Smart Space Act of 2026
Floor Speech
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Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support my bill, the Smart Space Act of 2026, legislation that modernizes how the Federal Government manages its real estate portfolio.
Today, the Federal Government holds billions of dollars in underutilized and outdated Federal buildings, while hardworking American taxpayers are left to cover the costs of their repair, upkeep, and maintenance.
If Congress is serious about being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, then Congress must also be serious about how the Federal Government manages its real estate.
This is exactly what the Smart Space Act is designed to do.
The Smart Space Act requires the General Services Administration to convene real estate experts to identify alternative financing solutions for acquisition of or disposal of Federal properties through leveraging public-private partnership.
These partnerships have been used successfully by both the private sector and State governments for years to modernize infrastructure while keeping costs at bay.
Public-private partnerships are proven to lower long-run costs, minimize taxpayer exposure, and deliver reliable infrastructure more efficiently than traditional Federal procurement methods.
Importantly, this legislation does not mandate any new construction or spend a single taxpayer dollar. Instead, it creates a framework for disciplined decisionmaking while retaining full congressional and Presidential oversight.
It also encourages the Federal Government to engage in public-private partnerships, which is both a practical and responsible step toward modernizing our Federal infrastructure while ensuring fiscal discipline.
The Smart Space Act is about doing more with less, respecting the taxpayer, and bringing common sense to how the Federal Government finances its core assets.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Graves for his leadership and commitment to advancing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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