Who:
American Federation of Government Employees Local 918 President David Wright
What:
To testify before House Committee on Homeland Security
Where:
Cannon House Office Building, Room 311
When:
Tuesday, May 1; 10 a.m.
Why:
To inform Committee members of the imperative need for the Federal Protective Service to remain intact and fully-staffed.
(WASHINGTON)- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 918 President David Wright will testify on May 1 before the House Committee on Homeland Security regarding “The Direction and Viability of the Federal Protective Service.”
The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is the only federal agency charged with protecting and securing the approximately 8,800 non-military federal buildings in the United States. However, President Bush’s FY08 budget proposal includes an initiative that would cut hundreds of already scarce FPS jobs and restructure the agency. AFGE has, and will continue to argue for a strengthening of FPS, not dismantlement. Congress’ interest in the agency and its hearings on the matter signal strong discontentment among senators and representatives, AFGE argues.
Wright most recently testified April 18 before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on “Proposals to Downsize the Federal Protective Service and Effects on the Protection of Federal Buildings.” At that hearing, four FPS officers also provided damning first-hand accounts of the perils of downsizing.
AFGE Local 918 is a national local, representing approximately 80 percent of the FPS workforce. AFGE also represents employees at every other DHS agency.