[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, government's most solemn obligation is to 
protect the people it serves. Since 9/11 our government has rightly 
placed much of its attention on defending the American people from 
terrorism. But we should not forget that government has a 
responsibility to safeguard the public from all forms of violence, 
including violent crime.
  Violent crime exacts a terrible price. Its costs are measured not 
only in the number of lives lost but in the number of citizens who live 
in fear that they or someone they love might be the next victim. Data 
released on Monday show that violent crime in the United States has 
fallen over the past few years. However, we cannot become complacent. 
Despite the positive national trend lines, certain American communities 
have become less, rather than more, secure.
  The Federal Government has a particularly strong duty to protect its 
citizens from violence when that violence is linked to a crime that 
crosses State or national borders. That is why our government has 
worked hard to stem the flow of drugs entering the United States 
through Mexico and to combat drug-related violence along the southwest 
border.
  But these efforts, while essential, are not enough. To protect the 
American people, we must protect the full length of our southern 
border. As Federal programs like the Merida Initiative choke off drug 
routes through Central America, narcotraffickers have increasingly 
turned to the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. Because of Puerto 
Rico's role as a key transit point for drugs destined for consumption 
in the 50 States, the island has one of the highest murder rates in our 
Nation.
  Given the unacceptably high level of violence in Puerto Rico, and its 
close connection to the drug trade, one would expect that most Federal 
law enforcement agencies would have their positions filled there. But 
that is not the case. Over 50 percent of authorized ATF positions are 
vacant, 22 percent of ICE positions are also unfilled, and 17 percent 
of DEA positions are vacant. Puerto Rico has 31 Federal law enforcement 
officers for every 100,000 residents, well below the national average 
of 36.
  This mismatch between the severity of the problem in Puerto Rico and 
the scale of the Federal response prompts this question: Why do Federal 
law enforcement agencies have such high vacancy rates in such a high-
need jurisdiction?
  The budget shortfall is certainly one reason. The Departments of 
Justice and Homeland Security are being asked to do more with fewer 
resources, including fewer agents.
  But the problem goes beyond money. Fewer workers are entering law 
enforcement than in the past. Those who do seek to enter the profession 
are more likely to be disqualified by health problems such as obesity 
or substance abuse. And military recruitment, which has risen in recent 
years, is competing with law enforcement for the same talent.
  In the face of these challenges, the Federal Government is not 
without tools. For example, executive agencies can pay a recruitment 
incentive to a newly hired employee if the position is difficult to 
fill.
  But our government must go beyond piecemeal efforts. It needs a 
comprehensive plan to recruit, assign, and retain law enforcement 
officers in those jurisdictions that have the highest rates of violent 
crime.
  Puerto Rico is one example of a jurisdiction where an increased 
Federal presence is needed. But there are also many other jurisdictions 
with high crime rates and too few Federal law enforcement agents. The 
primary reason for high crime in these States or cities may be the 
nexus with the drug trade, or it may have different roots. Regardless 
of the cause, the harm that results is the same. In communities beset 
by violent crime, residents become hostage to fear--fear that makes 
them think twice before walking to the store to buy milk, fear that 
makes them hug their kids for an extra moment before leaving them or 
sending them off to school, fear that prevents children from using the 
neighborhood playground.
  It is imperative that the Federal Government reduce personnel 
shortages in Federal law enforcement agencies in high-need 
jurisdictions. Congressman Grimm and I recently introduced legislation 
to direct the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to establish 
a program to recruit, assign, and retain agents to serve in locations 
that have experienced high rates of violent crime.
  The Federal Government cannot be passive in filling law enforcement 
shortages, hoping the right candidates will volunteer. Nor can it 
simply expect agents to remain with the government, particularly when 
the private sector often pays more. Instead, the Federal Government 
must proactively address personnel challenges by dedicating staff to 
recruitment and retention.
  I urge the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to take 
action now to make recruitment and retention a priority. Vacancies at 
law enforcement agencies are not a minor administrative hassle but an 
urgent public safety problem. Too much is at stake to accept the status 
quo. For every moment we wait, we risk losing another American citizen 
to senseless violence.

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