FEDERAL BUILDING THREAT NOTIFICATION ACT

On 2026-08-07, Senator Gary C. Peters (D-MI) delivered a floor speech titled "FEDERAL BUILDING THREAT NOTIFICATION ACT" in the Senate.

FEDERAL BUILDING THREAT NOTIFICATION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4547-S4548] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] FEDERAL BUILDING THREAT NOTIFICATION ACT Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I will shortly ask for unanimous consent to pass the Federal Building Threat Notification Act, a bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Senators Lankford and Ernst to improve emergency communications in Federal buildings. This bill was voted unanimously out of committee yesterday. The men and women who serve our country should be able to do their jobs in a safe and secure workplace, and members of the public who enter Federal buildings to receive essential services should be confident of that--if a violent threat occurs, that they will be quickly informed and told that they need to say safe. Unfortunately, that is not what is always happening today. Last January, shots were fired directly outside the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit, in my home State of Michigan. Yet the Federal employees working inside the [[Page S4548]] building were not informed about the incident until hours after it happened. This is simply unacceptable. When a firearm is discharged near a Federal building and chaos ensues, the people inside should not be left wondering what the heck is happening. They should not have to rely on social media, a phone call from a family member, or news reports to learn about a threat outside of their workplace. They should receive clear and timely information from the officials responsible for protecting that building in an emergency because, as you know, every minute matters. Employees and visitors need to know whether they should shelter in place, evacuate the building, avoid a particular entrance, or take other immediate steps to protect themselves and to protect the public. The incident in Detroit exposed a serious gap in our Federal security procedures, and it occurred at a time when threats against government facilities are increasing. Over the last 5 years, there has been a sharp increase in terrorist attacks and plots against government targets, including bomb threats. We have a responsibility to make sure everyone inside these buildings has the information they need during a crisis, and that is exactly what this bipartisan bill will do. The Federal Building Threat Notification Act would require the Federal Protective Service and the Department of Homeland Security to develop and implement clear guidance for emergency communications within 1 year. That guidance would establish best practices and protocols for promptly notifying building tenants that violent threats are occurring inside or immediately surrounding a Federal building. That includes shootings and other firearm incidents, threats involving other types of weapons, and potential terrorist activity as well as suspicious devices. Just as importantly, the guidance must provide employees and other building tenants with clear instructions about the appropriate safety measures they should take in response. This bill would also ensure that every building protected by the Federal Protective Service has a designated security official responsible for carrying out these procedures. Finally, the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Protective Service would report back to Congress on the guidance they put into place. These are straightforward, commonsense protections, and I am proud to have the support of my colleagues from across the aisle, Senator Lankford and Senator Ernst. We know these threats are real, we know there is a gap in our current system, and we know what needs to be done to address it. This legislation is bipartisan because keeping Federal employees and the public safe should never be a partisan issue. We should not wait for another dangerous incident or a tragedy before taking action. So I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, strengthen emergency communications in Federal buildings, and help ensure that employees and visitors receive timely information when their safety is at risk. Mr. President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 545, S. 2542. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2542) to direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Building Threat Notification Act''. SEC. 2. GUIDANCE FOR BUILDINGS. (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``law enforcement-related'' means requiring a law enforcement response. (b) Guidance.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Protective Service shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, develop and implement guidance for emergency communication regarding law enforcement-related events for Federal tenants in buildings 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 in a timely manner of violent threats in the building or within approximately 150 feet of the building perimeter, including all firearm events, other weapons threats, acts of or threats of potential, suspected, or confirmed terrorism, and the discovery of suspicious devices or materials; and (B) ensuring that tenants receive instructions for safety practices in response to an immediate threat or a heightened risk of a threat. (c) Security Officials.-- (1) In general.--The designated official of the Facility Security Committee for each building under the protection of the Federal Protective Service shall be responsible for implementing the guidance at the respective building. (2) Designated official.--Consistent with the Interagency Security Committee guidelines and applicable Federal law, the Director of the Federal Protective Service shall confirm that each department or agency with a building or office space under the protection of the Federal Protective Service has a designated official of the Facility Security Committee. (d) Assessment of Law Enforcement-Related Crisis Response.--The Director of the Federal Protective Service shall-- (1) ensure that all Federal tenants in buildings under the protection of the Federal Protective Service are able to adequately respond to a law enforcement-related crisis; and (2) conduct periodic testing to prepare for such event. (e) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Protective Service shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, electronically submit to Congress a report, not longer than 10 pages, on the best practices and protocols implemented under this Act. (2) Briefing.--The Director of the Federal Protective Service shall provide to Congress a briefing on the report required under paragraph (1) and shall present any information relating to support needed to maintain the safety of buildings under the protection of the Federal Protective Service. (f) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill (S. 2542), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cramer). The Senator from Ohio. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S2542