Number:  113-10
Date:  August 2, 2013

House Passes H.R. 313,
the Government Spending Accountability Act of 2013

On July 31, 2013, the House passed H.R. 313, the Government Spending Accountability Act of 2013, as amended, by voice vote.  The bill would limit Federal agency spending on travel and conferences and require reports on such issues to Congress.  The bill now moves to the Senate for further action. 

Following are provisions of interest to SSA:

• Would limit Federal agencies to spend no more than $500,000 on a conference unless the agency head waives the limit after determining the expenditure is the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose.  Agencies would be required to submit a report on the waiver, and their justification for it, to the appropriate congressional committees.

• Would require agencies to post on their public websites each quarter of each fiscal year (FY) a report on conferences costing more than $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months.  Would also require agencies to post on their public websites detailed information on any presentation made by an employee at a conference.

• Would limit aggregate travel expenses of Federal agencies for each year from FY 2014 through FY 2018 to 70 percent of the aggregate amount of its travel expenses for FY 2010.

• Would require the head of each agency to report to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on the impacts, if any, of travel expense limits on the agency’s mission, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to perform core functions.

• Would be effective upon enactment.