Real Property Asset Management The PMA is also helping agencies ensure that they efficiently manage the hundreds of billions of dollars in real property that the Federal Government owns. The Federal Real Property Council has developed standards for how Federal agencies should initiate improvements to property management. Among the standards is: using timely and accurate inventory data and performance measures in evaluating property acquisition, maintenance, and disposal decisions. To facilitate these efforts, the Budget proposes to expand disposal authorities for the Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-three of the largest property-holding agencies. The proposed authorities streamline the disposal process, allowing these agencies to take a more timely and cost-effective approach to right-sizing their property inventories. The Scorecard To ensure that Federal agencies are accountable for improving their management, the Administration established a scorecard that rates agency efforts green, yellow, or red. Each PMA initiative has specific long-term goals intended to establish management practices and disciplines that foster a more effective and results-oriented Government. These goals are known as the Standards for Success and can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/results/agenda/standards.pdf. Green status represents full achievement of all of the goals for a particular initiative; yellow represents an intermediate level of achievement; and red indicates that agency has at least one deficiency. Agencies have action plans to achieve the goals of the PMA, and each quarter receive progress ratings of their adherence to their implementation plans and the quality of their work. While the Federal Government has had management improvement goals in the past, the scorecard and detailed action plans give unprecedented emphasis to holding the Government accountable for achieving its goals. The agency chapters provide an update on each agency's implementation of the PMA. A scorecard reflecting status and progress scores as of December 31, 2004 follows. Each quarter an updated scorecard is available at www.whitehouse.gov/results/agenda/ scorecard.html. Coordination of VA and DOD Programs and Because this is the first quarter that agency efforts in the Eliminating Improper Payments Initiative were rated, progress scores were not given. • Ensuring an economically sound future for American agriculture by providing a financial safety net for farmers and promoting free and fair trade, while promoting more efficient production decisions and reducing agricultural subsidies. • Supporting rural telecommunications with broadband loans. Protecting America • Protecting the food supply by ensuring enforcement of food safety and security standards at meat, poultry, and egg products plants and protecting agriculture from pest infestations and disease. • Maintaining the commitment to protect the agriculture and food system against intentional or unintentional contamination. Supporting a Compassionate Society • Providing important nutrition programs, including the Food Stamp, School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Child and Adult Care Food programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. • Helping tenants displaced from traditional rural multifamily housing units. |