Good morning, everyone. Subcommittee will come to order. This is our third fiscal year 2018 Budget Committee hear forking the legislative branch of appropriation subcommittee, we have with us today the honorable frank larkun, Senate Sergeant at arms and chief mendoza. Welcome, chief, first subcommittee hearing before the subcommittee. We will try to make it as painful as we possibly can. [laughter] for hearing was planned for june the 14th, same morning a man decided he was going to open fire in alexandria, virginia, Capitol Police officer, cristal griener and protective detail for majority and because of heroism there were no fatalities and there could have been many lives lost. We are grateful for their courage and wish them full recoveries and we thank those who were involved in their support and training. Scalise has been upgraded to fair condition and my understanding is that matt was discharged and sent home. Our thoughts and prayers on those in the field that morning. The entire Congressional Community was deeply affected by the shooting. We realize that there could have been any of us practing that day and any of us targeted at any spot. Senate sergeant at arms have both unique missions, now more than ever they carry significant importance both threats internal and external in the environment in which we operate, both agencies were diliglantly to protect members of congress and our staff and 4 million visitors to Capitol Campus each year. This is an office space, this is a museum, this is a tourist spot all at once and try to be able to manage all those realities requires own delicate task, truly appreciate the dedication of men and women that enable congress to do its work and we do thank you for that. As i have mentioned in first two hearings this year we are faced with a budget environment that would require difficult and important discussion on how we move forward in the upcoming fiscal year. Value gain from your request your requested increases must be weighed against our duty to be fiscally responsible and make wider choices and we look forward any input to make those choices. 204. 6million, increase of approximately 7. 2 million above fiscal year 2017 and acted level. 73. 1billion for salaries and benefits and request of 131. 6 million for expenses. The majority of the requested increases supports cybersecurity initiatives to protect against internal and external threats alike. The nature of these involving intrusions have received attention and scrutiny rightfully so and important to take the necessary steps to prevent the compromise of senate networks capitol request 426 million, increase of 33. 3 million above fiscal year 2016 enacted level, 351 million is for salaries and benefits to cover fixed costs increases to pay existing staff and additional 72 sworn officers and 48 civilians or total force of 943 sworn officers and you can check me on those numbers to make sure i get that correctly. The request for expenses at can is 75. 2 billion, increase of 7 million above fiscal year 2017 and life cycle reflection of detention and screening equipment as well as training and uniforms for officers. Much of your requested increase comes from expanding Mission Requirements and look forward to hearing those needs and Additional Needs as you have identified given the recent incident. I would like to turn to Ranking Member senator murphy for any remarks he would like to make. Thank you very much. I would like to welcome our witnesses today. I want to join senator lankford and expressing attitude on the ball field in alexandria as a member of the democratic baseball team, this is one of the these events that represents what is right with washington despite a lot of things that are wrong with this case and let me again send my best to special agent cristal and david bailey and henry ca brotherra. We are so thankful for their skilled response to the training that you provided them, great news to hear that special agent greiner is now out of the hospital as well, we provide our thoughts to congressman scalise, matt mica, on the sub commit yes we are in a special unique position to make sure the Capitol Police and sergeant at arms have the resources they need to help to keep us safe. Chief verderosa will require security in grounds and i look forward discussing how we might provide targeted increases to make adjustments to the array of growing threats. Mr. Larkin, cyberattacks to russian hacking, cyberspace is the modern battlefield and that makes it more critical that the senates it Security Systems and frankly all of the ways in which members interact with technology that are protections are robust an resilient given the threats, finally, mr. Chairman, i want to note that the legislative branch is not exempt from the larger budget debate. Our bill funds not only security focus organization but also other critical agencies to our work including our watchdog gao, just like when you parity and common sense appropriations bill and we need parity in the budget deal for fiscal year 2018. So that includes fully supporting your asian yecion but 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 them being able to have a private conversation as well, i look forward to your testimony. Thank you. I do want to remind any member that is come in as well and we will continue to do that as well that we will move to a close session immediately following the open portion of this hearing and all of our relevant Security Issues we will deal in the close session and i would also like to request of those giving testimony today that we will reserve some of the more sensitive security items for that close session as well and we can have a frank discussion at that spot. Mr. Larkin, honorable to receive your testimony at this time. Mr. Chairman, senator murphy, thank you, again, its always a pleasure to appear before this committee and offer some thoughts. I would request that the committee accept my formal system for the record that captures the breath and depth of the challenges and the tasks accomplished by the Senate Sergeant at arms in the past year with measures to perform and Operational Impact that we have been able to achieve. Without objection, glad to be receive both of your written statements as well and for the record. 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 costs of living but yet increases allied primarily to Cyber Defense and we can get into that more indepth. The ssa is a large Diverse Organization and multifaceted, backstops all part of the Senate Institution and with a large regard to do legislative branch as a whole. Our goal is to ensure safe and secure environment free of distractions for members to do the nations business and im able to accomplish that by the talented leadership that i have behind me right now. Jim, my deputy, katrina sims executive assistant and fortified by my assistant sergeant at arms for protective operations and continuity programs. Vickie, cio. Dave bass, terrence lili, keeps me out of the drink more times than not. The sergeant at arms is responsible for the safety and security of the senate as you pointed out. Emergency preparedness and continuity operations, Information Technology and telecommunication support, access control, transportation of parking, printing and graphics, facilities main nant, maintenance, furnishings of office, employee assistance, contracting and finance support, training and Education Senate pages and intern programs and photo studio and finally hair care. Again, its a Diverse Organization. A lot of responsibility, a lot of moving parts. The silent team of highly competentes behind me and before the hearing work behind the scenes every day for this institution. I have folks on the job from one week to over 40 years. Quite a legacy of Service Within our organization for this for the senate. Theyre innovative and constantly learning, forwardleaning and responsive and very much customer focus. We are the problem solvers for the senate. We work in Close Partnership with the secretary 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 seemless in the way we backstop the institution and, again, to minimize the distractions on members and staff so, again, we can do the legislative business in the nation. We also work closely with our legislative branch partners, the house sergeant at arms paul irving, the chief Administrative Officer phil specifically as we join forces with our it initiatives and Cyber Defense, the architect of the capital, very important partner and to my left chief verderosa supported by his assistant steve, the chief leads an exemplary force of men and women dedicate today protecting the legislative branch as evident not only on a daily basis as we move about the campus but certainly highlighted two weeks ago as you mentioned mr. Chairman, by the heroic acts of bravery by two u. S. Cp officers on the alexandria ball field. The two Priority Areas for me are fiscal 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, it requires our constant attention and i will get into that in more depth later. We are in a dynamic threat environment, the shooting two weeks ago perpetrated by a lone assailant highlight it is potential for threats off campus and in member home districts. Actor shooter threats to have campus are a main concern for both chief verderosa and i and persistent efforts to protect data and privacy is very high on our radar. Subject to do and has caused significant disruption. Finally we can take our eye off the Insider Threat. Again its the reality of todays environment and yet we are to Pay Attention to it. We have a proactive forward leading postured to detect and deter and disrupt threats before any attacks. Thats again where we are putting a lot of our wait. Rapid response and assessment of Critical Incidents early containment and mitigation is key. We achieve that threa to active engagements with the Law Enforcement partners and our Intelligence Community partners. Its key that we are 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 are always looking for efficiencies, innovative ways to become more effective with our resources. I think the chief would agree with me, goldline defense does not work in this dynamically challenging and changing environment. We 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 am honored to be here today and i appreciate the opportunity to present the United StatesCapitol Police budget request for fiscal year 2018. Unjointed today by some members of my executive team and executive Management Team including the chief of operations, assistant chief, chief Administrative Officer richard braddock, chief Financial Officer j miller, general counsel gretchen, and inspector general. Also in attendance today is the uscp fop labor chairman who heads are sworn union. Id like to thank the committee for its generous and unwavering support of United StatesCapitol Police and providing the necessary funding and support our personal and operations. As weve seen over the past so t must our officers are well prepared and highly trained to do with any circumstances they may encounter. What first paper to be routine main fact be a threat to the safety and wellbeing of the capitol complex for members of congress. This is exemplified with incident on june 14 in alexandria, virginia. Extensive training and Quick Response by special agents crystal griner and david bailey saved lives. Like to commend them publicly for the heroic and professional response protecting the members of congress and senators and others that day during the practice session for the Congressional Charity baseball game. We have often discussed the Department Needs remain agile while also tuning to enhance our capabilities and i believe that in the vibrant and which we operate it will be necessary to provide increased coverage for member events going forward. In doing so we appreciate the congress can can support of our mission and its recognition of eight to provide Additional Resources as we identify new and increasing threats. Accordingly we develop our fiscal year 2018 budget request of 426 . 6 million with a focus on continuing to equip and train and prepare our work force to protect protect unites States Capital and the congress to ensure the remain safe and secure. Due to the global threat environment and the terrorist attacks, the type visitors organizations targeting attacks the public venues weve worked in close coronation with the Capitol Police board and chairman black and of the board to determine that additional screening and various means 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 and civilianizing certain swear position as part of a multiyour 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 investment in training, recruiting and outfitting new employees replacing key equipment and systems that have become obsolete and restoring annual levels reduced in previous fiscal used to beat the vital Department Needs. Our commitment to the mission and are steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety and security of members, staff and millions of visitors who come to the United States capitol is our top priority. This would be possible without the dedicated men and women in the department. I continue to be impressed with their overall performance, professionals everyday. Im very proud of the troops enter here and it would understand their mission. We will continue to work closely with you to ensure we meet the needs and expectations of the congress as well as our mission in a reasonable and responsible manner. Once again thank you for the opportunity to appear here today before you, and i would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Thank you both for that. Chief verderosa, let me start with you. Have a brief time of question fully moved to a closed session. You made a request for 72 additional sworn officers. That would bring the force of 1943 total officers. Can you talk briefly about why the request is needed and the Additional Task if there are additional locations and such that you made to be able to provide covered for . Certainly. The request with additional personnel is a very specific to specific tasking that will close the loop on some vulnerabilities that have been existing for a number of years on the house side. I look at policing and security of the campus in a totality. So its not so much specifically where were just pushing people to the house side. This completes our perimeter and this provides a level of security that would leave is necessary to finish something that has been started over the past fiscal years. You also make some request on nonsworn officers for civilian positions. Tell me the balancing that youre trying to accomplish. Absolutely, sir. The 48 civilian billets would be for the purpose of taking our, specifically our command center communications, firearms instructors and theres one or two other positions that are currently occupied by sworn personnel, and traditionally have focused on sworn presence. Thats not to say that civilians cannot do those, perform those tasks. I asking for the civilians we can more quickly place though sworn officers that are being displaced back into the field where we get a quicker turnaround as opposed to hiring new civilians. New civilians takes time to select, train and then deploy, which takes basically about a year to do so. By doing it to civilianization of really the final aspects come added to consider them operational officers that are in these positions, but they have traditionally in position out of the field. We can get more utility from his officers faster by civili