Legislative Activity

The "Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act" increases penalties for obstructing immigration, border, and customs controls. It establishes new federal crimes for sharing information about law enforcement activities with the intent to further a federal crime, and for damaging or evading border control devices. The act also enhances penalties for alien smuggling when a firearm is involved and extends the statute of limitations for related offenses.

The "DRAIN THE SWAMP Act" mandates the relocation of at least 30% of Executive agency headquarters employees out of the Washington, D.C., area, adjusting their pay to the new locality and eliminating full-time telework. It also requires agencies to reduce their headquarters office space by at least 30% and to include detailed employee location and telework data in budget submissions to Congress. This act takes precedence over any conflicting laws or agreements, and prevents lawsuits challenging actions taken under it.

The "SWAMP Act" prohibits the relocation of Executive agency headquarters to the Washington metropolitan area and requires a competitive bidding process for agencies seeking relocation, allowing any U.S. state or its political subdivisions to submit proposals. Existing headquarters in the Washington metropolitan area are restricted from new construction or lease renewals, unless explicitly allowed by law. The selection of relocation sites will be based on factors like economic impact, expertise, and national security. The Act is to be carried out using existing resources, with the Administrator of General Services authorized to use proceeds from the sale of Federal buildings or land to offset relocation costs.

The REMOTE Act mandates executive departments to monitor and report on the network usage of teleworking employees, comparing their login activity and network traffic to that of employees working from headquarters. It requires the use of Personal Identity Verification Cards or Common Access Cards for logins and directs the publication of this data in budget justification materials, while protecting personally identifiable information. Additionally, the act amends reporting requirements for Chief Human Capital Officers, requiring them to detail telework's impact and provide justification for telework revocations.