[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 55 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 2015

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ANDREE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2015

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce 
a bill to reform the Federal Protective Service. On the twentieth 
anniversary of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah 
Federal Building (Murrah Building) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I 
believe it is long overdue to improve the Federal Protective Service 
(FPS). In the aftermath of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing, the 
Department of Justice (DOJ) assessed the vulnerability of Federal 
office buildings in the United States, particularly to acts of 
terrorism and other forms of violence. The DOJ report made several 
recommendations, including upgrading the Federal Protective Service 
(FPS) and bringing each Federal facility up to minimum standards 
suggested for its security level. When the Murrah Building in Oklahoma 
City was attacked, it was after careful planning that focused on gaps 
in the federal building security at the site to allow the massive 
destruction and the loss of life that touched all Americans.
  The DOJ report noted that the FPS has the experience and historical 
character to provide security services in Federal buildings for much of 
the Federal workforce. But, the report also noted that FPS has limited 
resources to determine building security requirements to address 
terrorist threats. FPS, according to the report, needs to re-establish 
its role and take the lead in emphasizing the need for security.
  Unfortunately years later, many of the reforms that DOJ found 
necessary have not taken place. Since the bombing of the Murrah 
Building, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department 
of Homeland Security Inspector General have both issued numerous 
reports indicating where FPS needs to improve in order to prevent 
another tragedy and improve security in Federal buildings. The GAO has 
made very clear that FPS must increase its oversight of its contract 
guard force, improve screening practices, and be more nimble in 
responding to threats to Federal buildings.
  The Federal Protective Service is a part of the frontline defense for 
thousands of Federal buildings, which include Federal courthouses, 
Social Security Administration buildings, Agency headquarters, and 
other buildings. FPS has approximately 1,300 employees, including 
approximately 1,000 Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) or ``inspectors'' 
and 15,000 contract guards, also known as Protective Security Officers 
(PSOs). After the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, FPS' authorized 
staffing level was 1,450. FPS maintained about the same level of 
staffing until it dropped to 1,100 in 2007. After concerns about the 
decrease and its effect on security, Congress, through the 
appropriations process, began mandating a minimum staffing level. The 
FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act requires 1,371 full-time-
equivalent staff, including 1,007 law enforcement officers. Ultimately, 
this means that the FPS has fewer employees than it had in 1996, in the 
immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal 
Building in Oklahoma City, while GSA has expanded its real estate 
holdings since 1996 by nearly 33%.
  FPS spends about $1.3 billion in executing its mission while 
delivering security and law enforcement services for the 8,700 assets 
that the General Services Administration (GSA) owns, controls, or 
leases. FPS services include providing a visible uniformed presence in 
major Federal buildings; responding to criminal incidents and other 
emergencies; installing and monitoring security devices and systems; 
investigating criminal incidents; conducting physical security 
assessments; coordinating a comprehensive program for occupants' 
emergency plans; presenting formal crime prevention and security 
awareness programs; and providing police emergency and special security 
services during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and 
major civil disturbances, including man-made disasters, such as bomb 
explosions and riots.
  As the Federal inventory of buildings has steadily increased over the 
last 30 years, the quality and implementation of security standards 
have varied greatly. The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public 
Buildings and Emergency Management has unfortunately found that 
security in Federal buildings is not uniform and is often set by non-
security personnel employed by tenant agencies through a Building 
Security Committee for each individual public building. This approach 
to security makes it difficult to gauge properly the actual risk at 
Federal facilities and then allocate FPS resources appropriately.
  My bill, the FPS Reform Act of 2015, addresses some of the long 
standing issues identified by the original DOJ report in the aftermath 
of the bombing of Alfred P. Murrah Building and subsequent reports by 
the GAO. It creates a minimum level of training for Protective Service 
Officers (PSOs) while increasing the authority of PSOs to carry 
firearms and detain suspects accused of a felony. The bill also 
improves the training and procedures for federal agencies participating 
in the Building Security Committees to ensure that there are uniform 
and appropriate security standards for individual buildings occupied by 
federal agencies. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of DHS to 
study and report back to Congress on several areas of concern with 
respect to securing federal buildings including the level of personnel 
needed to secure federal buildings, the best model for funding FPS, the 
feasibility of federalizing FPS contract officers, and best practices 
in preventing explosives from entering Federal buildings.
  Nearly 20 years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal 
Building it is readily apparent that although FPS has made some strides 
in improving the protection of Federal buildings there is more progress 
that needs to be made. In my role as Ranking Member of the Economic 
Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee 
and a former law enforcement official, I believe it is imperative that 
I do everything possible to protect the millions of federal workers and 
daily visitors, and to keep federal buildings safe. With increased 
oversight and additional legislative authority I believe the Federal 
Protective Service can thrive in its mission of protecting Federal 
Facilities, their occupants, and visitors by providing superior law 
enforcement and protective security services.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to consider this 
legislation and pass it as soon as possible.

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