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

Floor Speech

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Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3237.

While I support some of its provisions, I have strong concerns about many items included in this bill and the manner by which the majority has crafted it.

As the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am strongly supportive of the reimbursement to the National Guard for the costs incurred due to their extended deployment in support of Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies. We need to reimburse them as soon as possible to avoid having to cancel drill weekend and other training.

Our Guardsmen and women have patriotically taken time away from their families, careers, and communities to protect our nation's capital. I, along with my colleagues, thank them for their service.

However, I am strongly opposed to the majority's proposal to stand up a Quick Reaction Force comprised of the D.C. National Guard.

While Congress should consider the creation of a form of a Quick Reaction Force, it should be comprised of law enforcement, not military. They are better suited and have training that is more specific to this mission.

Like much of this bill, the majority has hastily crafted this concept in a partisan manner without thinking through all of the ramifications. Our subcommittee has held no hearings on this issue. This issue deserves a much more thoughtful and deliberate approach.

I also echo my colleagues concerns about the funding proposed to create physical barriers around the Capitol complex. The extended duration of the fencing has been entirely unnecessary. Continuing this into the future is expensive, misguided, and is unfair to the American people--who deserve access to their Nation's Capital.

For these reasons and others, I urge my colleagues to vote no.

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