FY 2014 Conference Spending (reported January 30, 2015)

As part of the Administration’s conference transparency initiative, HUD has implemented a departmental conference review, approval and reporting process to ensure that appropriated funds are spent properly relative to our essential mission. Through the Campaign to Cut Waste (CCW) and other management initiatives, managers throughout the department are thoroughly evaluating ways to leverage technology when possible and maximize the benefit from the expenditures on conferences and travel. To this end, HUD has also increased the use of webcasts and online trainings in place of in person conferences and meetings.

HUD’s conference process includes input from within HUD and from our constituents on the required training and information exchange that is best accomplished in person. With proper internal controls, HUD’s leadership is confident that we will continue to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.

On May 11, 2012, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum-12-12 “Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Operations” (M-12-12). HUD provides information on conferences, as defined in footnote (4) of M-12-12:

⁴"Conference" is defined in this memorandum as it is in the FTR, as "[a] meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium or event that involves attendee travel. The term 'conference' also applies to training activities that are considered to be conferences under 5 CFR 410.404." See 41 CFR 300-3.1.

HUD is reporting on each conference sponsored by HUD during the prior fiscal year (FY) where US Government appropriated funds were expended in excess of $100,000.

Conferences in excess of $500,000

One conference sponsored by HUD during the FY ended September 30, 2014 (FY 2014) expended appropriated federal funds in excess of $500,000.

Conferences in excess of $100,000

Five events sponsored by HUD during FY 2014 meets the definition of ‘conference’ above and incurred the expenditure of appropriated funds in excess of $100,000. The following information is presented, per the guidance in M-12-12, for this conference:

sponsoring HUD program office
conference name
location
date
total number of individuals whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were paid by HUD
total conference expenses incurred
brief explanation how the conference advanced HUD’s mission

Listing of HUD FY 2014 Sponsored Conferences Over $100k
Program Office The link to each program office home page is provided below	Conference (Name, Location and Date)	Number of Payees	Total Conference Expenses	How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency
Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH)	2014 National Healthy Homes Conference Location: Nashville, TN Date: May 28-30, 2014	30	$1,004,000	This conference, with more than 1,100 attendees, was vital to furthering HUD's mission of ensuring that families have safe, decent and sanitary housing to reside in, in addition to reducing injuries and harm from unnecessary and costly housing-related health hazards. Participants chose from more than 130 educational sessions and workshops giving attendees opportunities to share best practices and learn from experts committed to improving their communities. 2014 National Healthy Homes Conference Waiver for Exceptional Circumstances
Office of General Counsel (OGC)	OGC 2014 Field Managers Training Session Location: Washington, DC Date: July 15-18, 2014	85	$127,049	This annual event provides substantive and managerial training and essential information to OGC managers who direct the work of attorneys and Departmental Enforcement Center staff. The training seminar included sessions offering 19-22.5 hours of continuing legal education credits (depending upon the states in which the attorneys are barred). The training seminar included sessions on new loan closing processes and the Rental Assistance Demonstration project; policies with respect to senior housing; Olmstead implementation; changes to Parts 84 and 85 in the OMB Circular; labor-management agreements; breakout sessions for the DEC managers; updates from the Department's senior leaders, including HUD's Inspector General; and a day-long training session on handling stress in the workplace and leading employees who are under stress. This is particularly necessary after sequestration, furlough, the government shutdown, and the impacts of the Department's transformation on field office operations.
Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH)	PIH Office of Field Operations (OFO) Directors Training Conference Location: Dearborn, MI Date: September 9-11, 2014	110	$132,000	OFO conducted Network Business Meetings, an opportunity for PIH/OFO leadership to introduce, implement and further share OFO's Public Housing Authority oversight, monitoring and operational strategy using a risk based approach, and to discuss key program and systems updates, resources, accomplishments and team expectations. The Leadership Development Training required interactive group activities that cannot be accomplished through other virtual technology means. The Leadership Training included eight hours of targeted training on solution-focused leadership and focused strategies for successful leadership. Outside training vendors were selected based on the organization's years-long training background, experience and knowledge-base in these specific areas of focus for OFO's current and incoming management team.
Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH)	Choice Neighborhoods Grantee Conference Location: Arlington, VA Date: June 18-19, 2014	28	$128,000	The conference, with 227 participants, furthered the Department's mission and strategic goals by providing hands-on, interactive training and best-practice tools to grantees and in-depth opportunities for grantees to share knowledge and lessons with peers and experts. As a critical mechanism for delivering technical assistance to grantees, the conference accelerated the successful implementation of HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program across the country.
Ginnie Mae	Ginnie Mae 2014 Summit Location: Arlington, VA Date: September 22-23, 2014	0	$137,000	The purpose of this event was to familiarize Ginnie Mae partners (issuers, document custodians, employees, and contractors) with our business model, operations and plans and inform them of major initiatives, program changes and developments that are occurring and have the potential to substantially impact the way Ginnie Mae does business with them. This event also provided an opportunity to provide training to a larger issuer base than our regular quarterly sessions allow. Ginnie Mae also benefitted from the opportunity to receive feedback and recommendations directly from the issuer base.
Total			$1,528,049

During October of 2011 the HUD Deputy Secretary implemented M-11-35. HUD's executive team has been personally involved in the review and approval of both HUD sponsored and non-HUD sponsored conferences. The General Deputy Assistant Secretary (GDAS) (or equivalent) in each program and administrative office authorizes each conference expenditures for their organization. For any conference over $20k, the GDAS also requested two additional approvals from the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Secretary. The Office of the Chief Financial Officer serves as the single channel for both these approvals and reporting.

Conferences are an important component of our mission critical activity. Through these efforts we continue to reduce spending and properly prioritize the limited funding available.

Please visit the conference reporting website of HUD Office of the Inspector General for the conference reporting by HUD OIG.