consideration of national security implications of 
        the relocation.
            (3) An economic and workforce development study on how the 
        relocation of an executive agency or division would impact the 
        new location.
            (4) A list of potential site acquisitions and partial 
        prospectus for executive agencies or divisions of executive 
        agencies, which shall include--
                    (A) a brief description of the building to be 
                constructed, altered, or leased;
                    (B) the location of the building; and
                    (C) an estimate of the maximum cost of the 
                acquisition and the relocation.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Executive agency.--The term ``executive agency'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in section 105 
        of title 5, United States Code, except that the term does not 
        include the Executive Office of the President.
            (2) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' has the meaning given that term in section 45D(e) 
        of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 45D(e)).
            (3) Washington metropolitan area.--The term ``Washington 
        metropolitan area'' means the geographic area located within 
        the boundaries of--
                    (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.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the submission of the 
plan under section 6.

SEC. 9. FUNDING.

    No new appropriations may be obligated to carry out this Act.
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