Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Morelle Opening Remarks at the Hearing on House Sergeant at Arms Strategic Plan for the 118th Congress
Washington, D.C. – Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-NY) delivered the following opening remarks at the hearing on House Sergeant at Arms Strategic Plan for the 118th Congress:
“Thank you, Chairman Steil.And thank you for convening this morning's hearing and the Office of the House Sergeant at Arms and its strategic plan for the hundred and the 18th Congress.
“I want to thank our witness, acting House Sergeant at Arms Bill McFarland, for being with us today and for the work of his staff on behalf of the House of Representatives as we continue to improve security at the Capitol and deal with an unprecedented threat environment for members, It is safe to say that the House Sergeant at Arms has never been more important.
“It has now been a little over two years since the January 6th, 2021 attack, which included assaults on 140 police officers and resulted in more than 1000 arrests, including nearly 100 arrests on charges involving use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.
“Unfortunately, January 6th was not an isolated incident. Members of Congress have recently been subject to more threats than ever before. The Capitol Police Threat Assessment section investigated more than 7500 cases in 2022 alone.
“Last year, a man broke into the home of then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and viciously assaulted her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer. The assailant told police that he broke in to break the Speaker's kneecaps, hold her hostage and, 'show other members of Congress there were consequences to actions.'
“It is with this backdrop that I'm eager to learn more about the newly released Sergeant at Arms Strategic Plan and how implementation of the strategic plan will ensure members security here in Washington, D.C. at home in our districts and traveling in between.
“I'm particularly interested in knowing in how the strategic plan is tied to important initiatives like the residential security program, the District Security Service Center and implementation of the Emergency Supplemental Security Appropriations bill.
“And I'm also interested in hearing how you intend to ensure that you make decisions based on diverse viewpoints and how you replace the expertise lost from your dismissal of several senior leaders within the Office of the House Sergeant at Arms at the beginning 118th Congress.
“And again, I do want to thank you and your staff for your service to the House. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.”
###