[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2649-H2650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FEDERAL BUILDING THREAT NOTIFICATION ACT
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6481) to direct the Administrator of General Services and
the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance
relating to emergency communication protocols for public buildings, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6481
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Building Threat
Notification Act''.
SEC. 2. GUIDANCE FOR BUILDINGS.
(a) Life Safety Events Defined.--In this section, the term
``life safety events'' means events to which first
responders, including law enforcement, fire and emergency
rescue, and natural disaster experts, deploy.
(b) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services
and the Director of the Federal Protective Service shall
develop and disseminate emergency communication guidance for
building facility security committees to execute in any case
in which life safety events threaten Federal buildings owned
and operated by the Administrator of General Services under
the protection of the Federal Protective Service.
(2) Contents.--The guidance developed under paragraph (1)
shall include best practices and protocols relating to--
(A) standard operating procedures to inform building
tenants of threats to the buildings or occupants of the
buildings; and
(B) instructions for safety practices in response to
threats or a heightened risk to the building and the
occupants of the building.
(c) Security Officials.--The designated official of the
facility security committee for each Federal building that is
owned or operated by the General Services Administration
under the protection of the Federal Protective Service shall
be responsible for implementing the guidance at the
respective building.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services
shall electronically submit to Congress a report on the best
practices and protocols implemented under this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert
extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 6481.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act directs the
Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Federal
Protective Service to establish guidance on emergency communication
protocols for public buildings.
This legislation was developed after the committee received a report
detailing crime that occurs in and around Federal buildings. The report
detailed that in fiscal year 2024, there were over 3,500 incidents of
crime in and around Federal buildings recorded nationwide.
This data paints a clear picture of the current system in which the
safety of Federal workers and visitors to GSA buildings is not a
guarantee. It is even more critical today, given the heightened
security threats, to ensure there are clear communication protocols for
occupants and visitors to Federal facilities.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public
Buildings, and Emergency Management ranking member, Mr. Stanton, along
with subcommittee chairman, Mr. Perry, for their work on this very
important piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Federal employees deserve to work in safety and
security, and the Americans who go to Federal buildings to access
essential services deserve to do so with the same assurances.
A 2025 GAO report found that in fiscal year 2024 alone, there were
over 3,500 incidents, recorded incidents, at Federal facilities across
this country: 763 threats, 142 weapons violations, 9 arson attacks, 3
homicides, and 1 kidnapping.
These are attacks on the women and men who show up every day to serve
the American people. Right now, in this political climate, Federal
employees are being targeted, online, in person, and in the buildings
where they work. The hostility directed at our civil servants has
reached a boiling point, and Congress must act to keep people safe.
However, threats don't only come from people. When Hurricane Katrina
struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, 83 Federal facilities in
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama were significantly damaged. Back-
to-back hurricanes, Irma and Maria, severely damaged Puerto Rico's
Federal buildings and Federal courthouses in 2017. Storms are getting
stronger and more destructive. It is critical that workers and visitors
to Federal buildings know what to do in case of an emergency.
H.R. 6481, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act, introduced
by myself and cosponsored by Congressman Perry, directs the
Administrator
[[Page H2650]]
of General Services and the Director of the Federal Protective Service
to develop and disseminate a clear, actionable emergency communication
protocol for public buildings.
The guidance will include best practices and protocols to inform
building tenants of threats to the buildings or their occupants and
instructions for safety practices in response to threats or heightened
risk.
The Federal Building Threat Notification Act is common sense and good
policy. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6481, the Federal Building Threat
Notification Act, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation will ensure that the GSA and FPS
establish standard operating procedures that will help keep agency
tenants better informed when there are threats to the building or its
occupants. This is an important step Congress can take to increase
safety in Federal buildings for both Federal employees and visitors.
I urge support of H.R. 6481, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6481.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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