WASHINGTON – Capitol, the top operating and maintenance officer of the United States, told lawmakers Wednesday that the Jan. 6 attack would cost more than $ 30 million, as his office provides mental health services, enhances safety, and works for historic sculptures and other arts Works to repair. Riot damaged
“The events of January 6 were tough for the American people, and extremely difficult for all of us on campus to witness,” J. Brett Blanton, the Capitol’s architect, testified as he and other top officials made their first comprehensive appearance Pressure on congressional staff from damage and attack in the House of Fine Arts collection.
Speaking to the House Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers are considering an emergency bill to cover the costs of the most violent attack on the Capitol in over two centuries, Mr. Blanton described how his staff gave congressional aide shelters ” The crowd began crashing through windows and prying. Open the door. “
As the staff members stepped in, the dilapidation they were gathering on the inaugural stage had become useless: the sound system and photo equipment were completely damaged or stolen, the late 19th century eminent landscape architect Two lanterns, designed and built by Frederick Law Olmsted, burst from the ground, and are all tracked in blue-stone balustrades and hallways. Inside, former House speakers and a Chippewa politician, a statue of Thomas Jefferson and portraits of James Madison and John Quincy Adams were coated in other chemicals, including fire extinguishers and yellow paint, which can stain.
Outside of physical damage, officials have significantly increased the demand for mental health counseling, with an office that typically handles about 3,000 calls per year to more than 1,150 conversations with staff, managers and members of Congress in six weeks is.
House Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Sajpind told the panel, “While the physical damage and damage to our magnificent Capitol Building can be detected and repaired. It is more difficult to notice and treat the emotional aspects of the events of January 6″ is.”
Mr Blanton said the committee had already approved a $ 30 million transfer by March 31 to support temporary fencing around the Capitol complex and support National Guard troops stationed in the building. But he said more money would be needed to address the intensive security and support for the building and its occupants.
House curator Farrar Elliott requested $ 25,000 for emergency repairs and preservation of items in the House collection. While his office typically budgets for “a single unforeseen conservation event” per year, the damage from January 6 was “significant”, usually as a result of an accident, she said.
The lawmakers also pressed Mr. Blanton about his role on the Capitol Police Board, whose three other members resigned under all the pressure following the riots on January 6, and his discussion about complex law enforcement leaders before the attack Knowledge. Questions at times threatened to eclipse the purpose of the hearing, to discuss mental health and the physical toll on the Capitol.
Mr. Blanton said he met with the board 12 times in his first year in the role. He said he was not involved in discussions between three other members of the board at the time, with former Chief of the Police Police Steven A. Sundar and two former Sergeant-at-Arms of Congress calling on the National Guard to help with the violence Were. people. ६.
“As I have previously shared, then the leading Sund did not reach the architect of the Capitol with an emergency declaration or request for interest, seeking National Guard support before the breech,” Mr. Blanton said.
Lawmakers also pressed for information about fencing, lined with razor wire, surrounded the Capitol complex, and the protection of artifacts from the attack, including shattered window panes, which have already been carefully removed. Following the security briefing, several senators called for fencing and were eventually taken.
Ms. Elliott said in response to a question by Representative Katherine Clarke, a Democrat representative from Massachusetts, “Our first duty to those people is to ensure that the items already in the House’s collection are taken care of, the best we can do. Huh.” After that, he said that his staff “takes stock of the artifacts that tell the story of people’s home through today.”
While some of the prized pieces in the House Collection were saved by curatorial workers – including a silver inkstand in the early 1800s, the oldest object in the House – a handful of statues, busts, and paintings were damaged. Most of the items are in the hallway near the house chamber, and were largely damaged by chemical sprays.
It is more difficult to ascertain that Capitol Hill has a psychological burden on hundreds of staff members, many of whom crowd through the doors and windows and wreck the building.
“At this rate, consulting and consulting services will increase 65 percent by 2020 and 200 percent more than in recent years,” Ms Sipinder told MPs. “While the team’s initial response to the insured is commendable, it soon became clear that Kesoed would need other resources.”
The testimony of the arrival of several employees on Capitol Hill is emphasizing the improvement of Capitol safety and the treatment of employees.
More than 400 congressional staffers held a call last week with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and majority leader, and Capitol security officials, organized by Congressional Black Associates President Herline Matthews.
Employees unions are the closest organizations Hill staff members have to a union, and 10 of them joined forces on Friday to “try to ensure strong security measures for congressional employees – especially employees of color,” “Ms. Matthews said.
Representative Adriano Espilat, a Democrat from New York, reported at the hearing Wednesday that the Capitol custodial staff were largely “men of color” who “targeted this racist, large crowd.”
After the riots, he said, he saw the Custodian bleeding.
“I can just imagine what they felt,” Mr. Asplett said. “I want to know what is being done for these people.”
Since the siege, Congress allies have reported trouble sleeping and feeling anxiety, nervousness and anger. MPs have requested additional resources to support the mental health needs of employees in response to increasing demand.
During the call on Friday, congressional aides discussed making changes to Capitol security, such as involving a staff member and mental health services to replace the Capitol Police Board.
The congressional aide said they wanted leaders to reduce weight for mental health resources and that members should approve emergency funding to support the mental and physical health of their staff, with results on 6 January Includes overpayments and counseling.
“For many of us, our faith was violated that day,” Ms Matthews said. “It is important that leadership works to reassure the Congress community which is a robust system.”
