[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. ____________________