Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment with Mr. Perry to his bill, the Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies, or USE IT, Act.

I support the intent and much of the substance of the underlying bill. I believe it is wise to require the Federal Government to be a good steward of its leases and of taxpayer dollars. It is important to reevaluate employee occupancy of Federal buildings in this new post- COVID employment environment, just as the private sector is doing, and to rightsize our Federal office space accordingly.

This amendment makes two important revisions to the bill. I appreciate Mr. Perry's collaboration in adopting it.

First, it defines occupancy in terms of hours per week instead of days per week to better reflect Federal employees who have compressed work schedules. Second, it codifies that any technology used to collect occupancy data should protect personally identifiable information, which GSA is already doing.

This amendment does not solve every outstanding issue with this bill. I agree with the ranking member that Ms. Titus' amendment should also have been made in order, but I do believe it materially improves it, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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