Duval Times

A bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing the security of federal buildings has successfully passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The legislation, authored by Senators Rick Scott and Gary Peters, seeks to address the various threats faced by federal facilities on a daily basis, including active shooters, cyber-attacks, hostile surveillance, and improvised explosive devices.

Under this bill, federal agencies will be required to respond to the security recommendations issued by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) within 90 days. The goal is to ensure that the safety recommendations put forth by FPS are promptly reviewed and taken into consideration by federal agencies. This measure is crucial in order to protect not only federal employees but also members of the public who utilize these buildings.

Senator Rick Scott expressed his support for the legislation, stating, "This good legislation will make sure that when the Federal Protective Service makes safety recommendations for federal offices and buildings, they are quickly reviewed and taken into consideration. Federal agencies must do everything necessary to serve the American people while keeping public servants safe." He commended the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for passing this important bill and urged its immediate passage on the Senate floor.

Senator Gary Peters highlighted the significance of this bill in safeguarding federal buildings and the individuals within them. He emphasized, "Federal buildings across the nation house federal employees dedicated to serving the American people and host countless Americans who are accessing critical government services. This bill will help ensure federal agencies are following the most up-to-date security recommendations to protect both these facilities and the people in them."

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the FPS submitted over 25,000 facility security recommendations between fiscal years 2017 and 2021. However, agency facility security committees ignored 57 percent of these recommendations, and when they were acknowledged, only 27 percent of the recommended security measures were implemented. This highlights the need for stronger measures to ensure that federal agencies take the necessary steps to enhance security.

The bipartisan Improving Federal Building Security Act will hold federal agencies accountable for responding to FPS security recommendations within the prescribed timeframe. While agencies have the option to adopt or reject these recommendations, they will be required to provide an explanation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for any rejected recommendations. Additionally, DHS will develop a monitoring system to track agency responses to FPS security assessments and take appropriate action to ensure that agencies make sound and defensible security decisions.

DHS will also be mandated to provide annual reports to Congress on agency responses to FPS security assessments. This will enable Congress to have a comprehensive understanding of the threat and security landscape surrounding federal buildings.

With over 9,000 federal facilities housing approximately 1.4 million employees and serving countless visitors, the importance of strengthening security measures cannot be overstated. The passage of this bipartisan bill through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee marks a significant step towards ensuring the safety and protection of federal employees and the public.

The bill will now proceed to the Senate floor for further consideration, and it is hoped that it will receive the support it deserves in order to become law and enhance the security posture of federal buildings across the nation.