The Congressional Budget Office has said it sees “no
significant impact” on the federal budget from enactment
of HR-4125, a bill to permit General Services
Administration to make repairs and lease space without
approval of a prospectus if the repair or lease is required
as a result of damages to buildings or property attributable
to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. The estimate could
boost the chances of Congress approving the bill, which
recently moved through the House Government Reform Committee
and which is designed to help deal with the dislocation of
thousands of federal employees who had been working in
facilities damaged in the storms.
Under current law, GSA is responsible for repairing federal
buildings it manages and leasing privately owned properties
for use by federal agencies. Spending for such activities
is subject to appropriation. Except in emergency situations,
repairs or leases that are estimated to cost more than
$2.41 million require prior approval by the congressional
committees with jurisdiction over GSA.
The bill would authorize GSA to proceed, without prior
approval by those committees, with any repairs or lease
negotiations necessitated by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.
Under the measure, GSA might complete activities with
estimated costs greater than $2.41 million sooner than
under current law.
Based on information from GSA, CBO estimated that the
proposed procedural change would not significantly affect
the rate at which GSA will spend existing resources. CBO
also estimated that the bill would not have a significant
impact on new funding for repairs or leases related to the
hurricanes. Any such funding would be subject to
appropriation.