[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 116 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8072-H8075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              BAYLEE'S LAW

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (4519) to amend the Public Buildings Act of 1959 concerning the 
safety and security of children enrolled in childcare facilities 
located in public buildings under the control of the General Services 
Administration, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4519

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

                         TITLE I--BAYLEE'S LAW

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as ``Baylee's Law''.

     SEC. 102. SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CHILDREN IN CHILDCARE 
                   FACILITIES.

       The Public Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 22. SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CHILDREN IN CHILDCARE 
                   FACILITIES.

       ``(a) Written Notice to Parents or Guardians.--
       ``(1) Initial notification.--Before the enrollment of any 
     child in a childcare facility located in a public building 
     under the control of the Administrator, the Administrator 
     shall provide to the parents or guardians of the child a 
     written notification containing--
       ``(A) an identification of the current tenants in the 
     public building; and
       ``(B) the designation of the level of security of the 
     public building.
       ``(2) Notification of new tenants.--After providing a 
     written notification to the parents or guardians of a child 
     under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall provide to the 
     parents or guardians a written notification if any new 
     Federal tenant is scheduled to take occupancy in the public 
     building.
       ``(b) Notification of Serious Threats to Safety or 
     Security.--As soon as practicable after being informed of a 
     serious threat, as determined by the Administrator, that 
     could affect the safety and security of children enrolled in 
     a childcare facility in a public building under the control 
     of the Administrator, the Administrator shall provide notice 
     of the threat to the parents or guardians of each child in 
     the facility.
       ``(c) Report to Congress.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Administrator shall transmit 
     to Congress a comprehensive report on childcare facilities in 
     public buildings under the control of the Administrator.
       ``(2) Contents.--The report to be transmitted under 
     paragraph (1) shall include--
       ``(A) an identification and description of each childcare 
     facility located in a public building under the control of 
     the Administrator; and
       ``(B) an assessment of the level of safety and security of 
     children enrolled in the childcare facility and 
     recommendations on methods for enhancing that safety and 
     security.
       ``(3) Windows and interior furnishings.--In conducting an 
     assessment of a childcare facility under paragraph (2)(B), 
     the Administrator shall examine the windows and interior 
     furnishings of the facility to determine whether adequate 
     protective measures have been implemented to protect children 
     in the facility against the dangers associated with windows 
     and interior furnishings in the event of a natural disaster 
     or terrorist attack, including the deadly effect of flying 
     glass.''.

              TITLE II--FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE REFORM

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Federal Protective Service 
     Reform Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 202. DESIGNATION OF POLICE OFFICERS.

       The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-318d), is amended--
       (1) in section 1 by striking the section heading and 
     inserting the following:

     ``SECTION 1. POLICE OFFICERS.'';

       (2) in sections 1 and 3 by striking ``special policemen'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``police officers'';
       (3) in section 1(a) by striking ``uniformed guards'' and 
     inserting ``certain employees''; and
       (4) in section 1(b) by striking ``Special policemen'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Police officers''.

     SEC. 203. POWERS.

       Section 1(b) of the Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318(b)), 
     is further amended--
       (1) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Additional powers.--Subject to paragraph (3), a 
     police officer appointed under this section is authorized 
     while on duty--
       ``(A) to carry firearms in any State, the District of 
     Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory 
     or possession of the United States;
       ``(B) to petition Federal courts for arrest and search 
     warrants and to execute such warrants;
       ``(C) to arrest an individual without a warrant if the 
     individual commits a crime in the officer's presence or if 
     the officer has probable cause to believe that the individual 
     has committed a crime or is committing a crime; and
       ``(D) to conduct investigations, on and off the property in 
     question, of offenses that have been or may be committed 
     against property under the charge and control of the 
     Administrator or against persons on such property.
       ``(3) Approval of regulations by attorney general.--The 
     additional powers granted to police officers under paragraph 
     (2) shall become effective only after the Commissioner of the 
     Federal Protective Service issues regulations implementing 
     paragraph (2) and the Attorney General of the United States 
     approves such regulations.
       ``(4) Authority outside federal property.--The 
     Administrator may enter into agreements with State and local 
     governments to obtain authority for police officers appointed 
     under this section to exercise, concurrently with State and 
     local law enforcement authorities, the powers granted to such 
     officers under this section in areas adjacent to property 
     owned or occupied by the United States and under the charge 
     and control of the Administrator.''; and
       (2) by moving the left margin of paragraph (1) (as 
     designated by section 202(4) of this Act) so as to 
     appropriately align with paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) (as 
     added by paragraph (1) of this subsection).

     SEC. 204. PENALTIES.

       Section 4(a) of the Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 
     318c(a)), is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
     whoever violates any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant 
     to section 2 shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, in an 
     amount not to exceed the maximum amount provided for a Class 
     C misdemeanor under sections 3571 and 3581 of title 18, 
     United States Code.''.

     SEC. 205. SPECIAL AGENTS.

       Section 5 of the Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318d), is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``nonuniformed special policemen'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``special agents'';
       (2) by striking ``special policeman'' and inserting 
     ``special agent''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following: ``Any such special 
     agent while on duty shall have the same authority outside 
     Federal property as police officers have under section 
     1(b)(4).''.

     SEC. 206. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-
     318d), is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of General Services 
     shall establish the Federal Protective Service as a separate 
     operating service of the General Services Administration.
       ``(b) Appointment of Commissioner.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Federal Protective Service shall be 
     headed by a Commissioner who shall be appointed by and report 
     directly to the Administrator.
       ``(2) Qualifications.--The Commissioner shall be appointed 
     from among individuals who have at least 5 years of 
     professional law enforcement experience in a command or 
     supervisory position.
       ``(c) Duties of the Commissioner.--The Commissioner shall--
       ``(1) assist the Administrator in carrying out the duties 
     of the Administrator under this Act;
       ``(2) except as otherwise provided by law, serve as the law 
     enforcement officer and security official of the United 
     States with respect to the protection of Federal officers and 
     employees in buildings and areas that are owned or occupied 
     by the United States and under the charge and control of the 
     Administrator (other than buildings and areas

[[Page H8073]]

     that are secured by the United States Secret Service);
       ``(3) render necessary assistance, as determined by the 
     Administrator, to other Federal, State, and local law 
     enforcement agencies upon request; and
       ``(4) coordinate the activities of the Commissioner with 
     the activities of the Commissioner of the Public Buildings 
     Service.

     Nothing in this subsection may be construed to supersede or 
     otherwise affect the duties and responsibilities of the 
     United States Secret Service under sections 1752 and 3056 of 
     title 18, United States Code.
       ``(d) Appointment of Regional Directors and Assistant 
     Commissioners.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Commissioner may appoint regional 
     directors and assistant commissioners of the Federal 
     Protective Service.
       ``(2) Qualifications.--The Commissioner shall select 
     individuals for appointments under paragraph (1) from among 
     individuals who have at least 5 years of direct law 
     enforcement experience, including at least 2 years in a 
     supervisory position.''.
       (b) Pay Level of Commissioner.--Section 5316 of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
     paragraph relating to the Commissioner of the Public 
     Buildings Service the following:
       ``Commissioner, Federal Protective Service, General 
     Services Administration.''.

     SEC. 207. PAY AND BENEFITS.

       The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-318d), is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 7. PAY AND BENEFITS.

       ``(a) Survey.--The Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management shall conduct a survey of the pay and benefits of 
     all Federal police forces to determine whether there are 
     disparities between the pay and benefit of such forces that 
     are not commensurate with differences in duties or working 
     conditions.
       ``(b) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Director shall transmit to 
     Congress a report containing the results of the survey 
     conducted under subsection (a), together with the Director's 
     findings and recommendations.''.

     SEC. 208. NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS.

       (a) In General.--The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-
     318d), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 8. NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS.

       ``After the 1-year period beginning on the date of 
     enactment of this section, there shall be at least 730 full-
     time equivalent police officers in the Federal Protective 
     Service. This number shall not be reduced unless specifically 
     authorized by law.''.

     SEC. 209. EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING.

       The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-318d), is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 9. EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING.

       ``The Commissioner of the Federal Protective Service shall 
     prescribe minimum standards of suitability for employment to 
     be applied in the contracting of security personnel for 
     buildings and areas that are owned or occupied by the United 
     States and under the control and charge of the Administrator 
     of General Services.''.

     SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       The Act of June 1, 1948 (40 U.S.C. 318-318d), is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There is authorized to be appropriated from the Federal 
     Buildings Fund established by section 210(f) of the Federal 
     Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 
     490(f)) such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
     Act.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4519 amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959. There 
are currently 113 child care centers and GSA controlled facilities 
serving almost 8,000 children throughout the United States.
  H.R. 4519 was introduced by my colleague and the chairman of our 
subcommittee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks). I would like 
to insert in the Record at this point in time that the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Franks) is not only very proud of this legislation, the 
gentleman has been the leading light in making sure that this 
legislation came to the floor; and but for the pea soup that now 
envelops Washington, he would be here controlling the time on this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill instructs the General Services Administration 
to inform parents or guardians of children attending a child care 
center located in a GSA-controlled building of the current Federal 
agency tenants in that building. This important information is 
something that the parents of children enrolled in the Alfred P. Murrah 
Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1995 were not aware of.
  This legislation in itself will not prevent senseless acts of 
violence. It will, however, allow parents to be better informed when 
choosing a child care center for their children.
  This bill also requires the GSA to inform parents with children 
enrolled in child care centers of the level of security of the 
building, which is to be consistent with the Vulnerability Assessment 
and recommendations from the study made by the Department of Justice.
  Other provisions included in the bill require GSA to report to 
Congress with recommendations for increasing safety and security and to 
assess windows and the dangers of flying glass hazards in GSA-
controlled child care centers.
  The bill's short title, ``Baylee's Law,'' is named after Baylee 
Almon, a 1-year-old killed while attending the child care center 
located in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City at 
the time of its bombing in 1995.
  Aren Almon-Kok, Baylee's mother, has focused her energies toward 
creating a foundation that works to make people aware of the dangers of 
flying glass and to also make child care centers throughout the United 
States safer for children to attend.
  I support this important measure, Mr. Speaker, and urge my colleagues 
to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to echo the comments of my good friend and 
neighbor the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) on his statement 
relevant to this issue. I would like to commend the chairman of the 
subcommittee the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) for his work.
  Rather than read my prepared statement that would reflect many of the 
statistics and documentation that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
LaTourette) did such a fine job of doing, I would like to talk about 
the genesis of this matter, Mr. Speaker.
  When the Alfred P. Murrah Building was bombed, I would like to say 
that our committee took a very serious look at security and there were 
a number of bills that were presented; and certainly this bill is one 
of those that leads to that sensitive nature of our committee to 
address those security issues.
  In addition, and also for information for the House, the other body 
will be holding a hearing on H.R. 809, a bill that I sponsored that 
would reform the Federal Protective Service.
  So the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks), as chairman of the 
committee, in this companion bill now takes a look at child care, 
security, notices, we also look at changing the security format and to 
make sure that our Federal buildings are more secure.
  Let me just remind Congress that, at the time of the incident in 
Oklahoma, the great tragedy in Oklahoma City, there were three Federal 
buildings being guarded by one security guard who was a contract 
worker. And that is not to demean contract workers, but that is to show 
how we had taken for granted the security of our Federal buildings.
  So I want to compliment the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman 
Franks). I want to compliment the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Shuster); the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking 
member; the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), and others who have 
helped to make this particular bill available on the floor today; and 
the ranking member of this committee, the gentleman from West Virginia 
(Mr. Wise), who is not here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4519, a bill to require the 
Administrator of the General Services Administration [GSA] to provide 
to parents enrolling children in childcare programs in public buildings 
under the control of GSA the following information: first, the current 
tenants in the building, and second, a designation of the level of 
security in the building.
  In addition the bill requires the Administrator of GSA to notify 
parents of serious threats to the building. H.R. 4519 also requires 
that GSA report to Congress on its childcare facilities including an 
identification and description of

[[Page H8074]]

each childcare facility, and an assessment of the security at each 
facility. Finally, the bill requires, in determining the security 
assessment, the Administrator shall examine windows and interior 
furnishings to determine if adequate measures are in place to protect 
the children from flying glass and objects in the event of a natural 
disaster or terrorist attack.
  Since 1985 the Federal Government has been actively involved in 
providing childcare services for Federal employees. Through GSA 
licensing agreements GSA provides guidance, assistance, and oversight 
to Federal agencies for the development of childcare centers. Total 
enrollment is approximately 7,865 children ranging in age from infants 
to 6 years. Eighty-four percent are enrolled full time at childcare 
centers, with the greatest number of children in the infant care age 
group.
  Due to the increasing awareness of the threats to Federal buildings 
the committee incorporated its long-standing interest in public safety 
into a review of the childcare program. In order for a parent to make 
an informed decision regarding enrolling a child in particular center 
the subcommittee reported H.R. 4519, which requires GSA to provide 
certain security information to potential parents.
  Mr. Speaker, the committee has a long tradition of supporting all 
measures that would increase security in Federal buildings. In addition 
to this bill, I have a bill, H.R. 809, pending in the Senate 
Environment and Public Works Committee that would make the Federal 
Protective Service an independent entity within the GSA. After holding 
several hearings and receiving testimony from a variety of witnesses 
including the GSA Office of Inspector General, the committee decided 
the current management structure, which has the protective service as 
part of the real estate program, is not the best way to provide a high 
level, professional protection program. Under the current arrangement 
there are serious issues involving command and control of Federal 
protective officers. My bill would enhance security, and along with 
this bill, would ensure the highest levels of security are available 
for the employees and the public who use Federal buildings.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4519 and urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to make an observation, a real-life example 
that touches the State that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) and 
I share and show why the Franks bill is going to be so important.
  We have a Federal building located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it has one 
of the 113 child care centers located within it. Our committee has a 
rule that, and I believe the threshold is $1.8 million, if the GSA 
wants to engage in a remodeling program over $1.8 million, they need to 
come before the Congress and get the consent of Congress.
  The folks in Cleveland, Ohio, worked very hard to be under that $1.8 
million threshold so that they could construct a child care center 
within the Federal building in Cleveland, Ohio. Their proposed site, in 
order to come in under this limit to avoid the scrutiny of the 
Congress, was over the loading dock down there in downtown Cleveland.
  We all remember how the explosives were delivered to the Alfred P. 
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in a truck. One of the 
wonderful things that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) has 
done by proposing this legislation and one of the good things that will 
happen when the Congress passes this legislation is this Vulnerability 
Assessment.
  When parents who send their children to child care centers in Federal 
buildings, not only when they have the opportunity to know whether or 
not the Internal Revenue Service is located within the building, the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the CIA, or whoever may be a tenant in 
the building, they will also have the opportunity to know where that 
facility is located and what the risk is of a truck being delivered to 
a loading dock in a situation that could present quite a danger to 
their youngsters.
  So this is a good bill, not only from that standpoint, but as I 
mentioned during my earlier remarks, Mrs. Almon-Kok has spent a 
considerable period of time working on the hazards of flying glass, and 
this is going to have implications not only for what happens at child 
care centers at GSA-controlled structures, but I think it is going to 
have long-standing consequences for centers not in GSA control where 
children may be located for a period of time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, one of the things in H.R. 809 that I 
think is very important as a companion bill now to this piece of 
legislation is the Federal Protective Services, after the Alfred P. 
Murrah tragedy, had recommended that there would be no more child care 
centers near loading docks or loading dock areas.
  Quite frankly, looking at the bureaucratic side of this, the Public 
Buildings Service, which really has the control over the law 
enforcement, did not take that with great regard, as evidenced by the 
statement of my friend from that which occurred up there in Cleveland.
  So if we are to take a look at now the whole situation, with one 
contract guard guarding three facilities, there was a major tragedy, 
then the Federal Protective Service recommended to the Public Buildings 
Service, who is a real estate arm, do not put child care facilities 
near loading docks, now we have in Cleveland, Ohio, a disregard for the 
Federal Protective Services' bit of recommendation, if you will, 
relative to that whole area.
  Let me just say this: I think it is very important that this bill not 
only be passed but that H.R. 809 be passed by the other body, for the 
following reason: Law enforcement issues should not be determined by 
real estate agents. They should be determined by law enforcement 
personnel.
  I notice now that the chairman of our subcommittee is here. Before I 
close, I want to compliment him on his work with law enforcement and 
with security. And this bill, as I have stated earlier, is a good 
companion bill to H.R. 809. There is no reason why in Cleveland, Ohio, 
a child care center should be built over a loading dock. If it were not 
for the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and others, we might not 
have that opportunity to question it. But this legislation would 
prohibit that, and I commend him.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my loquacious friend, 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) for his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the balance of my time be 
yielded to the chairman of our subcommittee, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks) to dispense as he sees fit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 5 years have passed since 168 Americans, including 19 
children, lost their lives in the bombing of the Murrah Federal 
Building in Oklahoma City. But the image of the lifeless body of little 
Baylee Almon being carried from that building in the arms of an 
Oklahoma City fireman is one that still haunts us all.
  Over the past months, as we have worked to get this important 
legislation to the floor, I have had the good fortune to get to work 
with and know Mrs. Aren Almon-Kok. Aren was Baylee Almon's mother.
  Like most parents, Aren assumed that when she dropped her daughter 
off at the Federal building in Oklahoma City every morning, Baylee 
would be perfectly safe. After all, the building was located in an area 
with security guards and other enhanced safety features that we do not 
find in most private buildings.
  But as she recounted for me the events of that horrendous day in 
April 5 years ago, Aren revealed a chilling fact. She had no idea that 
the building that provided day-care services for her child housed a 
variety of Federal agencies that are often the target of terrorist 
threats, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as well 
as the FBI.
  Neither the General Services Administration, which oversees the 
building, nor the child care center had ever informed the parents about 
high-profile law enforcement agencies being housed in that building or 
any other security risks involved in that building.
  In fact, the commissioner of Public Buildings Service, Mr. Robert 
Peck, admitted that GSA does not notify parents or other occupants of 
the building about the potential safety concerns that residents in that 
building may be exposed to.

[[Page H8075]]

  The Commissioner stated that if parents are concerned about this 
issue, they should look at the building director.
  That response, Mr. Speaker, is simply not acceptable.
  Parents deserve to know all the facts that could impact their 
children's safety and security before they decide to enroll their child 
in a particular day-care center located in a Federal building.
  We have before us today Baylee's Law. It will require the General 
Services Administration to affirmatively reach out to parents who place 
their child in Federal day-care centers and provide them with written 
information about the other tenants of the building and the security 
designation of that building.
  GSA would also be required to notify parents of any new tenants that 
move into the building when the new tenant could increase the safety 
threat to the facility.
  In the event that the GSA receives information about a serious threat 
that could jeopardize the safety of children in a day-care center, 
parents are to be notified immediately.
  Mr. Speaker, this important legislation can provide a new level of 
protection for the 7,600 children who are now being cared for at day-
care centers located in 114 Federal buildings across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our subcommittee staff, Matt Wallen and 
Susan Britta for their fine work; and I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this important piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters for the 
Record.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                               Washington, DC, September 19, 2000.
     Hon. Dan Burton,
     Chairman, Committee on Government Reform, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman, Next week the House may consider H.R. 
     4519, ``Baylee's Law.'' While H.R. 4519 primarily contains 
     provisions related to matters solely in the jurisdiction of 
     the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I 
     recognize that certain provisions in the bill regarding the 
     General Services Administration's policies concerning 
     childcare facilities located in public buildings are under 
     the jurisdiction of the Committee on Government Reform.
       I agree that allowing this bill to go forward in no way 
     impairs upon your jurisdiction over these provisions, and I 
     would be pleased to place this letter and any response you 
     may have in the Congressional Record during our deliberations 
     on this bill. In addition, if a conference is necessary on 
     this bill, I would support any request to have the Committee 
     on Government Reform be represented on the conference with 
     respect to the matters in question.
       I look forward to passing this bill on the Floor soon and 
     thank you for your assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bud Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____


         House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 19, 2000.
     Hon. Bud Shuster,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: In response to your request and in the 
     interest of expediting Floor consideration of the bill, the 
     Committee will not exercise its jurisdiction over H.R. 4519--
     Baylee's Law. The bill amends the Public Buildings Act of 
     1959 concerning public safety and security of children 
     enrolled in childcare facilities located in public buildings 
     under the control of the General Services Administration.
       As you know, House Rules grant the Committee on Government 
     Reform wide jurisdiction regarding the overall economy, 
     efficiency and management of government operations and 
     activities. This action should not, however, be construed as 
     waiving the Committee's jurisdiction over future legislation 
     of a similar nature. I would also request that members of the 
     Government Reform Committee be appointed as conferees if a 
     conference committee is appointed.
       I look forward to working with you on this and other issues 
     throughout the remainder of the 106th Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Dan Burton,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I commend Economic Development 
Subcommittee Chairman Franks for his interest in safety at childcare 
centers, and especially his interest in stopping the terrible 
destruction and injury caused by flying glass.
  The General Services Administration (GSA) childcare program is a very 
successful program, with 85 percent of its childcare centers accredited 
by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. 
Approximately 7,000 youngsters, ranging in age from infancy to 5 years 
old, are enrolled in GSA childcare centers located in 113 Federal 
facilities across the country.
  H.R. 4519 will ensure that parents of children in GSA childcare 
centers have the best available information regarding the tenants at 
these Federal facilities. H.R. 4519 instructs GSA to notify parents 
before they enroll their children in a childcare center located in a 
Federal building of the current Federal agencies occupying the building 
and the level of security of that particular Federal building. It also 
requires GSA to notify parents of any change in the Federal tenants in 
the building. This bill will ensure that this information is readily 
available to parents.
  The short title for this bill is ``Baylee's Law''. It is named for 
Baylee Almon, a one-year-old child attending the childcare center 
located in the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City at the bombing 
in 1995. She and fourteen other small children were killed in that 
tragic incident.
  I urge all Members to support this bill.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4519, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read:

       ``A bill to amend the Public Buildings Act of 1959 
     concerning the safety and security of children enrolled in 
     childcare facilities located in public buildings under the 
     control of the General Services Administration, to provide 
     for reform of the Federal Protective Service, and for other 
     purposes.''

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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