[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.

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