Specific to the GSA SmartPay Program:

S. 1099, Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2017
S. 1616 increases oversight of federal agencies’ use of the purchase and travel accounts. The legislation establishes an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review within the Government Services Administration (GSA) to examine purchases made using federal charge cards. Under S. 1616, GSA also would establish an interagency task force to facilitate the sharing of information and to promote best practices to reduce fraud and improper payments. Finally, S. 1616 would require GSA to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of those efforts.

Based on information from GSA regarding the current government charge card program, CBO estimates that implementing S.1616 would cost $65 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting S.1616 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

 

Specific to Purchase:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5)

  • A section on the Tax Increase Prevention and  Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA)
  • Delays the withholding of tax on government contractors until December 31, 2011 (one-year delay from the original date)

Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 (P.L 112-194)

  • Requires all federal agencies to establish certain safeguards and internal controls for government charge card programs, and to establish penalties for violations, including dismissal when circumstances warrant
  • Increases oversight by providing that each agency Inspector General periodically conduct risk assessments and audits to identify fraud and improper use of government charge cards
  • Please click here to view the S.300 Enrolled OMB Crosswalk document

Specific to Travel:

Public Law 105-264, Travel and Transportation Reform Act (TTRA) of 1998:

  • Mandates that Federal employees use the government travel charge card for all payments of expenses related to official government travel
  • Exemptions are allowed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 41, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 300-304
  • For example, employees who travel five times or less a year are exempt from mandatory use of the government travel charge card— per the discretion of an agency/organization’s policy

Public Law 109-115, Section 846 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2006:

  • Requires agencies/organizations to assess the creditworthiness of first-time IBA travel charge card applicants prior to issuing a card

Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 (P.L 112-194)

  • Requires all federal agencies to establish certain safeguards and internal controls for government charge card programs, and to establish penalties for violations, including dismissal when circumstances warrant
  • Increases oversight by providing that each agency Inspector General periodically conduct risk assessments and audits to identify fraud and improper use of government charge cards

P.L. 115-34 – Modernizing Government Travel Act – enacted May 16, 2017

Requires the head of each federal agency to report information on travel and transportation expenditures, relocation expenditures, and number of trips for official Government travel. This information is reported to the Administrator of the General Services Administration and must be approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Note: GSA FTR bulletin 16-05 dated July 27, 2016 also addresses this issue.

 

Specific to Fleet:

Public Law 116-160 also known as the Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act (CHARGE Act):

  • Federal agencies may pay by charge card for the charging of Federal electric motor vehicles, and for other purposes

Sources of Public Law:

National Archives and Records Administration, Code of Federal Regulations
https://www.archives.gov/

Legislation Information from the Library of Congress
http://thomas.loc.gov/