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Congress passes $2.1 billion Capitol security bill

The bill would also provide money to help Afghan translators in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal of troops.
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WASHINGTON — The House and Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would secure funding for the U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Police in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot, which was at risk of having to furlough officers without additional money.

The House voted 416 to 11 to approve the $2.1 billion emergency supplemental funding bill.

The bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. He is expected to sign the bill.

In an unusual display of speed for Congress, the Senate had voted 98-0 hours earlier. The bill includes almost $1 billion for Capitol security — $100 million for the Capitol Police, $300 million for security measures and $500 million for the National Guard, which concluded its mission at the Capitol in May.

The bill also includes roughly $1.1 billion for the special immigrant visa program to assist with Afghan interpreters coming to the United States as American troops withdraw from the nation's longest war.

The House members who opposed the measure came from both sides of the political spectrum, including some liberal members who previously said they are against more money going to police and conservative members who are opposed to increased government spending.

The members who voted no on the measure were: Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., Jamal Bowman, D-N.Y., Cori Bush, D-Mo., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Chip Roy, R-Texas, Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Bob Good, R-Va., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C.

The vote comes just days after the Jan. 6 select committee convened its first hearing, hosting a panel of four police officers who were defending the building against the mob of then-President Donald Trump supporters.

The testimony from Tuesday's hearing, which included new video footage from the day, was both emotional and dramatic, as the officers described being overwhelmed by the rioters who were better equipped for the battle that unfolded.

Specifically, the bill would include $31.1 million to backfill overtime for the Capitol Police until the department can hire and train additional officers, and $4.4 million in trauma support, including six new mental health counselors, according to the bill summary.