Federal Building Threat Notification Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6481) to direct the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency communication protocols for public buildings, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6481

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Building Threat Notification Act''. SEC. 2. GUIDANCE FOR BUILDINGS.

(a) Life Safety Events Defined.--In this section, the term ``life safety events'' means events to which first responders, including law enforcement, fire and emergency rescue, and natural disaster experts, deploy.

(b) Guidance.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Federal Protective Service shall develop and disseminate emergency communication guidance for building facility security committees to execute in any case in which life safety events threaten Federal buildings owned and operated by the Administrator of General Services under the protection of the Federal Protective Service.

(2) Contents.--The guidance developed under paragraph (1) shall include best practices and protocols relating to--

(A) standard operating procedures to inform building tenants of threats to the buildings or occupants of the buildings; and

(B) instructions for safety practices in response to threats or a heightened risk to the building and the occupants of the building.

(c) Security Officials.--The designated official of the facility security committee for each Federal building that is owned or operated by the General Services Administration under the protection of the Federal Protective Service shall be responsible for implementing the guidance at the respective building.

(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall electronically submit to Congress a report on the best practices and protocols implemented under this Act.

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Mr. TAYLOR. 6481.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act directs the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance on emergency communication protocols for public buildings.

This legislation was developed after the committee received a report detailing crime that occurs in and around Federal buildings. The report detailed that in fiscal year 2024, there were over 3,500 incidents of crime in and around Federal buildings recorded nationwide.

This data paints a clear picture of the current system in which the safety of Federal workers and visitors to GSA buildings is not a guarantee. It is even more critical today, given the heightened security threats, to ensure there are clear communication protocols for occupants and visitors to Federal facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management ranking member, Mr. Stanton, along with subcommittee chairman, Mr. Perry, for their work on this very important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will ensure that the GSA and FPS establish standard operating procedures that will help keep agency tenants better informed when there are threats to the building or its occupants. This is an important step Congress can take to increase safety in Federal buildings for both Federal employees and visitors.

I urge support of H.R. 6481, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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