André Carson

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan measure before us today. H.R. 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015, as amended, contains several provisions important to State and local governments and emergency managers. I will only highlight a few of them. I also want to acknowledge Chairman Barletta and my good friend, Ranking Member DeFazio. Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, the most important aspect of this bill is that it clarifies compensation and liability issues for urban search and rescue team members. These members provide critical services and put themselves in harm's way to help others involved in a disaster. In Indianapolis, my city, our own urban search and rescue team, which consists of firefighters, paramedics, civilians, and others responded to Hurricane Sandy. They did so despite the uncertainties that they would be covered for any injuries. These protections, Mr. Speaker, are long overdue. Team members can now rest assured that they will be taken care of when activated for Federal service if they are injured. Another important provision grows out of the individual States' and local governments' need to know that they can rely on FEMA's decisions and reimbursement amounts. Local governments make major decisions during the disaster recovery phase in reliance on FEMA's initial approval. There comes a time, Mr. Speaker, when FEMA should not be able to reverse its initial decisions or award amounts. Statute of limitations protections for individuals, States, and local governments will provide peace of mind and certainty needed to go forward with the recovery process. Climate change, Mr. Speaker, is causing more extreme weather patterns. So in order for us to become more resilient, we must encourage more local governments, communities to undertake mitigation measures. Some communities may forgo mitigation actions because they do not have the capacity to administer the funds. Ensuring that local governments will be reimbursed for management costs should help us all obtain more resilient communities. Finally, Mr. Speaker, our subcommittee has embarked on discussions related to the trends and causes of rising disaster costs and losses. In furtherance of this discussion, the bill requires FEMA's National Advisory Council to study the issue and make recommendations to Congress and address causes and trends. Specifically, the bill requires the Council to examine mechanisms and incentives to promote mitigation and to make recommendations regarding the same. The last few years, Mr. Speaker, I have introduced a bill to reauthorize the disaster mitigation program. Mr. Speaker, mitigation saves taxpayer funds over the long haul. I look forward to any recommendations from the National Advisory Council on how we can strengthen this available and very effective program. I want to thank Chairman Barletta again and Ranking Member DeFazio for their leadership on this very important measure. As an original cosponsor of this measure, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 1471. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2109, the Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015, requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to develop a plan to control and reduce its disaster-related administrative costs and other activities. The GAO has noted that FEMA's costs incurred in administering disaster-related activities have increased substantially. FEMA has acknowledged the increase and has struggled to address this issue. Most recently, in 2014, the GAO recommended that FEMA develop an integrated plan to control and reduce disaster-related administrative costs. GAO also recommended that FEMA assess the feasibility of tracking administrative costs by disaster program, such as public assistance and individual assistance. Finally, GAO recommended that FEMA clarify its guidance and minimum documentation requirements for State and local governments with respect to their direct administrative costs. This bill, Mr. Speaker, will codify these recommendations and statutorily require FEMA to take these actions. I appreciate the improvements this bill will make toward reducing overall disaster costs and losses, but this is not enough. We must do more to reduce these costs and losses, Mr. Speaker. There is no better way than to invest in predisaster mitigation. I introduced H.R. 830 to reauthorize the predisaster hazard mitigation program. We consistently talk about the potential to reduce disaster costs and save taxpayers money through predisaster mitigation. In fact, our subcommittee has noted the reports by the Congressional Budget Office and the National Institute of Building Sciences Multihazard Mitigation Council, which found that predisaster mitigation saves $3 to $4 for every dollar spent on mitigation activities. But there is more. Predisaster mitigation activities save lives and reduce injuries. It is time to stop talking and do more. Let us, Mr. Speaker, reauthorize the predisaster mitigation program at levels sufficient to significantly reduce disaster costs and save lives. Our citizens deserve this. I look forward to working with my good colleagues on the other side of the aisle to make sure that these strides will come to fruition. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which I believe is critical to our national security and that of our allies. Public estimates indicate that over 30,000 foreign fighters, including some from the United States, have traveled to Iraq and Syria. Over the last few years, Mr. Speaker, Americans watched as three teenage girls from Denver were arrested on their way to Syria. Ten young men from Minnesota were arrested--including the ringleader just last week--for a similar attempt. These young men and women, Mr. Speaker, and many others who make it to Syria, intend to carry out terrible atrocities against innocent people. Even more concerning, we know that some people hope to return and bring their fight to American soil. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have confidence that the men and women in our intelligence community have the resources and expertise to keep us safe. Every day, they are tracking foreign fighters around the world, coordinating with our allies, and shutting down threats before they become a reality. We need to better understand this threat to create a whole-of-government response. Mr. Speaker, this information will help us conduct outreach into affected communities here at home so we can show parents what their kids are doing online and how to protect them from radicalization. Mr. Speaker, it will help us expand our support and coordination with our allies, including Turkey and Iraq, to show them what they can do, what we can do, and combine our efforts to stop these fighters. These reports, mandated in this legislation, will show where terrorists are coming from and where they train. It will help us assess when they may be returning home and what precautions we need to put in place. In light of the attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, this is absolutely critical. I encourage support from my colleagues.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 1090, the Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015, would clarify the eligibility of certain broadcasting facilities for public assistance. Broadcasters are critical partners when it comes to emergency management in the face of a disaster. One of the best ways to prevent deaths and injuries during a disaster is to warn those who are in harm's way of impending danger. This allows people to take the necessary precautions to avoid injury and death and to minimize property damage. Broadcasters work hand in hand with emergency managers to provide this notice before a disaster strikes. After a disaster, the broadcasters' role remains just as critical. They continue airing information about ongoing hazards and aid recovery efforts by providing how-to information on accessing recovery assistance. From Hurricane Sandy to this year's floods in the Carolinas, the emergency broadcasts save lives and keep people out of harm's way. This is not just about large-scale disasters. When a violent storm caused the sudden collapse of a concert stage in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, local broadcasters kept a tragedy from becoming that much worse. Timely alerts enabled Fair officials to clear the Midway minutes before the storm struck, potentially saving the lives of hundreds of people. We see this all over the country every year. Unfortunately, broadcast facilities are not immune to hazards, which is why this bill is so important. When broadcasting facilities are damaged by a disaster, we must ensure that they are eligible for recovery assistance so that they can be up and running in time for the next hazard. I would note, Mr. Speaker, that this language is absolutely identical to the language that my good friend from New York (Mr. Nadler) has been so tirelessly advocating for; so I want to thank him for his efforts in bringing this issue to our attention and for his diligence in ensuring this matter was brought to the House floor. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. I rise today to honor the Immigrant Welcome Center, whose tireless work over the past ten years has blessed countless Hoosiers in my hometown of Indianapolis. The Immigrant Welcome Center was founded in 2005 by Mayor Bart Peterson and First Lady Amy Minick Peterson who sought to discover ways the City of Indianapolis could be more welcoming to its newest residents. Serving as a trusted liaison between newcomers and the community at large, the Immigrant Welcome Center provides a strong and positive voice for the foreign-born newcomers who represent 120 different nationalities and speak more than 90 languages. Today the organization continues to build connections between immigrants and the city's social, cultural and business communities, making Indianapolis a more diverse and innovative place for all residents. The Immigrant Welcome Center is built on a model of empowerment that trains immigrants and refugees as Natural Helpers in understanding the resources and opportunities available in our community. These Natural Helpers then help their fellow foreign-born brothers and sisters navigate the maze of available services and connect them to people, places and resources necessary to build successful lives. The organization has also helped make Indianapolis a leader among welcoming cities across the United States as part of the national Welcoming America Initiative's programs and outreach. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Immigrant Welcome Center for its efforts to strengthen and integrate our growing foreign-born community, helping make Indianapolis a more welcoming and vibrant international city.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 623, the DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015, was introduced by my good friend and colleague from Indiana, Congresswoman Susan Brooks. The bill, Mr. Speaker, was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Committee on Homeland Security. This bill codifies the Department of Homeland Security's Social Media Working Group to enhance the use of social media during disasters and other events, and to provide guidance and best practices in emergency preparedness and response. Social media, especially Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, can play a critical role in preparedness, response, and recovery operations during emergencies. Emergency managers at all levels use social media to warn those in harm's way of impending natural hazards. Social media is also used to inform survivors on how to access disaster assistance and tips for speedier recoveries. Equally important, Mr. Speaker, social media has been used to coordinate and manage assistance from nonprofits and volunteers who want to help in recovery efforts. More and more, we are seeing individuals take to social media during emergencies. Individuals have used social media to help identify locations where assistance may still be needed and to raise awareness of impending hazards. They have also used it, Mr. Speaker, to communicate with loved ones who may be impacted by an event as well as reconnect pets with their owners. This has certainly been the case in the great Hoosier State. This last summer, Mr. Speaker, will go down as the wettest summer in Indianapolis history. Rainfall in July broke a 140-year-old record in our great city, making it the wettest month ever recorded, and social media helped keep residents informed in real time. In Indianapolis, the National Weather Service, Department of Homeland Security, and local broadcasters routinely used social media to post updates on ever- changing weather conditions. The very unique benefit of social media alerts is that you don't have to be right next to a radio or TV to be informed; you can virtually be anywhere. This summer, when dangerous flooding covered many roads in our city, social media exploded with pictures of flooded roadways and stranded motorists. This nontraditional tool enabled people to know where major problems were located and to avoid danger with the famous catchphrase, ``Turn Around Don't Drown.'' The existing DHS Social Media Working Group provides recommendations on how to use social media before, during, and after emergencies. This working group, Mr. Speaker, consists of emergency responders, NGOs, nonprofits, and Federal agencies. I support the provisions in today's bill to broaden the group's membership to include private sector representatives and to require consultation with nonmembers. To ensure accountability, this requires an annual report to Congress on important issues, such as best practices and lessons learned. It would also provide recommendations on how to improve the use of the social media platform for emergency management purposes. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of this platform for emergency management. I would be remiss not to remind our colleagues of the need to authorize the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, also known as IPAWS. As the committee of primary jurisdiction over IPAWS, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the Barletta-Carson IPAWS authorization bill back in April and ordered the bill reported. It is past time for this bill to be considered in the House. Despite the Senate's inadvertent omission of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I support this bill, Mr. Speaker, and I urge our colleagues to do the same to approve this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 569, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 1955 Crispus Attucks men's basketball team, the first all-African American high school athletic team to win a championship, not only in the great Hoosier State, but in the United States. Although the school was initially constructed out of pressure to segregate Indianapolis high schools, Crispus Attucks High School quickly became a source of pride for the African American community in Indianapolis and across the great Hoosier State. However, despite its historic championship victory, the Crispus Attucks High School basketball team did not receive the praise and recognition traditionally bestowed upon previous State champions. After its win, the team took the traditional ride on a fire truck from Butler Fieldhouse to Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, but the team was not allowed to get off the truck at the Circle for the traditional photo sessions. Instead, the fire truck took one more lap and then headed back into the city's Black neighborhood. Now, Mr. Speaker, 60 years later I stand along all Hoosiers to recognize these men for their trailblazing efforts in bringing our city together through high school sports. Their win was a major first step for African American athletes across our country, breaking the barriers of segregation and setting the stage for the diversity that we see today. Mr. Speaker, today I am joining my colleague in the Senate, Senator Joe Donnelly, to give these men the recognition they deserve. It is long overdue, but I hope it helps to bring some attention to their amazing accomplishments. I ask that my colleagues join us today in recognizing the 1955 Crispus Attucks men's basketball team and thank them for bringing tremendous pride to the citizens of Indianapolis and to people of all races across our great country.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a respected public servant and outstanding citizen, former Indiana State Representative, William A. Crawford. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Representative Crawford is one such great soul, who served humanity in a special way. He spent his entire life dedicated to public service, pushing a message of equality and justice during his 40 years in the Indiana General Assembly. On a personal note, Representative Crawford was a dear friend and mentor who I was privileged to know from a very young age. I have fond memories of getting to know `Bill' as he served alongside my grandmother during her time at the Statehouse. With Bill's passing, our state has lost a champion, our city has lost a leader, and I have lost a friend. Revered as the most influential African-American state lawmaker in Indiana's history, Representative Crawford made sure that African- American Hoosiers had a voice in government. He was the first African- American lawmaker to serve as chairman of the powerful and influential Indiana House Ways and Means Committee and was critical in starting the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Representative Crawford was destined to lead and when he spoke people listened. He was inspired to serve by the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was present on April 4, 1968, and heard Senator Robert Kennedy's words at 17th and Broadway in Indianapolis announcing the death of Dr. King. Being there that night helped shape his career as an activist and led to his passionate work on behalf of the Kennedy/ King Memorial on that historic site. Among his accomplishments was increasing minority enrollment at Ivy Tech Community College and creating the Indiana Black Expo into the institution it is today. I extend my greatest sympathy to his wife Bernice, children Darren, Sr., Michael, Kim and Monica. I pray that God rests his soul and gives peace and comfort to his family and friends.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart, as I grieve along with the entire City of Indianapolis for the loss of a young man whose life was cut tragically short by senseless gun violence. Today, we remember De-Shaun Swanson, a 10-year-old boy who was taken from this world too soon on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Although he was only with us for a short time, I am confident that the memories of De-Shaun can provide some solace in the face of this tragedy. De-Shaun was one of six children and a fifth grade student at Stony Brook Elementary. Family and friends have described him as an energetic young man who loved to rap, play football, with his team the Steelers, and joke around. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending prayers to De- Shaun Swanson's parents, Antwuan Lawrence and Shannon Swanson, his siblings, friends, coaches, teammates, teachers, as well as the entire Indianapolis community. I pray that God rests his soul and gives peace and comfort to his family and friends.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize one of Indianapolis' and Indiana's most venerable employers, Allison Transmission Inc., as the company celebrates its Centennial this month. One hundred years ago, James A. Allison established the Speedway Team Company to support his Indianapolis 500 racing activities. On the first day of operation, with great significance, he hung a sign that read, ``Whatever leaves this shop over my name must be of the finest work possible.'' A century later, this principle still guides the company that bears his name. From the company's humble beginnings as a small machine shop, Allison Transmission has grown into the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and a leader in hybrid propulsion. Allison is a major supplier of transmissions for wheeled and tracked vehicles that keep our military strong and our soldiers safe, a lineage that can be traced back to 1917 and the advent of World War I. With its headquarters and primary manufacturing facilities still in Indianapolis, Hoosiers are proud of Allison's 2,700 employees worldwide, its market presence in more than 80 countries, annual revenues exceeding $2 billion, and a market capitalization of more than $5 billion. Allison Transmission is poised to remain one of the United States' most enduring examples of technological innovation and manufacturing excellence that all Americans can be proud of as we compete globally to grow jobs at home. Under the leadership of its dynamic CEO Lawrence Dewey, and through a strong partnership with the United Auto Workers, Allison Transmission continues to employ Hoosiers at wages that support strong families and the civic life of our community. It is a special source of pride to me, Mr. Speaker, that Allison Transmission played a key role in founding MEPI, the Minority Engineering Program Indianapolis, a non-profit organization that encourages and prepares underrepresented minority students to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) related career fields. For 25 years, Allison Transmission has provided MEPI students with financial support, mentors, instructors and access to its facilities for instructional purposes. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is one of the nation's largest and most proactive organizations that provide minority students with educational opportunities at historically black colleges and universities. As a result of a partnership with Allison Transmission, the UNCF's Bowling for Scholars Bowl-A-Thon has become its second largest fundraising activity in the Midwest. In November 2011, the Indiana Minority Supplier Dealer Council (IMSDC) awarded Allison Transmission its ``Corporation of the Year'' award. The award was in recognition of Allison's outreach efforts to increase the number of minority suppliers that do business with the company. Its employees have also served on the IMSDC board of directors, attended supplier fairs and sponsored local events that provide financial support to IMSDC. In closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our congratulations to Allison Transmission for 100 years of success which has provided economic security to tens of thousands of Hoosiers and their families and an enhanced quality of life for all of us who call Indianapolis home.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chair, I rise to discuss Title IX of H.R. 2647, the ``Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015.'' Each year, several hundred small wildfires occur within the State of Indiana. Most of these fires are extinguished by our local fire departments. While the Hoosier State does not experience the devastating effects of wildfires that the West does, I understand and support the need to ensure that wildfires on Federal lands are treated similar to other major disasters so that they have access to funds outside the discretionary budget caps. It is important that the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, which manages the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana, have access to sufficient funding to suppress wildfires on Federal lands whenever they occur. Earlier this year, the Committee held a hearing and received testimony that made clear that wildfire funding is an issue that needs to be addressed. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, which has jurisdiction over the Robert T. Stafford Act Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), I think it is appropriate to amend the Stafford Act to ensure similar treatment for wildfires on Federal lands. Some may have concerns that amending the Stafford Act will afford the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service with access to programs and funds intended for other disasters. I agree that these agencies should not be eligible for other Stafford Act assistance programs nor should these agencies have access to funds provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for other types of major disasters. But I am confident that the Stafford Act may be amended to treat wildfires on Federal lands as a major disaster without affecting other programs and funding. It is simply a matter of establishing a dedicated funding stream specifically for wildfires on Federal lands to ensure that these agencies have access to funds outside the discretionary budget caps. It is my understanding that this is the intent of Title IX. I appreciate Ranking Member DeFazio's interest and dedication to this issue. Moreover, I thank Chairman Shuster for trying to address this matter.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 406, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Stated against:

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on June 24, 2015 I mistakenly voted ``yes'' on rollcall 384, the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015. I strongly oppose the bill and intended to vote ``no''.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 361, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Doyle, from Pennsylvania. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle), my very distinguished colleague.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1690 names the U.S. Federal courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Judge Joseph Weis, a distinguished jurist who made significant contributions to the surrounding community. Judge Weis was a World War II veteran who received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with oak leaf clusters for his service in the Army. Judge Weis went on to graduate from Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh Law School. In 1970, he was appointed to the Western District Court of Pennsylvania. Three years later, he was appointed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and went on to serve 44 years as a distinguished Federal judge. Judge Weis won numerous awards while on the bench, including the DeVitt Award, considered the highest award for a Federal judge; the Pitt Distinguished Alumni Award; and he served as an adjunct faculty member at the Pitt School of Law. Because of Judge Weis' dedicated service to the legal community and his exemplary time as a jurist in Pittsburgh, it is fitting to name this courthouse in his honor. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 172, a bill to designate the Federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, as the R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse. Attorney R. Jess Brown was a towering champion during critical moments in the civil rights movement in the South and especially in Mississippi. Jess Brown received his law degree from Texas Southern University and practiced law in Mississippi throughout the 1960s and the 1970s. As an associate counsel for the NAACP, he filed the first civil rights suit in Mississippi in the 1950s. In 1961, he represented James Meredith in his suit to be allowed to enter the University of Mississippi. His victory in this case opened doors that the University of Mississippi citizens had to walk through quite boldly, and I think that he doesn't get the credit that he deserves, Mr. Speaker. It is important to note that, while with the NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund, he played a major role in fighting racial discrimination in the areas of transportation and other public accommodations. I support this legislation, Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to help me pass H.R. 172. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), my good friend.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Chair, I proudly supported this bill when we marked it in the Intelligence Committee. I am only bringing up this amendment today to address a basic transparency concern raised by my constituents after the markup, that the cybersecurity threat posed to our government, to our businesses, and to our personal information is massive and is growing every day. This bill provides important tools to ensure that the lessons learned from a breach of one company can help strengthen the security of others. As a result, your Social Security and credit card numbers will be better protected. Madam Chair, as someone who opposed CISPA last year, I feel like this iteration is a major first step forward in privacy protection and transparency. I am particularly happy with the robust protections of personally identifiable information. Unlike past iterations, this bill mandates that cyber threat information is scanned and that personal information is removed not once, but twice, before it can be transmitted to other Federal agencies. I am pleased, Madam Chair, that companies will share their cyber threat information with a civilian agency and not directly with the intelligence community. I am also happy that additional limitations are placed on the ways that cyber threat information can be utilized. For all of the benefits of this bill, the American people still-- rightfully so--expect oversight that is consistent and comprehensive. That is what this amendment is all about. It strengthens the oversight of the inspector general's monitoring of this kind of information sharing. Now, with this amendment, the inspector general will oversee and report on the process for information-sharing procedures, for removing personal information, and any incidence in which this information was treated improperly. It will ensure Congress and the public that sharing is happening properly and that the public is being protected. I hope that my good Republican colleagues will support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. I thank Chairman Nunes and Ranking Member Schiff once again for their support in helping to keep our communities safer, but I still want to thank my Republican colleagues for supporting this amendment, and I thank them for their friendship. As a new member of the committee, Madam Chair, I have greatly appreciated the guidance--bipartisan guidance, if you will. Every Member of this House, Madam Chair, has heard from constituents who are concerned about government surveillance and overreach. After everything we have heard about bulk collection over the last few years, the American people are right to be concerned about new authorities to collect data. As the text plainly and repeatedly states, this is not a surveillance bill. We have protections in place to ensure that the intelligence community cannot collect and utilize your personal data. This amendment simply ensures that Congress and the public get to see this sharing process and see how it works if these protections happen to fail. I urge support for this amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time, Madam Chair.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce a bill to reform the Federal Protective Service. On the twentieth anniversary of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (Murrah Building) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I believe it is long overdue to improve the Federal Protective Service (FPS). In the aftermath of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing, the Department of Justice (DOJ) assessed the vulnerability of Federal office buildings in the United States, particularly to acts of terrorism and other forms of violence. The DOJ report made several recommendations, including upgrading the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and bringing each Federal facility up to minimum standards suggested for its security level. When the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was attacked, it was after careful planning that focused on gaps in the federal building security at the site to allow the massive destruction and the loss of life that touched all Americans. The DOJ report noted that the FPS has the experience and historical character to provide security services in Federal buildings for much of the Federal workforce. But, the report also noted that FPS has limited resources to determine building security requirements to address terrorist threats. FPS, according to the report, needs to re-establish its role and take the lead in emphasizing the need for security. Unfortunately years later, many of the reforms that DOJ found necessary have not taken place. Since the bombing of the Murrah Building, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General have both issued numerous reports indicating where FPS needs to improve in order to prevent another tragedy and improve security in Federal buildings. The GAO has made very clear that FPS must increase its oversight of its contract guard force, improve screening practices, and be more nimble in responding to threats to Federal buildings. The Federal Protective Service is a part of the frontline defense for thousands of Federal buildings, which include Federal courthouses, Social Security Administration buildings, Agency headquarters, and other buildings. FPS has approximately 1,300 employees, including approximately 1,000 Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) or ``inspectors'' and 15,000 contract guards, also known as Protective Security Officers (PSOs). After the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, FPS' authorized staffing level was 1,450. FPS maintained about the same level of staffing until it dropped to 1,100 in 2007. After concerns about the decrease and its effect on security, Congress, through the appropriations process, began mandating a minimum staffing level. The FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act requires 1,371 full-time- equivalent staff, including 1,007 law enforcement officers. Ultimately, this means that the FPS has fewer employees than it had in 1996, in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, while GSA has expanded its real estate holdings since 1996 by nearly 33%. FPS spends about $1.3 billion in executing its mission while delivering security and law enforcement services for the 8,700 assets that the General Services Administration (GSA) owns, controls, or leases. FPS services include providing a visible uniformed presence in major Federal buildings; responding to criminal incidents and other emergencies; installing and monitoring security devices and systems; investigating criminal incidents; conducting physical security assessments; coordinating a comprehensive program for occupants' emergency plans; presenting formal crime prevention and security awareness programs; and providing police emergency and special security services during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and major civil disturbances, including man-made disasters, such as bomb explosions and riots. As the Federal inventory of buildings has steadily increased over the last 30 years, the quality and implementation of security standards have varied greatly. The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management has unfortunately found that security in Federal buildings is not uniform and is often set by non- security personnel employed by tenant agencies through a Building Security Committee for each individual public building. This approach to security makes it difficult to gauge properly the actual risk at Federal facilities and then allocate FPS resources appropriately. My bill, the FPS Reform Act of 2015, addresses some of the long standing issues identified by the original DOJ report in the aftermath of the bombing of Alfred P. Murrah Building and subsequent reports by the GAO. It creates a minimum level of training for Protective Service Officers (PSOs) while increasing the authority of PSOs to carry firearms and detain suspects accused of a felony. The bill also improves the training and procedures for federal agencies participating in the Building Security Committees to ensure that there are uniform and appropriate security standards for individual buildings occupied by federal agencies. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of DHS to study and report back to Congress on several areas of concern with respect to securing federal buildings including the level of personnel needed to secure federal buildings, the best model for funding FPS, the feasibility of federalizing FPS contract officers, and best practices in preventing explosives from entering Federal buildings. Nearly 20 years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building it is readily apparent that although FPS has made some strides in improving the protection of Federal buildings there is more progress that needs to be made. In my role as Ranking Member of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee and a former law enforcement official, I believe it is imperative that I do everything possible to protect the millions of federal workers and daily visitors, and to keep federal buildings safe. With increased oversight and additional legislative authority I believe the Federal Protective Service can thrive in its mission of protecting Federal Facilities, their occupants, and visitors by providing 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.