WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two bipartisan bills led by U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) to strengthen federal oversight and improve safety at federal buildings passed the House unanimously this week. Both measures now head to the Senate.
Stanton serves as the Ranking Member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management with jurisdiction over federal property.
"Following last year's abrupt federal lease terminations by DOGE, it’s clear that Congress needs greater transparency into how federal property is managed to ensure taxpayer money is used responsibly and Americans aren’t losing access to critical services," said Rep. Stanton. "At the same time, federal employees deserve safe, secure workplaces—and in times of crisis, clear communication can be the difference between life and death."
The GSA last produced a comprehensive State of the Portfolio report in 2013, leaving Congress without a clear accounting of the federal real estate footprint for over a decade. In 2025 and 2026, leases were terminated overnight, buildings were emptied, and entire agencies were displaced, all while Congress was kept in the dark.
H.R. 6480 responds directly to the aggressive reshaping of the federal government's real estate portfolio in recent years.
Stanton's legislation directs the Administrator of General Services to submit an annual report to Congress documenting every lease signed and terminated, every square foot leased and occupied, every GSA-owned building disposed of, and every plan to relocate federal agencies. The bill was cosponsored by Representative Scott Perry (R-Pa.).
Stanton spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 6480 ahead of passage. His full remarks are HERE.
The second bill, H.R. 6481, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act, establishes emergency communication protocols for federal buildings during threats or dangerous situations.
In 2024 alone, there were more than 3,500 recorded incidents at federal facilities nationwide — including 763 threats, 142 weapons violations, nine arson attacks, three homicides, and one kidnapping. The bill also addresses natural disaster threats, directing agencies to develop protocols in the wake of catastrophic storms like Hurricanes Katrina, Irma, and Maria, which severely damaged dozens of federal facilities.
The legislation directs the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Federal Protective Service to develop and disseminate clear, actionable emergency communication guidance — including best practices for informing building tenants of threats and instructions for safety responses to heightened risks. The bill was cosponsored by Representative Perry.
Stanton spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 6481 ahead of passage. His full remarks are HERE.