WASHINGTON, D.C.
Two months after congressional passage of severe restrictions on government/private-sector interaction, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has agreed to legislation that amends proposed travel controls on federal government employees.
On May 7, the U.S. House and Senate proposed legislation that would have limited the ability of government employees to attend conventions and other functions hosted by trade associations and other private groups. Among other things, the restrictions originally contained in two bills would have limited any federal agency from spending money on ‘more than a single conference sponsored or organized by an organization during any fiscal year, unless the agency is the primary sponsor and organizer of the conference.’
The American Society of Association Executives and 2,100 other entities sent a letter to Congress on May 7 that called the measures overly broad and argued that they would restrict representatives of federal agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Association, from attending important events and conferences.
Now, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has passed HR 4631, ‘The GSA Act of 2012,’ which contains language addressing both the concerns about government travel and those of the letter signers. Included in the bill is a change to the original proposal that would have prohibited federal employees from attending more than one conference held annually by a private organization. Also, included in the bill is a change in the definition of a conference to any meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium or event to which an employee travels 25 miles or more to attend.
