H.R.514 - Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement Act; SWAMP Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 514, the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement Act (SWAMP Act), proposes a competitive bidding process for relocating the headquarters of Executive agencies outside the Washington metropolitan area. The bill aims to decentralize government operations and stimulate economic development in other states and localities. Certain agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the Department of State, are exempt from this relocation requirement.
Expected Effects
The implementation of this act would likely result in the relocation of some Executive agency headquarters from the Washington D.C. area to other states. This could lead to economic shifts, as jobs and resources move with the agencies. The competitive bidding process could incentivize states and localities to offer attractive packages to secure these relocations.
Potential Benefits
- Economic Boost to New Locations: Relocating agencies can bring jobs and investment to selected states/localities.
- Cost Savings: Competitive bidding may lead to more cost-effective locations and operations.
- Decentralization: Spreads government presence and influence beyond the capital region.
- Potential for Innovation: New locations may foster fresh perspectives and approaches.
- Use of Proceeds: Allows the Administrator of General Services to use the proceeds from the sale of any Federal building or land to offset the cost of relocating the headquarters of an Executive agency.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Disruption and Costs: Relocation can be disruptive to employees and costly to implement.
- Loss of Expertise: Some employees may not want to move, leading to a loss of institutional knowledge.
- Coordination Challenges: Decentralization could complicate inter-agency coordination.
- Uneven Distribution of Benefits: Only a few locations will benefit directly from agency relocations.
- Limited Scope: The Act excludes several major agencies, limiting its overall impact.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, as it falls under Congress's power to regulate federal property (Article IV, Section 3) and to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers (Article I, Section 8). The competitive bidding process aims to ensure fairness and transparency, which aligns with principles of due process. However, the impact on specific states could raise questions of equal treatment, though this is addressed through the competitive bidding process.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).