Opening Statement of Senator Max Baucus
EPW Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Hearing on HR 809
The Federal Protective Service Reform Act

First, I'd like to welcome all of our witnesses. I look forward to your testimony today.

Second, I'd like to thank Senator Voinovich for holding a hearing on this very essential issue. The Federal Protective Service is of the utmost importance. They are the ones who secure all our federal buildings, and after the incident a few years back in Oklahoma City, we can't be too careful. HR 809 is a very important bill.

Currently, there is a disconnect between the Assistant Commissioner of FPS in Washington, DC and the FPS officers in each of the 11 regions. HR. 809 makes changes this system to create a chain of command from Washington DC to the FPS Regional Directors. Connecting the Assistant commissioner directly to his regional directors is certainly a positive step. Establishing a minimum of necessary experience for FPS Directors also seems to make sense . There are other provisions of the bill that similarly make important improvements, such as new training requirements.

However, I'm not sold on the need to make FPS a separate entity from PBS. That seems likely to create more confusion.

I look forward to hearing the opinions of our witnesses and working with them and this subcommittee on HR. 809.