Democracy in Design Act

Bill: 117-hr-5291
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2021-09-17
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Architecture

Building construction

General Services Administration

Government buildings, facilities, and property
Latest action: action_date: 2021-09-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-09-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Democracy in Design Act</b> </p> <p>This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure that the construction and acquisition of federal public buildings (e.g., agency office buildings) adheres to the principles of the report titled <i>Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture</i>. </p> <p>The report was published by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space on June 1, 1962, and serves as the policy directive for the GSA's Design Excellence Program within its Public Buildings Service. Among other principles, the report prescribes against the development of an official architectural style for government buildings and encourages the government to avoid excessive uniformity in building design.</p> <p>The GSA must issue such regulations as necessary to implement the amendment made by this bill and to establish minimum standards for the construction and acquisition of public buildings in the United States.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5291 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2021 Ms. Titus (for herself and Mr. Simpson ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Administrator of General Services to ensure that the construction and acquisition of public buildings in the United States adheres to the guiding principles for Federal architecture, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Democracy in Design Act . 2. Continuing investigation and survey of public buildings (a) In general Section 3303 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Guiding principles for Federal architecture The Administrator shall ensure that the construction and acquisition of public buildings in the United States adheres to the principles described in the report titled Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture and published by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space on June 1, 1962. . (b) Rulemaking (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall issue such regulations as are necessary to implement the amendment made by this Act and to establish minimum standards by which the Administrator shall construct and acquire public buildings in the United States. (2) Notice and comment The regulations required under paragraph (1) shall be issued after notice and an opportunity for public comment in accordance with the procedure applicable to substantive rules under section 553 of title 5, United States Code.