PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Readiness.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 3, 1997
Federal Surplus Property Reform Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to repeal the authority of the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service to receive requests for the transfer to foreign countries or international organizations in foreign assistance or military sales programs of excess supplies of Department of Defense (DOD) construction and fire equipment. Authorizes the Administrator of General Services, instead, to receive such requests. Limits to nonlethal the type of excess supplies that may be transferred. Allows such transfer for humanitarian relief purposes. Requires the President to certify to the Congress the emergency necessity for any such transaction. Amends specified Federal law to repeal the general delegation to the Secretary of Defense of disposal authority over personal property. Repeals the mandate for DOD participation in infrastructure improvement demonstration programs conducted by Regional Equipment Centers in Newport Township and Cambria County, Pennsylvania. (Sec. 3) Repeals general authority to transfer surplus property to disadvantaged small businesses. (Sec. 4) Repeals the authority of the Secretary of Energy to transfer surplus equipment to an educational institution with which it has a partnership agreement. (Sec. 5) Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to repeal the authority of a Federal agency head or the director of a Federal laboratory to give excess research equipment to an educational institution or nonprofit organization. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the Administrator of General Services to delegate such transfer authority to the director of a Federal laboratory.
People & committees
Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] · D–MN
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Readiness.
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Referred to House International Relations
Referred to House Science
Referred to House Small Business
Referred to House National Security
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committees on National Security, Small Business, Science, and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Government Reform
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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