Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) recently announced his new bill that would cut nearly $5 billion in annual federal travel expenses by replacing travel with video teleconferencing technology.
The proposed bill, the Stay in Place, Cut the Waste Act of 2013, would require all federal agencies to submit their travel expense reports to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee within six months of the travel dates. The bill would also require the Office of Management and Budget to submit a plan to cut agency spending by 50 percent by 2017.
“This common-sense legislation can make government both more efficient and can save hardworking taxpayers billions of dollars annually,” Fitzpatrick said. “By calling on federal agencies to cut their travel expenses in half and replace them with the video-conferencing technology we already have at our disposal, we can fundamentally change the way the government communicates and operates.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 50 percent cut in travel spending would result in annual savings of nearly $5 billion.
“This bill would bring the federal government into the 21st century, forcing it to utilize the available, effective, cost-saving technology that’s out there,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity to make a serious change that we all can agree on.”
Fitzpatrick’s proposed bill has been referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.