Letter to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, the Hon. Zoe Lofgren, U.S Committee on House Administration Chairperson, & the Hon. James McGovern, U.S House Committee on Rules Chairperson - U.S. Representatives Huffman and Rice Lead Letter Requesting Members of Congress Be Permanently Required to Pass Through Magnetometers Before Entering the House Floor

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Chair Lofgren, and Chair McGovern,
Thank you for your leadership after last week's unprecedented assault on the United States
Capitol and all of the Members of Congress, law enforcement and staff that run the building on a
daily basis. This attack was not only an assault on the Congress but on democracy itself. We are
grateful for the law enforcement officers who worked bravely to secure us, our staffs, and all
workers in the Capitol from violent insurrectionists and we join you in grieving for the six
individuals who lost their lives as a result of the violence on that day.
We write today out of grave concern for all who work in the Capitol each day and for those who
had to return to work the day after this tragedy. In light of the heightened threats since last
week's terrorist attack and the forthcoming protests planned for the days leading up to, and
including, the Presidential Inauguration, we ask that you make permanent the requirement that
all Members, guests, and spouses pass through magnetometers before entering the House floor.
Given reports that Members of Congress were allegedly armed on the House floor on the day of
the insurrection, we are pleased that the Capitol Police Board made the decision to require
Members to undergo security screening before entering the House floor. We are concerned that
more Members will take the violence on Wednesday as an invitation to bring weapons to the
floor again, which is why we ask that you make this change permanent and that you provide
Capitol Police with the resources they need to ensure its enforcement. The presence of firearms,
concealed or not, can increase tragic violence and poses a great risk to all who work on the floor,
including Members, floor staff, and staff who work for the Clerk of the House and the
Parliamentarians.
Additionally, we reiterate Representative Jared Huffman's request to ban Members from
carrying firearms on Capitol grounds. If Members do not go through metal detectors, Capitol
Police cannot monitor which Members are carrying or storing firearms and this poses a serious
risk to all Members, staff, and the public at large. We thank you in advance for your
consideration of this request and we look forward to working together to secure the Capitol and
the surrounding community.

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