Ranking Member Espaillat Statement at the United States Capitol Police Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request Hearing

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the United States Capitol Police:

**As prepared for delivery**

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

Chief Manger. Thank you for everything you have done. I thank the men and women of the Capitol Police for their relentless efforts to assist us, to help us, particularly during the January 6 insurrection. They were so critical to the fact that we preserved democracy, and we were all safe.

Very happy to see you again. Before we get started talking about your budget needs for fiscal year 2024, I want to say thank you, Chief, and thank you to all the officers and civilians of the Capitol Police who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the Members, employees, visitors, and facilities both here and within our districts. You do your jobs so that we can do ours.

These last few years have been tough, and the Capitol Police has faced many challenges as it has worked to ramp up security around the Capitol Complex including, training, equipping, and hiring more officers, investigating the challenges and failures leading up to January 6^th, implementing recommendations, monitoring the rising number of threats against Members of Congress, and ensuring the wellbeing of its workforce.

For fiscal year 2024, the Capitol Police has requested $840.9 million which includes the addition of 78 sworn officers and 69 civilian officers for a total of 2,840 full-time equivalent positions (FTE). This is an increase of $106 million or 14.5 percent over the fiscal year 2023 enacted level.

Chief Manger, I look forward to hearing your testimony and how your department will incorporate both the lessons learned over these past few years, and your vision for a more protective-oriented model of policing into your fiscal year 2024 request.

I yield back.