Introduction of Federal Protective Service Parity Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce a bill to offer law enforcement retirement to Federal Protective Service (FPS) law enforcement officers. This bill provides retirement parity to FPS law enforcement officers with all other law enforcement officers within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The lack of law enforcement retirement for FPS law enforcement officers has hurt morale and has contributed to a high rate of attrition of FPS law enforcement officers when compared to attrition rates of other law enforcement agencies within DHS. By providing these enhanced retirement provisions to new hires within the Federal Protective Service, and crediting the service of current FPS law enforcement officers after enactment of the bill with the new provisions, we can begin to strengthen the morale and resolve of the Federal Protective Service.

FPS is responsible for delivering security and law enforcement services for the 8,700 assets that the General Services Administration (GSA) owns, controls, or leases across the country. The Federal Protective Service is part of the frontline defense for these Federal buildings, which include Federal courthouses, Social Security Administration buildings, Agency headquarters, and other buildings. FPS law enforcement officers are authorized to carry firearms and empowered to make arrests related to the protection of buildings, grounds, and property owned by the Federal government and persons on the property. Like other law enforcement officers within DHS, FPS officers receive the same training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and often risk their lives in protection of the nearly 1 million Federal employees and visitors to Federal buildings.

As a former law enforcement officer I have a deep appreciation for their service and the sacrifices that FPS law enforcement officers make on a regular basis. By providing this retirement provision I believe it will help the Federal Protective Service thrive in its mission of protecting Federal facilities, their occupants, and visitors with 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.

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