Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Betty McCollum (D-MN), who sit on the House Appropriations Committee, asked Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy in a letter issued Thursday for the Pentagon to provide cots for National Guard members guarding the Capitol building.
The two lawmakers issued the request a day after troops were spotted in the hallways asleep after spending the night on the premises ahead of the House’s vote to impeach President Trump for “inciting the insurrection” at the Capitol last week.
In their letter to McCarthy, DeLauro and McCollum said that while they’re “grateful” that National Guard troops provided protection during the Capitol riots, they were “disappointed” to see photos of the troops getting some shut eye on the floors of the Capitol building’s hallways in anticipation of the House voting to impeach Trump.
“After the horrific events of January 6th, the Congress is grateful to have National Guard troops assisting in the protection of the Capitol,” DeLauro and McCollum wrote. “We were disappointed though to see in a variety of images in the media, that Guard personnel are having to take breaks or rest on the floors of the Capitol.”
DeLauro and McCollum added that after the House Appropriation Committee spoke with Vice Chief of Staff, General Martin, on a call, they “understand that not all Guard personnel currently have secured lodging” and that the Army is considering using the convention center for lodging.
“With the uncertainty for needed rest and recoup time in flux, and to ensure that the Guard members are fully able to execute their protection mission, we urge you to make available cots or other equipment to more easily facilitate their ability to rest while they are on Capitol grounds,” DeLauro and McCollum wrote.
