Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (Senate - July 26, 2007)

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AMENDMENT NO. 2474

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, my amendment is an amendment I wish I did not have to offer. It is necessary, unfortunately, because of the administration's continued plan to outsource or privatize critical components of our homeland security.

I am proud to have Senators Kennedy, Schumer, Lautenberg, Akaka, Menendez, Kerry, Mikulski, Cardin and the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee respectively, Senator Lieberman and Senator Collins, as cosponsors of this amendment.

This amendment also has the endorsement of the American Federation of Government Employees. I will ask to have printed in the Record their letter of support.

Mr. President, the most recent key judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate were crystal clear: our homeland is under a ``heightened threat environment'' and that al-Qaida is undiminished in its goal in attacking us here at home.

At the very same time, despite a lot of tough rhetoric, the Bush administration wants to cut the only Federal agency responsible for protecting nearly 9,000 nonmilitary Federal buildings nationwide.

The Federal Protective Service, or FPS, protects more than 1.1 million Federal employees located in more than 2,100 communities across our country.

While protecting Federal buildings, the FPS also monitors the qualifications and performance of 15,000 privately contracted security guards.

In 1995, after the Oklahoma City bombing, the General Services Administration and Congress concluded that FPS required 1,480 field personnel to do its duty.

After 9/11, as we face even greater threat, as we have rightfully heightened our security and vigilance here at home, the Bush administration has slashed FPS personnel to fewer than 1,200. If it has its way, the administration will cut that number to 950 in 2008.

Just today, we learned that the FPS has recently issued an internal document, entitled ``Increased Risk of Terrorist Attack This Summer'' detailing high-risk threats to Federal buildings and employees.

The inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, Richard L. Skinner, investigated the FPS. Among the disturbing findings: Only a dozen FPS employees are tasked with checking the credentials and performances of the 5,700 guards in the DC area--``an inadequate number'' according to the audit; 30 percent of contract security guards in the sample had at least one expired certification, security contractors failing to perform security services according to terms and conditions of their contracts.

The report concluded that many of the deficiencies cited occurred because FPS personnel were not effectively monitoring the contract guard program.

On May 1, 2007, Jim Taylor, the deputy inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security and stated that further reductions in the FPS ``could lead to uneven effects across the nation, perhaps place some facilities at risk.''

Last month, contract security guards did not show up for work at the Department of Education and two Food and Drug Administration offices. The contract guards' employer had not paid 400 employees in a month, citing financial difficulties. But FPS did pay the company for its services. It turns out that the company's president served 5 years in jail for bank fraud and money laundering. According to company's general manager, the president of the company used company money to pay for luxury condos here in the District of Columbia and in Myrtle Beach, SC.

This latest episode only underscores the importance of not cutting the Federal Protective Services staff, but increasing it. It not only saves us from wasting Federal resources--it could save lives.

My amendment would stop the Department of Homeland Security from continuing to downsize the Federal Protective Service. The amendment would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to assure that the workforce of the Federal Protective Service includes no fewer than 1,200 commanders, police officers, and special agents engaged on a daily basis in protecting Federal buildings.

This amendment does not require an offset or any additional spending. FPS operations are solely funded through security fees and reimbursements paid for by Federal agencies. The amendment would require the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security to adjust Federal building security fees as necessary to ensure full funding of not fewer than 1,200 in-service commanders, police officers, inspectors, and special agents at the Federal Protective Service.

Mr. President, security on the cheap is no security at all. Our Nation faces serious threats--this Congress should demand a response by the Bush administration commensurate with the danger--and the President's own rhetoric. I ask my colleagues to join me to ensure that the Federal Protective Services has the personnel needed to do its job and that we do not send the message that our Federal buildings are exposed.

Mr. President, last week's key judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate made clear that al-Qaida has ``protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability'' and is now as strong as it was in 2001.

I commend the work of Senator Byrd and the members of the Appropriations Committee for putting together a Homeland Security appropriations bill that supports tough and smart measures to make our country more secure. This is a must-pass piece of legislation that we cannot afford to delay and I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle not to obstruct this critical legislation so we can implement these measures to make our country more secure.

I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the letter to which I referred.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

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