Goodlatte, Conyers, Sensenbrenner, Jackson Lee Unveil Secret Service Reform Legislation

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), and Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) today introduced the Secret Service Improvements Act of2015 (H.R. 1656) to reform the United States Secret Service. Over the past few years, a series of scandals and failures have rocked the Secret Service, ranging from the agents’ use of prostitutes while on official presidential travel to Colombia, to the agency’s failure to initially apprehend a fence-jumper who later was arrested deep into the White House residence, to the most recent incident where two agents allegedly drove while intoxicated into an active bomb investigation outside of the White House. The bipartisan legislation introduced today implements many of the U.S. Secret Service Protective Mission Panel’s recommendations for improvements at the agency. It strengthens the security of the President, protectees, and the White House complex; enhances Secret Service agents’ training; and improves transparency and accountability at the agency. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is also an original cosponsor. Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, Crime Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner, and Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Jackson Lee issued the following statements on the introduction of this bill. Chairman Goodlatte: “The Secret Service is comprised of many outstanding, and upstanding, men and women who do excellent work every day.  However, after a series of embarrassing security failures and instances of poor judgement, the American people have lost confidence in the Secret Service’s ability to protect the President from threats from outside entities and from within the agency itself. The Secret Service needs to ensure its agents are properly trained so that they can successfully identify and prevent threats from materializing, and also needs to crack down on the wild and reckless behavior exhibited by some agents. While Director Clancy has taken many steps to begin to reform the Secret Service, it’s clear that legislative action is needed. “The Secret Service Improvements Act of 2015 provides much needed resources to the Secret Service that enhance agents’ training, strengthen security at the White House, and improve transparency and accountability at the agency. This legislation also requires Senate confirmation of the Director of the Secret Service.  It defies logic that the person we entrust to not just protect the President, but to also head a $1.5 billion federal law enforcement agency, is not subject to the same process of advice and consent as his counterparts at other comparable agencies. Collectively, these resources and changes will help reform the Secret Service and restore it as a sterling law enforcement agency.” Ranking Member Conyers: “The Judiciary Committee has engaged in vigorous oversight of the Secret Service in recent years, including a hearing last November concerning management issues and security lapses.  From this hearing, we have learned that Congress can do more to help this agency fulfill its critical protective and investigative functions.  That is why I am cosponsoring the Secret Service Improvements Act of 2015, a bill that will assist the agency in a number of ways related to personnel, training, technology, and the physical security of the areas the Secret Service protects.”  Crime Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner: “The Secret Service should be held to the highest of standards, but unfortunately has fallen short—calling its leadership and ability to carry out its mission into question. It is our intent to prevent further embarrassment and reestablish the Secret Service as the world’s premier law enforcement agency.” Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Jackson Lee: “With several incidents in recent years raising concerns about the management and operation of the Secret Service, it is appropriate that I join with other Judiciary Committee colleagues in introducing the Secret Service Improvements Act of 2015. This goal of this bill is to support the agents and officers of the Secret Service as they face increasing challenges in fulfilling their critical mission.  I urge adoption of this bill to help strengthen the agency, primarily through authorization of additional agents, officers, and training.” Key Components of the Secret Service Improvements Act of 2015:Strengthens Security

• Clarifies that it is a federal crime to knowingly cause, with the intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, any object to enter restricted buildings or grounds, including the White House and the Vice President’s residence.
• Requires the Secret Service to evaluate the use of additional weaponry, including non-lethal weapons.
• Amends current law to permit the Secret Service to investigate threats against former Vice Presidents.
• Requires the Secret Service to devise and implement procedures for evaluating threats to the White House and its protectees, including threats from drones and explosives, and to report to Congress its findings.
• Requires the Secret Service to evaluate its technology at the White House, including ways that technology can be used to improve safety at the White House.
• Requires the Secret Service to evaluate how it retains evidence and to report its findings to Congress.

Enhances Agents’ Training and Increases Manpower

• Directs the Secret Service to increase the number of hours spent training, and directs them to provide joint training between Uniformed Division officers and Special Agents.
• Authorizes the hiring of no fewer than 200 additional Uniformed Division officers and 80 additional special agents.

Improves Transparency and Accountability

• Requires the Director of the U.S. Secret Service to be Senate confirmed.
• Contains a Sense of Congress that determinations by the Department of Homeland Security or the Secret Service regarding changes to the White House itself for protection reasons should be given significant deference with the many entities that have a role in approving such changes, including the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.