[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF OUR FEDERAL WORKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 1996

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern regarding 
the safety of our Nation's Government workers and urge the Congress to 
move forward in taking steps to protect these individuals as well as 
the integrity of our Federal facilities. Government workers, in our 
Nation's Capital and beyond, are

[[Page E1204]]

vulnerable to acts of terrorism, both domestic and international as was 
tragically illustrated by the bombings that occurred in Oklahoma City 
last year, and Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
  On June 28, 1995, immediately following the Oklahoma City bombing, 
President Clinton issued a memorandum directing the General Services 
Administration [GSA] to upgrade all Federal facilities with minimum 
security standards outlined in a Department of Justice study entitled 
``Vulnerability Assessment of Federal Facilities.'' One of the minimum 
security standards highlighted in the study is the retrofitting of 
security window film in all Federal facilities. I remember all too 
well, as I am sure we all do, the horrible pictures and film clips on 
the evening news of the victims in the bombing bloodied by the shards 
of glass that were propelled like bullets toward them when the widows 
of the building were blown out buy the blast. Even more devastating 
were the images of the babies and small children in the Federal day 
care facility who were severely injured and killed by the impact of the 
explosion.
  This technology will help us to avoid additional injuries or deaths 
in the future. Almost all of our Embassies, both here and abroad 
utilize security window film. The White House has it, the Pentagon has 
it, FEMA has it, and many of the museums in the Smithsonian have it. I 
concur with the President that before another tragedy occurs, all 
Government buildings should have it.
  It is my hope that we may move forward with improving the safety of 
our Federal workers who are disproportionately at risk of being victim 
to a terrorist act. I am aware that the GSA commissioned a study 
regarding the effectiveness of security window film and that the 
Department of Justice, Department of State and the Department of the 
Army have already conducted research that supported the use of window 
film for the purposes outlined in the President's memorandum. I urge 
GSA to promptly develop and implement a plan and budget for the upgrade 
of Federal facilities. The safety of our Government workers and their 
children hang in the balance.

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