Congressman French Hill announced the General Services Administration has received his latest Golden Fleece Award for what he described as wasting millions of taxpayer dollars maintaining unused federal property.
Hill said the GSA has failed to efficiently dispose of surplus federal buildings and land despite authority granted under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.
The Arkansas congressman pointed specifically to a long-vacant U.S. Forest Service property in Perry County Arkansas that local leaders have attempted to acquire for years.
According to Hill, the building could be used for youth programs, agricultural education, conservation efforts, and as a meeting space for the 4-H Youth Development Program and University of Arkansas Extension services.
Hill criticized the federal public benefit conveyance process, calling it overly complex and unnecessarily slow for rural communities like Perry County.
In a letter to GSA Administrator Ed Frost, Hill said local governments should not need an act of Congress to transfer unused federal property for community use while taxpayers continue paying maintenance costs on vacant buildings.
Hill also raised concerns about inconsistent federal tracking data regarding public benefit conveyances and surplus property management.
The congressman said he remains committed to reducing unnecessary federal spending and improving accountability involving unused federal assets.
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