House members instructed to appoint district liaison to law enforcement

House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood has instructed House members to appoint a district liaison to law enforcement as a security step in the wake of the assassination attempt against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

Livingood “strongly encouraged” members to select a staffer in the next few days to monitor district events, townhall meetings, rallies and constituent meetings for suspicious people or packages, according to a recording of a bipartisan conference call held with members, staff and spouses Sunday.

{mosads}If the liaison detects anything potentially threatening, the staffer should immediately contact local law enforcement and follow up with the U.S. Capitol Police’s threat assessment office.

“I feel this is an important and proactive step all members can take,” Livingood said on the call.

Livingood also called on members to provide updated emergency contact information in an apparent attempt to explain and address a communication breakdown between some members and his office Saturday evening. Several members on both sides of the aisle complained to their leaders that they did not receive an e-mail update, from Livingood’s office, about Giffords’s status and those of her staff and the other victims of the attack. During the conference call, Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) mentioned concern from members about not receiving the e-mail.

“That was due to inaccurate and lack of response [on the part of members to the request for emergency contact information],” Livingood explained. “We will be working a little bit harder on that…so I think by doing all of these things we are going to vastly improve our communications.”

Earlier in the conference call, Livingood called it “essential” that his office have members’ emergency contact information.

“While in the district, it is important that I remind members and staff to be continuously aware of your surroundings and to immediately report any unusual circumstances that appear suspicious to your local law enforcement agency and then to the Capitol Police threat assessments section,” he continued.

Lawmakers are to receive a bipartisan security briefing from Capitol Police on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, Capitol Police Chief Philip Morse said he had posted “The Capitol Police’s Guide to Security Awareness,” on the sergeant at arms website. He said it provides very specific information on how to secure district offices, local residences and hotels, as well as how to best protect your family and travel safely in vehicles.

“This tool can provide you immediate direction on how you can protect yourself and your families. …we’ll be available to you to assist you in doing so,” he continued.

Despite these assurances, at the end of the phone call, Democratic Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said the Department of Homeland Security should be involved in clarifying airport security procedures to members. He later said during TV appearances the Transportation Security Agency should allow members to bypass certain security measures at airports.

There has been a “significant amount of discussion” about the lack of security protocol for members at airports,” he said.