[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            CAPITOL SECURITY

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, on another matter, even during normal 
times, protecting the U.S. Capitol is a difficult job. Millions of 
people visit the U.S. Capitol every single year. Five hundred and 
thirty-five elected officials and their staffs work here every single 
day. To keep the Capitol Complex safe, to keep it secure, we are lucky 
to have the best of the best.
  Our Capitol Police, who stared down a violent mob on January 6, have 
been nothing short of heroic--heroic. When the smoke cleared after the 
attack of January 6, they came back to the Capitol and helped piece 
together what the rioters had torn apart. In the aftermath of that dark 
day, the National Guard helped keep watch day and night, 24-7.
  I walked the halls of this building early in the morning and saw our 
National Guard men and women, from New York and so many other States, 
camped out, helping us, wanting to make sure the Capitol was secure. We 
owe the Capitol Police and we owe the National Guard our deepest 
gratitude, but we owe them more than just that. We owe them the 
resources they need to do a very difficult job and to do it well.
  Unfortunately, Congress is on the precipice of failing. Due to 
unforeseen expenses during the pandemic and the toll incurred by the 
attack on January 6, funding for our Capitol Police, security at the 
Capitol Complex, even our National Guard, has come close to running 
very dry.
  Already, the Capitol Police has had to delay vital trainings and the 
purchase of new safety equipment. Soon, salaries, bonuses, and new 
hiring will be on the chopping block. According to MG Tom Carden, who 
sent 1,200 members of the Georgia National Guard to the Capitol after 
January 6, his unit is facing ``draconian'' cuts if Congress doesn't 
replenish funding before this weekend. We must not--we must not--let 
that happen under our watch.
  The chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Leahy, has been 
working diligently to come up with a bipartisan agreement. Now, Senator 
Shelby has joined with him, and they have crafted a $2.1 billion 
supplemental appropriations bill to fill the shortfalls of our Capitol 
Police, our National Guard, and a number of other vital defense 
operations. It is not everything that we wanted. The House's bill is 
bigger and broader. But it does fill the need, and we need to fill it 
quickly.
  I want to thank Senator Leahy particularly for his relentlessness in 
pursuing this.
  I want to thank Senator Shelby for realizing how important this was 
in prodding Members on his side of the aisle to move forward.
  I also want to thank Senators Klobuchar and Blunt, chairmen of the 
authorization committee, the Rules Committee, that deals with these 
issues. Senator Klobuchar in particular, whose hearings and continued 
focus on Capitol security helped pave the way for the agreement, 
deserves our kudos.
  Now is the time for the Senate to take up and pass this bill on 
behalf of the brave police officers and servicemembers who defended 
this very citadel of democracy.
  All 50 Senate Democrats fully support this crucial police and 
security funding. All 50 Democrats are ready to go. We are eager, 
insistent we meet our deadline.
  Again, Democrats are prepared to vote on this bill as soon as 
possible. With the cooperation of our Republican colleagues, which we 
hope we will get--our needs are dire--we could pass this bill today.
  The last 6 months have pushed those who protect the U.S. Capitol to 
the limits. In the face of unprecedented adversity, they responded 
heroically. We must support them now as they so courageously supported 
us.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Baldwin). The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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