Ranking Member DeLauro Statement at U.S. Capitol Police Oversight Hearing

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) delivered the following remarks at the delivered the following remarks at the Legislative Branch Subcommittee's oversight hearing on U.S. Capitol Complex Public Safety and Security:

- As Prepared For Delivery -

Thank you, Chairman Valadao and Ranking Member Espaillat, for holding this hearing.

My thanks also go to today’s witness for appearing today: Chief Manger, welcome to the Legislative Branch subcommittee. Today’s hearing is on a very important topic – the safety and security of the Capitol Complex. 

The dedicated men and women of the Capitol Police protect members of Congress and their staff, all the other workers throughout the complex, official business visitors, and the millions of tourists that visit Washington, DC annually safe while within and around the Capitol grounds. Keeping Capitol Complex buildings secure and the people within them safe is a matter of national security, and thus a matter of utmost consequence for the American people.

I thank you, Chief Manger, the Capitol Police Officers, and the department’s support staff for all they do to protect the people and the complex from all sorts of threats.

Capitol safety and security is a bipartisan priority, and I look forward to discussing how this subcommittee can ensure we are making the proper investments in the department to ensure taxpayer dollars are wisely and efficiently used to fulfill the Capitol Police’s mission.

However, there have been a number of challenges and some serious breaches of our security that must be addressed. I applaud the department for its actions in the wake of the January 6, 2021 breach of the Capitol, and for implementing many of the recommendations made to prevent such an event from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile, there have been lapses in complex security that give us all great concern. The tolerable number of firearms entering the complex that are carried by anyone but those explicitly authorized to do should be zero. We need to understand, in explicit detail – without divulging sensitive information – why that has not been the case, and what the department has done and will do, and what the department needs from us, to ensure these security lapses are not just minimized, but completely eliminated. 

If there is daylight between what you believe needs to take place to keep the Capitol complex safe, and what you and your department are being asked and required to do, we need to illuminate that, and we need to understand the potential ramifications and consequences.

Finally, I would like to know how working under a continuing resolution, rather than a full-year funding bill that addresses current and near-future needs and issues, affects your operations and the safety and security of the Capitol complex. 

It is regrettable that this committee failed to finish its job and instead threw in the towel on fiscal year 2025 funding bills. We were on the brink of a bipartisan agreement between the four corners of the appropriations committees when the House majority decided to upend the process and pursue a partisan bill that does not meet the needs of any department or agency across the government, and that instead handed a blank check to Elon Musk and President Trump.

I implore this committee to get back on track and to work towards bipartisan consensus for this subcommittee’s bill and the rest of the appropriations bills for 2026. Thank you, and I yield back.

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