U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham’s (R-Turlock) plan to sell off excess federal properties is one step closer to becoming law, after U.S. Senators introduced the Civilian Realignment Act of 2013 on Nov. 15.
Denham applauded U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roy Blunt’s (R-MO) move to introduce the legislation, which he says will improve federal property management and reduce government spending inefficiencies.
“The Civilian Property Realignment Act would encourage consolidation, redevelopment and selling off federal properties to save the American people billions of dollars and maximize the properties’ rate of use,” said Denham.
“With our skyrocketing national debt, CPRA is one way to cut costs and pay down the deficit. Senators Warner and Blunt understand that this bill is critical to saving taxpayer dollars for hardworking Americans across the nation. I look forward to working with the Senators to see this legislation move through the Senate and to see my bill pass the House.”
Denham introduced the CPRA in the 112th Congress to eliminate duplicative federal properties and the unnecessary funding of underused public buildings. After the legislation passed the House last Congress with support from both parties, Denham re-introduced the legislation in February of this year.
The bill works in five ways to improve the federal property management process, Denham says. The CPRA would maximize space utilization and return to the taxpayer, reduce the use of costly leasing, create value in under-performing assets, and improve the overall management of federal properties.
Denham created the legislation as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management in the 112th Congress.
U. S. Sens. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are also original cosponsors of the CPRA.
