Committee on House Administration Full Committee Markup

Title

Markup on legislation raising Capitol Police mandatory retirement waiver age

Purpose

The Committee on House Administration held a markup to consider H.R. 8364, legislation authorizing the Capitol Police Board to grant retirement waivers to sworn officers up to age 65, an increase from the current age-60 waiver limit. The chairman and ranking member presented the bill as a nonpartisan response to staffing shortages driven by a wave of officers hired after 9/11 now reaching retirement age. The committee debated and voted on the bill during the session. Begins at▶ 0:02:40

Who spoke

• Chairman▶ 0:02:40: Explained officers currently face mandatory retirement at 57 absent a waiver extending them to 60, and the bill would let the Capitol Police Board grant waivers up to age 65▶ 0:02:40; noted nearly 60 sworn officers currently work under waivers, equivalent to more than two recruitment classes, who would otherwise be forced out in coming years▶ 0:03:10; cited 2004 and 2010 precedent when Congress temporarily raised the FBI's mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65▶ 0:03:10; thanked Ranking Member Morelli for collaborating on the bill▶ 0:04:05.

• Ranking Member Morelli▶ 0:04:05: Voiced support for the bill, summarizing that it lets the Capitol Police Board grant retirement exemptions up to 65 rather than 60▶ 0:04:27; described USCP officers' duties including threat investigations, protective details, and securing events like the State of the Union▶ 0:04:51; noted the department now has more than 2,300 sworn officers, progress since the post-January 6th staffing crisis, and commended Chief Sullivan and former Chief Manger▶ 0:05:18; clarified the bill does not change the base mandatory retirement age of 57 and preserves the Board's discretion to ensure fitness for duty▶ 0:05:48.

• Clerk▶ 0:06:29: Reported the bill (H.R. 8364) for first reading and conducted the roll call vote, naming members Lee, Loudermilk, Griffith, Murphy, Bice, Kerry, Miller, Morelli, Sewell, Torres, and Johnson, and reported the final tally of eight ayes and zero noes▶ 0:07:25.

• Committee member (requesting recorded vote)▶ 0:06:57: Requested a recorded vote after the initial voice vote on H.R. 8364▶ 0:06:57.

Key moments

• The bill would let the Capitol Police Board raise the waiver retirement age for sworn officers from 60 to 65, without changing the base mandatory retirement age of 57▶ 0:02:40▶ 0:05:48.

• Nearly 60 sworn officers currently work under existing waivers and would be forced to retire in the next few years absent this change — equivalent to more than two recruitment classes▶ 0:03:10.

• The chairman cited 2004 and 2010 precedent in which Congress temporarily raised the FBI's mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 to address staffing shortages▶ 0:03:10.

• Morelli noted the department now has more than 2,300 sworn officers, calling it meaningful progress from the staffing crisis following the January 6th riots, while stressing more work remains▶ 0:05:18.

• A member requested a recorded vote after the initial voice vote passed on the ayes▶ 0:06:57.

• The roll call concluded with eight ayes and zero noes; H.R. 8364 was ordered favorably reported to the House▶ 0:07:25.

• Without objection, a motion to reconsider was laid on the table and the markup concluded▶ 0:07:54.