Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senate Sergeant At Arms No Intent To

Good morning. The subcommittee will come to order. This is our third fiscal year 2010 Budget Committee hearings for the lets the Branch Appropriations subcommittee. We have with us today the honorable frank larkin, Senate Sergeant at arms, and chief matthew verderosa, chief of the u. S. Capitol police. Thank you both for being here today, and welcome chief verderosa to your first hearing before this subcommittee. We will try to make it as painful as we possibly can. Thank you. Busy was originally pay for the morning of june 14, that same morning and and decide whos going open fire on members of congress while they held a practice for the congressional baseball game in alexandria, virginia. Because of the quick action of Capitol Police officers, special agents crystal griner and david bailey were unprotected detail for House Majority whip steve scalise, that that was not more tragic. Because of their heroism, there were no fatalities when there could have been many lives lost. We are so thankful for their courage and continue to wish them well as they work toward full recovery from their injuries. It made quite a difference that they. We are also thankful that representative scalise has been upgraded to fair condition and continues to improve. I understand, just this past weekend, former staffer matt mika was discharged from the hospital and has returned home. Our thoughts and prayers are with them both as they continue the Journey Towards full recovery. The entire Congressional Community was deeply affected by the shooting, realizing that it could have been any of us practicing that day, any one of us targeted. The sergeant at arms and Capitol Police each have unique missions, and now more than ever, they carry significant importance. Threats, both internal and external, are ever present and emergent in the environment in which we operate. Both of your agencies work diligently to protect members of congress, our staff, and the over 4 million visitors to the Capitol Campus each year. It is a delicate balance to management this is an office space, a museum, a tour spot all at once. I did manage all those realities requires its own delicate task. We truly appreciate the dedication of the men and women of your agencies to enable us, the congress, to do our work, thank you. As i have mentioned at our first two hearings this year, we are again faced with a budget environment that will require a very difficult and important discussion on how to move forward in the coming fiscal year. The value gained from your requested increases must be weighed against our duty to be fiscally responsible. We will need to make wise choices about our priorities. So were looking for to any input you can give us help us make those decisions. The sergeant at arms request for fy 2018 is 204. 6 million, an increase of approximately 7. 2 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. The request includes 73. 1 million for salaries and benefits, and a request of 131. 6 million for expenses. The majority of the requested increase supports cybersecurity initiatives to prevent and protect against internal and external threats alike. The nature of these evolving intrusions have recently received increased attention and scrutiny, and it is important that we take the necessary steps to prevent the compromise of our senate networks. The Capitol Police requests a total of 426. 6 million, an increase of 33. 3 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. Of the funding requested, 351 million is for salaries and benefits to cover fixed Cost Increases for pay and benefits of the existing staff, and an additional 72 sworn officers and 48 civilians, for a total force of 1,943 sworn officers and 420 civilians. You can check the other snubs to make sure i get it correctly. The request for the expenses account is 75. 2 million, an increase of 7 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This increase supports lifecycle replacement of detection and screening equipment, as well as training and uniforms for officers. Much of your requested increase comes from expanding Mission Requirements and i look forward to hearing more about those needs today, as well as any Additional Needs you have identified given the recent incident. And now, id like to turn to my Ranking Member, senator murphy, for any opening remarks he may like to make. Thank yothank you very much,n lankford. Id like to welcome our witnesses today. I want to join senator lankford and expressing my gratitude to the Capitol Police force for their heroism on the ballfield in alexandria. As a member of the democratic baseball team, this is one of these events that represents what is right with washington despite a lot of things that are wrong with this place, which makes the attack even more tragic. So let me again send my best to special agents crystal griner, david bailey and henry. We are so thankful for their skilled response come to the training that you provided them. Great news for that special agent crystal griner is now out of hospital as well. We provide our thoughts to congressman scalise, to matt. On the subcommittee we are in this really special and unique position to make sure that both the Capitol Police and the sergeant at arms have the resources that they need to help keep us safe and to deal with everchanging threats. Chief verderosa, your budget request would continue to ensure that with top notch security by campus undergrounds and are ready to work with you to support your efforts. I also look for to discussing how we might provide some targeted increases to make adjustments to the array of growing threats. Mr. Larkin, from Cyber Attacks on federal agencies to russian hacking, cyberspace right now is the modern battlefield and that makes it even more critical that the senate i. T. Security systems, and frank with all the ways in which members interact with technology that our protection are robust and resilient given these threats. Finally, mr. Chairman, i just wanted note that the legislative branch is not exempt from the larger budget debate. Our bill funds not only your two security focus organizations but also other critical agencies to our work including our watchdog, gao. Just like when you parody, tends to balance the needs of the legislative Branch Appropriations bill, we also need parity and common sense in the budget deal for fiscal year 2018. So that includes fully supporting your agencies but also making sure that other priorities that are vital to our work are protected in our bill. This is a really important hearing to have. We look forward to talking to you in open session and then being able to have a private conversation as well. Look forward to your testimony. And t a dewatered by eating numbers that come in as well, well continue to vessels or guests that are here that will move to a closed session he merely following the open portion of this hearing, at all of our relevant Security Issues we will deal with in a closed session and also like to request all those giving testament to this that we were reserved some of the more security items for the closed session as well. And we can have a frank discussion at that spot. Mr. Larkin, we will be honored to receive your testimony at this time. Mr. Chairman, senator murphy. Thank you. Again its was a pleasure to appear before this committee and offer some thoughts. I would request that the committee except my formal testimony for the record that captures the breadth and depth of the challenges and the tasks accomplished by the Senate Sergeant at arms in the past year, which with measures of performance and impact we been able to achieve. Without objection. I will receive both of your written statements as well for the record. And mr. Chairman, as you called out the budget request is for modest increase of 3. 7 . Again, a lot of that is due to the cost of living but yet its programmatic increases, ally primary to Cyber Defense and we can get into that more indepth. The sergeant at arms is a very large diverse organization, multifaceted backstops all parts of the senate institution. And with a large regard to the legislative branch as a whole. Our goal was sutures safe and secure a private free of distractions for members of staff to do the nations business. And unable to accomplish that by the Council Leadership that have behind me right now. My deputy, my chief of staff, my executive assistant and fortified by my assistant sergeant at arms for protective operations in continuity programs. Our cio, our central office, capital ops, my general counsel keeps me out of the drink more times than not. And my money guy. The sergeant at arms is responsible for the safety and security of the senate. As you pointed out come Emergency Preparedness and continuity operations, information technology, Telecommunications Support access control, transportation of parking, printing of graphics, secure to come handling and delivery, the subdomains, chamber operations, state Office Support and readiness, furniture construction repair and furnishing of offices. Human resources, employee assistance, contracting and finance support, training and education, tv recording studio, media galleries, senate pages and interim programs, photo studio and finally haircare. I can, its a diverse organization, a lot of responsibility, a lot of moving parts. The silent team of highly competent professionals behind me and beyond this hearing worked behind the scenes every day for the institution. I have folks on the job from one week to over 40 years. What a legacy of Service Within our organization for this senate. They are innovative, constantly learning forward leaning, responsive and very much customer focused. We are the problem solvers for the senate. We work in Close Partnership with the sector of the Senate Julie Adams and her deputy mary jones. Our two organizations have committed themselves to a nonpartisan support of the senate and our organizations are seamless in the way we backstop the institution, and begin to minimize the distractions on members and staff. So again, we can do the legislative business of the nation. We also work closely with our legislative branch partners, how sergeant at arms, the chief Administrative Officer, specifically as we join forces with our i. T. Initiatives and Cyber Defense. The architect of the capitol, very important partner, and again to my left chief verderosa supported by his assistant. The chief leads an exemplary force of men and women dedicated to protecting the legislative branch as evident not only on a daily basis as we move about this campus, but highlighted two weeks ago i should mention, mr. Chairman, by the heroic acts of bravery by two u. S. Cp officers on the alexandria ballfield. The two Priority Areas for me or physical security and safety of the senate and legislative branch, followed by cyber. Again as you pointed out, the Digital Domain is one that is persistent. Requires are constant attention. Ill get into that in more depth later. We are in a threat environment. Shooting two weeks ago perpetrated by a lone assailant highlights the potential for threat offcampus and in member home districts. Active shooter threats to the cancer may concern for both chief verderosa and i picked persistent Cyber Attacks and our efforts to protect data and privacy is very high on our radar. Asymmetric threats that as weve seen have converted items and weapons of destruction using vehicles and other things to create mass harm and confusion. Complex attacks on vulnerable public gallery, gatherings in areas of commerce. Where constantly be challenged now by technical evolution as we see with unmanned or Remote Control type apparatus. We have the overarching chemical and biological threats, of which this institution has in the past been subjected to and as cause significant disruption. And finally we cant take our eye off of Insider Threat. Again, its a reality of todays environment and yet we have to Pay Attention to it. We have a proactive forward leaning posture to detect computer and disrupt threats before the attacks. And thats again when were putting a lot of our wait. Rapid response at assessment to Critical Incidents early containment and mitigation is key. We achieve that fewer active engagements with our Law Enforcement partners and our intelligence community. Partners. Its key that with strong relationships that we engage in joint training. We validate Interoperable Communications for crisis management. We do effective Event Planning and coordination and we use our resources to get the biggest bang for the buck. We always need to question our facts and assumptions when were looking at this complex nature of this campus, and our ability to protect it and secure it. We were always looking for efficiencies, innovative ways to become more effective with our resources, and i think the chief would agree with me, lying defense does not work in this dynamically challenging and changing environment. We ha have to lean forward. We have to be proactive. Ultimately its about guaranteeing legislative branch operations, and uninterrupted legislative processes. That concludes my opening remarks subject to your questions. Chief verderosa . Chairman lankford, Ranking Member murphy, and members of the committee on wanted to be here today and i appreciate the opportunity to present the United States Capitol Police budget request for fiscal year 2018. Unjointed today by some members of my executive team and executive Management Team including chief of operations consistent chief, chief Administrative Officer Richard Braddock and chief financial, general counsel gretchen, and inspector general. Also in attendance today is the u. S. Cp fop later chairman. Labor chairman. I would like to thank the committee for its generous and unwavering support of United States Capitol Police and providing the necessary funding and support our personal and, for our personal and operations. As with seen over the past several months our officers are well prepared and highly trained to deal with any circumstances that they may encounter. What first may be reaching main fact be a threat so the stage and wellbeing of the capitol complex or members of congress. This point is example five with the incident on june 14 in alexandria, virginia. Extensive training and Quick Response by special agents crystal griner and david bailey saved lives. Id like to commend the publicly for the heroic and professional response protecting the members of congress and senators and others that day during a practice session for the Congressional Charity baseball game. We have often discussed the departments needs to remain agile while also continuing to enhance our capabilities and i believe that in your private which we operate it will be necessary to provide increased coverage for member events going forward. In doing so we appreciate the congress continued support of our mission and its recognition of the need to provide Additional Resources as we get if i knew an increasing threats. Accordingly we develop our fiscal year 2018 budget request of 426. 6 million with a focus on continue to equip, train, prepare our work force to protect United States capital and the congress there to ensure the remain safe and secure. Due to the global threat of private and the terrorist attacks, the type visitors organizations, targeting targeting attacks at public venues we have worked in close coronation with the Capitol Police board and chairmans mark and other board to determine that additional screening based needs must be employed to continue to keep the capitol complex safe. As a result our fiscal year 2018 request includes funding for an additional 72 sworn officers and 48 civilians for the purpose of adding prescreening capabilities as part of a multiyou plan to bolster the overall security of the capitol complex as well as enhancing and completing the house garage security effort. Lastly, our request also addresses investments in training, recruiting and outfitting new employees, replacing key equipment and systems that have become obsolete and restoring annual levels, reduce in previous fiscal used to meet the vital department needs. Our commitment to the nation and her steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety and security of members, staff and the millions of visitors who come to the capital is our top priority. This would not be possible without the dedicated men and women in the department. I continue to be impressed with their overall performance, professionals and affidavit i i very proud of the troops and if you understand their mission. We will continue to work closely with you to ensure that we meet the needs and expectations of the congress as well as our mission an in a reasonable and responsible manner. Once again thank you for t