Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Barletta, Chairman Shuster, and Ranking Member DeFazio.

I rise in support of H.R. 4487, the Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2016.

Mr. Speaker, this bill begins the process of reforming GSA, Public Buildings Service, and the Federal Protective Service. I would like to thank my colleagues, again, for being a partner in developing this very important piece of legislation directing GSA to improve the management of Federal real estate. The GAO has consistently listed the management of Federal real property an area of high risk.

The provisions contained in today's legislation will address many of the concerns that GAO has documented. Specifically, the bill will direct GSA to reform the leasing process and tighten oversight of the construction program.

The centerpiece of this legislation is a 5-year pilot program designed to streamline the GSA leasing procurement process. Mr. Speaker, by raising the threshold for simplified lease acquisitions, I believe GSA will be able to reduce their workload on smaller leases and focus their staff on the execution of larger leases that can provide even more savings to taxpayers.

While owning is often the most cost-effective option for housing Federal agencies, there will also be a need for the Federal Government to lease space. The pilot program, and the GAO reports authorized by this bill, is expected to provide the Committee on Transportation with definitive data about the most efficient way to lease Federal office space. The interim reports on the pilot program and the effectiveness of GSA's use of commercial brokers will be instructive as to which new authorities Congress should let expire in 5 years and which we should keep.

I am also pleased that today's bill includes several reforms authored in H.R. 1850, the Federal Protective Service Improvement Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City, the Department of Justice, or DOJ, assessed the vulnerability of Federal buildings in the United States, particularly related to acts of terrorism and other forms of violence.

The Department of Justice made several recommendations, including upgrading the Federal Protective Service and bringing each Federal facility up to higher minimum standards for its security levels.

The reforms in today's legislation include creating a national framework for the 13,000 contract guards who protect Federal buildings, employees, and visitors each and every day. It mandates a minimum level of training for Protective Service Officers, or PSOs, while at the same time providing authority for PSOs to carry firearms and detain suspects accused of a felony on Federal property. As a former police officer, I can't overstate the importance of a strong training standard for security personnel at every Federal facility across our great Nation.

The bill also requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to study whether it has a sufficient number of law enforcement officers and inspectors necessary to regularly conduct security assessments of Federal facilities. Another provision requires a study of whether FPS' fee structure is sufficient to fund the strong law enforcement presence needed today. Mr. Speaker, I expect that when these reports are completed, they will help guide the Committee's efforts to address FPS' long-term funding and staffing issues.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is critically important that we do everything possible to protect the millions of Federal workers and daily visitors to Federal buildings. With increased oversight and additional legislative authority, I believe the FPS can fulfill its mission.

I hope, in closing, that we can continue to work in a bipartisan manner on these matters. I thank the chair and ranking member of the full committee, who both cosponsored and supported this important piece of legislation. Together, we can put forth commonsense reforms that allow both GSA and FPS to be good stewards of our Nation's public buildings.

Norton), who is an American icon and legend.

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