WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and in\u2026<\/b>
\nBy MARY CLARE JALONICK WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan.6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war. The $2.1 billion bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation early Thursday afternoon,98-0, and the House passed it immediately afterward,416-11. Senators struck a bipartisan agreement on the legislation this week, two months after the House had passed a bill that would have provided around twice as much for Capitol security. But House leaders said they would back the Senate version anyway, arguing the money is urgently needed for the Capitol Police and for the translators and others who worked closely with U.S. government troops and civilians in Afghanistan. The bill loosens some requirements for the visas, which lawmakers say are especially pressing as the U.S. military withdrawal enters its final weeks and Afghan allies face possible retaliation from the Taliban. The money for the Capitol \u2014 including for police salaries, the National Guard and to better secure windows and doors around the building \u2014 comes more than six months after the insurrection by former President Donald Trump\u2019s supporters. The broad support in both chambers is a rare note of agreement between the two parties in response to the attack, as many Republicans still loyal to Trump have avoided the subject. The former president\u2019s loyalists brutally beat police and hundreds of them broke into the building, interrupting the certification of Biden\u2019s election win. Democrats have said that if Congress didn\u2019t pass the bill, money would start running out for officers\u2019 salaries by August and that the National Guard might have to cancel some training programs. \u201cWe can\u2019t let that happen,\u201d Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. He said the agreement \u201cshouldn\u2019t have taken this long\u201d but that passing the legislation is living up to Congress\u2019 responsibility to keep the Capitol safe \u201cand to make sure that the people who risk their lives for us and protect us get the help they need.\u201d The bill\u2019s passage comes after four police officers who fought off the rioters in the Jan.6 attack testified in an emotional House hearing on Tuesday and detailed the \u201cmedieval\u201d battle in which they were beaten and verbally assaulted. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested on Wednesday that the hearing had perhaps \u201cjarred the Senate to move in a bipartisan way to pass this legislation.\u201d The more generous bill narrowly passed the House in May, but no Republicans supported it and some liberal Democrats voted against it as well. On Thursday, only 11 Republicans and Democrats opposed it. In the Senate, Republicans rejected an earlier $3.7 billion proposal by Democrats before they negotiated the final version. Pelosi said on Wednesday that the legislation was months overdue. \u201cIt\u2019s not what we sent, it\u2019s certainly not what we need, but it\u2019s a good step forward,\u201d she said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re finished, but it does mean that we can\u2019t wait another day until we strengthen the Capital Police force, strengthen the Capitol.\u201d The legislation would boost personal protection for lawmakers who have seen increasing death threats since the insurrection, install new security cameras around the complex and replace riot equipment the police lost in the fighting that day. It would fund new intelligence gathering and boost wellness and trauma support for the Capitol Police, as many troops are still suffering in the wake of the attack. And it would reimburse the National Guard $521 million for the thousands of troops that protected the Capitol for more than four months after the siege. Unlike previous proposals, the bill would not provide money for temporary fencing in case of another attack or create a new quick reaction force within the police or military that could respond to events at the Capitol. Police were overrun on Jan.6 as the National Guard took hours to arrive. The White House issued a statement of support for the legislation, saying the Biden administration backs the Capitol security improvements and \u201cremains committed to supporting the Afghan people, including by fulfilling our commitment to Afghan nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. Government.\u201d For the allies in Afghanistan, the bill would allow 8,000 additional visas and provide $500 million for their emergency transportation, housing and other essential services. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the appropriations panel who negotiated the legislation with the Democrats, said it would be \u201cshameful\u201d not to help the Afghan allies and that they could be killed by the Taliban as the U.S. withdraws. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said senators \u201cintend to keep our nation\u2019s promises to brave Afghans who have taken great risks to help America and our partners fight the terrorists.\u201d The House overwhelmingly passed separate legislation last week to provide the visas,407-16. The Pentagon says the troop withdrawal is more than 95% complete and is to be finished by Aug.31. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.<\/p>\n