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risk management efforts of the U.S. Capitol Police because they are needed to detect, deter, or mitigate the effects of security threats. Increased operational and administrative demands placed on the Department translate into increased demands on our personnel. Therefore, it is essential that we provide our officers and support staff with the level of training they need to keep pace with the changing nature of their jobs. The requested level of funding for tuition expenses will be used to provide outside professional instruction to our personnel on topics ranging from labor/management relations to chemical and biological attack response.

With regard to personnel issues, it has been a longstanding goal of the U.S. Capitol Police Board to ensure that the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police maintain a pay parity with their counterparts in other law enforcement agencies. Therefore, the USCP fiscal year 1999 budget submission once again includes a request to fund pay initiatives which provide holiday pay, Sunday premium pay, and shift differential. Because police departments need to be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this type of differential pay is considered standard and customary in law enforcement agencies. Therefore, in order to fairly compensate our personnel who are required to work throughout the night, on Sundays and holidays, the U.S. Capitol Police Board feels it is imperative that this initiative be fully funded.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to state the support of the U.S. Capitol Police Board for a funding request which is included in the Architect's budget submission. Several facilities currently used by the U.S. Capitol Police can no longer adequately support the mission of the Department. The current condition of some of these facilities creates life safety and working condition concerns for our personnel. Others, such as the offsite delivery center and the vehicle maintenance facility, have simply outlived their usefulness and are in need of significant repair and expansion or relocation to another site.

This is especially true of the offsite delivery center due to the increased level of use which is anticipated when we begin screening House deliveries. In addition, our training facilities are woefully inadequate. The entire primary training facility of the U.S. Capitol Police consists of three converted offices in the Ford House Office Building. It is simply impossible to support the training needs of a 1,300-member department with a mission as diverse and important as that of the U.S. Capitol Police in three classrooms in an office building.

In response to these concerns, the Architect has requested an appropriation to commission a comprehensive study of the facility requirements of the department. Known as the Capitol Complex Integrated Security Facilities Program, this study will serve as the blueprint on how to best address these facilities concerns. In the interim, the Architect is requesting_funding to address the more immediate repair and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations concerns. In view of these pressing issues, the Board is requesting full funding for all of the Architect's budget requests affecting the U.S. Capitol Police facilities.

Over the course of the last year, we have met with and heard the concerns of the committees of jurisdiction regarding how to best

protect against the varied threats and security concerns we face today. This budget submission reflects a reasonable, measured, and prudent approach to ensuring the safety and security of the Congress, the Capitol complex and the visiting public and the viability of the U.S. Capitol Police. We will continue to work with you and the authorizing committees as we address issues concerning risk management, security, and law enforcement.

In closing, I would like to commend the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. Regardless of the challenge, they continually perform their duty in a diligent and professional manner. The responsibilities which rest on the shoulders of our personnel are daunting. Each day, they must ensure the safety and security of the congressional community and thousands of constituents by protecting them from crime and acts of violence. In doing so, they allow the national legislative process to proceed unhindered. However, in order to remain viable, the level of support the U.S. Capitol Police receives must be commensurate with the level and quality of service expected by the Congress and the public. This budget request is intended to meet that goal.

A detailed budget for the U.S. Capitol Police has been submitted to the committee. I will be pleased to answer any questions that you may have.

Senator BENNETT. Thank you, Mr. Livingood.
Mr. Casey.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF GREG CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am pleased to appear before you to discuss the fiscal year 1999 budget request for the U.S. Capitol Police.

Due to the leadership and support of this committee, and the dedication of our personnel, the U.S. Capitol Police has achieved notable success in undertaking new responsibilities which address the evolving threats to the safety and security of the U.S. Congress and those who work and visit within the Capitol complex.

The U.S. Capitol Police currently faces a number of management information system issues that require a comprehensive study. The Board is continuing to seek an avenue to address these issues in consultation with the committees of jurisdiction. Our overall goal in seeking this study is to provide the Police Board and the police command staff with the data necessary to manage the department and its personnel in a cost-effective and efficient manner. While the conversion of House and Senate payrolls to the National Finance Center will address a number of issues, such as providing comprehensive payroll data reporting, several other systems, such as the time and attendance and inventory control system, are antiquated and not year 2000 compliant.

Included in this budget submission are funds to cover the department's computer and telecommunications system expenses which were previously included in the budget of the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms. The Senate has provided the U.S. Capitol Police with extensive equipment and technical support over the past several years. However, I feel it makes good business sense that the Police Board and the police command staff have more direct control of the funds required to purchase and operate these systems.

I join Mr. Livingood in stating my support for the department's pay initiatives. We ask a lot from the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police, and I think it is important that they be compensated at a level which is fair and comparable to their counterparts in other law enforcement agencies. The requested night differential, holiday pay, and Sunday premium pay will ensure that we can maintain pay parity with comparable agencies. The approval of this funding will serve to provide the U.S. Capitol Police officers equality with the employees of other legislative branch agencies who already receive this type of compensation.

I also share concerns about the condition and functionality of several facilities we provide to the Department to perform its mission. I am pleased that the Architect has pledged to study this issue, and I look forward to working with him to complete this project and provide our recommendations to the committees of jurisdiction. In the interim, your favorable consideration of several repair and improvement requests for current police facilities will ensure our personnel can be provided with clean, safe, and functional working environments. Also, the first phase of the K-9 training facility renovation is underway. However, the Architect has requested funding for fiscal year 1999 which is essential to completing the project and making the facility fully operational.

During his testimony, Mr. Hantman will make a presentation on the perimeter security plan. This plan provides a comprehensive, integrated plan for making improvements which are critical to protecting the Capitol complex from acts of violence and terrorism. This plan has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Capitol Police Board, and we have provided briefings to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. It should be noted that several options were considered. However, we feel that this plan if implemented in its entirety, will provide the better risk management solution to longstanding perimeter security concerns.

I am proud of the recent accomplishments of the U.S. Capitol Police. This department is now involved in national security-related activities that were once considered beyond its ability. While the officer at the door will always be our first line of security, there is a depth and diversity to the U.S. Capitol Police that does not readily meet the eye. The fact that the men and women of the department can quietly and effectively handle such sensitive and important responsibilities and operate as co-equals among members of other Federal law enforcement agencies attests to the level of professionalism they have attained.

I look forward to working with the members of the committee as we continue to address the funding, support, and administrative requirements of the U.S. Capitol Police. I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Senator BENNETT. Thank you, Mr. Casey.

Mr. Hantman.

COMMENTS BY MR. HANTMAN

Mr. HANTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join my colleagues on the Capitol Police Board and Chief Abrecht today in presenting a comprehensive, integrated program for improved security within

the Capitol complex. Before I begin this portion of the presentation, I would like to thank Bill Livingood for his enthusiasm, energy, and expertise in enabling us to move forward with the development of this proposed program, as well as Greg Casey for his outstanding leadership this past year as Chairman of the Board.

I have been Architect for just a little over 1 year, and am fully aware of our security needs, due primarily to the openness and cooperative approach my fellow Board members have displayed in the planning and decisionmaking process. For this I would formally like to thank them and their staffs for their support and inclusive spirit. We have developed a high level of mutual respect and confidence, and this has enabled us to build a productive working

team.

In a few weeks, I will be presenting to this committee my proposed budget for fiscal year 1999, and its 5-year master plan dealing with the programmatic needs of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, in support of the Congress and its legislative branch agencies. The comprehensive plan that we present to you today takes this philosophy of creating an inclusive, multiyear approach to planning and problem-solving and extends it to the critical area of security.

Other proposed short- and long-term projects, including the Capitol visitor center, would be built to serve as important parts of the systemic modernization and strengthening of the integrated security infrastructure program which we present to you today. Mr. Chairman, let me assure you and the other members of this committee that improvements to our security systems and structures is one of the main focuses of this office, in support of the Capitol Police Board, and will remain so.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ARCHITECT OF THE

CAPITOL AND U.S. CAPITOL POLICE

It may be helpful to briefly review the division of responsibilities that have been established between the Capitol Police's Physical Security Division and my office for the development and implementation of the physical security improvements within the buildings and their associated grounds. A memorandum of understanding [MOU] has been developed with the Capitol Police that established the division of responsibilities, and the processes and procedures to be followed when developing and implementing security projects. This memorandum has proven to be an excellent matrix that has fostered the development of a close working relationship between the two organizations. For the benefit of the committee and to place this agreement on the record, I have included a copy with my testimony.

In summary, the MOU assigns the responsibility for design, procurement, installation, and maintenance of physical security barriers and other structures to the Architect of the Capitol while the Capitol Police's Physical Security Division is in charge of design, procurement, installation of other security systems, including intrusion and duress alarms, x ray, scanning, and other security systems for facilities. My office continues to provide infrastructure support for the implementation of these systems. This has resulted in a strong working relationship between the two organizations.

PERIMETER SECURITY PLAN

Last year, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration directed the Capitol Police Board to develop a specific plan for Capitol square as well as the streets surrounding the Senate office buildings. The challenge was to sensitively integrate a sophisticated security program into the historic landscape of the Capitol Grounds and the fabric of the incomparable complex of buildings that grace Capitol Hill. The solution has been strongly influenced by the fact that the Capitol is the peoples' building, and visitors must perceive it as such with reasonable access being provided. Perimeter fencing and other overly intrusive security measures have, therefore, been avoided.

To meet this challenge, the Board organized a task force made up of key staff from the Architect's office, the Senate and House Sergeants at Arms, the Capitol Police, and nationally recognized architectural and security consultants. The task force reviewed the previous work done by various groups, including the schematic design developed in the late 1980's that became known as the whip's plan, and the 1995 security evaluation requested by the Board and performed by the U.S. Secret Service and Capitol Police.

The primary elements of the proposed plan include improved security at all entrances to Capitol square through the use of a combination of high impact vehicle barriers that are police activated at the most critical locations, or card activated egress from parkingrelated areas. These are used in conjunction with a continuous string of security bollards similar to those designed for, and installed at, the White House. These bollards would replace the concrete planters and sewer pipes that had been temporarily put in place in the 1980's. Together with new high-impact stone planters, consistent with the Frederick Law Olmsted walls, and the integration of electronic and other security systems at each entrance, a continuously secure perimeter would be created largely internal to the original Olmsted walls which, in most areas, are too low to meet security height requirements and are not of reinforced construction.

At each of the Capitol square access points, the incorporation of modern electronic and other security systems would be integrated with new barrier structures in the form of planters designed to be consistent with the Frederick Law Olmsted walls, and the replacement of the existing concrete sewer pipes and planters with security bollards of a design consistent with that being deployed at other Government properties. The end result of the proposed changes would be significant improvements of both the security needs and appearance of Capitol square.

The Senate Rules Committee also directed the Board to develop a plan specifically to address the Senate grounds and office buildings. Although this matter relates solely to the Senate, I have requested funding under our perimeter security project in the Capitol Grounds appropriation for this purpose. I bring this to your attention to clarify the extent of that request. To resolve the security concerns, the Board recommends that landscape elements and bollards similar to those recommended for Capitol square replace the existing jersey barriers, concrete planters, and pipe sections.

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