Eleanor Holmes Norton: “This amendment prohibits the General Services Administration, the Federal Government's real estate arm, from using its…”

“This amendment prohibits the General Services Administration, the Federal Government's real estate arm, from using its funds to relocate the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service outside of the national capital region. Earlier today, the House prohibited USDA from using its funds to relocate these agencies outside of the national capital region. On June 13, 2019, USDA announced it will relocate 547 out of its 644 employees of these agencies from the national capital region to the Kansas City region. Many Members of Congress who are opposing this relocation are doing so not only to protect the employees of these agencies from the agonizing decision of moving halfway across the country or losing their jobs, but we are also fighting to protect scientific research and integrity, uphold Federal law, and ensure compliance with our real estate procurement process. The USDA lacks the legal or budget authority to carry out this relocation. The USDA and GSA have violated the real estate procurement process. Further, this move is not in the best interests of the taxpayers. Don't just take my word for it. The USDA Office of Inspector General initiated a review of the relocation for the same reasons in November 2018, and that review is ongoing. This relocation is about ideology and politics, nothing more. The decision to relocate was made before any cost-benefit analysis was done of the consequences.…”