Transcripts For CSPAN3 U.S. 20240704

Live coverage here on cspan three. Chief of the night States Capitol Police, thank you both. I would like to thank you for joining us to testify, and i would ask for consent at the written testimony be placed on the hearing record. Hearing no objection, so ordered. As i noted, the Branch Agencies have submitted for the fiscal year 24 budget that accounts for a 258 Million Dollar increase over the legislative branch corporation. We will be carefully considering these requests to ensure they continue to improve our ability to meet our responsibility, to govern effectively. For fiscal year 24, the sergeant at arms is requesting 319 point 8 million in appropriate funds, which is an increase of 32 point 7 million over the fiscal year 23, and this increase provides funding for call out related costs. 43 new positions to support various sergeant at arms organizations. And for Salary Adjustments for armored personnel. This increase also provides the mandatory pollsters be removed the essay operations and inauguration support course. Various Technology Upgrades in the senate, and the Residential Security system program. Today, we will also be reviewing the United States Capitol Police budget request, and before i address i would like to thank you, and your team for all that you do to support the safety and security of the capital complex each and every day. Included in the budget request is a request for appropriation of 840. 9 million for the Capitol Police, which is an increase of 100 and 6. 3 million on fiscal year 23 at the active level. This is an increase in both the celery and the general expense appropriations. This increase provides for the annualize a shun of salaries for on board personnel in the fiscal year 23, increased overtime for core mission and National Political conventions. Funding for new positions, and cola and miscellaneous payments. This increase also provided for protective Services Support during an election year, to include a National Political intervention, funding to increase the release of various fleet vehicles. Funding to support the continuation of the contract technical and physical security upgrades. And various other non i look forward to hearing from both witnesses today. We will be joined shortly by senator murray. We have Ranking Members. And at this point, i would like to recognize the official for opening remarks. Thank, you mister chairman. And thank you, general gibson and chief major for being with us today. For our third legislative branch here, i want to begin by thanking the men and women of your agencies for the work they do to keep members of congress, staff, and visitors on the Capitol Campus safe every day. I am deeply grateful for their service and acknowledge that their support is what enables us to do our job in a secure and open environment. Both his sergeant in arms in the Capitol Police are responsible for maintaining the security of the capital campus. Both agencies have a no fail mission. They have faced increasing threats against congress and evolving Mission Requirements. General gibson, as the Senate Sergeant at arms you have a vast range of responsibilities which span from ensuring the physical, person, and electronic safety of senators and staff to providing support operations to keep the senate functioning efficiently and effectively. For fiscal year 2024, the essay a six and 11. 4 increase over the last years enacted level. The request includes funding for physical security efforts, information technology, and cybersecurity initiatives. And 31 additional ftes to support the office of security Emergency Preparedness and continuity. And the chief information officer, and your testimony, i hope to hear how the requested increase will enable the essay a to improve and expand the physical security and cyber defenses of the senate. Chief manger, it is nice to see you again. Thank you for hosting me earlier this year at headquarters. I enjoyed our conversation and the tour of the command center. The department is requesting 800 and 41 million, an increase of 14. 4 over fiscal year 2023. Congress has invested considerable funds in the department over the past couple of years. We have provided funding to hire additional officers, upgrade equipment, expand training, improve operations and offer benefits to new and current personnel. I look forward to hearing the impact these investments have had and examining how we can best position the Capitol Police for the future. We are committed to the safety and security of members, their families, staff, visitors, and capital facilities. We must carefully consider the significant needs of all our security related agencies and ensure coordination and cooperation in their efforts. To that end, chairman reed and i will continue to Work Together in a bipartisan manner to meet the Mission Requirements for the essay and the Capitol Police. Thank you again to our witnesses for being here, and i look forward to your testimony. Thank you, mister chair. Thank you, senator fischer. And now i ask witnesses beginning with the sergeant at arms, general gibson, to give a brief opening statement. As you know, the written testimony of each witness will be printed in full in the hearing records. General . Chairman reed, Ranking Member fischer, members of the subcommittee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify in support of the sergeant at arms budget request. I want to thank the subcommittee for supporting our initiatives over the last two years, which have allowed us to improve security and continue modernization. We remain dedicated to meeting the personal, physical and cybersecurity needs of the senate, as well as providing essential administrative and logistical support. We do so seeking at all times to improve our effectiveness for innovation and dedication to Customer Satisfaction. In that spirit, we have created a security portal through which offices and committees can directly request security portals. Physically routed through distribution, and the same portal shows my team the operation plans and training. And the nature of threats against senators. Were also fielding an accountability tool for use on a mobile device that allows staff to directly report their personal status and location emergency, providing realtime visibility to coordinators. Another app provides them with context rain emergency. Finally, rather than rely on staff availability to attend inperson training, weve developed numerous videos that can be viewed at the time and place of ones choosing on a broad variety of topics. Our Security Mission expands beyond the Capitol Grounds to demonstrate and promote security and state offices with the assistance of the rules committee, we constructed a life size model of a state Office Complete with recommended security equipment and design features. This is led to the adoption of important feature such as video intercoms, i. T. Security closets and secure reception areas. Because this room was outfitted with Remote Learning technology, it will expand its use to include virtual classes on state security topics. Working hand in glove with the police, and we have renewed our focus on Residential Security for the Residential Security system program. To date, 37 senators have received a requested Residential Security assessment led by the physical security experts. We are on track to start installing security equipment identified by the assessments this summer. That said, the most persistent threats we face are in the cyber domain. We have applied funds for the modernization of Senate Communications. The Senate Network is now backed up into modern dispersed data centers, and we protect the network with a myriad of hardware in trained professionals. This comes at a cost, as you see on our budget request. It actss for two point 4 million to assist in proactive defense. Weve also prioritize modernization, including up dating transit to enhance payroll processes and fielding collaboration systems. Our commitment to innovation and Customer Satisfaction extends to every service we provide. Last year, we opened the senates first Passport Office, completing over 1200 passports in nine months. We enacted a portal system, direct express. Which allows offices to offer it cuts processing by 90 , saving time, money, and supplies. Custom flag certificates can take less than a minute, using the store front rather than the 3 to 4 previous hours. Im especially proud of our innovative work to support the need for closed captioning on the senate floor and in hearings. In weeks, we developed a bespoke solution for the floor military system to support close captioning its not committees. Contracts in place will allow us to scale as needed when for the first time, provide closed captioning for all of d. C. By the end of the year. This is a great illustration of the innovation i see daily across the sergeant at arms. The budget request is focused on three core responsibilities. The security and safety of senators, staff, constituents, and visitors. The security and reliability of Senate Communications, and Innovative Solutions to support the senates needs. We seek 5 million and know your funding to a great audio of virality 2 million to support the audible boarding system. Two and a half million for the Residential Security system program, and 4 million for cost succeeded with moving out of poster square. We request 43 additional positions, 20 will support additional security programs such as the senate Residential Security system program. And 11 will support critical functions for the the remaining 12 will support additional efforts, such as rolling out the green to gold Internship Program for veterans at the senate. And in closing, i want to highlight the work of the Capitol Police board, which i chair this year. I am grateful for the strong working relationship with a Capitol Police, the architect of the capitol team and partnerships in the house. Weve reopened the capital complex while ensuring that police are properly staff to meet Mission Requirements. When a hearty new Inspector General and established a working group to secure the board makes the best use of the oversight tool. We completed a comprehensive security review of the campus. Prioritized repairs, and work to support the men and women of the police. Im especially pleased that the General Accounting Office recently found the Capitol Police board is fully incorporated leading governance practices to in hands and count ability, transparency, and external communication. As chair, i will continue to ensure the security of the Community Remains at the forefront of all we do. Finally, thank you for your support of the sergeant at arms and the opportunity to discuss our accomplishments and our fy 24 budget request. I stand ready for your questions. Thank you, general. Chairman reed, Ranking Member fischer, members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to present United States Capitol Police budget request for fiscal year 2024. The department greatly appreciates the subcommittees consistent support of the men and women of the United States Capitol Police. Congresss support has been invaluable in providing resources needed to continue our transformation into a stronger, more protection oriented Law Enforcement agency, while meeting dramatic workload increases in an increasingly volatile threat environment. Capitol police is unique among federal Law Enforcement agencies. We control canvases that are completely open, and now that the campus is fully reopened, and we again host millions of of visitors each year. All the while, investigating it involving and increasing threats against members of congress in their families. 2024 budget requests reflect this reality. In my testimony today, i will present the fy 24 budget request within the context of three general themes that explain the departments former trajectory. First, the enduring impact of over the past two and a half years. Second, the departments future challenges and continue transformation. And third, the need to usher in a new phase of protective policing. First, i asked the committee to understand that even with our recent staffing increases, we remain significantly understaffed for an agency that has nationwide jurisdiction and responsibilities. And a growing mission and increasing workload. Therefore, the past two budgets have been attempts to work towards by elevating its budgetary baseline to a more normalized level. The fy 24 budget request incorporates a critical request to expand dignitary protection, our threat investigation, and enhanced security investigations for members of congress and their families, both in d. C. And in their home districts. Within the 2024 budget request, the department is asking for increased salaries to fund 2226 employees at a full year rate, and 78 sworn employees and a half year. The budget request includes civilian employees, and a fully our rate of 81 civilians at half your rate. The general expense request is 228. 6 billion. The total fy 24 budget increase is 106. 3 million. I fully recognized the departments request to increase is significant. But equally significant is the departments growing responsibilities and challenges. The fact is, we engage in a no fail Mission Every day. Recognizing that there will be no tolerance for leadership or organizational failures. The departments 2024 budget request reflects the reality that is the departments mission. Therefore, i want to highlight six areas it continue to be central to our growth in transformation. They are extended in terry protection capabilities, continued normalization of Staffing Levels, enhanced intelligence capabilities, expanding capabilities to address threats against members and Cyber Security and investigative activity. Expanded physical and technical Security Capabilities to secure the capitol complex, and strengthening training capabilities to recruit officers, in training, physical skills, professional, and leadership development. Over the last year, the world has continuously changed, becoming more violent and uncertain. A member of congress was brutally assaulted, and the husband of the former House Speaker was brutally wounded. Increasingly sophisticated cyber tools are more widely available to malicious actors who employ them to infiltrate Data Networks and steal private information. The sheer increase in the number of threats against members of congress approximately 400 of the past six years, requires new innovative techniques to identify, deter, and mitigate threats. Upcoming elections, the political interventions in the Campaign Activities to go along with them. And the increasingly heated political rhetoric further heightening prospects of future security risks and challenges. We must adequate lee b staff to handle these events. We are not currently. United States Capitol Police traditional model of Law Enforcement no longer applies to the current landscape. The old approached member security has been replaced by the need to protect the members environment, as well as the family both in washington d. C. , and at their home. Keeping you and your families safe is a paramount objective. There is in fact a new normal for are protective operations. The fy 24 budget request will allow the department to transition to the next phase of its transformation. I thank the committee for its support, and greatly appreciate our continued partnership with congress. We welcome any questions or comments. Thank you very much, chief. General gibson, you mentioned modernization efforts. Could you highlight some that you have accomplished in the most significant ones that still have to be achieved . Certainly, senator. Thank you. Some of the ones that i mentioned were the appear simple, but not always so much. Creating portals, the security portal, who drew to express portal that facilitates the Passport Office is another that i mentioned, as well as some of the tools that we are creating for Emergency Preparedness and accountability. I mention the senate recording studio, the renovation, and that will be a Modernization Project that will continue for a number of years. We also have things that we are trying to modernize in our printing graphics and direct mail offices. But one in particular that i would like to mention, because it is a heavy lift for our cio team, that is the unified communications and collaboration system, are you sissi. It is a major effort to implement a modern and secure medications platform. Both on the capital campus and at state offices across the nation. It will create a mobile, collaborative, and unified environment that is easy to use and supports communication and collaboration. Anytime, anywhere, and on any connected official device. Contact, magnification and enhanced 911 conductivity. When the phone of my desk rings, it could be on my phone in my home. Our legacy to the systems must remain operational throughout this migration, or combs through clueless support for these legacy components until they are decommission with the projects completion next year. That is one of the principal modernization efforts that we will be undergoing in the year to come. Within this new system, there will be a significant emphasis on the security of the system. So that hacking and intrusion will be minimum. Absolutely. Yes, senator. This is part of what drives the cost makes it a more challenging upgrade than simply replacing the phones on the desks. And youve been coordinating with the senate team another of an initiatives. Could you give us an idea of those . One, that we are working through is to modernize for paid processes with the dispersing office. That will affect all offices one complete. It should make life much easier for those Senate Offices. I think that is perhaps the most significant one that we are coordinating with the secretary on. Thank you very much. I also mentioned closed captioning, that is a modernization effort that will be a capability that constituents and our broader Senate Community will benefit from. And that is also a significant ask in our budget request for 695,000 to provide the capability. Thank you very much. Chief, just a clarification. When you speak of dignity protection, or those visitors to the capital . Theyre not members. No, i am talking about the protections we offer to leadership and threat based details. Yes. So those would be the individuals who have 24hour coverage. Can you comment on the intelligence sharing process you just gave another federal agencies . And anything in this budget that would be directed and enhancing that sharing. We have hired, about a year ago, a little over a year ago, a new director of intelligence. The he has built what i believe is a worldclass intelligence operation. It wasnt a difficult challenge to raise the bar on our intelligence operation. But what he has done in terms of our ability to gather intelligence in the first place, to share it with other agencies, to operationalize that intelligence for our operational planning. And to disseminate that information to those who need to have the information. We have put processes in place to do all of those things. We continue to put members of the u. S. Capitol police, our civilian analysts in task forces around the region so that we have our folks spread out in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the information we have a shared with them, and information they have shared with us. But probably one of the most important things to my officers is the fact that everyone is issued a cell phone, and they get daily until briefs every day over their phone. You mentioned that the biggest shareholders are staffing. And i dont think thats unique to the Capitol Police, as i recruitment to Police Departments is very challenging. Are you looking into those problems of recruiting . Not as much as my colleagues around the country. And i think that is due to a number of things. The Retention Bonus that we have been able to offer and that we plan to offer at fy 24, as well. That has really lowered our attrition. But also, the change in the pay scale made us competitive in terms of being able to track applicants in the first place. I put other strategies in place where we have waved the mandatory 57 year old retirement and bump that up to 60. It may surprise how many folks and 57 years old dont want to leave. And would be willing to stay for a few extra years. So weve put a lot of strategies in place to reduce attrition, and increase retention. And i think its making a difference for us. Ill just note, 57 is very young in the senate. Ill take your word for, that senator. I have a question, but a witch of the second round, general. Senator fischer, please. Thank you mister chairman. General gibson, in your opening comments you were talking about in regards to the budget, and new hires. And your expansion there. Would you like to highlight any of those specific new hires . He went through a list of them, but could you highlight some . And say why you decided that these were the hires that you needed . Certainly, senator. As we stand up to the we are requesting specifically five personnel for that. That is for the security engineering specialists, experts and physical security enhancements and construction. A financial administrative specialists, since there will be a significant amount of money that we deal with this in this regard. It to program managers, and a Senior Program manager. That is five for that program specifically. Some of the other ones that we are asking for do you see the program growing in the future . We are estimating perhaps a Participation Rate of 50 . And its going well so far, approximately half of the senators who are currently in office have had Residential Security assessments in the last year alone. I think weve had 55 and another 12 have requested them. So the interest in having the surveys and receiving the recommendations has been strong. But i dont know that we will see it grow in increase. Once one has its not something that i would see us and asking for additional teams were in future years. Yes. Some of the other requests that we have made, we have two for our Emergency Preparedness team that will be replacing the escape hoods victim rescue units and the emergency supply kits around the capitol building. Two for our Continuity Program to help ensure that we are prepared to help execute your Constitutional Government functions. Two for member outreach and security coordination. Those two things like Law Enforcement coordination, transportation, security requests. And in particular is the departments standing up and move towards this stronger protective operations capacity for senators writ large, to look at their personal security. I will probably seek to have that Operation Center, much as we have no on the comments enter. When you talk about the Operation Center, the senate Operation Center, what is your vision for that . And how does that request a line with it . So, we have a senate Operation Center now, a senator. The only additional request i making there is four and information manager. The personnel are on board and fully hired for our Operation Center, which is complimentary to the Capitol Police and tear and focused specifically on senate needs and communication with the Senate Community. In the future, as the department stands up a broader protective operations capacity, we will perhaps take someone who is already resident in our staff and position them there. You also, in your opening comments, you are talking about our state offices and staff and the physical and cybersecurity that is needed there. You described some of the opportunities, such as the setup in the basement. Are there any other initiatives or ongoing work that you are doing with our state offices at this time . Im very proud of our state office Operation Center, and the demonstration room has been terrific. I appreciate the support from the rules committee and others to allow us to do that and to really reach out to senators directly to show them some of the enhancements thatunaa 4at could have in their state offices. That team is very responsive to emerging requirements. Whether its flooding, wildfires and other things. Most recently, they have been fielding satellite radios or satellite communication to senators for use in emergencies. Some of those state offices in the event of an emergency that takes out communications. We have also are working with them on capabilities to identify in very short time threats to Senate Offices in the vicinity there. Whether it is a violent activity of some kind, a building lockdown, a fire or whatever. These are some of the initiatives weve been pursuing. Thank you. Chief manger, in your budget request, there is a section that details open ngo and Inspector General recommendations and several of those instructed the department to provide additional, more realistic and hands on training for your officers. In your budget request, how does that align with priority to provide better training for your officers . We have recently begun doing active Shooter Training in the senate and House Office Buildings themselves. As well as the capital. This is exactly what the recommendation talked about, training where folks are actually working, in addition to that we have gotten a number of what we call virtual machines. There are Virtual Training pods where we can do any number of types of training. Whether its use of force, whether its deescalation, any number of different kinds of training that can be done with the virtual machines. So, we are ensuring that lead, even with the Staffing Levels we have, that we are able to train officers without actually removing them from their post and making them go to the academy. Were trying to do the training here on the campus, which allows us more options. When we arrived here in the morning, we see your officers greeting us every day when we come to work. We form relationships with them big. When we look at the needs that they have and really take time off to spend with their families, how do you balance the personnel to be able to take those scheduled leaves and be able to use their overtime to address these Mission Requirements . This has been one of the main reasons that weve tried to increase our Staffing Levels over the past several years. Because we still are forcing officers to work overtime that they wouldnt necessarily volunteer for. Were holding them over at the end of their shifts. Were canceling days off to make sure we have enough folks for a particular event. I know that this is not a sustainable strategy. The only way were going to be able to fix that is to get our Staffing Levels up to what ive asked for in fy 24, so that we will have the ability to ensure officers get their days off and have that appropriate Work Life Balance. Thank you. Chairman murray, please. Thank you, chair read and Ranking Member fischer. Delighted to join you today as we work to return to regular order for the first time in years and pass our funding bills in a responsible way. This hearing is really an important opportunity to make sure we are providing but people who protect us and our staff and our Nations Capital with the resources that they need. Sergeant at arms gibson, id like to thank you and your team for the dedication you all show each and every day. Your office plays a really crucial role keeping the work of the people running smoothly. Weve seen that work continue to evolve and improve since you joined in 2021. The Senate Sergeant at arms helped each of our offices work effectively for the people that we serve by improving the internal Senate Communication that you talked about, keeping our Technology Safe and effective and up to date, preparing for an emergencies and maintaining an open environment for visitors and a lot more. Chief manger, id like to thank you and all of the Capitol Police for the work you do to keep everyone who works here safe. Every day and every, our members of our staff are here. Members of your staff are here keeping an eye out for all of us who work here in the Nations Capital. And everyone who comes to visit. Im incredibly grateful to you and all the Capitol Police officers for working so hard, for putting in late hours like you just talked about. For sacrificing weekends and a lot more to keep everyone safe. I know a has certainly not been an easy few years. We owe a lot to both of your agencies, starting with making sure you have the resources to do your jobs. So, im really glad to have this opportunity to hear more today about your agencies needs for the year head. Sergeant at arms gibson, let me start with you. Across the country, our workers are facing some very real barriers to obtaining and retaining employment. Including livable wages and quality, affordable childcare. Critical Mental Health supports, wellness programs, resources for education and training. That challenge, i know is reflected here in the senate as well. We really rely on the men and women who work hard every day to support this institution. So, we need to work to address those barriers. I wanted to ask you today what programs are most critical to supporting the s s a workforce, and what would they mean for your workforce if they were funded . In terms of supporting the workforce, both my own and those who work for offices and committees, our most significant request in this budget is for the Employee Assistance program. I am requesting two additional ftes. Those are counselors that would support, and i should back up to talk about briefly, the significant increase in utilization that weve had. 30 over 2021. Increase . 30 increase and utilization. 74 of the senate staff have access t. A. P. Services across 90 of the Senate Offices for an increase in 2022 of 30 over what we saw in 2021. So, i hiring these two additional ftes in particular will help with the virtual after our support for people working in state offices on the west coast, for instance. Or for people who are working later at night or cannot come in during the day because of committee or other work that theyre doing. We are also requesting 307,000 to augment wellness resources. Some of that is for purchasing apps that are available, much like is done in the house. Nutrition apps, consumers checkbook, mindfulness apps. Its also to expand dependent care resources. We would like to contract with life care for backup childcare and tutoring services. This is a service that would help staff with locating and assist with paying, contact, coo this. But that is our most significant budget requests in terms of taking care of our staff. Other things that we appreciate or the ability to fund senate provided professional certification. Whether thats licensing for our counselors, for some of our cpas. Project managers. Thats been approved periodically by the senate. It is in effect right now, and we would benefit from that print tremendously. Thank you, those are really important, i appreciate that. I want to ask you about the Residential Security program for senators homes. How is the rollout of that Program Going . Have you had any chance to review the Lessons Learned we should know about . Certainly. Its gone, well we have a bit of enthusiasm from participation. As i mentioned, weve had 25 surveys so far this year. That is 25 , obviously, of the senate, a third of the year, with another 12 requests for assessments that are on the books. To have Capitol Police, physical security experts, go out and mandate to fight things that could be done at the homes. We look forward to being able to provide the First Installations of some of that Additional Support later this summer. Some of our initial lessons, learned i think its been largely positive. Ive been able to participate and surveys here in the washington, d. C. Area, just to ensure i understood how they were conducted and how that went. So, in terms of identifying alarms, intrusion detection systems, and need for duress buttons, floodlights, that bolts, lock work, et cetera. Its been very appreciated by those senators and descendants passes with whom we have worked so far. Thank you very much. Chief, i know that you and your team have been very focused on addressing the recommendations that resulted from the events of january 6th, 2021. And are working to continue to enhance the capabilities to meet our emerging Mission Requirements. Those are all costly initiatives, but im glad that we have been working to provide you the resources that you need for that. I also know that your workforce spends time away from their families and makes a lot of personal sacrifices. You just mentioned that in your comments. I want to make sure we are focused on all their needs as well. While we fund those Mission Critical items. Over the last couple of years, youve increased your sworn hiring and training to bolster your sworn workforce. Have you found the Retention Bonuses we were able to fund have helped to curb attrition . I think theres no question that its helped. But in addition, just changing the pay scale, which was done last year, i helped as well. And so i, i think we had 2000 employees accepted last year. Were getting ready to put it out again. I expect a similar response. The difference this years many of the officers that were hired right after 9 11 are now becoming eligible. We have between three and 400 officers that are eligible to retire now. I think its very important for us to not only continue the Retention Bonuses but two, as i mentioned earlier, waves the mandatory retirement age up to 60. So, hopefully that will keep some of the officers around for a couple extra years. Okay. Have youve been getting the support you need from the federal Law Enforcement Training Center . Absolutely. As you know, during the pandemic, that was the choke point. They shut down for the better part of a year so we were doing zero hiring. Were still actually recovering from that. They have given us all the assistance. In fact, we have multiple classes ongoing for most of the year. And im really glad that you are able to launch the Wellness Center for members of the Capitol Police, obviously named after howard liebengood. As i mentioned in the emergency supplemental act and do the omnibus, we were able to provide funding to continue that effort. Are your employees using the inhouse Employee Assistance program . Yes. Theres always room for improvement, we are aware that oftentimes folks to his Public Safety for an occupation theyre hesitant to ask for help. Were trying to overcome those barriers but weve had actually a very good response. The senators are fully focused on average and awareness for all uscp employees, sworn and civilian. We continue to track the utilization and the service requests. And weve seen these numbers increasing as time has gone on. Quickly, can you tell us what your future plans for the center are, as you try to meet the needs of your employees . Weve got, really, we always have to be an Employee Assistance organization. But i think what makes us unique is we have trauma informed counselors. So that when we have folks that have gone through a crisis, we can provide services for them. But we are also making sure that we are listening to the users listening to our workforce and saying, what is it that you would like . Whether its yoga, meditation, physical fitness, nutrition coaching, peer support. We are asking our workforce, what is it that you would like . That we may not be offering yet . Thank you. Thank you very much, mister chairman. Thank you, madam chairman. Senator van hollen, please. Thank, you mister chairman. Thank both of you for your leadership and the participation and good work and service of all your teams. In making sure that our capital can be safe and functioning well. Many of the folks who work for each of you are my constituents in maryland, its always good to see them here every day, performing their duties for our democracy. Chief manger, as you have said in your testimony, Capitol Police have been under tremendous pressure. We had covid, we had january six. And you saw in the aftermath of those of ens attrition. As you just mentioned, youre also facing the fact that a lot of folks who joined the force after 9 11 are now eligible for retirement. I know that youve spoken a little bit about how the budget requesting will address those issues, but can you specifically talk about the numbers of folks that you need to bring on in order to close the gap . And how confident are you that the measures youre asking for in this budget will allow you to reach your goals . First of, all im very confident that, if we are able to reach the levels for our salary budget, through its number of people we can hire, that that will go a long way to solving these attrition issues. There is one big reason that we are facing the attrition that were facing. That is that officers are being burnt out. When you have your days off canceled, when you are at the end of your shift and your sergeant comes and tells, you by the way, youve got to work six or eight more hours because we are short on the next shift. Those are things that just, after a while, will demoralize your workforce. And this happens much too often in our daily work days. The only way that we are able to solve that it is through increased staffing but within our uniform services. But what were also finding is in our dignitary protection. Those officers that are traveling with leadership, traveling with codells to provide protection all over the, country all over the world. That those were short there as well. So, thats why we asked for 64 additional dpd agents last year. And additional ones this year. So that we can get those Staffing Levels up to a point where those folks could see their families. This still remains one of the Biggest Challenges that we face with the Capitol Police. Trying to balance that Work Life Balance for our employees. Thank you. And i think february or early march of this year, Speaker Mccarthy authorized the release of more than 40,000 hours of security footage from the awful events of january 6th. He released them to former fox news host Tucker Carlson, who then used them to create a false narrative surrounding the events of that day, concluding that the event on the capitol was, quote, mostly peaceful chaos, unquote. And that, quote, the footage does not show an insurrection or riot in progress. Chief manger, Tucker Carlson is now no longer with fox news but a lot of the damage has been done. Can you talk about the impact this false narrative has had on the men and women who work for you . The following day, when he did that program, i put out a message to all of my employees. And i talk to them about what the narrative that he tried to put forward, how disrespectful it was to the men and women of the Capitol Police. I think what was fortunate is that that narrative that mr. Carlson tried to put out had no legs. I think most folks understood exactly what it was. So, i think that was very gratifying to the members of the Capitol Police, to see that the public did not agree with that assessment. I appreciate that, and i agree with you. Despite his best efforts, the American Public understood exactly what happened on that day. That it was not a narrative that he put out. This gibson, thank you and your team as well for all that you do. Obviously, one of the critical functions that you have, together with the chief and the chiefs team is security here at the capitol. And we want to make sure we provide that security. We also want to make sure that the capital remains open as much as possible to the public. So that lawmakers are accessible to the people they represent. Senator blunt and i had previously former senator blunt today had previously introduced legislation to make sure we did not have a permanent wall. I know that no one is proposing one. You have outlined some of your plans, i think, to develop some criteria for when you put up temporary fencing. Under emergency situations. Which is certainly understandable and justifiable. Could you talk a little bit about the timeline for all of that . Thank you, senator. We are working collaboratively across the Capitol Police board to establish some general guidelines. Not requirements. For how we would make decisions regarding the implementation of security measures like that, based on the evidence of a threat, the credibility of a threat, the size of a threat. The ability of the Capital Police to respond to a potential threat as well as, if we did not have offense, for instance, what other resources we apply . And what would the cost of that be . I think that we have demonstrated in the past, the board has demonstrated, wise use, constrained use of the fence for select events. Such as the state of the union address. And has not seen a need to erect to the fans for other kinds of incidents. So, even though we have not yet finalized what that kind of framework and guidance would look like, i think weve operated well in terms of making those decisions in the past. Thank you, thank you both, appreciate it. Thank, you senator van hollen. I just have a few questions. General gibson, you are the chair of the Capitol Police board, which is an inherently difficult job. Not many Police Departments are led by committees. So, youve got your work cut out for you. But in the wake of january 6th, there was some justifiable criticism of the boards actions and the border disabilities. Can you please tell us what you have done, together with your colleagues, to improve the operations of the board and the supervision of the capital, please . Thank, you senator, appreciate that question. I would start by thanking congress for the statuary change in 2021 that allows the chief to call on resources in an emergency without convening the board to do so. I think that was an important change that has certainly made the Security Response far more agile. The role of the Capitol Police is too sorry, of the board, is to hire and supervise the chief of police and provide oversight of in support to the Capitol Police and the execution of their mission while serving as a touch point between the police and congress. I think weve done this through a regulating of policing on the campus, traffic regulations, reviewing and approving the overall security measures and establishing broad policy guidelines to manage the department. Our decisions do generally require consensus, and a consensus that is acceptable to all, which is especially important in this bicameral, bipartisan environment to arrive at security decisions that provide for the security of the entire campus and the people who come here. Well facilitating operations. I think an example of one that i could point to where we as a board have worked collaboratively to develop a solution would be the departments hiring of Contract Security officers. As a chief exam at the security shortage and personnel shortage and identified some potentially short term and Long Term Solutions to that, one that was proposed was to deploy Contract Security officers at select secondary locations within the building. Say as people are getting on or off of the subway. If already been through screening and magnite tom bitters, perhaps it doesnt have to be a sworn officer there. We Work Together with the department to develop a proposal that would both meet the departments needs, was respectful of the feedback that we received from our Key Stakeholders and met, with performed with an understanding of the budgetary implications. So, this i think is an example of a way in which the Capitol Police board can work collaboratively outside of emergency situations to develop a solution. As i noted in my oral statement, im especially proud that the g. A. O. Has determined that a finding from 2017 that had been previously unresolved that said that we were not following Good Governance measures, that they have said based on or updated the manual procedures and are following our manual procedures for the last 18 months, that they now find is to be in Good Standing with the best practices of governance have oversight boards like this. I think that is also a testament to the progress that my fellow Board Members and i have made. Thank you, finally, chief, the general pointed out that you have the authority in a situation to call upon Additional Support if necessary. Which raises the issue of mutual aid, practical coordination on a constant basis with other departments. Both metropolitan and washington, d. C. Police surrounding, community police, federal agencies. Could you just comment about how were doing in that regard . Were doing very well, and i can say that with great confidence. Because we have utilized those agreements that we put into place many times. Whether its just getting a couple of Police Departments to send us a civil disturbance unit component for a large event that we might be having or getting 8 to 10 different agencies here to provide us with the assistance. Its something that not only we put into place, put mo use into place. We have dozens of mous with agencies in and around the d. C. Area. But we have put it at the practice enough times that it is pretty seamless. Thank you very much. I want to thank both of you for your dedication and your service, i particularly want to thank all of your uniformed and non uniformed personnel who do so much each day. As one of my colleagues said, as we come in the morning, were greeted and we feel, i think, a little bit more secure. As well as a little happier when we see the Capitol Police and your personnel, general gibson. Thank you. With that, i will declare the hearing adjourned