The agency takes great care to not only balance the costs and benefits of security programs, but also to minimize their visibility and intrusiveness into the visitor experience.
AOC increased its levels of information sharing with respect to best practices for addressing security problems. The organization held cross-jurisdictional seminars to standardize and centralize security procedures and provide employees with security training. The Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security jurisdiction continues to coordinate with National Capital Region intelligence and law enforcement agencies to address and identify potential security weaknesses. To ensure continuous improvement in learning and executing best security practices for themselves and their customers, AOC is planning on developing online operational security training for the agency.
In FY 2014, to provide enhanced security across Capitol Hill, AOC, in coordination with the U.S. Capitol Police Board and Congress, fully implemented the Radio Modernization project. This project converted an antiquated USCP radio system to a modern, digital system, allowing interoperability with other law enforcement entities. The installation of radio infrastructure improvements on the Capitol grounds enhanced the system’s coverage and reliability across the campus for improved security and emergency preparedness. In addition, as a result of recent campus incidents, the USCP worked with the Capitol Police Board to reassess and modify screening procedures in the House Underground Garages.
To meet its new mission requirements in the near-term, AOC will provide planning and preparedness, operations and maintenance, upgrades oversight and support of off-campus facilities and other resilience functions. In the long-term, the draft Capitol Complex Master Plan has many recommendations for AOC such as undertaking a study to improve screening facilities to allow for improved security measures without impacting the visitor experience. Another possibility is to differentiate visitor and staff entrances to minimize the burden on police and make the queues shorter at the primary entrances. Currently, “Staff Only” entrances are not used extensively. Last, in a modern world environment where cyber security is a very real concern, AOC is taking strides to address both infrastructural cyber security weaknesses and the need to increase employee awareness of the possibility of virtual security breakdowns.
Workplace Safety and Health
Key Challenge: As steward of Capitol Hill, AOC is responsible for ensuring that safety and health standards are met for those who work at or visit the U.S. Capitol. Meeting this responsibility while balancing operational needs, complying with applicable regulations, preserving the historic integrity of the facilities, maintaining access for the public
In Focus
Cannon House Office Building Renewal Project
The 1908 Cannon House Office Building, the oldest Congressio- nal office building on Capitol Hill, is occupied by members of the House of Representatives and their staffs. This century-old building and many of its systems have never undergone a compre- hensive modernization. As a result, it faces serious safety, health, environmental and operational issues that are worsening. Over the last several years, the building has experienced plumbing leaks and dislodged chunks of decorative stone from the building exterior. Without action, the essential systems will continue to fail, impacting Members, staff and constituents.
To address these urgent problems and to ensure the Cannon Building provides an effective congressional workplace into the next century, a top-to-bottom, phased building renewal is scheduled to begin after the 2014 election. The project includes stone preservation, roof replacement and repairs to key systems such as heating, plumbing, fire and life-safety, accessibility and structural integrity. The project will be executed while the building remains substantially occupied, with certain support offices and committee staff relocated to the Ford House Office Building or the Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building. When complete, the renewal will improve the building’s functionality, making it more efficient, comfortable and safe, while retaining its historic grandeur.
The renewal is scheduled to take approximately 10 years, with the duration of each of five phases aligned with the Congressional office move cycles. While construction will take place throughout, its noisiest activities will occur after business hours. The project is budgeted at $752.7 million—the AOC’s largest thus far—with allocations for planning, design, construction, management, furniture, information technology, security equipment and swing space build-out and moves. In FY 2014, site preparation began. The project is expected to be completed by 2025.
More information is available at
www.aoc.gov/cannon-renewal-project.
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