Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURLISON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6330) to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for lump-sum relocation payments for Federal employees relocated in the interest of the Government, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6330

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act''. SEC. 2. LUMP-SUM RELOCATION PAYMENTS FOR RELOCATED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 5739a. Authority for lump sum payment for relocation

``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, when the head of the agency concerned (or a designee) authorizes or approves, an agency, through the proper disbursing official, may pay to an employee who relocates in the interest of the Government, a one-time lump sum payment in lieu of any payment otherwise authorized or required under this subchapter.

``(b) Regulations.--Under section 5738 of this title, the Administrator of General Services shall prescribe regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of this section, including--

``(1) when agencies may authorize a one-time lump sum payment under this section or the payments otherwise authorized or required under this subchapter;

``(2) how agencies will calculate the lump sum amount; and

``(3) the process for employees to dispute a relocation expenses claim with their agency, notice of the employee's right to appeal the agency decision to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and citation to the Board's procedures governing the appeals process.

``(c) Reporting.--

``(1) Agency submission.--Not later than 3 years following the date of enactment of the Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act, the head of each agency shall submit to the Administrator of General Services the following:

``(A) Data on the number of employees authorized a one-time lump sum payment.

``(B) The number of employee challenges to agency disallowance of claims pursuant to this section.

``(C) Data on cost savings achieved by the Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act.

``(D) A summary of recommendations to improve the Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act.

``(2) Administrator submission.--Not later than 90 days after receipt of the data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Administrator of General Services shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an analysis of the data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subchapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 5739 the following: ``5739a. Authority for lump sum payment for relocation.''.
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Mr. BURLISON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, relocating Federal employees who receive assignments to change official duty stations is a costly and bureaucratic process. According to the General Services Administration, which manages such relocations, in fiscal year 2024, the cost for employee relocation across agencies ranged from $11,000 to a staggering $143,000 per employee.

This high cost contrasts with the private sector, where relocation costs are considerably less. In fact, current law and regulations require seven categories of mandatory relocation entitlements and another six discretionary.

This complexity diverts Federal agency resources that could otherwise be available for other mission-focused priorities. It also comes at the expense of Federal employee satisfaction, as those relocating are forced to navigate a prolonged bureaucratic maze of document filings and payment processes.

Fortunately, there is a tested alternative to the current system, as demonstrated by agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and Customs and Border Protection in a recent pilot program.

Those agencies have utilized this pilot program to provide negotiated, lump-sum payments to relocating employees who are then responsible for moving themselves. The simplified lump-sum payments and processes have already been demonstrated to reduce agency costs while boosting employee satisfaction.

This bill would expand and codify the successful pilot program to allow all agencies to provide these lump-sum payments to relocating employees when such alternative is the most cost-effective option.

Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that enacting H.R. 6330 would save the government $306 million over 5 years.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for offering this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor. I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURLISON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jack).

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Mr. BURLISON. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important governmentwide reform bill that will save hundreds of millions of dollars while improving the lives of the Federal workforce.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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