Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act, 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, the January 6 attack obviously revealed the flaws in security of the Capitol.

Subsequent attacks on the Capitol complex have provided further stark evidence of the need to improve the physical security of the complex and other Federal buildings.

This supplemental provides the vital, urgently needed funding for security within the jurisdiction of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

In this Chamber, I remember one of my colleagues asking when the cavalry would arrive. The closest thing to the cavalry arriving was the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

The courage and dedication of the MPD in defending the Members, the Capitol, and our democracy, saved lives and helped this Congress return to business more quickly.

This bill includes funding to reimburse MPD for the costs associated with the events of the 6th, as well as other costs they have incurred due to the Federal presence in the District because we cannot allow the District of Columbia to shoulder the burden of defending Congress on their own.

In the aftermath of the events of the 6th, all Federal buildings and employees face additional increased security threats. This bill provides funding for additional security expenses for Federal judges and Federal court facilities, including security upgrades to exterior perimeter security camera systems at priority Federal courthouses.

This bill also includes General Services Administration buildings.

We must provide funding to conduct security assessments of Federal buildings, including blast mitigation and collapse studies, taking the first steps in being able to address security vulnerabilities.

No one should have to go to work afraid for their safety, none more so than our public servants. We must protect our democratic institutions, Congress, the courts, and all Federal agencies, so no elected official or public servant ever goes to work scared to execute their duty.

These threats are real, they are happening now, and lives are at stake. We cannot wait and must move quickly to pass this bill.

For those who would vote against the commission, or did, for those who would deny there was an insurrection, for those who would vote against this bill to protect us, you embody the new twisted world.

We grew up believing the phrase, ``I will believe it when I see it.'' You embody the phrase, ``I will see it when I believe it.'' God help us.

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