[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1272 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1272
To require Federal agencies to conduct a benefit-cost analysis on
relocations involving the movement of employment positions to different
areas, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2021
Ms. Wexton (for herself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Brown, Mr.
Connolly, Mr. Foster, Ms. Norton, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Sarbanes, and Ms.
Scanlon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require Federal agencies to conduct a benefit-cost analysis on
relocations involving the movement of employment positions to different
areas, 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 ``Congressional Oversight to Secure
Transparency of Relocations Act'' or the ``COST of Relocations Act''.
SEC. 2. BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS ON CERTAIN RELOCATIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (d), a Federal
agency may not carry out a covered relocation unless, prior to any
submission to the Office of Management and Budget or other reviewing
entity regarding such relocation--
(1) such agency--
(A) conducts a benefit-cost analysis on the covered
relocation; and
(B) submits to the Office of Inspector General for
such agency a report on the findings of the benefit-
cost analysis and including such other information such
Office of Inspector General determines necessary for
compliance with subsection (c); and
(2) such Office of Inspector General reviews the report and
submits to Congress the report described in subsection (c).
(b) Benefit-Cost Analysis.--
(1) In general.--The benefit-cost analysis described in
subsection (a)(1) shall be conducted in a manner consistent
with the economic and social science principles articulated in
the guidance applicable to relocations in the Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-4, as in effect on September
17, 2003.
(2) Analysis report.--
(A) Contents.--The report described in subsection
(a)(1)(B) shall include, at a minimum--
(i) the anticipated outcomes and
improvements that will result from the proposed
relocation, quantified in monetary or other
appropriate measures to the extent practicable;
(ii) an explanation of how the proposed
relocation will result in the anticipated
outcomes and improvements;
(iii) the metrics for measuring whether the
proposed relocation results in the anticipated
outcomes and improvements;
(iv) a detailed employee engagement plan;
(v) a list of stakeholders;
(vi) a timeline of past and future
engagements with stakeholders regarding the
proposed relocation;
(vii) an assessment of how the proposed
relocation may affect stakeholders--
(I) served by the positions
affected by the relocation; and
(II) in the destination agency or
region;
(viii) a comprehensive strategy for
accomplishing the proposed relocation that
includes--
(I) staffing, resourcing, and
financial needs;
(II) an implementation timeline
identifying milestones and the persons
accountable for meeting such
milestones;
(III) a risk assessment; and
(IV) a risk mitigation plan;
(ix) an analysis of the effect the proposed
relocation may have on the ability of the
Federal agency to carry out its mission during
the relocation and thereafter; and
(x) an assessment of the short- and long-
term effects of the relocation on the mission
of the Federal agency.
(B) Publication.--A Federal agency shall make
publicly available the report described in subsection
(a)(1)(B) in a form that excludes any proprietary
information or trade secrets of any person and other
confidential information.
(c) Inspector General Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which a Federal agency submits a report under subsection
(a)(1)(B), the Office of Inspector General for that agency
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on
Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the findings of the review
conducted under subsection (a)(2), including--
(A) detailed descriptions of the data used in the
benefit-cost analysis described in subsection (a)(1),
including the types of data and the time periods
covered by the data;
(B) the conclusions of the benefit-cost analysis
and the analysis underlying such conclusions; and
(C) a comprehensive assessment of--
(i) the extent to which the Federal agency
adhered to the guidance in the Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-4, as in
effect on September 17, 2003, in conducting the
benefit-cost analysis, including a
determination whether such adherence is
sufficient to justify the use of Federal funds
for the relocation involved; and
(ii) if the relocation involves moving
positions from inside the National Capital
Region to outside the National Capital Region,
the extent to which real estate options in the
National Capital Region were compared to those
in the destination as part of that analysis.
(2) Exclusions.--
(A) In general.--The Office of Inspector General
for a Federal agency shall exclude from any report
described in this subsection any proprietary
information or trade secrets of any person and other
confidential information.
(B) Explanation and description required.--For each
exclusion under subparagraph (A), the Office of
Inspector General shall include an explanation of the
reason for the exclusion and a description of the
information excluded in an appropriate location in the
relevant report.
(d) Other Requirements Not Abrogated.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to abrogate, reduce, or eliminate any requirements imposed by
law pertaining to any relocation of a Federal agency or component of a
Federal agency.
(e) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Administrative redelegation of function.--The term
``administrative redelegation of function'' means a Federal
agency establishing new positions within the agency that
replace existing positions within the agency and perform the
functions of the positions replaced.
(2) Covered relocation.--The term ``covered relocation''
means--
(A) an administrative redelegation of function
which, by itself or in conjunction with other related
redelegations, involves replacing the existing
positions of more than the lesser of 5 percent or 100
of the employees of the relevant Federal agency with
new positions located outside the commuting area of
such employees;
(B) moving a Federal agency or any component of a
Federal agency if such move, by itself or in
conjunction with other related moves, involves moving
the positions of more than the lesser of 5 percent or
100 of the employees of the Federal agency outside the
commuting area of such employees or under the
jurisdiction of another Federal agency; or
(C) a combination of related redelegations and
moves which together involve the positions of more than
the lesser of 5 percent or 100 of the employees of the
relevant Federal agency being moved to or replaced with
new positions located outside the commuting area of
such employees or moved under the jurisdiction of
another Federal agency.
(3) Employee.--The term ``employee'' means an employee or
officer of a Federal agency.
(4) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the
meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 902 of title 5,
United States Code.
(5) National capital region.--The term ``National Capital
Region'' has the meaning given such term in section 8702 of
title 40, United States Code.
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