Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel on Monday jumped on board a bill introduced by Republican colleague Trey Radel of Fort Myers that would allow the State Department to consider factors other than low cost when awarding security contracts at U.S. embassies in dangerous and hostile areas.
The bill would not boost the State Department's security budget but would allow more flexibility by not requiring officials to accept the lowest bid in every case.
The bill springs from an assessment of security needs in the aftermath of a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last September.
Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in January that the cheapest possible security may not be the best way to protect America’s embassies.
“In the wake of Benghazi, there is no question that we must work to do a better job of protecting Americans serving in our embassies overseas,” said Frankel of West Palm Beach. “Americans abroad deserve to be safe, have top-notch security, and the State Department should have the tools and flexibility to hire the appropriate security staff who guard our United States embassies.”
Frankel's action gives the bill bipartisan support, improving its chances of passage in a divided Congress.