United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1510, the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act of 2010. The bill was introduced by Senator JOSEPH LIEBERMAN. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent on October 13, 2009. S. 1510 makes a long overdue change by transferring the personnel and pay authorities for the Secret Service's Uniformed Division from the District of Columbia Code to the United States Code. The bill creates a new salary table for the Uniformed Division and also provides the Secret Service with enhanced hiring flexibilities.

S. 1510 deals specifically with the Secret Service's Uniformed Division. There are approximately 1,300 Uniformed Division law enforcement officers who help protect the President, the White House, foreign dignitaries, and mission offices. The Uniformed Division helps provide protective arrangements for the President and other foreign dignitaries at venues around the world. The measure in S. 1510 was endorsed by the Bush and Obama administrations to respond to ongoing concerns about recruitment and retention within the UD.

According to the Secret Service, the Uniformed Division is currently operating under a salary schedule that is out of parity with other Federal police forces. It performs similar protective tasks as Federal police forces but has the additional duties and responsibility of frequent travel in support of the Service's protective mission. In addition, the Uniformed Division has stricter suitability requirements. Every officer must hold a top secret clearance and undergo a polygraph exam. The Secret Service tells us that staffing shortfalls have continued to increase, despite new recruitment initiatives, and these shortfalls result in the Division incurring overtime costs that would not be required if it were at full staffing.

This is an important bill that ultimately will build a better, more effective Uniformed Division. However, there are costs associated with these improvements. CBO estimates that this legislation would increase direct spending by $14 million over 10 years. Under House and statutory PAYGO rules, this direct spending must be offset--and this bill is offset. The Oversight Committee has identified an appropriate set of costs associated with the Secret Service bill. The bill we are considering today will actually result in a small amount of net savings for the government. The savings are captured in title II of the suspension amendment, which would add the text of H.R. 2495 to the Secret Service legislation.

H.R. 2495, or the Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act, which is now title II of S. 1510, will make it easier for Federal agencies to sell property that they no longer need. This addresses a longstanding concern of the Government Accountability Office, the Oversight Committee, as well as both the Bush and Obama administrations.

H.R. 2495 was introduced by Representative DENNIS MOORE of Kansas on May 19, 2009. It enjoys bipartisan support, as similar legislation did in the last Congress. The Oversight Committee approved a similar bill in the 110th Congress, and it also passed by voice vote when it reached the House floor.

Lastly, in addition to strengthening the Secret Service and enhancing government efficiency, this legislation would correct an injustice for approximately 40 individuals who returned to government service after September 11. The provisions in title III authorize the Secretary of Defense to retroactively waive repayment of voluntary separation pay for certain individuals who were reemployed in temporary positions by DOD to help respond to terrorist attacks. Before accepting reemployment, these individuals were assured in writing that they would not be required to repay their separation pay. In making these assurances, the DOD components were apparently following guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on filling emergency positions. Unfortunately, this guidance was not applicable to DOD at that time, and DOD lawyers have determined they do not currently have the authority to retroactively waive the repayment requirement. As a result, even though these individuals received written assurances that they would not be required to repay, the Department has since taken steps to collect the payments for these individuals. This is an injustice created by bureaucratic error and needs to be corrected. This bill provides the Secretary of Defense with the discretionary authority he needs to waive the repayment requirement for these individuals.

I want to thank Representative HANK JOHNSON and the Armed Services Committee for their work and support on title III of this legislation.

I encourage all Members to support the good government efforts in this legislation. These efforts will strengthen the Secret Service, enhance government efficiency, and correct an injustice for civilian DOD employees.

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