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 StatesCapitol 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 StatesCapitol Police budget request for fiscal year 2024. The department greatly appreciates the subcommittees consistent support of the men and women of the United StatesCapitol 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, a