House lawmakers want to give the U.S. Capitol Police a nearly $30 million budget boost, in part to “enhance” security for lawmakers.
Republican appropriators announced the increase in a legislative branch funding bill released Thursday morning, about a week after lawmakers, staff and police were injured when a man opened fire on a GOP baseball practice in Alexandria.
The funding designates $7.5 million “to address concerns related to security and protection [following the] traumatic shooting earlier this month.” The money would be used “for increased training, equipment and technology-related support items,” a statement from the House Appropriations Committee said.
Police would receive $422.5 million in fiscal 2018, under the GOP proposal.
Five people were injured in the shooting, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., who is recovering in a Washington, D.C., hospital after nearly dying from a bullet wound to the hip. The shooter was killed by police, among them the U.S. Capitol security detail who trail congressional leaders everywhere.
Lawmakers are now weighing whether to send U.S. Capitol Police to some off-campus functions involving lawmakers.
“As we all saw last week, the security of the men and women that serve our nation in Congress is at increased risk,” said Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen. “We are indeed lucky, and owe an immense debt of gratitude to the Capitol Police, that a larger tragedy did not occur. This legislation helps to make strides to improve the safety of all – members of Congress, staff, the Capitol Police, and anyone that works for and visits this great institution.”
The overall bill provides about $1.2 billion for legislative branch operations, which include the Capitol, Library of Congress, Government Accountability Office, Government Publishing Office and the Open World Leadership Center.
As has been the case in past, the proposal excludes pay raises for lawmakers, who earn $174,000 annually.
Only some divisions would receive increases.
The Library of Congress, for example, would get $648 million next year, about $16 million more than fiscal 2017. The extra money is needed for information technology modernization, appropriators said.
