To award three congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Waters for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman and the ranking member for their leadership.

I ask that we think carefully as this legislation is debated and really reflect on January 6, where each of us probably has a personal experience that we can offer to be able to add to the sacrifice of that day, the moment in history and imaging that we never expected an insurrectionist mob to rise to attack the citadel of democracy.

We were here quietly doing the people's business, the constitutional responsibility of affirming the President and Vice President of the United States. We were doing what the American people asked us to do. We were representing the Capitol Police and law enforcement throughout America. Nurses, doctors, students, teachers, the impoverished, all were with hope looking toward the Biden-Harris administration.

We knew that there were those who did not vote for them, but we also knew the sacredness of our Constitution, and so did the Capitol Police and other law enforcement.

For as we were down in this very august place where noises could not be heard quickly, our Capitol Police were already facing a torrent of outrageous behavior, violence, guns, smears, flags representing the worst of our Nation.

So I am very proud to rise today and thank Speaker Pelosi for the vision

and leadership and to remember to be reminded of the names Brian Sicknick, Howard Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith, and those who sustained injuries, those who were heroic; Officer Eugene Goodman exemplified the patriotism, commitment, and unselfishness in saving the lives of others; and the Metropolitan police, along with many other law enforcement.

I rise to support this gold medal. I rise so that we never have this happen again. And I rise to say the simple words of ``thank you.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3325, legislation awarding four Congressional Gold Medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who, on January 6, 2021, displayed selfless and heroic service in defense of American democracy in protecting the U.S. Capitol from the violent assault of domestic terrorists.

The United States Capitol Police dates back to 1800 when the Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., and a lone watchman was hired to protect the Capitol Building.

In 1827, President John Quincy Adams asked that a regular Capitol Police force be established, and on May 2, 1828, Congress passed an Act that expanded the police regulations of the City of Washington to include the Capitol and Capitol Square.

The United States Capitol Police expanded its force after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and again following the historic merger with the Library of Congress Police in 2009.

In addition to the more than 2,000 sworn members of the force, the United States Capitol Police Department has over 350 civilian personnel who provide operational and administrative support, and its diverse workforce is comprised of employees from nearly all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

The United States Capitol Police embodies the best in American policing and serves as a model in security, urban crime prevention, dignitary protection, specialty response capabilities, and homeland security.

As ambassadors of the Congress, officers of the United States Capitol Police Department are often the first face that visitors and employees encounter, leaving a lasting impression that is reflective of the Legislative Branch and its role in America's democracy.

Officers of the United States Capitol Police Department each day proudly protect the legislative process, the symbol of the Nation's democracy, the people who carry out the process, and the millions of visitors who travel here to see democracy in action.

No finer example of the selfless devotion to duty, love of country, and fidelity to their oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the officers of the United States Capitol Police Department's than their valiant, heroic, and courageous response to the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol Building by thousands of domestic terrorists, insurrectionists, and rioters sent there by the President of the United States to ``fight like hell'' to disrupt and derail the constitutionally required Joint Meeting of Congress to open, count, and publicly confirm the vote tally of the presidential electors and announce the persons who had been elected President and Vice- President of the United States.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department have a distinguished record of protecting all groups, regardless of their beliefs, who come to the Nation's capital to exercise their First Amendment rights peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

At the direction of Mayor Bowser, and in advance of the scheduled demonstrations, mutual aid was requested by the Metropolitan Police Department from several area police departments to be on standby in the District, including neighboring law enforcement departments, the Metropolitan Transit Police and non-law enforcement agencies such as the District's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

The sustained assault on the Capitol precipitated an equally unprecedented response, necessitating the urgent request of the United States Capitol Police for the Metropolitan Police Department to come defend the Capitol to which the Metropolitan Police Department responded immediately with several Civil Disturbance Unit Platoons and proceeded to deploy to the west front of the Capitol and arrived within minutes.

The violent mob overran protective measures at the Capitol, and by 1:50 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department had declared the assembly to be a riot and immediately began working to achieve the objectives of stopping domestic terrorists from entering the Capitol building and removing those that were already inside, secure a perimeter so that the Capitol could be cleared for lawmakers to resume the Joint Meeting of Congress to demonstrate to the Nation and the world the robustness and vitality of America's democracy, and making arrests of anyone violating the law.

During the height of the siege of the Capitol, approximately 850 Metropolitan Police Department members were at the Capitol, with another 250 had been in the area to directly support the response and aftermath.

Madam Speaker, people around the country and the world were shocked and moved by the video of a Metropolitan Police Department Officer being beaten by a crowd of insurgents, including one wielding an American flag, and of another in agony as he was crushed between a door and a riot shield but also awed by their bravery in the face of this unprovoked and vicious attack, bravery that was matched that day by countless other unheralded Metropolitan Police Department officers.

The January 6, 2021 siege of the Capitol assault resulted in one of the worst days of injuries for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Madam Speaker, officers of the United States Capitol Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and other uniformed law enforcement officers stood their ground in defense of American democracy while being attacked by the angry mob of domestic terrorists with metal pipes, discharged chemical irritants, and other weapons.

At least 138 officers, 73 from the United States Capitol Police Department and 65 from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, sustained injuries during the attack on the Capitol Building, several of which required hospitalization.

The injuries sustained ranged from bruises and lacerations to more serious damage such as concussions, rib fractures, burns, and even a mild heart attack.

One United States Capitol Police Department officer died from injuries sustained while physically engaging with protesters and two officers involved in the response have died by suicide.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of officers whom law enforcement officials estimate will suffer in years to come with post-traumatic stress disorder and the dozens who contracted the coronavirus from the unmasked domestic terrorists and rioters who stormed the Capitol.

At least 38 Capitol Police officers have tested positive or were exposed to the coronavirus as well as nearly 200 National Guard personnel who were deployed to protect the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, the seven hours between the urgent call for help from the Capitol Police to Metropolitan Police Department and the resumption of work by both houses of Congress will be indelibly etched in the memories of every law enforcement officer who was on the scene, as it is in the minds of the Senators, Representatives, congressional and support staff, and members of the media corps who were forced to seek safety behind locked doors.

Despite being overwhelmed and outnumbered, the indomitable forces of American democracy, symbolized by the resolve of the officers of the United States Capitol Police Department, prevailed and the seditious attack was quelled, the Capitol Building preserved, and the lives of United States Senators and Representatives protected, as well as those of congressional and support staff, and order was restored so that the Joint Meeting of Congress was resumed and completed its constitutionally required duty of counting and announcing the votes of the presidential electors, an essential step in the peaceful transfer of power that has been a hallmark of American democracy and the example to the world for more than two centuries.

As the legislation recites, ``the courage of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman,'' and ``the sacrifice of heroes including Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith, and those who sustained injuries, exemplify the patriotism'' and devotion to duty of Capitol Police officers, and those of other law enforcement agencies, who risk their lives in service of our country.

Madam Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medals authorized to be minted by this legislation and to be displayed at the United States Capitol Police headquarters, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution, and by the Architect of the Capitol at the United States Capitol conveys the thanks and appreciation of a grateful nation for the selfless and heroic service exhibited by these sentinels of the republic in defense of American democracy in responding to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by domestic terrorists.

This tribute is, as President Lincoln noted at Gettysburg, ``altogether fitting and proper'' for heroes of the republic.

The action we are taking today should encourage all educational and media institutions throughout the United States to teach and celebrate the story of the heroism of the officers

of the United States Capitol Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and all other law enforcement officers who, out of true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, selflessly risked their lives to protect the Capitol Building and its personnel, the Congress, and the spirit and fact of democracy in America.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Americans to read, celebrate, and revere the Constitution of the United States, fidelity to which is the surest best means of forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessing of liberty to them and their posterity.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong. support of H.R. 1085, legislation awarding three congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who on January 6, 2021 displayed selfless and heroic service in defense of American democracy in protecting the U.S. Capitol from the violent assault of domestic terrorists.

The United States Capitol Police dates back to 1800 when the Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. and a lone watchman was hired to protect the Capitol Building.

In 1827, President John Quincy Adams asked that a regular Capitol Police force be established and on May 2, 1828, Congress passed an Act that expanded the police regulations of the City of Washington to include the Capitol and Capitol Square.

The United States Capitol Police expanded its force after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and again following the historic merger with the Library of Congress Police in 2009.

In addition to the more than 2,000 sworn members of the force, the United States Capitol Police Department has over 350 civilian personnel who provide operational and administrative support and its diverse workforce is comprised of employees from nearly all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

The United States Capitol Police embodies the best in American policing and serves as a model in security, urban crime prevention, dignitary protection, specialty response capabilities, and homeland security.

As ambassadors of the Congress, officers of the United States Capitol Police Department are often the first face that visitors and employees encounter, leaving a lasting impression that is reflective of the Legislative Branch and its role in America's democracy.

Officers of the United States Capitol Police Department each day proudly protect the legislative process, the symbol of the nation's democracy, the people who carry out the process, and the millions of visitors who travel here to see democracy in action.

No finer example of the selfless devotion to duty, love of country, and fidelity to their oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the officers of the United States Capitol Police Department's than their valiant, heroic, and courageous response to the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol Building by thousands of domestic terrorists, insurrectionists, and rioters sent there by the President of the United States to ``fight like hell'' to disrupt and derail the constitutionally required Joint Meeting of Congress to open, count, and publicly confirm the vote tally of the presidential electors and announce the persons who had been elected President and Vice- President of the United States.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department have a distinguished record of protecting all groups, regardless of their beliefs, who come to the nation's capital to exercise their First Amendment rights peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

At the direction of Mayor Bowser, and in advance of the scheduled demonstrations, mutual aid was requested by the Metropolitan Police Department from several area police departments to be on standby in the District, including neighboring law enforcement departments, the Metropolitan Transit Police and non-law enforcement agencies such as the District's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

The sustained assault on the Capitol precipitated an equally unprecedented response, necessitating the urgent request of the United States Capitol Police for the Metropolitan Police Department to come defend the Capitol to which the Metropolitan Police Department responded immediately with several Civil Disturbance Unit Platoons and proceeded to deploy to the west front of the Capitol and arrived within minutes.

The violent mob overran protective measures at the Capitol and by 1:50 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department had declared the assembly to be a riot and immediately began working to achieve the objectives of stopping domestic terrorists from entering the Capitol building and removing those that were already inside, secure a perimeter so that the Capitol could be cleared for lawmakers to resume the Joint Meeting of Congress to demonstrate to the nation and the world the robustness and vitality of America's democracy, and making arrests of anyone violating the law.

During the height of the siege of the Capitol, approximately 850 Metropolitan Police Department members were at the Capitol, with another 250 in the area to directly support the response and aftermath.

Madam Speaker, people around the country and the world were shocked and moved by the video of a Metropolitan Police Department Officer being beaten by a crowd of insurgents, including one wielding an American flag, and of another in agony as he was crushed between a door and a riot shield but also awed by their bravery in the face of this unprovoked and vicious attack, bravery that was matched that day by countless other unheralded Metropolitan Police Department officers.

The January 6, 2021 siege of the Capitol assault resulted in one of the worst days of injuries for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Madam Speaker, officers of the United States Capitol Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and other uniformed law enforcement officers stood their ground in defense of American democracy while being attacked by the angry mob of domestic terrorists with metal pipes, discharged chemical irritants, and other weapons.

At least 138 officers, 73 from the United States Capitol Police Department and 65 from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, sustained injuries during the attack on the Capitol Building, several of which required hospitalization.

The injuries sustained ranged from bruises and lacerations to more serious damage such as concussions, rib fractures, burns and even a mild heart attack.

One United States Capitol Police Department officer died from injuries sustained while physically engaging with protesters and two officers involved in the response have died by suicide.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of officers whom law enforcement officials estimate will suffer in years to come with post-traumatic stress disorder and the dozens who contracted the coronavirus from the unmasked domestic terrorists and rioters who stormed the Capitol.

At least 38 Capitol Police officers have tested positive or were exposed to the coronavirus as well as nearly 200 National Guard personnel who were deployed to protect the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, the seven hours between the urgent call for help from the Capitol Police to Metropolitan Police Department and the resumption of work by both houses of Congress will be indelibly etched in the memories of every law enforcement officer who was on the scene, as it is in the minds of the Senators, Representatives, congressional and support staff, and members of the media corps who were forced to seek safety behind locked doors.

Despite being overwhelmed and outnumbered, the indomitable forces of American

democracy, symbolized by the resolve of the officers of the United States Capitol Police Department, prevailed and the seditious attack was quelled, the Capitol Building preserved, and the lives of United States Senators and Representatives protected, as well as those of congressional and support staff, and order was restored so that the Joint Meeting of Congress was resumed and completed its constitutionally required duty of counting and announcing the votes of the presidential electors, an essential step in the peaceful transfer of power that has been a hallmark of American democracy and the example to the world for more than two centuries.

Madam Speaker, the gold coin authorized to be minted by this legislation and displayed at the United States Capitol Police headquarters, to the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and exhibited on display by the Smithsonian Institution conveys the thanks and appreciation of a grateful nation for the selfless and heroic service exhibited by these sentinels of the republic in defense of American democracy in responding to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by domestic terrorists.

This tribute is, as President Lincoln noted at Gettysburg, ``altogether fitting and proper'' for heroes of the republic.

The action we are taking today should encourage all educational and media institutions throughout the United States to teach and celebrate the story of the heroism of the officers of the United States Capitol Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and all other law enforcement officers who, out of true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, selflessly risked their lives to protect the Capitol Building and its personnel, the Congress, and the spirit and fact of democracy in America.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Americans to read, celebrate, and revere the Constitution of the United States, fidelity to which is the surest best means of forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessing of liberty to them and their posterity.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman 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, and I thank her for facilitating this honor.

This usually takes a much longer period of time, but because of the gentlewoman from California, the chair of the Financial Services Committee, this is on a faster track, and it needs to be.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, January 6 was one of the darkest and deadliest days in American history. The waging of the violent insurrection against the United States Capitol and 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, as staff and support workers barricaded behind doors and hid under furniture.

We saw how over 140 members of law enforcement were physically harmed while defending our democracy and how several lost their lives.

January 6 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 most kindest and thoughtful people'' they had ever met. Our sympathies as well.

Heroes like Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, a 12-year veteran of the force, known by all as the type of officer who would never hesitate to help those in need. He made that sacrifice.

Heroes like Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, whom I had the privilege of meeting and thanking, who was beaten and crushed nearly to death, who said about protecting our democracy on January 6: ``If it wasn't my job, I would have done it for free.''

Heroes like Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. We all saw his heroism as he drew the 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 of 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 a bipartisan fashion, including Mr. McCarthy 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-state ceremony in the rotunda. Among those leaders was the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Dr. Biden as well.

Let me end by returning to January 6. That day was also the Feast of the Epiphany, a holy day of revelation in the church. It remains my hope that that day of violence will provide a revelation of healing for our Nation.

In a 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 am proud to represent, San Francisco. The Song of St. Francis is the anthem of our city.

Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace.

Where there is darkness, let me bring light;

Where there is hatred, let me bring love;

Where there is despair, let me bring hope.

We were blessed by the heroism of 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 remembered 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 will ensure that their heroism will be forever etched in the history of our country.

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 that honor to associate ourselves with the heroism of the U.S. Capitol Police.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3325) to award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, every day the men and women of the United States Capitol Police protect the U.S. Capitol. They protect us, they protect our staff, they protect journalists and other visitors who come into the people's House.

In March of this year, the House passed H.R. 1085 to award three Congressional Gold Medals honoring the courage, patriotism, and commitment to service exemplified by the men and women of the Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police, and other law enforcement agencies who risked their lives and sustained injuries as they sought to protect those trapped in the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This bill builds upon H.R. 1085 to include minting of a fourth Congressional Gold Medal to be displayed by the Architect of the Capitol so that we may continue to honor those officers who sustained injuries in the line of duty and the sacrifices of heroes, including Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood and Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith. We also honor Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman; whose quick thinking and selfless action undoubtedly saved the lives of many.

Additionally, this bill honors the memory of Capitol Police Officer William ``Billy'' Evans, who was killed while protecting the north barricade of the Capitol against a vehicular assault on April 2, 2021. It also honors the bravery displayed by Capitol Police Officer Kenneth Shaver, who was also injured in that assault.

I thank Speaker Pelosi for introducing this bill this Congress and urge Members to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) the Speaker, who is also the sponsor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I commend Speaker Pelosi for bringing forward this legislation.

Every day, the brave men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police put their lives on the line in service to our Nation.

On January 6, we all witnessed this bravery firsthand as they fought against those who would seek to end this democracy. It is true that the leadership and decisive action on that day saved many lives, including my own. We honor their sacrifices on that day, and every day we thank them for their service.

Madam Speaker and Members, I cannot help but say at this time where this bill is being discussed on the floor of the House of Representatives, I saw Capitol Police in hand-to-hand combat with these insurrectionists. I saw them being attacked by QAnon, by the proud boys, by the oath keepers, by the KKK, by white supremacists. I thought I would never see such in my lifetime.

I watched Capitol Police being attacked with the American flag jabbed into their bodies. I never thought those who considered themselves conservative would attack uniformed police officers of the Capitol or any place, but we saw it.

So we can't say enough about these Capitol Police, whose lives were endangered and some who lost their lives and some who are still trying to recuperate from the injuries that they received.

I am absolutely saddened by the fact that too many do not want to know what really happened that day, who oppose investigation, oppose a commission to delve into exactly what took place, who was responsible, who organized it, who paid for it, et cetera.

I could go on all day and night talking about that experience, as many Members of Congress perhaps would like to do, but I know that, despite the fact, there is opposition to delving into what happened. We are going to find out what happened. We are going to find out who supported all of the resources that were put together to bring people here in buses and put them on airplanes to come and attack us in the Capitol of the United States of America.

So I urge all Members to honor the sacrifices and courage displayed by the members of the Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police, and other law enforcement agencies by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 3325.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3325, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Capitol Police and those who protected the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

I would like to thank the Speaker for bringing this legislation to the floor to honor the officers who work tirelessly to protect us in and out every day, to not just protect this building, but to protect the Members in this building. Not just protect the Members, but to make sure that staff is safe on a daily basis. And the staff, indeed, makes Congress what it is and gives us the capacity that we have to legislate. We want to make sure that staff and Members and our visitors here are protected on a daily basis, and the Capitol Police, indeed, do that.

Madam Speaker, what happened to this institution on January 6 was horrific. This building is a working monument to our Nation's Founding Fathers and our founding principles. It is a testament to the freedoms we hold dear and that we strive for, and we strive to become a more perfect Union on every day that we are here. Not perfectly, but we strive for a more perfect Union.

Madam Speaker, the brave men and women who stood and faced danger on January 6 deserve to be recognized for their actions. Without their courageous work and their dedication, many of us here today could have been seriously injured or worse.

This gold medal will also honor another Capitol Police Officer, William ``Billy'' Evans. Officer Evans, an 18-year veteran of Capitol Police, was killed at his post when a car rammed into the Capitol barricade on Good Friday. Any life lost is a tragedy, especially those of our friends on the police force.

Once this bill is enacted, a Congressional Gold Medal will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol Police headquarters. It will be a recognition of the good work the Capitol Police do on a daily basis. Another will be displayed at the D.C. Metropolitan Police headquarters, and the third will be given to the Smithsonian Institution so everyone who visits D.C. will be reminded of the bravery by our police officers on that very day.

Madam Speaker, I think I speak for all my colleagues when I say thank you, thank you to each and every officer who was here on January 6. Their bravery will not be forgotten.

The U.S. Capitol Police and those who protected us on January 6 deserve this Congressional Gold Medal. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I think this is a special moment for the House in a very tough year for us to pause and to say thank you to those men and women who stand guard over this institution; not just this building, not just this campus, but the people who work here every day.

It is not Members; it is staff that are here every day. It is the people that make the Capitol work physically. It is the folks who are at the daycare, the folks who are in the press. They are the folks who are frequent visitors here, such that they feel like they work here, too.

It is the Capitol Police that keep us safe not from one another, but safe from the harms that can happen in a very dangerous world. And we want to say thank you to the men and women of the Capitol Police for their dedication, for their bravery, for their training every day.

And we honor you not just in word, but with deed; not just with word and this deed of a Congressional Gold Medal, but our ongoing support. Our ongoing support, such that you can operate every day to the best of your training with the best training and tactics available to police and law enforcement anywhere in the world, the best equipment, the best training resources, but also the freedom to use those things in a way that is commensurate with public safety.

So I want to thank the Capitol Police for their service and their sacrifice in making this institution safe; safe so we can debate important things that need to be debated, to disagree, for us to be able to disagree as a civil society, yet still come together for the important things of being friends and neighbors and lovers of this great country.

Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.