[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3287-H3289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
URGING PREVENTION OF ATTACKS AGAINST FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1187) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives with respect to raising public awareness of and helping
to prevent attacks against Federal employees while engaged in or on
account of the performance of official duties, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1187
Whereas title 18 of the United States Code makes it a crime
to forcibly assault, resist, intimidate, or interfere with a
Federal employee while engaged in or on account of the
performance of official duties, or to kill or attempt to kill
any such employee while so engaged or on such account;
Whereas the suicide attack on the Internal Revenue Service
office in Austin, Texas on February 18, 2010, that claimed
the life of two-tour Vietnam veteran Vernon Hunter follows
the more than 1,200 attacks which were made on Internal
Revenue Service employees between 2001 and 2008, attacks
which have resulted in at least 197 convictions;
Whereas the shooting attack on Thursday, March 4, 2010, by
John Patrick Bedell that injured two Pentagon guards was the
fourth attack or security scare on a Federal building in
2010;
Whereas the Department of Justice filed 313 cases in fiscal
year 2006, 326 cases in fiscal year 2007, 303 cases in fiscal
year 2008, and 277 cases in fiscal year 2009 (as of August of
such fiscal year), relating to attacks against Federal
employees;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 civilian employees in the
Federal workforce provide many forms of dedicated service to
the United States and its people, such as fighting crime and
fire, supporting our military, protecting health, providing
essential human services, preserving the environment and
maintaining our national parks, wildlife refuges, and
forests, securing our borders, responding with assistance in
times of natural disaster, regulating commerce, defending our
freedom, and advancing our country's interests around the
world, all of which contribute to the greatness and
prosperity of the Nation; and
Whereas Federal employees are entitled to expect a
reasonable degree of personal safety and security while
carrying out their official duties: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses the Nation's appreciation for the outstanding
contributions made by Federal employees to the United States;
(2) supports the goal of protecting the safety and security
of our Federal employees; and
(3) urges that the Government seek ways to improve the
safety and security of our Federal employees.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, with H. Res. 1187, this Chamber expresses its commitment
to the safety and security of our Nation's public servants. H. Res.
1187 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Moran) on March 16, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent
on May 6, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 70 Members of
the House.
[[Page H3288]]
Mr. Speaker, the men and women of our Federal workforce deserve our
appreciation and our support. Their efforts are often undervalued, but
they provide our Nation with many forms of critical services. The
Federal workforce includes firefighters, law enforcement officers, and
military support personnel. Federal employees protect the public, help
keep our food and water clean, defend our borders, and preserve our
national parks. They deliver our mail, care for our veterans, and
provide all manners of other services that keep our country going.
While we in Congress may debate the details about the proper role
that the Federal Government should play in our country, we can all
agree that Federal employees should be able to expect to be able to
carry out their duties with a degree of safety and security.
The Department of Justice has filed over a thousand cases relating to
attacks against Federal employees since 2006, including a suicide
attack on the Internal Revenue Service office in Austin, Texas. On
February 18 of this year, that attack claimed the life of a two-tour
Vietnam veteran, Vernon Hunter. The shooting attack at the entrance of
the Pentagon on March 4 injured two Pentagon guards and was the fourth
attack or scare on a Federal building in 2010.
These attacks sadden us all, and I am glad we are taking the time to
condemn attacks against our Federal employees and to affirm our
commitment to their safety and their security.
I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) and
also thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and the staff for
their work to bring this to where we are today. I urge my colleagues to
join me in supporting this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to reserve the balance of my
time so we may hear from the sponsor of the resolution, Mr. Moran.
Mr. TOWNS. I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Moran).
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman
from New York, the chairman of the committee, and the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. McCotter). Thank you very much for bringing this
resolution to the floor.
The purpose is to help prevent attacks against Federal employees
while they are engaged in or on account of the performance of their
official duties.
Last month, we commemorated the 15th anniversary of the bombing of
the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. This act
of violence claimed 168 lives and injured more than 680 people. It was
the most destructive act of terrorism on United States soil until the
September 11, 2001, attacks. The Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh,
made Federal employees his target because he was angry at the United
States Government.
In the 15 years since that horrific bombing, Federal employees have
been the target of a great number of attacks. Internal Revenue Service
employees have borne the brunt, as those who are frustrated with tax
problems have taken their frustrations out on IRS workers just doing
their jobs, in fact, carrying out the laws that the Congress makes. The
IRS has recorded some 1,200 attacks on its employees since September
2001. Attacking a Federal employee engaged in or because of his or her
work is a Federal crime. The Justice Department investigates some 300
cases per year.
We are a free society. Strong rhetoric is acceptable, even
fashionable. But rhetoric should not inspire violence. Federal agencies
devote significant resources and develop procedures to protect their
employees. But two recent attacks on Federal employees highlight what I
see as a worrying trend. In February, a plane was flown into the IRS
building in Austin in an act of murder-suicide that claimed the life of
a veteran of two tours in Vietnam.
In March, another deranged individual walked up to the Pentagon
entrance and opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon, injuring two
Pentagon guards. These acts were more than sensational attempts at mass
murder. They were acts of domestic terrorism with Federal employees as
the target.
We have the finest, most professional civil service in the world, and
we take for granted that our Federal workers provide many forms of
dedicated and important service to our Nation. Civilian employees serve
in war zones providing essential support to our military. Federal
workers maintain our national parks, our wildlife refuges and forests,
secure our borders, and respond in times of natural disaster, as we can
see in the gulf oil spill.
Our diplomats advance our country's interests around the world, very
often in dangerous environments. The more than 2 million civilian
employees in the Federal workforce deserve a reasonable degree of
personal safety and security while carrying out their duties
implementing the laws we make. It is incumbent upon the Congress and
the administration to ensure their safety.
We have a responsibility and that's why I have introduced this bill,
a responsibility to protect our Nation's Federal employees. House
Resolution 1187 calls for a renewed commitment to our civil servants,
and I urge my colleagues to unanimously support it.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1187, which
increases public awareness to help prevent future attacks against
Federal employees while engaged in or on account of the performance of
their official duties. Truly, we must do all we can to prevent Federal
workers from being victims of violence because of their public service.
Every year, hundreds of Federal workers are victims of cowardly acts
of violence. In 2008 alone, the Department of Justice filed 303 cases
against people who attacked Federal workers. And tragically, in 2010,
we have already witnessed such instances of violence.
Mr. Speaker, our civilian Federal employees must not become victims
of violence because of their jobs. Civilian Federal employees must feel
safe while doing their jobs and serving our country.
I ask my colleagues to support this resolution so we may raise public
awareness of these attacks and to prevent future attacks. Thus, Mr.
Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res. 1187.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I think it is so important that we protect
and support our Federal employees. Let me again urge my colleagues to
join me in supporting this measure.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.
Res 1187, ``Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with
respect to raising public awareness of and helping to prevent attacks
against Federal employees while engaged in or on account of the
performance of official duties.''
H. Res. 1187 will resolve that the House of Representatives:
Expresses the Nation's appreciation for the outstanding contributions
made by Federal employees to the United States; Supports the goal of
protecting the safety and security of our Federal employees; and Urges
that the Government seek ways to improve the safety and security of our
Federal employees. I rise today to urge the passing of House Resolution
1187. Not too long ago our country suffered from the Oklahoma City
bombing, one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism on American
soil. This cowardly act of terrorism killed 168 people, 19 of them
children. The victims were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters,
grandparents, grandchildren, friends, and co-workers.
The bombing in Oklahoma City was a direct attack against the
dedicated men and women of the Federal Civil Service. The Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building housed 14 Federal agencies, and nearly 100
Federal employees lost their lives that morning. We must honor their
sacrifice by remaining steadfast in our commitment to prevent future
attacks on the Federal government, Federal employees, and other acts of
domestic terror. I am deeply troubled by recent threats of violence
against government employees. This February, an attack on Federal
offices threatened the lives of 200 IRS workers and took the life of
Vernon Hunter, a 20-year army Veteran who served two tours in Vietnam,
a loving husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to co-workers at the
IRS. The Oklahoma City bombing and the most recent attacks serve as
stark reminders that threats against Federal employees may pose real
dangers. They remind us of our solemn duty to protect our public
servants.
After the Oklahoma City bombing, President Bill Clinton directed the
Department of Justice to assess the vulnerability of Federal office
[[Page H3289]]
buildings. Prior to this study, no formal government-wide standards
existed for Federal buildings. The IRS has recorded some 1,200 attacks
on its employees since 2001. The Justice Department investigates some
300 cases per year. In March, a deranged individual walked up to the
Pentagon entrance and opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon injuring
two Pentagon guards. In February, a plane was flown into the IRS
building in Austin, TX in an act of murder-suicide that claimed the
life of a two-tour Vietnam Veteran.
With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the
responsibility to protect our Federal facilities was transferred to the
Federal Protective Service (FPS). The FPS is a federal law enforcement
agency that provides integrated security and law enforcement services
to federally owned and leased buildings and facilities. As a member of
the Homeland Security Committee and Chairwoman of the Transportation
Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, I am committed to
working with my colleagues to support federal legislation that will
protect our federal employees. I support the mission of the FPS that
renders federal properties safe and secure for federal employees,
officials and visitors in a professional and cost effective manner by
deploying a highly trained and multi-disciplined police force. As the
federal agency charged with protecting and delivering integrated law
enforcement and security services to facilities owned or leased by the
General Services Administration, FPS employs 1,225 federal staff
(including 900 law enforcement security officers, criminal
investigators, police officers, and support personnel) and 15,000
contract guard staff to secure over 9,000 buildings and safeguard their
occupants.
The FPS has a critical infrastructure and key resources of the United
States that are essential to our nation's security, public health and
safety, economic vitality and way of life. FPS protects one component
of the nation's infrastructure by mitigating risk to federal facilities
and their occupants.
As we remember the victims and survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing
and other acts of terrorism, let us all take a moment to reflect upon
the dedication and sacrifices of the men and women who work hard to
keep our federal buildings secure and those of us who work in them
safe. Federal workers maintain our national parks, wildlife refuges,
and forests, and secure our borders, and in times of natural disaster.
The more than two million civilian employees in the federal workforce
deserve a reasonable degree of personal safety and security while
carrying out their duties.
It is incumbent upon the Congress and the Administration to look for
ways to improve their safety. I support H. Res 1187 and I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. TOWNS. 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 New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1187, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________