[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9253-9254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CAPITOL SECURITY THREAT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we had a short recess for about an hour 
because of a security threat that, by now, has been covered well in the 
media. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Capitol Police and 
the various assistants throughout the Capitol because

[[Page 9254]]

when we have that sort of alert, which comes very quickly, very 
unexpectedly while we are in session here, but at the same time this 
huge Capitol Building with literally hundreds and thousands of people 
working in this complex having to stop and evacuate in an orderly way 
is a real challenge.
  So I thank everybody, including our guests, because at the same time 
we have all of us who are working here in this Capitol structure, there 
are guests visiting throughout the Capitol. Everybody left in an 
orderly way and in a way that was safe and calm. As far as I have heard 
in talking with the Sergeant at Arms, there were no injuries. When you 
have that sort of rapid departure, that is always a risk.
  Our Capitol Police, Sergeant at Arms, and the Secretary of the Senate 
all responded in a way that we can all be proud of. Most importantly, 
the offending aircraft is now on the ground, and the pilot and whoever 
else was in the plane are being questioned.
  Now I am happy to turn to the Democratic leader.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am grateful that the distinguished 
Republican leader would come to the floor of the Senate and acknowledge 
the people who look after us every day. The training of our Capitol 
Police force is exceptionally good. I was with them, as was the 
distinguished Republican leader, and I am amazed at their 
professionalism as they took us away.
  I am an alumni of different universities, a proud lawyer, and a 
number of other things I have had the good fortune of working with over 
a number of years, but I am an alumni of the Capitol Police. I am very 
proud of that. I recognize that the work I did those many years ago as 
a Capitol policeman pales in comparison to the problems that face this 
beautiful building of the American people.
  I am so confident that we have the best police force in the world 
here on Capitol Hill. They have to deal with bomb threats and all kinds 
of chemical problems. The Republican leader, who is a doctor, worked 
through the anthrax problem; I wasn't involved with that. But they are 
experts at that. They are aware of anything that is going on in the 
world regarding terrorism because of these evil people from around the 
world. This is, if not the No. 1 target, one of the top targets.
  I appreciate and commend and applaud the majority leader for coming 
here immediately and recognizing these people who look after us every 
day. Every day, we see them standing around doors, and they don't 
appear to be working real hard, but it is on days such as this that 
they earn their pay over and over again. I am glad and happy that I had 
the experience to be a Capitol policeman, and I look forward to 
continually being protected, along with the American public, in this 
great building by these wonderful men and women.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

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