Awarding Three Congressional Medals to United States Capitol Police and Those Who Protected the U.S. Capitol on January 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1085, awarding three Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement agencies and officers who protected the Capitol during the armed assault on January 6, 2021.

The bravery displayed by the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and other responding agencies helped save countless lives that day. Two heroes who were there that day were my constituents, and ultimately they lost their lives as a result of the attack.

United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died from the physical injuries he sustained while engaging with the attackers on January 6. His face was drenched at close range by bear spray.

Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, who responded to the attack at the Capitol from Georgetown, who was dragged into the mob and beaten, died by suicide just a few days later. His death reminds us that not all wounds sustained that day were visible. The invisible damage to those who engaged with the insurrectionists is very real and may last a lifetime.

I mourn both of their losses deeply. We must ensure that we honor the sacrifices they and others made.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to award the gold medals to the U.S. Capitol and Metropolitan Police Departments and to honor the courage shown by those who protected us on January 6.

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