Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) made the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1734, the Civilian Property Realignment Act.

“Congress must take bold action and display the courage to do what is right in order to overcome the serious financial challenges facing our nation. I believe H.R. 1734 takes a step in that direction by smartly reducing the size of government through selling or redeveloping underutilized federal properties, increasing the utilization rates of existing federal properties, and expediting the disposal of surplus federal properties.”

H.R. 1734, the Civilian Property Realignment Act,” was approved by a vote of 259 to 164.

Provisions and benefits of the bill include:

- Establishes an independent nine member civilian commission to make property recommendations to Congress

- Recommendations require Congressional approval

- After a one-time appropriation of initial seed funding, the process would be self-funded by sale proceeds

- Proceeds will go towards deficit reduction

- Requires the sale or transfer of several underutilized GSA properties including for the National Women’s History Museum, the consolidation of the National Gallery of Art and the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Energy, and the proposed Los Angeles Courthouse, all of which will benefit taxpayers and result in immediate savings

- OMB estimates such a proposal would result in $15 billion in future savings

- Anticipated CBO direct spending savings of at least $400 million in the first five years.

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