To direct the Administrator of General Services to submit a report to Congress on the state of the real estate portfolio of the Public Building Service, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6480
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-25: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T13:29:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 6480, requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA)—the federal agency responsible for managing government buildings and properties—to submit an annual report to Congress. The report details the condition and management of the real estate portfolio held by the Public Building Service (PBS), a division of GSA that oversees federal buildings and leased spaces used by government agencies.
Key Provisions
- Submission Timeline: The report must be delivered no later than January 31 each year, covering the previous calendar year's activities.
- Recipients: The report goes to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Required Content: The report must include specific data on the PBS real estate portfolio, such as:
- Number of new leases signed and leases terminated.
- Total leased spaces, square footage leased, square footage occupied, and vacant leased space.
- Number of federally owned buildings.
- Top federal agency "customers" (tenants) by square footage and annual rent paid.
- Completed new construction projects and major repairs or alterations to buildings.
- Financial metrics, including space utilization rates, operating costs per square foot, savings from selling buildings or ending leases, and costs of delayed maintenance (unfixed repairs).
- Any federal buildings sold or disposed of by GSA's Office of Real Property Disposition.
- Plans for relocating federal agencies from buildings or leased spaces that GSA intends to sell or not renew, including funding sources for relocations and whether tenants requested the moves.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandatory annual reporting requirement for GSA on its real estate management. Previously, there was no specified obligation for such detailed, recurring reports to these congressional committees, though GSA may have provided similar information on an ad hoc basis. It formalizes transparency without altering core GSA operations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases accountability for GSA in managing federal properties, potentially leading to more efficient use of space, reduced waste (e.g., vacant leases), and better budgeting for relocations. Tenant agencies may face disruptions if relocations occur but gain clearer visibility into costs.
- On Citizens: Indirectly benefits taxpayers by promoting fiscal responsibility in federal real estate spending, which could lower government costs for underused or poorly maintained properties. No direct impact on individuals or private citizens.
- On International Relations: None apparent; the bill focuses solely on domestic federal property management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- General Services Administration (GSA) and Public Building Service (PBS): Primary entity responsible for compiling and submitting the report, which may require additional administrative resources.
- Federal Tenant Agencies: Agencies using GSA-managed spaces (e.g., top users by space or rent) will have their usage and relocation plans scrutinized.
- Congressional Committees: The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works gain enhanced oversight tools to monitor federal real estate efficiency.
- Taxpayers: As indirect beneficiaries through potential cost savings in government operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens congressional oversight of executive branch agencies under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress authority over federal spending and property. No conflicts with existing laws like the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, which already governs GSA.
- Constitutional: Aligns with separation of powers by requiring information from the executive branch without infringing on its operational independence.
- Political: Emphasizes government efficiency and cost control, appealing to interests in reducing federal spending. Could influence future budgets or reforms in federal real estate if reports reveal inefficiencies, but it imposes no penalties for non-compliance beyond standard reporting obligations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-25: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2026-03-24: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-03-24: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2648)
- 2026-03-24: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- 2026-03-24: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6480.
- 2026-03-24: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2648-2649)
- 2026-03-24: Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2026-03-16: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 468.
- 2026-03-16: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-545.
- 2026-03-16: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-545.
- 2025-12-18: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2025-12-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-12-18: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
- 2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Bill Versions
- An Act To direct the Administrator of General Services to submit a report to Congress on the state of the real estate portfolio of the Public Building Service, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-03-24 — PDF (4 pages)
- To direct the Administrator of General Services to submit a report to Congress on the state of the real estate portfolio of the Public Building Service, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (3 pages)
- An Act To direct the Administrator of General Services to submit a report to Congress on the state of the real estate portfolio of the Public Building Service, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (3 pages)
- To direct the Administrator of General Services to submit a report to Congress on the state of the real estate portfolio of the Public Building Service, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-03-16 — PDF (6 pages)