A bill to extend the authority for relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1825) to extend the authority for relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present Senate bill 1825 for consideration. This legislation will grant the General Services Administration the permanent authority to approve Federal agency requests to operate programs that test alternative methods of compensating employees for relocation and travel expenses.

Senate 1825 was introduced on October 21, 2009, by Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and it was favorably reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on November 4, 2009. In addition, the legislation passed the United States Senate by unanimous consent on November 9, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, the General Services Administration was granted the authority to approve Federal agency travel and relocation expenses test programs via the Travel Transportation Reform Act of 1998. Through the test programs facilitated by the act, Federal agencies have been able to test new and innovative methods of reimbursing relocation and travel expenses in order to enhance cost savings for the Federal Government. Notably, the current authority granted to the General Services Administration is scheduled to expire in December of 2009.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1825 will therefore ensure that agencies will continue to have the flexibility to use the compensation methods with respect to relocation and travel costs that work best for them and that are in the best interests of the Federal Government. In addition, I would like to note that according to the Congressional Budget Office, the net impact of S. 1825 on the Federal budget would not be significant.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. Lieberman and S. 1825.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his kind words. Again I ask all the Members from both sides of the

aisle to join with Senator Lieberman in supporting Senate 1825.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1825, which would make permanent the authority of the U.S. General Services Administration to approve Federal agencies' requests to operate programs to test alternative methods of compensating employees for relocation and travel expenses. This bill passed the Senate on November 9 by unanimous consent. GSA's current authority to authorize such a program would have otherwise expired in December of this year.

By acting now we are allowing successful test programs to continue to operate and are giving GSA authority to approve more of them. Many of these relocation expense test programs have been successful in not only making government run more efficiently but also in achieving cost savings. Other provisions of this bill would expand the number of test programs that can run at the same time from 10 to 12 and allow them to operate for a maximum of 8 years. Based on information from GSA and the agencies involved, CBO estimates that there would be no cost to the Federal Government if this bill is passed.

Unfortunately, these relocation and travel expense programs have been subject to major scandals over the past few years, and each and every agency should watch these expenses very closely; and, hopefully, these test programs will lead to a closer and more honest accounting of this type of money for the Federal Government and for our taxpayers.

At a time when the Federal deficit is soaring, it is important that we continue successful programs that make the government more efficient and hopefully save money.

I urge my colleagues to support S. 1825.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 196, S. 1825.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Lieberman amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time, passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.