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Talking Real Money
Famed Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen is often quoted as saying “A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you’re talking real money.”
It’s fitting, then, that it was in Congress’ Dirksen Building that recent hearings were held regarding waste in Federal real property – an issue Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) calls a “sleepy, non-invigorating area of government that is costing the American public billions.”
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Senate Hearing Tackles Data, Leasing, Backlogs
Bi-partisan legislation is in the works “to streamline property disposal and provide agencies with incentives to dispose of property they no longer need,” according to Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). Carper made the announcement at a May 24 Congressional hearing that also addressed lease arrangements and maintenance backlogs.
The hearing was called to “examine agencies’ efforts to address the property management problems highlighted in a recent GAO report, ‘Federal Real Property: Progress Made Toward Addressing Problems, but Underlying Obstacles Continue to Hamper Reform’ (GAO-07-349).”
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OMB Presents Puzzling Real Property Findings to Congress
A recent document submitted to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing more than 100 federal real property assets eligible and available for sale includes what appears to be inconsistency in reporting of “excess” versus “surplus” property.
In the case of several agencies, the OMB report cites more “surplus” than “excess” property – a seeming logical contradiction given that the Federal government’s definition of “surplus” is based on its definition of “excess.”
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Teleworking Testimony Reveals Real Property Benefits
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) draws a direct connection between teleworking and better management of real property costs. In recent testimony before Congress, USPTO Director Jon Dudas noted that his organization saved $1.5 million in rent per year in one facility alone by introducing work-at-home programs.
Dudas’ remarks were presented on June 12 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia.
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