A bill to empower the Chief of the United States Capitol Police to unilaterally request the assistance of the DC National Guard or Federal law enforcement agencies in emergencies without prior approval of the Capitol Police Board.
Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act of 2021
This bill allows the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police to request emergency assistance from executive departments and executive agencies to prevent significant disruption of governmental function and public order at the U.S. Capitol. The bill also eliminates statutory qualification and approval requirements for law enforcement and uniformed service personnel appointed to serve as special police officers, including during periods of emergency initiated by the chief under the bill. Further, special police regulations prescribed by the U.S. Capitol Police Board are subject to approval by the Speaker of the House and Senate majority leader under the bill. Those regulations are subject to approval by the Speaker and the President pro tempore of the Senate under current law.
Finally, the bill requires the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration to jointly conduct at least one oversight hearing of the U.S. Capitol Police Board during each Congress.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Introduced in Senate
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9125-9126; text: CR S9125-9126)
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9125-9126; text: CR S9125-9126)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.
Ms. Lofgren asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7803-7804)
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
On passage Passed without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Presented to President.
Enacted as Public Law 117-77
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Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 117-77.
Became Public Law No: 117-77.