Approval of Federal Leases to be Delayed Again

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) this afternoon expressed her regret and dismay that the federal agency leases she fully expected and had every reason to believe the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management would approve this week have been removed from the markup schedule, causing further delay after 14 months of review. More review is underway, but the Congresswoman is pushing for some leases to be approved at the next full committee hearing. Norton said some of the leases are merely renewals of existing leases, and that these renewals have been urgent for many months. Particularly considering the possibility of leases in holdover status, the delay is putting the government at risk for increased costs. She said that the delay has been harmful considering the fragile recovery, and that approving resolutions with appropriate protection for taxpayers would be a considerable benefit to the economy and taxpayers alike. The Senate committee of jurisdiction approved these leases last July.

Published: February 29, 2012