21 Republicans vote against awarding medals to police who defended Capitol on Jan. 6

Authored by thehill.com and submitted by Illustrious_Welder94
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The House passed legislation on Tuesday to award Congressional Gold Medals — one of the highest civilian honors — to police officers who defended the Capitol during the violent Jan. 6 insurrection.

Lawmakers handily passed the legislation. Members of both parties supported it, 406-21, with all of the votes in opposition coming from conservative Republicans.

The four medals awarded under the bill would be displayed at the Capitol Police headquarters, at the D.C. Metropolitan Police headquarters, at the Smithsonian Institution and in a "prominent location" in the Capitol.

The medal displayed in the Capitol would be accompanied with a plaque listing all of the law enforcement agencies that helped protect the building on Jan. 6 from the mob of former President Trump Donald TrumpDOJ asks Supreme Court to revive Boston Marathon bomber death sentence, in break with Biden vow Biden looking to build momentum for Putin meeting DOJ tells media execs that reporters were not targets of investigations MORE’s supporters who were trying to stop Congress from certifying President Biden Joe BidenFormer Rep. Rohrabacher says he took part in Jan. 6 march to Capitol but did not storm building Saudis picked up drugs in Cairo used to kill Khashoggi: report Biden looking to build momentum for Putin meeting MORE’s election victory.

The resolution names three police officers — Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood of the Capitol Police and Jeffrey Smith of the Metropolitan Police — who died in the days after they were on duty at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

It also highlights the heroism of Eugene Goodman, who was serving as a Capitol Police officer on Jan. 6 and has since been promoted to acting deputy Senate sergeant-at-arms. Goodman was shown on a video captured by a reporter luring the mob away from the Senate chamber in a move that helped former Vice President Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceVirginia couple pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges linked to Capitol riot Juan Williams: GOP preparing the ground to steal an election How to investigate Jan. 6 (and other politicized issues) without a commission MORE and senators escape to safety.

The measure states that their actions "exemplify the patriotism and the commitment of Capitol Police officers, and those of other law enforcement agencies, to risk their lives in service of our country."

"Jan. 6 was unquestionably one of the darkest days in the history of our democracy. But because of the courage of the Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers, it will also be etched in history as a day of heroism," Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiNew Mexico Democrat Stansbury sworn into Haaland's old seat Greene apologizes for comparing vaccine rules to Holocaust Overnight Health Care: Biden pleads for more people to get vaccinated | Harris highlights COVID-19 vaccination safety | Novavax COVID-19 vaccine shown highly effective in trial MORE (D-Calif.), the lead sponsor of the bill, said on the House floor before its passage.

The House previously passed a version of the bill in March to award Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement agencies that helped defend the Capitol. At the time, 12 Republicans voted against the legislation.

Rep. Thomas Massie Thomas Harold MassieHouse GOP fights back against mask, metal detector fines Massie, Greene trash mask violation warnings from House sergeant at arms House rejects GOP effort to roll back chamber's mask mandate MORE (R-Ky.), who voted against both versions of the bill, said Tuesday that he’s concerned its use of the term “insurrectionists” to describe the mob that stormed the Capitol could impact ongoing court cases. He rejected the notion that the Jan. 6 attack amounted to an insurrection — which Merriam-Webster defines as “an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government.”

“I think if we call that an insurrection, it could have a bearing on their case that I don't think would be good,” Massie said.

“If they just wanted to give the police recognition, they could have done it without trying to make it partisan, without sticking that in there,” he added.

The other Republicans who voted against the bill were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert Lauren BoebertOmar says she's getting death threats over comparison of US and Israel to Hamas and Taliban Colorado lawmakers invite Harris to tour state's space industry Biden adviser says reducing red meat isn't sole climate change solution MORE (Colo.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Warren Davidson Warren Earl DavidsonCheney set to be face of anti-Trump GOP Boehner finally calls it as he sees it The Hill's Morning Report - Biden: Back to the future on immigration, Afghanistan, Iran MORE (Ohio), Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) GaetzOutrage grows as Justice seeks to contain subpoena fallout Gaetz, under investigative cloud, questions FBI director House Judiciary releases McGahn testimony on Trump MORE (Fla.), Louie Gohmert Louis (Louie) Buller GohmertGOP's Gohmert, Clyde file lawsuit over metal detector fines Wray grilled on FBI's handling of Jan. 6 Gohmert asks if federal agencies can change Earth's or moon's orbits to fight climate change MORE (Texas), Bob Good (Va.), Paul Gosar Paul Anthony GosarOn The Trail: Arizona is microcosm of battle for the GOP Trump looms large over fractured Arizona GOP 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022 MORE (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene Marjorie Taylor GreeneGOP efforts to downplay danger of Capitol riot increase The Memo: What now for anti-Trump Republicans? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she's meeting with Trump 'soon' in Florida MORE (Ga.), Andy Harris Andrew (Andy) Peter HarrisGOP's Gohmert, Clyde file lawsuit over metal detector fines House GOP fights back against mask, metal detector fines Sixth House member issued ,000 security screening fine MORE (Md.), Jody Hice Jody Brownlow HiceGeorgia GOP censures state official who criticized Trump Republicans try but can't escape Jan. 6 GOP efforts to downplay danger of Capitol riot increase MORE (Ga.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Ralph Norman Ralph Warren NormanHouse GOP fights back against mask, metal detector fines Republicans try but can't escape Jan. 6 Three GOP lawmakers fined 0 for flouting House floor mask rules MORE (S.C.), Scott Perry Scott Gordon PerryThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Republicans seek to sink Jan. 6 commission DCCC targets Republicans for touting stimulus bill they voted against Five takeaways on the House's return to budget earmarks MORE (Pa.), John RoseJohn Williams RoseREAD: The Republicans who voted to challenge election results Why your neighborhood community pharmacy may close From state agriculture departments to Congress: Our farmers need the USMCA MORE (Tenn.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyThe Hill's Morning Report - Biden-Putin meeting to dominate the week Roy introduces bill blocking Chinese Communist Party members from buying US land Massie, Greene trash mask violation warnings from House sergeant at arms MORE (Texas) and Greg Steube William (Greg) Gregory SteubeWray grilled on FBI's handling of Jan. 6 Gaetz, House Republicans introduce bill to defund Postal Service covert operations program Hillicon Valley: Tech companies duke it out at Senate hearing | Seven House Republicans vow to reject donations from Big Tech MORE (Fla.).

The latest version of the legislation differs from the original in that it awards the medal to be displayed inside the Capitol in addition to the other three medals.

Tuesday’s version also highlights the sacrifice of Capitol Police officer William "Billy" Evans, who was killed on April 2 after a man rammed his car into a Senate security barricade, as well as officer Kenneth Shaver, who was injured in that attack.

The Senate, meanwhile, passed a resolution at the end of Trump’s impeachment trial in February to specifically award a medal to Goodman.

The opposition from some Republicans to the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medals to police officers marks yet another example of the lack of a unified response to the Jan. 6 attack.

All but 35 House Republicans voted against legislation last month to establish an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the events of Jan. 6. Senate Republicans subsequently blocked the bill from advancing in the upper chamber.

Davidson said that Tuesday's vote was "an attempt to rewrite history and further a Democrat narrative."

"House Democrats are using an opportunity to recognize the valor of our Capitol Police officers to launder a politically motivated narrative about the events of 1/6," Davidson wrote in a series of Twitter posts.

Democrats are still mulling possible alternatives to a bipartisan commission, including establishing a select House committee to investigate the attack on the Capitol.

Pelosi met with House committee chairs on Tuesday to discuss possible next steps, but they didn’t make a final decision. Multiple committees, including the House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and Appropriations panels, have already held hearings related to federal agencies’ handling of the insurrection.

“We’ve considered several options as we look forward, but there'll be a cascade of activity from the committees,” Pelosi said after the meeting. “We’re looking at a couple suggestions that were put forth to come to a conclusion, which will be soon.”

mintpaddy on June 15th, 2021 at 23:38 UTC »

Paul Gosar voted no because he openly supports the groups that were attacking the police on that day.

Link

dronesclubmember on June 15th, 2021 at 23:07 UTC »

Press have one task and that is to ask each and everyone of these members to answer one question.

What are your reasons for voting against this.

Do not let them off, force them to answer, if they do not answer, shame them, shame them some more and give them no more air time.

SonOfTheRealDL on June 15th, 2021 at 22:56 UTC »

Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Bob Good (Va.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Andy Harris (Md.), Jody Hice (Ga.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.), John Rose (Tenn.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Greg Steube (Fla.).

Back the Blue*

*Certain limitations apply