Senate Democrats request more resources for Capitol workers after Jan. 6 attack

Thirty Senate Democrats are requesting that top U.S. Capitol officials expand mental health resources in the wake of the deadly attack on Jan. 6, when a violent mob breached the building. 

Democrats in a Tuesday letter spearheaded by Sens. Michael Bennet (Colo.), Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) asked Architect of the Capitol James Brett Blanton, acting Senate Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Hemingway, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman to expand emotional and behavioral services to everyone who works inside the complex. 

“[We] strongly urge you to provide additional support and resources to the Senate Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the House of Representatives Office of Employee Assistance (OEA), and other efforts to help the broader Capitol community cope with the attack,” the senators wrote.

“We additionally express our concerns regarding the procedures and policies in place to protect and support Members of Congress, their staff, and other essential workers, like contract staff, members of the press corps, and the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) in the United States Capitol both during and after the traumatic event,” they added.

Their letter comes roughly five weeks after the attack on the Capitol, where rioters stormed the building as then-Vice President Pence and members of Congress were counting the Electoral College vote. 

The breach led to both chambers being evacuated. Congressional staffers barricaded themselves in offices and, in at least one instance, reporters as they were being taken to a secure location were alerting Capitol food service workers to the news that rioters had entered the building. 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) previously acknowledged the mental and emotional harm inflicted by the attack on those who work in the Capitol. 

“I’m more concerned about the damage that they did to our staff, to our colleagues in the Congress, to the custodial staff,” she told reporters. “That is damage. That is damage that must be addressed.”

The senators in their letter also note that immediately after rioters were removed from the building, janitorial staff went to work trying to clean up the “disturbing aftermath” of the attack. 

“As we work toward accountability and governing after the attack, Congress must ensure that support services, including emotional and behavioral health services, and resources are available to and appropriate for all who work in the Capitol to help promote healing,” the senators wrote. 

Senators added that while work had been done to scale up services available to lawmakers, their staffs and members of the Capitol Police, “we should expand these services to include all Capitol personnel, including contract workers and their families, who may be affected and need help.” 

“Many of the Capitol’s essential workers and support staff are contract employees and many do not currently have access to support services through EAP,” they added.

The senators are calling “better information and protection” for all Capitol workers in the event of future emergencies, including more planning ahead of time. 

They are also requesting that the Capitol officials ensure there’s enough staff to respond to current mental health needs, including covering non-congressional employees like members of the press and food service contract workers, and offer “enhanced” services for members of the Capitol Police to cope with trauma. 

“Capitol workers and journalists investigate and ensure the health of the U.S. Capitol, the very heart of our democracy. Everyone must feel safe, supported and protected while fulfilling their duty within the halls of the United States Congress,” the senators wrote.