Committee on House Administration Full Committee Markup

The US Capitol Police. I'd like to thank my friend ranking member, Morelli, for his collaboration on this important legislation. Uh, under current law, officers are forced to retire at age fifty-seven unless they receive a waiver from the Capitol Police Board. With a waiver, officers may continue working until they're age sixty. Our non-partisan legislation extends the waiver timeline. Under the bill, the Capitol Police Board will have the authority to grant waivers to sworn officers until they reach sixty-five. It's critical that we quickly pass this statutory change. Right now nearly sixty sworn officers are working with a waiver. Without this change, they'll be forced to retire in the next few years. That's the equivalent of more than two recruitment classes for the US Capitol Police. As many of us know, there's already a staffing shortage with the force, but it's will only get far worse if we fail to act. Let me also make clear there's past precedent to do exactly what this bill does. In two thousand four and in twenty ten, Congress temporar temporarily ranged raised the mandatory federal enforcement retirement age from sixty to sixty-five to address staffing shortages at the FBI. It's also important to emphasize that this legislation gives the Capitol Police Board discretion when deciding who's still fit for the job. The men and women of the US Capitol Police are some of the best in the nation. uh and we have a opportunity to continue that tradition. These officers uh should not be forced into retirement if they can still do still do their job, especially given the man power shortages and the force coupled with record threats against lawmakers. Again, my sincere thanks to Ranking Member Morelli uh for working in collaboration with us uh on this bill to address uh the staffing shortages at US Capitol Police. I encourage all of our colleagues here to support the legislation and I thank everyone for being here today. Uh I'll now yield back uh and recognize uh the ranking member, Mister Morelle, for five minutes for the purpose of offering an opening statement.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, uh I do support this legislation which, as you said, uh allows the Capitol Police Board to grant mandatory retirement exemptions of uh officers up to sixty-five rather than the current age of sixty. The wem the men and women of the United States Capitol Police have one of the most important and challenging jobs of the legislative branch, they protect the Capitol campus and the thousands of members, staff and visitors who occupy it every day. They investigate threats, provide protective details, screen visitors, respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, monitor demonstrations and secure major events like the State of the Union and more. They do it all in an era of dramatically increased threats and and strain on the department. And we have discussed at length in the committee of the department staffing and workforce capacity challenges and I wanna commend Chief Sullivan and former Chief Manger. uh for their diligent work to rebuild the force. I'm pleased that the department now has more than twenty three hundred sworn officers and it is meaningful progress uh from the staffing crisis the department faced uh after uh January six riots. But but there is still uh much more work to do with the large cohort of officers who joined the department after September eleventh shockingly are now reaching retirement age hard to imagine. But the department cannot afford to lose a substantial number of experienced fully capable officers. solely because they reach an arbitrary age threshold. The bill, as you point out, and I wanna um just underscore this cuz it is important, does not change the mandatory retirement age of fifty-seven. It simply gives the Capitol Police Board discretion when doing so is in the public interest to allow an officer to continue to serve until age sixty-five instead of sixty. Nothing in the bill lessens the board's responsibility to ensure any officer granted an exemption remains fully fit for duty, and capable of meeting the physical and operational demands of the job. So this is a prudent, targeted step to preserve experience, maintain staffing, help ensure the department has the workforce it needs. And for these recom uh these reasons, I strongly recommend my colleagues support the bill. Thank you. I yield back.

Gentleman yields back. I now call up HRA three sixty four to amend title five United States Code to authorize the increase of the retirement age in the US Capitol Police. The clerk will please report the bill.

HRA three six four.

Without objection, the first reading of the bill is

Aye.

Mister Chairman, I request a recorded vote.

A recorded vote has been requested. Uh, the Clerk will please call the roll.

Chairman Stein.

Aye.

Chairman Swell, votes aye, Miss Lee,

Aye.

Miss Lee, votes aye, Mister Loudermilk,

Aye.

Mister Loudermilk, votes aye, Mister Griffith.

Aye.

Mister Griffith, votes aye, Doctor Murphy.

Aye.

Doctor Murphy votes aye, Mrs. Bice. Mister Kerry.

Yes.

Mister Kerry votes aye, Mrs. Miller.

Aye.

Mrs. Miller votes aye, Mister Morley.

Aye.

Mister Morley votes aye, Miss Sewell, Mrs. Torres, Miss Johnson.

Two three four five six seven eight. If all members voted, is there any member who wishes to change their vote? The clerk will report the tally.

Uh, Mister Chairman, for this vote there are eight ayes and zeroes.

The ayes have it. The majority having voted in favor of H R eighty-three sixty-four. The bill is ordered favorably reported to the house. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. This concludes the order of business for today's mark-up. Uh, without objection, pursuant to House Rule nine, clause two L, committee members can file with the clerk of the committee supplemental, additional, minority and dissenting views on each of the items Marked up today. Also without objection, the staff is authorized to make necessary technical and conforming changes. There being no further business, I think the members for their participation, without objection, the Committee on House Administration stands adjourned.