Rick Larsen: “The amendment offered by the Representative from Tennessee requires the heads of Federal agencies to submit a report to…”

“The amendment offered by the Representative from Tennessee requires the heads of Federal agencies to submit a report to the inspector general of each respective agency on buildings under the agency's jurisdiction that has capacity for 500 or more employees that has a 20 percent utilization rate or less. Upon receipt of the report, the relevant inspector general is to investigate evidence of fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. Now, I will say this, I don't know why this amendment is necessary. I understand the Federal real estate has been on the General Accounting Office's High-Risk list for years, but nowhere in GAO's reporting were there claims of fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. Even though this is only a reporting requirement, requiring the inspector general of every Federal agency to investigate could be a waste of time and resources. This amendment seems to be a solution chasing a problem, but I will not oppose it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”