Senate approves GSA reorganization bill
Vermont Independent had placed a hold on the bill, delaying it for months.
Legislation to consolidate the General Services Administration's two revolving funds passed the Senate Wednesday by unanimous consent, after Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., released a hold he had placed on the bill.
The agency has pushed Congress for more than a year to pass a law consolidating the funding for the Federal Technology Service and Federal Supply Service procurement organizations into a single Federal Acquisition Service fund. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., introduced the House version of the bill (H.R. 2066) for a combined fund in May 2005.
The measure quickly gained House approval, but languished in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee until May, when the committee amended the bill to strike House language stipulating that GSA appoint five regional executives for the Federal Acquisition Service.
Jeffords placed his hold on the bill in June, in connection with a bill aimed at improving environmental efficiency in the federal government through encouraging use of "green" buildings (S.3591), according to a Senate source. Jeffords' office had no comment.
GSA has taken internal steps to combine its two procurement organizations, but the merger will remain incomplete without a law combining the funds.
A GSA official said in January that the agency hopes to have 90 percent of the restructuring complete this month.