This bill requires federal agencies to calculate and publicly disclose the costs associated with relocating their offices or headquarters. It promotes transparency about the financial impact of government relocations on taxpayers and affected communities.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill requires federal agencies to calculate and publicly disclose the costs associated with relocating their offices or headquarters. It promotes transparency about the financial impact of government relocations on taxpayers and affected communities.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the</strong> <strong>CHOICE Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands school choice programs for elementary and secondary school students.</p><p>The bill specifies that a student in the District of Columbia must, in order to qualify for an opportunity scholarship, be currently enrolled, or be enrolled for the next school year, in a public or private elementary or secondary school.</p><p>The bill also authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to support the design and implementation of state programs that allow the parent of a child with a disability to choose the appropriate public or private school for their child. It also outlines the requirements for program eligibility.</p><p>Further, if the state has established a program that allows parents to use public or private funds to assist with the cost of their child attending a private school, then the state may supplement those funds with federal special education funds.</p><p>Additionally, the Department of Defense must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose.</p><p>The bill also requires ED to return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires cost calculations for federal agency relocations
Mandates public disclosure of relocation expenses
Includes direct and indirect cost assessments
Covers impact on employees and communities
Promotes accountability in government real estate decisions
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Taxpayers would have better visibility into how much it costs when federal agencies move their offices. This comes after controversial relocations of agencies like USDA research divisions, where critics said moves were designed to force employee attrition rather than improve efficiency.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
487, 119th Congress (2025). "COST of Relocations Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-487
