Brian Jack

Madam Speaker, Thanks · 6 wordsI thank Representative Burlison for yielding.Thanks Madam Speaker, Claims · 16 wordsI rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6330, the Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act. Thanks · 31 wordsI am grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan support this legislation received in committee, ¹and I am grateful for the opportunity to present it before the House of Representatives for consideration today.Thanks Madam Speaker, Positioning · 24 wordsour Republican majority was elected on a promise to make the Federal Government more efficient, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.PositioningOff point Claims · 25 wordsMy bill fulfills that pledge by streamlining the Federal employee relocation process, reducing administrative burdens, lowering costs for American taxpayers, and modernizing an outdated system. Procedure · 15 wordsTo understand why this reform is necessary, let us review how the current process operates.Procedure Claims · 120 wordsEach year, approximately 33,000 Federal employees relocate across the country to meet the operational needs of their agencies, at a cost of nearly $1.5 billion to the taxpayer.²³ Under current law, a Federal employee who is directed to relocate pays relocation expenses out of pocket, retains documentation for each of those expenses, submits detailed reimbursement requests, and then waits sometimes more than 2 years to be fully reimbursed.⁴ Meanwhile, the agencies tasked with administering these relocation reimbursements dedicate significant time and resources to reviewing, processing, and reconciling each claim. In some cases, a single relocation can generate more than $140,000 in administrative costs.⁵ The result is a process that is burdensome for employees, costly for agencies, and inefficient for taxpayers. Procedure · 8 wordsFortunately, Madam Speaker, there is a better way.Procedure Claims · 84 wordsFederal agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, have participated in pilot programs that provide employees with a single, upfront, lump-sum relocation payment instead of requiring reimbursement for each individual expense.⁶ When given the option, Federal employees have overwhelmingly chosen this streamlined approach. For instance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported nearly $1 million in administrative savings.⁷ The GSA estimates expanding this authority across the Federal Government could save taxpayers between $300 million and $500 million annually.⁸ Madam Speaker, Claims · 95 wordsthat is the purpose of my legislation, H.R. 6330. My bill makes this successful authority permanent and available to every Federal agency.⁹ My bill preserves agency flexibility by keeping participation optional.¹⁰ My bill requires agencies to report to Congress on the savings achieved, ensuring continuing accountability to Congress and the American taxpayer.¹¹ For Federal employees, this means a simpler and more predictable relocation process. For Federal agencies, it means fewer administrative burdens and a more efficient use of administrative resources. For American taxpayers, it means an estimated $300 million to $500 million in annual savings. Thanks · 54 wordsI thank our chairman, Representative James Comer, for his leadership in advancing commonsense government reforms. I thank my colleague Representative Burlison, who has distinguished himself as one of the greatest defenders of liberty in Congress. I thank the members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for their thoughtful consideration of my legislation.Thanks Madam Speaker, The ask · 12 wordsI urge all of my colleagues to support my bill, H.R. 6330.