Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5625, the Modernizing Government Travel Act. While we may not agree on all things, I think there is consensus on both sides of the aisle that the Federal Government has failed to keep pace with the technological advances and innovation that have come to define the 21st century economy. Despite the emergence of new technologies designed to improve the way we travel, today some Federal employees are unable to be reimbursed for using more cost-effective, innovative modes of transportation when traveling on official business. Innovative ridesharing services supported by mobile apps have dramatically changed how we get from one place to another. Now, with just a few taps on a smartphone, we can access a variety of new transportation options like rideshare and bikeshare that complement public transit, take more cars off our congested roads, and reduce fuel emissions. While the Government Services Administration allows agencies to authorize the use of these transportation options by Federal employees, it has not, nor is it required by law, to issue comprehensive guidance across the Federal Government. Consequently, agencies and their employees may be unaware that they have the transportation options available to them for reimbursement. H.R. 5625 would require the General Services Administration to implement regulations to allow Federal employees to use transportation options like rideshare and bikeshare for official travel.…”