Senate and House pass $2.1B bill for Capitol security and to assist Afghans who helped US in war

WASHINGTON – Both the Senate and House passed a $2.1 billion bipartisan bill Thursday that would provide funding to bolster security on Capitol Hill and pay back authorities who fended off rioters there Jan. 6.

The legislation passed the Senate 98-0 earlier Thursday, and then 416-11 in the House just a few hours after.

“We have to make a strong statement of support for those officers who defended the building and all that it stands for on that terrible day,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said on the Senate floor before the upper chamber's vote.

Leahy and the committee's top Republican, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, led negotiations on the bill and came to an agreement Tuesday after months of back-and-forth.

After it passed the Senate, a House Democratic leadership aide told USA TODAY it was their goal to pass it by Thursday night.

Leahy and Shelby wanted the legislation passed quickly, warning of upcoming salary depletion among the Capitol Police and the need to "prevent cancellation of summer drills for members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard," according to the agreement.

Under the agreement, more than $400 million will go to the United States Capitol Police, of which nearly $71 million is in response to the Jan. 6 attack and will support paying overtime, hiring more officers, offering hazard pay and giving out retention bonuses.

More: 'This is how I'm going to die': At Jan. 6 hearing, officers tell of harrowing attacks

The bill will also provide $1 billion to supporting the relocation of Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war, such as interpreters and translators. In June, the Biden administration agreed to relocate them while their visa applications are vetted.

Biden announced July 8 that the country's military mission in Afghanistan will end Aug. 31.

Now that it has passed through both chambers of Congress, it heads to Biden's desk for a signature.

USA TODAY has asked the White House when Biden would possibly sign it into law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate and House pass $2.1B bill for Capitol security