A bipartisan provision authored by Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-22) and Randy Weber (TX-14) that would allow the best possible protection for our embassies passed Congress today as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill.

Currently, when choosing security firms to protect U.S. embassies, the State Department is required to hire the firm offering the lowest price, regardless of its past performance or quality of service. Reps. Frankel and Weber’s provision corrects this unreasonable limitation by allowing the State Department to choose the best firm to protect our diplomatic posts abroad.

“We have a moral obligation and national security imperative to safeguard our diplomats serving this nation overseas,” said Rep. Frankel.  “During these troubling times, it’s more important than ever that Americans representing us abroad are well-protected.”

“Providing the necessary protections for the civilian men and women representing our country abroad is one of our more sacred duties,” said Rep. Weber. “The world in which we live today has changed dramatically. This provision allows the State Department to adapt to these changes.”

“At a time when the United States faces threats from around the world, the jobs of keeping our diplomats safe shouldn’t just go to the lowest bidder,” said Ranking Member Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “It’s a no-brainer that we should hire local guards based on the quality of the protection they provide, but current law requires that we default to the lowest price.  This provision will make our diplomats serving around the world safer by eliminating this requirement.  I thank Ms. Frankel and Mr. Weber for authoring this common-sense and much-needed measure.”

This measure has the support of the American Foreign Service Association and is similar to one Rep. Frankel previously introduced, which passed the House of Representatives last Congress.

The provision passed the House of Representatives and the Senate today as part of the government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016. The full measure now goes to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

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