FOCUS Act

Bill: 118-hr-6260
Sponsor: Rep. Chavez-DeRemer, Lori [R-OR-5]
Introduced: 2023-11-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-07
text: 

Federal Oversight of Construction Use and Safety Act or FOCUS Act

 
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to limit scope or size escalations for public building projects. GSA must also report to Congress on certain project scope and cost changes, public safety, and utilization of public buildings. 
 
Specifically, GSA must not allow the scope or size of a project to increase or decrease by more than 10% without congressional approval. 
 
GSA must report (1) when the estimated maximum cost increases by more than 5%, (2) when the scope or size of a project increases or decreases by more than 5%, (3) any safety incidents as a result of criminal or other activity impacting public safety in and around public buildings, and (4) public building utilization rates and locations of tenant agency activities near such buildings. 
 
GSA must also share space utilization information among federal agencies to coordinate consolidation and sharing of facilities.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to review and report on special use spaces (e.g., conference centers and fitness centers) in federal buildings to determine levels of utilization, opportunities for sharing, and other efficiencies.

action_date: 2024-03-06
text: 

Federal Oversight of Construction Use and Safety Act or FOCUS Act

 
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to limit scope or size escalations for public building projects. GSA must also report to Congress on certain project scope and cost changes, public safety, and utilization of public buildings. 
 
Specifically, GSA must not allow the scope or size of a project to increase or decrease by more than 10% without congressional approval. 
 
GSA must report (1) when the estimated maximum cost increases by more than 5%, (2) when the scope or size of a project increases or decreases by more than 5%, (3) any safety incidents as a result of criminal or other activity impacting public safety in and around public buildings, and (4) public building utilization rates and locations of tenant agency activities near such buildings. 
 
GSA must notify Congress upon accomplishing certain milestones for all congressionally approved projects.
 
GSA must also share space utilization information among federal agencies to coordinate consolidation and sharing of facilities.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to review and report on special use spaces (e.g., conference centers and fitness centers) in federal buildings to determine levels of utilization, opportunities for sharing, and other efficiencies.
 

action_date: 2024-03-19
text: 

 

Federal Oversight of Construction Use and Safety Act or FOCUS Act

 
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to limit scope or size escalations for public building projects. GSA must also report to Congress on certain project scope and cost changes, public safety, and utilization of public buildings. 
 
Specifically, GSA must not allow the scope or size of a project to increase or decrease by more than 10% without congressional approval. 
 
GSA must report (1) when the estimated maximum cost increases by more than 5%, (2) when the scope or size of a project increases or decreases by more than 5%, (3) any safety incidents as a result of criminal or other activity impacting public safety in and around public buildings, and (4) public building utilization rates and locations of tenant agency activities near such buildings. 
 
GSA must notify Congress upon accomplishing certain milestones for all congressionally approved projects.
 
GSA must also share space utilization information among federal agencies to coordinate consolidation and sharing of facilities.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to review and report on special use spaces (e.g., conference centers and fitness centers) in federal buildings to determine levels of utilization, opportunities for sharing, and other efficiencies.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-03-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2024-03-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-03-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1209-1210)
action_date: 2024-03-19
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 H1209-1210)
action_date: 2024-03-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6260.
action_date: 2024-03-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1209-1211)
action_date: 2024-03-19
text: Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-03-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 337.
action_date: 2024-03-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-410.
action_date: 2024-03-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-410.
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
action_date: 2023-11-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2023-11-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2023-11-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-11-07
text: Introduced in House