Pelosi Floor Speech in Support of Legislation to Award the Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. Capitol Police and Other January 6th Defenders of Democracy

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 1085, legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the United States Capitol Police and others who protected the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection on January 6, 2021. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the recognition. And I thank the gentlelady from California for her leadership in bringing this legislation to the Floor, where we can recognize the patriotism and heroism of members of the Capitol Police force.

We all know – and I thank you, Madam Chair, for facilitating this honor. This usually takes a much longer period of time, but because of the gentlelady from California, Madam Chair of the Financial Services Committee, this is on a faster track – and it needs to be.

Because as you know, Mr. Speaker, January 6th was one of the darkest and deadliest days in American history. The waging of a violent insurrection against the United States Capitol and against our very democracy on that day was a profound horror that nearly defies comprehension. That day, the country witnessed the gleeful desecration of our Temple of Democracy. We observed Members of Congress flee for their lives, staff and support workers barricaded behind doors and hidden under furniture. And we saw how over 140 members of law enforcement were physically harmed while defending our democracy – how several lost their lives.

January 6th was a day of horror and heartbreak, but because of these courageous men and women, it was also a moment of extraordinary heroism. That day the United States Capitol Police force put themselves between us and the violence. They risked their safety and their lives for others with the utmost selflessness, and they did so because they were patriots – the type of Americans who heard the call to serve and answered it – putting country above self.

Heroes like Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, described by his brother as someone who spent his life trying to help other people. Our sympathies go out to his family. Heroes like Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood, honored as an example of selfless service and beloved by Senators for being one of the kindest and most thoughtful people they had ever met – our sympathies, as well. Heroes like Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, a twelve-year veteran of the force, known by all as the type of officer who would never hesitate to help those in need – and he made that sacrifice. Heroes like Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges – [and Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone] whom I had the privilege of meeting and thanking – beaten and crushed nearly to death, who said after protecting our democracy on January 6th, ‘if it wasn't my job, I would have done it for free.' And heroes like Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. We all saw his heroism, as he drew a mob away from Senators, saving lives, again, in an act of profound heroism.

May the courage of these heroes always remain an inspiration to us and may we always remember the valor of the fallen, which made them martyrs for our democracy.

I feel very honored to be sponsoring this legislation. The Speaker rarely sponsors legislation – certainly cosponsors hardly ever. Today, united in grief and gratitude, the House is honoring these heroes, as we pass legislation to bestow upon them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor this Congress can give. The service of our men and women in uniform from the Capitol Police force and other services that day brings honor to our democracy, and their accepting this medal will bring luster to this award.

Over 300 Members of Congress have already cosponsored this legislation in bipartisan fashion – Mr. McCarthy, as well, and Mr. Scalise, the Republican Leadership. And that is a tribute to the great respect that we all have for the Capitol Police force. We also saw that respect reflected in the presence of so many distinguished leaders who came to the Capitol when Officer Brian Sicknick was honored with a lying in ceremony in the Rotunda. Among those leaders was the President of the United States, Joe Biden and Mrs. Biden, as well – Dr. Biden.

Let me end by returning to January 6th. That was the day, also was the Feast of the Epiphany – January 6th, a holy day of revelation in the Church. Epiphany, revelation. It remains my hope that that day of violence will provide a revelation of healing for our nation. In the spirit of healing, that evening, as the House returned to the Chamber to complete our duty to the Constitution and to the American people to validate the election, I invoked the Song of St. Francis – the patron saint of the city I'm proud to represent, San Francisco. The Song of St. Francis is the anthem of our city: ‘Lord make a channel of thy peace. Where there is darkness, let me bring light. Where there's hatred, let me bring love. Where there's despair, let me bring hope.' We're blessed by our law enforcement officers that day, when they brought light, hope, love and peace to our grieving nation.

The Congress promises the families that we will always remember – as we have Gibson and Chestnut. Every year we honor them for the sacrifice they made to protect this Capitol and our democracy, as we always remember and honor their service. With this legislation, we'll ensure that their heroism will forever be etched in the history of our country.

With that I urge a huge bipartisan vote on this legislation. I thank the distinguished Chairwoman for enabling us to bring this to the Floor, affording us the honor to associate ourselves with the heroism of the U.S. Capitol Police. And Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.