Rep. Luria Secures $2.1 Billion For Capitol Police, National Guard, and Afghan SIVs

Press Release

Congresswoman Elaine Luria today supported $2.1 billion in funding for U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard, and the Department of Defense. The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 replenishes salaries for the Capitol Police in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. It also reimburses the National Guard for their role in the weeks after the attack and supports the resettling of U.S. Afghan partners.

"After the deadly attack on the Capitol, it is imperative that we provide for our police officers who bravely held the line defending our democracy," said Congresswoman Elaine Luria. "The physical and mental toll our officers bore should not be exacerbated by financial uncertainty. This funding secures the resources our brave men and women in uniform need to continue to serve while protecting the Capitol against future attacks."

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act allocates over $400 million to support the Capitol Police and secure the Capitol, with $70.7 million for police salaries and overtime costs incurred during the attack on January 6, $300 million to upgrade windows and doors in the Capitol Complex and install security cameras, and $35.4 million for mutual aid reimbursements and training between Capitol Police and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.

The legislation fully funds the cost of the National Guard's deployment to Capitol Hill following January 6. This money is needed to prevent the cancellation of summer drills for members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

The package also contains funding to ensure that our nation can honor its commitment to Afghan citizens who assisted our Armed Forces when they conducted operations. It contains $600 million for refugee assistance and efforts to improve the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program, including temporary housing, emergency transport, and aid for Afghan refugees in neighboring countries. It would also strengthen the SIV program by increasing the number of authorized visas by 8,000 and removing application requirements that slow down the process without impacting national security.

"We owe it to the brave men and women of Afghanistan who risked their lives to do everything we can to ensure their safety," Congresswoman Luria said. "As the nation winds down the longest military conflict in our history, we cannot forget the sacrifices our allies made

In May, Congresswoman Luria voted for a similar $1.9 billion package that stalled in the U.S. Senate before passing 98-0 in its current form. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 413-11.

Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the committee's Vice Chair, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Source