The structure is named after Jacob K. Javits, a United States Senator from New York who served from 1957 to 1981. For all law enforcement and protection matters, the building is under the jurisdiction of the United States Federal Protective Service. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has an office on the first floor. Javits was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 4, 1906. He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard University and his law degree from Columbia University School of Law. After graduating from law school, he worked as an attorney for the Department of Justice before being elected to Congress in 1946. He served in that position until 1955 when he was appointed by President Eisenhower to fill a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1956 and served until his death in 1994 at the age of 80. He is buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. In addition to his work in Congress, Javits was involved in various other organizations during his life. He was president of the American Jewish Committee from 1953 to 1954, board chairman of the National Foundation for Cancer Research from 1969 to 1971, and chairman of the board of trustees of Yeshiva University from 1978 to 1980. In 1993, President Clinton presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work on behalf of refugees and immigrants.