H. Rept. 114-664 - TO PERMIT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TO ACCEPT CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TO DISPOSE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY IN ITS POSSESSION114th Congress (2015-2016)
Committee Report
| Report Type: | House Report |
|---|---|
| Accompanies: | H.R.4733 |
| Committees: |
H. Rept. 114-664 - 114th Congress (2015-2016)
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House Report 114-664 - TO PERMIT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TO ACCEPT CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TO DISPOSE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY IN ITS POSSESSION
[House Report 114-664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-664
======================================================================
TO PERMIT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TO ACCEPT CERTAIN PROPERTY
FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TO DISPOSE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY IN ITS
POSSESSION
_______
July 5, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mrs. Miller of Michigan, from the Committee on House Administration,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4733]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4733) to permit the United States Capitol Police
to accept certain property from other Federal agencies and to
dispose of certain property in its possession, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment
and recommend that the bill do pass.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 4733 (Brady of Pennsylvania)--To permit the United
States Capitol Police to accept certain property from other
Federal agencies and to dispose of certain property in its
possession.
This bill would allow the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) to
dispose of property they acquire through forfeiture, voluntary
abandonment, or simply being unclaimed rather than absorb
infrastructure and space costs related to storing them.
Further, the USCP would be allowed to accept certain types of
surplus equipment from other government and federal agencies,
similar to other equipment donation programs currently in place
throughout the Executive Branch of government.
Background and Need for the Legislation
Currently the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is authorized to
dispose of only its own surplus or obsolete property. The USCP
stores any property and items that are left in public spaces of
the Capitol and Congressional buildings. These types of items
can include electronics, jewelry, bikes, etc. Current
legislation does not provide USCP with the authority to dispose
or remove these items from their possession, so all materials
remain in storage. This bill would allow them to dispose of
assets they acquire through disposal, forfeiture, voluntary
abandonment, or simply being unclaimed rather than absorb
infrastructure and space costs related to storing them. The
USCP would model its disposal program after the Executive
Branch property regulations, which are managed by the General
Services Administration. Specific mechanisms could include
interagency transfer, donation, sale by an auctioneer, trade-
in, or other appropriate methods. It is important to note that
H.R. 4733 would not be applicable to narcotics and weapons, as
these types of items remain in the possession of the USCP
during investigations. Once investigations are completed,
property is disposed of through the Metropolitan Police
Department of the District of Columbia.
In addition, the legislation would allow the USCP to accept
surplus or obsolete property from other Federal agencies and
offices upon notifying the House and Senate Committee on
Appropriations. This type of program is widespread among
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as GSA
administers a number of similar types of efforts. Donation of
surplus equipment could potentially be a cost-efficient option
for USCP to add value in certain areas of need if there is a
functional use or purpose to the property.
Conclusion
This legislation would put the U.S. Capitol Police on
similar standing to other federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies. Allowing USCP to dispose of property
currently taking up storage space and other resources is a
needed measure to ensure that these items are not held
indefinitely. The USCP will be able to follow established laws,
regulations and programs implemented in the Executive Branch to
handle surplus equipment and donations, and amending the
current law allows USCP to better utilize, organize, and manage
resources.
Introduction and Referral
On March 14, 2016, Rep. Robert Brady (PA-1) introduced H.R.
4733, which was referred to the Committee on House
Administration.
Hearings
There were no legislative hearings held on H.R. 4733.
Committee Consideration
On May 17, 2016, the Committee on House Administration met
to consider H.R. 4733. The Committee ordered the bill reported
favorably to the House without amendment by voice vote with a
quorum present.
Committee Record Votes
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(b), requiring
the results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to
report, together with the names of those voting for and
against, to be printed in the Committee report, the Committee
states that there were no record votes during the Committee's
consideration of H.R. 4733.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1), the
Committee states that the findings and recommendations of the
Committee, based on oversight activities under House Rule X,
clause 2(b)(1), are incorporated into the general discussion
section of this report.
Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items
The bill does not provide new budget authority, new
spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under
House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2), and section 308(a)(1) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is not required.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, H.R. 4733 does not provide any new
spending or savings.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 13, 2016.
Hon. Candice Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4733, a bill to
permit the United States Capitol Police to accept certain
property from other Federal agencies and to dispose of certain
property in its possession.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew
Pickford.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
H.R. 4733--A bill to permit the United States Capitol Police to accept
certain property from other Federal agencies and to dispose of
certain property in its possession
Under current law, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) cannot
dispose of personal property that has been abandoned,
forfeited, or unclaimed by the public (such as jewelry, bikes,
and electronics) and is recovered by the USCP in the course of
police activities. H.R. 4733 would permit the USCP to dispose
of such property. In addition, the legislation would permit the
USCP to accept surplus or obsolete personal property (including
items such as furniture, office supplies, and construction
equipment) offered by other federal agencies.
Based on information from the USCP and the General Services
Administration about the current federal program for donating
surplus or obsolete personal property and the amount of such
property that USCP would dispose of, CBO estimates that
implementing the legislation would have no significant effect
on the federal budget. Because the bill would not affect direct
spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4733 would not increase
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 4733 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew
Pickford. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Performance Goals and Objectives
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4), the
Committee states that the general discussion section of this
report includes a statement of the general performance goals
and objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives.
Duplication of Federal Programs
In compliance with Sec. 3(g)(2) of H. Res. 5 (114th
Congress), the Committee states that no provision of the bill
establishes or reauthorizes: (1) a program of the Federal
Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program;
(2) a program included in any report from the Government
Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of
Public Law 111-139; or (3) a program related to a program
identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance, published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Pub. L. No. 95-220, as amended by Pub. L. No.
98-169).
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
In compliance with Sec. 3(i) of H. Res. 5 (114th Congress),
the following statement is made concerning directed rule
makings: The Committee estimates that the bill requires no
directed rule makings within the meaning of such section.
Information Relating to Unfunded Mandates
This information is provided in accordance with section 423
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-
4). The Committee has determined that the bill contains no
unfunded mandate on the private sector, nor does it impose a
Federal intergovernmental mandate on State, local, or tribal
governments.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant
to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution granting
Congress the authority to exercise exclusive legislation in all
cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles
square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of
the United States.
Advisory on Earmarks
In accordance with House Rule XXI, clause 9, the Committee
states that H.R. 4733 does not contain any congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of Rule XXI.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 1003 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003
Sec. 1003. Disposal of Surplus Property. (a) In General.--
Within the limits of available appropriations, the Capitol
Police may dispose of [surplus or obsolete property of the
Capitol Police] surplus or obsolete property of the Capitol
Police, and property which is in the possession of the Capitol
Police because it has been disposed, forfeited, voluntarily
abandoned, or unclaimed, by interagency transfer, donation,
sale, trade-in, or other appropriate method.
(b) Amounts Received.--Any amounts received by the Capitol
Police from the disposition of property under subsection (a)
shall be credited to the account established for the general
expenses of the Capitol Police, and shall be available to carry
out the purposes of such account during the fiscal year in
which the amounts are received and the following fiscal year.
(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply to fiscal year
2003 and each fiscal year thereafter.
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