Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act of 2021

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act of 2021 2. Emergency assistance for the Capitol Police (a) Assistance by executive departments and agencies Section 911(a) of division B of the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 ( 2 U.S.C. 1970(a) (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting or in accordance with paragraph (4) and on a permanent (2) in paragraph (4)(B)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking advance (B) in clause (ii)— (i) in subclause (I), by striking or (ii) in subclause (II), by striking and or (iii) by adding at the end the following: (III) the Chief of the Capitol Police, if the Chief of the Capitol Police has determined that the provision of assistance is necessary to prevent the significant disruption of governmental function and public order within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds, as described in section 9 of the Act entitled An Act to define the area of the United States Capitol Grounds, to regulate the use thereof, and for other purposes 2 U.S.C. 1961 ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) Revocation The Capitol Police Board may revoke a request for assistance provided under paragraph (4)(B)(ii)(III) upon consultation with appropriate Members of the Senate and House of Representatives in leadership positions. . (b) Capitol police special officers Section 1017 of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 ( 2 U.S.C. 1974 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or as determined by the Chief of the Capitol Police in accordance with section 911(a)(4)(B)(ii)(III) of division B of the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 ( 2 U.S.C. 1970(a)(4)(B)(ii)(III) Congress, (B) by adding at the end the following: An appointment under this section due to an emergency determined by the Chief of the Capitol Police under paragraph (4)(B)(ii)(III) of section 911(a) of division B of the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 ( 2 U.S.C. 1970(a) ; (2) by striking subsections (c) and (e); (3) by redesignating subsections (d), (f), and (g) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this subsection, by striking President pro tempore Majority Leader 3. Joint oversight hearings (a) In general The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives (referred to in this section as the Committees (b) Timing The Committees may conduct oversight hearings under this section as determined appropriate by the Committees, but shall conduct not less than one oversight hearing under this section during each Congress. 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2021.

Summary: 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.