More than 30 lawmakers signed a letter requesting the ability to use Congressional grants for security purposes

More than 30 lawmakers signed a letter requesting the ability to use Congressional grants for security purposes

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“While the United States Capitol is protected by the United States Capitol Police with the support of strong security measures, including vehicle barriers and metal detectors, most members spend most of their time in their congressional districts, where security is often scarce “, they wrote in the letter. “Protecting members in their districts is much more difficult because local law enforcement agencies are stretched and limited, and often do not have enough staff or money to provide regular protection for members. Except for leadership, members do not have details of security to protect them. “

Thursday’s letter addressed the existing rules on the rules governing the use of member grants, describing the protocols as “restrictive and anachronistic, established in a time prior to the current”

CBS News reported the letter for the first time.
The request is the latest development in a series of reactions to the deadly Capitol riot on January 6 that has shaken lawmakers and their officials. As threats continue to grow against members of Congress, concerns about the safety of some lawmakers when they travel outside Washington and the security bubble it creates are growing, several sources told CNN earlier this week.

The letter was written by Democratic representatives Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota and addressed to Pelosi, McCarthy, and the president and Republican member of the House Management Committee, Reps. Zoe Lofgren from California and Rodney Davis from Illinois. While the list was signed mainly by Democrats, a Republican signed the letter – Representative Fred Upton of Michigan.

This happened after the House Administration Committee sent a letter to members earlier this month reminding them of the various options they had for security-related expenses “in light of the tragic events related to the seditious violation of the Capitol.”

The January 11 letter distributed to members reminded them that in their district, they can be reimbursed for being safe at a district event or outside of district offices. The letter instructed members that House Sergeant at Arms will provide “certain security improvements” to district offices and that a bulletproof vest and security training are also considered to be reimbursable expenses.

The acting head of the United States Capitol Police told congressmen during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that the “department failed to meet its own high standards” on January 6, when a crowd of pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol building. US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman called the insurrection a “terrorist attack” and offered his “sincere apologies on behalf of the department,” according to his comments prepared during a briefing for lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee with a series of agencies that had a security role on January 6.

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