GSA Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-4631
Sponsor: Rep. Walsh, Joe [R-IL-8]
Introduced: 2012-04-25 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Congressional oversight
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-25
text: 
Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012 or the GSA Act of 2012 - Requires the head of each federal agency to submit to Congress, not less frequently than quarterly, a detailed, itemized report on any conference or meeting for which the agency must pay a fee and that: (1) is attended by 50 or more employees, or (2) has a total cost of $100,000 or more. Exempts any conference or meeting: (1) for which an agency head determines complying with such reporting requirement would not be in the interest of national security, or (2) which an agency head determines is necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency. 

action_date: 2012-09-11
text: 
Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012 or the GSA Act of 2012 - 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 such employees is in the national interest. 
 
Requires each agency to post on its public website quarterly reports on each conference for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months.
 
Limits agency travel expenses for FY2013-FY2017 to 70% of the aggregate amount of such expenses for FY2010. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5776-5777)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5776-5777)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4631.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5776-5778)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Mr. Walsh (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 479.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 112-664.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 112-664.
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-04-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-04-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-04-25
text: Introduced in House