Cedar Rapids Today

Today, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME-02) introduced the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act. This proposed legislation aims to relocate federal agencies from Washington, D.C., to regions closer to the communities they serve. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Joni Ernst.

Congresswoman Hinson emphasized the importance of moving federal agencies out of Washington, stating: “Moving federal agencies out of Washington and closer to the people most impacted will ensure that federal bureaucrats who have never left DC aren’t issuing out-of-touch mandates that disproportionately harm working families, small businesses, and our farmers who feed and fuel the world." She added that relocating these agencies could help "drain the swamp" by holding the government accountable and saving taxpayer dollars.

Congressman Golden highlighted how local expertise can be crucial in shaping regulations. “No one knows better than fishermen what it takes to make a living on the water," he said. He believes redistributing federal jobs would embed regulators within communities directly affected by their decisions, thus ensuring more grounded policymaking.

Senator Ernst criticized current regulatory practices, saying: “Biden’s bureaucrats are writing regulations and bogging down households, family farms, and small businesses with arbitrary rules.” She expressed support for the SWAMP Act as a means to "drain the swamp" and increase accountability among bureaucrats.

The SWAMP Act proposes prohibiting new constructions or major renovations for non-national security-related agency headquarters in D.C., while establishing competitive bidding processes for relocating these headquarters outside of Washington.