Bill > HR514

This bill, known as the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act, establishes a comprehensive process for relocating the headquarters of most executive agencies out of the Washington metropolitan area. The bill defines executive agencies broadly, while specifically excluding certain sensitive departments like Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and intelligence agencies. Under this legislation, the Administrator of General Services must create a competitive bidding process within one year, allowing states and their political subdivisions to submit proposals for hosting an agency's headquarters. The selection process will consider potential economic impacts, the submitting location's expertise relative to the agency's mission, and national security implications. Existing agency headquarters in the Washington metropolitan area can remain in place, but they are prohibited from undertaking new construction, renovations, or entering new lease agreements. The bill mandates that the relocation process be funded through existing administrative budgets, potentially using proceeds from the sale of federal buildings to offset relocation costs. Importantly, the bill aims to decentralize federal agency operations by encouraging their dispersal across different states, potentially bringing federal jobs and economic benefits to new regions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/514/all-info