[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MEMBERSHIP ON CAPITOL POLICE BOARD ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 8, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of 
Columbia Membership on Capitol Police Board Act, which would make the 
chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) an ex officio, 
non-voting member of the Capitol Police Board (Board). The Board 
oversees the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and security for the U.S. 
Capitol complex and is comprised of three voting members (the House 
Sergeant at Arms, the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper and the 
Architect of the Capitol) and one ex officio, non-voting member (the 
USCP chief). My bill would give the MPD chief the same status on the 
Board as the USCP chief.
  The events and aftermath of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 
2021, demonstrate the need for D.C. membership on the Board. Not only 
would the MPD chief's membership on the Board help improve coordination 
between USCP and MPD, which helped save the Capitol and its occupants 
after USCP was overrun during the attack, it would force the Board to 
consider the interests of D.C. residents in its decision-making. The 
Board's decisions affect D.C. residents more than any other Americans, 
but no member of the Board has any obligation to consider the 
perspective and needs of D.C. residents. D.C. residents continue to 
bear the brunt of the security decisions the Board has made since the 
attack. For example, the fencing around the Capitol complex has forced 
D.C. emergency vehicles and residents to take detours and has prevented 
access to the Capitol grounds, which are used by neighborhood residents 
for recreation and relaxation.
  I support the calls to evaluate whether the Board is the right 
mechanism to oversee security at the Capitol, but as long as the Board 
is in existence, D.C. should have membership on it.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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