Democracy in Design Act

Bill: 118-s-366
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-02-09
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Architecture

General Services Administration

Government buildings, facilities, and property
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Democracy in Design Act</b> </p> <p>This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure that the design 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 regulations to implement the amendment made by this bill and to establish minimum standards for the design of public buildings.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 366 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 9, 2023 Mr. Van Hollen (for himself and Mr. Luján ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To direct the Administrator of General Services to ensure that the design 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— (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Administrator ) after Services ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Guiding principles for Federal architecture The Administrator shall ensure that the design of public buildings in the United States adheres to the principles described in the report published by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space entitled Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture and dated 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 promulgate such regulations as are necessary— (A) to implement the amendment made by subsection (a)(2); and (B) to establish minimum standards by which the Administrator of General Services shall design 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.