Representative Moskowitz urges $250,000 per member for personal security; proposal draws mixed reactions in Rules hearing
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Summary
Rep. Jared Moskowitz proposed an amendment allocating $250,000 per senator and House member from Members' Representational Allowances (MRA) for member security; committee discussion stressed urgent threats but members questioned cost, structure and pay‑for details.
Representative Jared Moskowitz summarized an amendment he said would add $250,000 to each House member's and senator's Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) dedicated to security. He framed the proposal as a response to recent violent incidents and credible threats against members, recounting a local prosecution of an individual who had prepared a target list and weapons.
Moskowitz said the ceiling for the proposal would be roughly $135.25 million if every member used the full allocation, and described acceptable uses as security personnel, security products or approved staff dedicated to security, subject to Capitol Police and House Administration approval. He told the Rules Committee he would support the rule and the CR if the amendment were made in order.
Members expressed bipartisan concern about threats and acknowledged the need for improved member security, but several questioned whether the Rules Committee and the CR were the right venue to allocate MRAs and whether the amendment was paid for. Representative Pete Norman and others said the dollar amount was large and raised broader fiscal concerns; other members emphasized that security needs vary by district and that an MRA appropriation might not fit every case. Multiple members described existing but limited pilot funding in the CR for Capitol Police security efforts and noted that coordination with House Administration and local law enforcement is ongoing.
No recorded committee vote on Moskowitz's amendment took place during the Rules hearing. Members urged continued work with the Capitol Police, House Administration, and appropriators to produce durable, targeted protections for members and staff.
Ending
The amendment drew urgent attention to member safety but was not adopted in committee; sponsors said they would continue negotiations with oversight and appropriations committees to translate security needs into usable, governed resources.
