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S 3613

Relates to the percentage of free play allowance credits

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pam Helming

Requires Facility Security Committees to respond within 90 days to FPS security recommendations, with DHS oversight and annual transparency reporting.

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Bill Summary · S 3613

Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 (S. 3613) — Summary

Status: Enacted — Public Law No. 118-157 (signed Dec. 17, 2024)
Committee report: S. Rept. 118-160

Purpose

Require Facility Security Committees (FSCs) to formally respond to facility security recommendations made by the Federal Protective Service (FPS), increase DHS oversight and transparency of those responses, and strengthen accountability for protecting federal facilities.

Key provisions

  • Definitions: clarifies “agency,” “Facility Security Committee,” and “Secretary” (Secretary of Homeland Security).
  • FSC response requirement: within 90 days of an FPS security recommendation, the head (or designee) of the FSC must report to the DHS Secretary:
    • whether the FSC intends to adopt or reject the recommendation;
    • the financial implications of adopting or rejecting it (including whether benefits outweigh costs);
    • if rejecting, a justification for accepting the risk posed by rejection.
  • DHS duties:
    • develop a method to monitor issuance of FPS recommendations and FSC responses;
    • take “reasonable action” to ensure FSC responsiveness.
  • Reporting:
    • DHS must submit its first annual report 270 days after enactment and annually thereafter. Each report (unclassified with a possible classified annex) must include, for the prior fiscal year:
    • summary of FPS recommendations issued to FSCs;
    • percentages accepted/rejected and percentage of FSCs that failed to respond timely;
    • summaries of justifications for rejections;
    • summaries of financial implications and analyses of mitigation steps and trends;
    • DHS must brief relevant congressional committees annually on findings.
  • Surveillance technology report: DHS must provide an unredacted report within 180 days listing all surveillance technology recommended by FPS and intended uses.
  • Scope: applies to GSA facilities protected by FPS and to non‑GSA facilities that pay FPS protection fees.
  • Funding & duration:
    • no additional funds authorized (agencies must use existing funds);
    • sunset clause: law expires 5 years after enactment;
    • GAO must submit an evaluation report on the law’s effectiveness within 5 years.

Who is affected

  • Facility Security Committees and federal tenant agencies in FPS‑protected non‑military facilities (GSA facilities and non‑GSA facilities paying FPS fees).
  • DHS/FPS (increased monitoring and reporting responsibilities).
  • Congressional oversight committees receiving annual reports.

Rationale / Context

GAO found FPS issued over 25,000 recommendations (FY2017–FY2021) but 57% were ignored and only 27% ultimately approved. The law aims to improve accountability and transparency amid rising threats to federal facilities.

Implementation & timeline highlights

  • Enacted: Dec. 17, 2024.
  • 90-day FSC response requirement for each FPS recommendation.
  • DHS monitoring method and actions to ensure compliance (timeline not specified beyond 90‑day responses).
  • First DHS annual report due within 270 days of enactment; surveillance technology report due within 180 days.
  • Five‑year sunset and GAO effectiveness review due at that time.

Legislative history (selected)

  • Introduced in Senate: Jan. 18, 2024. Reported by Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (Mar. 14, 2024).
  • Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent: Mar. 23, 2024.
  • Passed House under suspension of the rules: Dec. 10, 2024 (410–6).
  • Presented to President: Dec. 12, 2024; signed into law: Dec. 17, 2024.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Increases transparency and congressional oversight of facility security decisions.
  • Could prompt greater adoption of FPS-recommended countermeasures but may impose budgetary trade-offs on tenant agencies (no new authorized funding).
  • Requires DHS to establish tracking/monitoring tools and to analyze trends; GAO review will assess effectiveness at the 5‑year mark.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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