WASHINGTON-House and Senate appropriations panels last week refused to earmark funds to relocate the Federal Communications Commission to the Portals, actions FCC Chairman Bill Kennard said could force a four-week furlough of employees.
A House appropriations subcommittee cut FCC funding by $5 million, while a Senate appropriations committee increased it by $11 million. The agency’s budget for fiscal 1998, which ends Sept. 30, is $186.5 million.
The House panel included language stating that no funds can be used for Portals rent or relocation expenses until current congressional and Justice Department investigations find that the lease was entered into lawfully.
The subcommittee reportedly considered but dropped a proposal to give the FCC its own leasing authority.
The Senate appropriations committee said Congress would consider programming FCC monies if the Portals move goes forward.
The Government Services Administration has ordered the FCC to move, but the agency said it will not do so until safety and other concerns are addressed.
Taxpayers have paid $14 million on the empty and still unfinished Portals building to date.
