[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29654]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        RELIEF FOR AKAL SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a bill that 
would allow a business, Akal Security, located in Santa Cruz, New 
Mexico, to receive payment for services it performed for the United 
States Government almost a decade ago.
  In the Spring of 1991, Akal Security performed guard services as 
emergency work during the Desert Storm situation. Specifically, 
security services were performed at a record storage site located in 
St. Louis, Missouri. The storage site was leased to the Army Corps of 
Engineers and was further leased to the Army Reserve Personnel Center 
(ARPERCEN). The services were orally ordered by the United States Corps 
of Engineers for the month of March, 1991.
  On April 3, 1991, Akal submitted its invoice for $10,208.74 for 
services performed. After multiple requests, the Department of the Army 
has still not payed the bill owed. To date, there has never been any 
question that the services were in fact ordered by the COE and rendered 
by Akal Security.
  In December, 1992, the Deputy General Counsel of the Department of 
the Army notified Akal Security that the guard services could not be 
procured because it could cause a violation of 10 U.S.C. Sec 2465. This 
section provides that the ``Department of Defense may not be 
obligated--for the purpose of entering into a contract for the 
performance of--security-guard functions at any military installation 
or facility.'' The only recommendation of the Deputy General Counsel 
was that Akal could seek private relief legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, correspondence from a Colonel Greiling in 1995 indicates 
that the Army Reserve Personnel Center had information from the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation that ARPERCEN records storage sites could 
possibly be a target for terrorist activity. In consideration of the 
information from the FBI and the subsequent oral request made by the 
Corps of Engineers, Akal Security acted responsibly and deserves 
compensation for the services performed during a time of heighten 
national security.
  After researching this issue and being in contact with the Department 
of Defense, I have come to the conclusion that an Act of Congress is 
needed to pay for these services that were incurred. This bill only 
concerns the invoice amount of 1991 and does not concern interest on 
the principle since then.
  The introduction of this bill today is the continuance of an effort 
that was begun in earlier years. This bill is identical to a bill that
was introduced in the last Congress by my predecessor, Congressman Bill Redmond.
  Thank you Mr. Speaker for your consideration of this matter and I 
encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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