[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E813-E814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2018

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce 
a bill to reform the Federal Protective Service (FPS) because I believe 
it is long overdue to improve the important organization. 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

[[Page E814]]

(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. 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 percent.
  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 Managment 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 2018, 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 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.
  More than 22 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.

                          ____________________