Title 2 › Chapter 29— CAPITOL POLICE › Subchapter II— POWERS AND DUTIES › § 1970
Executive departments and agencies may help the United States Capitol Police by giving people, equipment, or facilities. Help can be temporary and paid back, or permanent if the Capitol Police Board sends a written advance request. The Department of Defense and the Coast Guard may give temporary help without being paid back when the help is directly for protection under sections 1922, 1961, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title and sections 5101 to 5107 and 5109 of title 40. Before asking for help, the Capitol Police Board must talk with appropriate Senate and House leaders, unless there is an emergency. Only federal officers or employees whom the Chairman of the Capitol Police Board authorizes may buy, lease, or order services or equipment for the Capitol Police. Money to pay for help must come from funds specifically given to the Capitol Police Board or the United States Capitol Police, except when the Defense Department or Coast Guard use their own funds for the protection work described above, or when agencies spend money that the Capitol Police will repay. Help must follow the Capitol Police’s authority under sections 1961 and 1966. A written request for help must come from the Capitol Police Board, or in an emergency from the Senate or House Sergeants at Arms (or the Senate Doorkeeper) for their chambers, or from the Chief of the Capitol Police if the Chief finds help is needed to prevent a significant disruption of government function and public order in the Capitol Buildings and Grounds (see section 1961). The Capitol Police Board may cancel a Chief’s emergency request after consulting appropriate congressional leaders. Heads of departments or agencies that give help must report, within 90 days after the fiscal year ends, the detailed costs to the Chairman of the Capitol Police Board. The Chairman will then send a summary of those reports to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. This rule took effect January 10, 2002, and applies to each fiscal year after that date.
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Citation
2 U.S.C. § 1970
Title 2 — The Congress
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60