Hoyer: The Men and Women of the Capitol Police Showed Extraordinary Courage in the Face of the Overwhelming Force that Confronted Them

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee questioned U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Michael G. Sullivan during the House Committee on Appropriations Budget Hearing for the Capitol Police. Below are a video and transcript of the interaction:

Click here to watch a video of the questioning.

HOYER : "Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to join the Ranking Member in his comments with reference to the civility and courtesy that we ought to extend to one another in this committee, in other subcommittees, and in the full committee. That was not done in the last hearing, and I regret that. And let's hope [that] we have better consideration of one another going forward. Chief, I'm sorry that we're going in and out, we have the director of NIH in front of the Labor, Health [and Human Services] Committee.

"I want to pursue what may have already been talked about. But first of all, I didn't hear the answer, but I am concerned about the overtime pay that is not considered for retirement purposes. And that, as I understand, is relatively unique to the Capitol Police. Is that accurate?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "It depends on the organization. I have done [it] in different ways and different organizations that I've been a part of, and it's something that we've had conversations about internally."

HOYER : "When I say regularly, we have other federal police officers who have overtime that do have it computed for the purposes of their retirement. Is that accurate from your knowledge?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "That is accurate. I've seen it done in different ways where it's a percentage of overtime, you know, of up and beyond what your base salary is, and I've seen other ones that - it's completely taken into account."

HOYER : "The fact that we don't have it, does it have an impact on our ability to recruit and retain?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "Certainly, I would always advocate for more benefits for the men and women of the Capitol Police."

HOYER : "And currently, also, ICE, and perhaps Border Patrol as well, is offering 50 or 60 or $70,000 in bonuses, for new recruits. Is that accurate?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "I don't know the exact numbers, but I know it's significant."

HOYER : "Do we have any such ability to provide such bonus money for recruits?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "While we - no, at this point we do not have bonus money for recruits. However, we do have tuition loan repayment up to $80,000, which I think is a significant driver as I've talked to the new recruits as they've come in."

HOYER : "That's good. And to the extent that we don't have the bonus money, is that adversely affecting your ability to recruit and retain?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "Particularly retain is where I see the challenge is, you know, there's nothing keeping folks here. And over the last, I would say, 3 to 4 months, I've seen a number of members, young members, leave for these other organizations."

HOYER : "Your testimony and obviously the information we have indicates that the threats to Members to the Capitol itself and to other personnel within the Capitol have substantially increased."

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "That's correct."

HOYER : "Resulting in a need to increase our FTEs and complement of personnel. Is that accurate?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "That's accurate."

HOYER : "Lastly, let me ask you a question with reference to the plaque that has been the issue of a lot of controversy, God knows why. The men and women of the Capitol Police were confronted with overwhelming force and showed extraordinary courage in the face of the overwhelming force that confronted them. And since that time, we've had very substantial rationalization that that was a Democratic effort, that there were rioters and insurrectionists were performing. Some 1,500 of them who attacked police and, frankly, led to the death of a number of law enforcement officers were pardoned. What impact did that have on the morale of your force?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "Certainly, that was a challenging time for this organization. I can tell you that we don't do this job for plaques or recognition. However, the men and women that do this work, appreciate the recognition of the hard work that we do every day to keep every Member safe. Any time you don't give recognition as the Chief of Police, it's important for me to recognize the hard work that they do every single day -"

HOYER : "Chief, my time is about to be up. I appreciate the observation about the plaque. What about the pardon?"

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "All of those things affected this organization and the morale of the men and women that do this work."

HOYER : "Thank you, Chief. Thank you for your service and thank you to the men and women of your department for their service and their courage."

USCP CHIEF SULLIVAN : "Thank you."