[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 11 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CAPITOL HILL POLICE SECURITY

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, in the few minutes I have remaining 
today, I will talk in specifics about the security situation here at 
the Capitol, and what is going on and what is not going on by way of 
living up to our commitment to Capitol Hill police officers, and also 
to the public.
  As I said, we have made the commitment, and we should honor the 
commitment. You need two officers at a post for their security, much 
less the security of the public.
  Two examples. Please remember, for those who are listening, the 
officer who works alone at any number of these posts is responsible for 
the following: Watching the x ray monitor for weapons or contraband, 
personally screening persons with a handheld metal detector--I say to 
the Senator from Colorado, we come in every day, and we see them doing 
this--controlling pedestrian traffic at entrances, and watching both 
entry and exit doors for people who try to bypass security.
  That is what one officer at one post is supposed to do.
  Example: Ford House Office Building, Annex 2, Third Street door 
entrance, 441, Third Street, Southwest. By the way, the Third Street 
entrance is a multiple-door entrance.
  Monday, February 7, 2000, one officer was assigned to this entrance 
from 0700 to 1500 hours. From 1200 to 1300 hours, 512 people entered 
through the Third Street entrance--one officer.
  The Ford Building sits directly across from the Federal Center 
Southwest metro station, for those who are trying to identify it.
  From 0800 to 0900 hours, 215 people entered through the entrance--one 
officer. This is Monday, February 7.
  By the way, during the highest volume of pedestrian traffic, an 
officer who was passing by just simply stopped and offered assistance. 
But that is not the way it is supposed to be.
  Hart Senate Office Building, 120 Constitution Avenue, Northeast; C 
Street door entrance to the Hart Building. This is a multiple-door 
entrance that is open to staff--Government workers--from 0700 to 0900 
hours. This entrance is actually directly next to Senator Nickles' 
office.
  Tuesday, February 3, one officer was assigned to this entrance from 
0700 to 1500 hours. As I say, that was Tuesday, February 3.
  From 0900 to 1000 hours, 432 people entered through this entrance, 
not to mention the 332 staffers--Government workers--from 0800 to 0900 
hours--one officer. Just think about the number of people who are 
streaming in with one officer. Again, I don't know exactly who is right 
in terms of how this problem gets solved. I think some of our police 
officers believe there are overtime funds for this purpose. It may be 
that upper management is arguing that those funds are not available. 
Others say we have to have more funds to hire more people. One way or 
the other, either there is money there for the overtime funds to 
properly staff these posts or additional money is necessary in 
appropriation.

  I just gave two concrete examples on the House and the Senate side 
this month of February. I don't think any Senator or anyone in any 
decisionmaking position who is responsible for the security situation 
here--starting with these police officers, for them, much less for the 
public, much less for us--can justify this. It cannot be defended.
  I will say it one more time. I think it is OK for me to say it. If I 
say it the wrong way, it is not OK for me to say it. We lost two fine 
officers. Agent Gibson, Officer Chestnut, we lost them. I do believe we 
all said to one another that we were going to do everything humanly 
possible to get the very best security for our officers. No one can 
ever guarantee a 100-percent safe situation. What we do know is that we 
can do everything that is humanly possible to try to meet that goal.
  I just gave two examples this month that show we have fallen way 
short of meeting that goal. We are not doing right by the Capitol Hill 
police officers. We are not doing right by the public. We have to take 
action.
  I will give other examples over the days and weeks to come. Of 
course, my hope is this problem will be dealt with.
  I thank Senator Durbin for allowing me this time. Not seeing any 
other Senators on the floor, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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