[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 66 (Thursday, April 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E395-E396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY OFFICER PROTECTION ACT 
                                OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2022

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I introduce the Department of the Treasury 
Officer Protection Act of 2022. This bill would help ensure the safety 
of Treasury Department police officers by allowing them, including 
those who work at the Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
(BEP), to carry their government firearms home.
  BEP officers were among the first responders when a gunman opened 
fire at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2009. However, 
BEP officers also can be targets because they wear uniforms to and from 
work. Many BEP officers carry personal firearms to and from work 
because they are not allowed to take their government firearms home, 
and some are forced to leave those personal firearms in their cars 
while they are on duty, creating a possibly dangerous situation.
  Allowing BEP officers to carry their government firearms home will 
put them in the same position as Mint officers. Although both agencies 
are under the Treasury Department, under Treasury Department rules, 
Mint officers are allowed to carry their government firearms

[[Page E396]]

home, while BEP officers are not. There is no meaningful distinction 
between officers for these two agencies. They should be treated 
equally.
  This bill would allow all uniformed officers in the Treasury 
Department to carry their government firearms home to protect officers 
and the public and so that the Treasury Department does not have 
separate rules for different law enforcement agencies under its 
umbrella.
  I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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