Congress of the Future: Better District Office Leasing
The Importance of District Offices
Congressional district offices play a vital role in our representative democracy by serving as the main connection point between Members of Congress and their constituents. Each member of the House of Representatives has at least one district office located within their congressional district.
District office staff work directly with constituents every day, constantly building and strengthening relationships within the community and serving as the eyes and ears for the Member of Congress about what is happening locally. District offices handle a wide array of in-person constituent services, including assisting constituents with federal agency issues, providing information on legislation and programs, conducting outreach, hosting meetings and events, convening local stakeholders, and more. These immense responsibilities require district staff to understand major industries, challenges, and local needs in order to best serve their representative duties.
Constituents rely on their legislator’s local office as an accessible way to have their voice heard. With an ever-increasing shift to government agencies going online, congressional offices should look to reinforce the importance of having in-person community interaction at the district level. Ensuring that district offices are accessible and responsive to constituents is an essential responsibility for every Member of Congress regardless of party. Further, making sure Congress is properly investing in strong district office operations helps to better uphold every representative’s mission.
The Current District Leasing System
Currently, each member of the House of Representatives manages the leasing of district offices on an individual basis. Finding accessible office space that meets security requirements can be a challenge, especially for newly elected lawmakers who want — and need — to set up district offices quickly. The furniture that is made available to district offices through the General Services Administration (GSA) is often outdated and mismatched. Setting up Internet service and syncing technology with the DC office can also be an arduous process for many. District office setup is time consuming for staff and can be troublesome for constituents, especially for those who have ongoing casework claims.
A Better Way Forward for District Offices
During the 116th and 117th Congress, the House Select Committee on Modernization (ModCom) held several hearings and staff discussions on ways to improve district offices. ModCom recommended the Committee on House Administration (CHA) look into negotiating House district offices leases to lower costs, improve consistency of rental rates, and save taxpayer dollars.
Another way to improve district office management and save taxpayer dollars would be to allow the GSA to manage these leases. The GSA already efficiently manages nearly 400 million square feet of federal properties across the country. Transferring district office leases to GSA management would allow for:
Consistency - The GSA can formulate consistent lease terms and acquisition standards rather than having individual members manage this.
Security - GSA oversight would allow for better threat assessment and safety protocols for district offices. This is increasingly important given threats against members of Congress.
Cost Savings - GSA professionals can negotiate better long-term lease rates than members signing two-year leases. This will lower costs for taxpayers.
Reliability - Longer leases means lawmakers offices stay in the same space, providing less confusion for constituents on the district office location.
Efficiency - If a space is re-used as a district office, any updates to that space (security, telecom, etc.) will be inherited by the next member, resulting in minimal setup time.
Recommendations and Potential Action Items
If the House of Representatives decides to go this route, the process would be led by the Committee on House Administration, which could consider hosting regular meetings with GSA to:
□ Outline a comprehensive list of all district office leases in the House of Representatives.
□ Develop a plan to transition existing district office leases to GSA management when leases are up for renewal.
□ Work with GSA to establish standard policies, procedures, and security protocols for district offices that can be consistently applied across all member offices.
□ Create a plan for GSA to negotiate long-term leases where possible to achieve cost savings. Their experience will allow them to secure favorable lease terms.
□ Evaluate potential cost savings after 1-2 years and redirect any savings to other legislative branch needs.
□ Develop a pilot program for several district offices to test so as to better understand the scope, feasibility, and cost
Investing in responsive, high-functioning district operations enables Congress as an institution to better serve the American people. The GSA is well-positioned to provide improved consistency, security, and cost savings when it comes to district offices. By having the GSA handle acquisition and leasing, uniform standards and long-term lease rates could be established across all House district offices.
