US Capitol Police Need Money to Keep Working After January 6 Riot Drains Budget - Senator

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th June, 2021) The US Capitol Police Department needs an infusion of money to replenish a budget depleted by the January 6 riot, with a security crisis looming in August when the force will otherwise run out of money to pay officers, Senator Patrick Leahy said.

"The Capitol Police projects that doing nothing will deplete salaries funds in August, which would be a security crisis of our own making," Leahy said in a press release� on Thursday.

In May, the US House of Representatives passed an emergency supplemental appropriation to address the shortfall, but the measure has languished in the Senate because Republicans have yet to begin negotiations on a "bipartisan path forward," Leahy said.

Leahy noted that 55 sworn officers have left the force since January 6, depleting an already stressed force. In addition, there is an urgent need to address costs from the riot, including significant overtime pay, hazard pay and retention bonuses to keep remaining officers from leaving, he added.

The pending Security Supplemental would address the police budget shortfall, provide additional resources to retain officers, fully reimburse the National Guard that reinforced besieged police and replace money diverted from congressional budgets to meet expenses thus far, according to the senator.