FOCUS Act
The FOCUS Act requires federal agencies managing buildings to report cost overruns exceeding 5% or significant scope changes (over 5%) to Congress with explanations, and limits scope shifts to 10% without approval. It mandates the General Services Administration (GSA) to collect safety incident data from federal agencies and submit a report to Congress within 180 days on building safety improvements. The bill also requires agencies to provide detailed space utilization data for new projects, including justification for not consolidating offices, and directs the Comptroller General to review underused spaces like conference centers for efficiency. These provisions directly affect federal agencies and GSA, aiming to reduce waste and improve oversight through mandatory reporting and interagency coordination.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2023
Committee Review
Mar 2024
House Passage
Mar 2024
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Nov 7, 2023
Last action Mar 20, 2024
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced in House
→
Engrossed in House
·
2 edits
·
Mar 19, 2024
MINOR
The Engrossed version adds two substantive provisions: a new requirement that the GSA Administrator state whether proposed leased space was formerly met by a federally owned building (including buildings identified for disposal or sale), and an entirely new Section 7 requiring written notification to Congress of key project milestones such as design/construction awards, NEPA completion, ceremonies, and project completion. These changes strengthen congressional oversight of federal construction and leasing decisions.
Scope change
The bill's oversight scope expanded from focusing on cost overruns, safety data, space utilization, and interagency coordination to also include transparency about whether leased space duplicates existing federally owned buildings, and ongoing milestone reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
REQUIREMENT
New paragraph (10) in Section 4 requires the GSA Administrator to include a statement in the prospectus for any proposed lease of space indicating whether that need was formerly met by a federally owned building, including any building identified for disposal or sale. This targets the practice of leasing new space when existing government-owned buildings could potentially serve the same purpose.
ENFORCEMENT
Entirely new Section 7 (Notification of milestones) requires the GSA Administrator to notify Congress in writing of five categories of project milestones: solicitation and award of design and construction services, completion of NEPA actions, ceremonies for beginning or completion of a project, naming ceremonies, and final project completion.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Mar 20, 2024
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
upper
Mar 19, 2024
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1209-1210)
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1209-1210)
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Introduced
Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Mar 6, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-410.
lower
Nov 15, 2023
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
lower
Nov 15, 2023
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Nov 15, 2023
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
lower
Nov 8, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
lower
Nov 7, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
lower
Nov 7, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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