Axios reports: “The House voted 413-12 on Wednesday to honor police officers who responded to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot with Congressional Gold Medals, among the highest of civilian honors.
“If passed by the Senate, the legislation would award one medal to the U.S. Capitol Police, another to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District Columbia and a third to the Smithsonian in recognition of the officers who responded to the siege.”
The 12 congressmen voting no, Axios reports, were all Republicans and included Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
According to HuffPost, those voting against the measure primarily objected to two words: “The language that describes the Capitol as a ‘temple’ of American democracy and another line that categorizes the mob of pro-Donald Trump supporters that stormed the building as ‘insurrectionists.'”
The Washington Post reports that Harris, in a statement, said:
“The men and women on the thin blue line, including the brave men and women of the United States Capitol Police, should never be used as props for politically charged publicity stunts like this bill.
“I truly commend the Capitol Police for their actions on January 6th, and am very grateful for their service in keeping us safe each day. But I cannot support partisan charged language found in this bill.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.-5th, in a statement, said:
“It is deeply unfortunate that a number of House Republicans opposed this action as they attempt to erase the events of January 6 and deny the responsibility of a far-right, insurrectionist mob incited by former President Trump.
“The alternative resolution they have proposed insults the memory of the officer who was killed defending the Capitol and the two others who died as a result of the attack in its immediate aftermath, using language implying that the three officers did not lose their lives in the line of duty.
“Such disrespect for the heroes who courageously tried to protect the American people’s Capitol is disgusting.”
BILLS-117hr1085ihPOLITICO reported that: “A competing bill circulated by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) named the fallen officers but made no mention of Jan. 6 or the Capitol attack,” according to a copy of the bill it had obtained.
CQ Roll Call reported that: “Capitol Police officers stationed outside the chamber during the vote were overheard questioning which members voted against the bill.”
The Senate had previously voted to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who led rioters away from senators who were still in the Senate chamber, actions widely seen in video footage from a Huffington Post reporter.
Gina Bell says
Andy Harris is disgusting, he should be removed from office.
Susan E Kemp says
Harris is an embarrassment to the caring people of the Eastern Shore as well as to the human race
Jeff Staley says
Our democracy will not be safe until Harris and other Republicans like him are removed from Congress by the voters.
Anne Stalfort says
I assume this will be front page news in Friday’s Star Democrat.
Marie Teat says
What about all of the Officers killed in the line of duty during the riots by BLM and Antifa last year? Why don’t their lives matter?
If Nancy Pelosi and others that were made aware of potential threats would have acted intelligently and not in their hate hearted way and brought in more enforcement for the event it may have been avoided all together. It is interesting how things are unfolding which is not what was initially reported by the current Adm or the Media.
Tom Steele says
Name a police officer killed in the line of duty during a BLM or ANTIFA protest, please.
John Griep says
Please provide the names and details of all of the officers killed in the line of duty last year during BLM and antifa demonstrations.
From a quick search, I am aware of one: David Dorn, a retired St. Louis Police captain, who was fatally shot responding June 2 to a burglar alarm at a friend’s pawn shop during looting that followed a peaceful protest.
Here are some fact checks from last summer and a more recent one after a Wisconsin Republican congressman said he wasn’t afraid of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol, killing one police officer and wounding many more, but would have been concerned if it had been BLM or antifa protesters.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/19/ron-johnsons-misleading-citation-data-back-his-concern-about-blm-protestors/
https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/06/09/cops-killed-george-floyd-protests/
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-death-police-protests/fact-check-death-of-six-police-officers-did-not-occur-during-recent-protests-idUSKBN23H28F
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/jun/10/facebook-posts/post-inflates-number-police-killed-connection-prot/
A far-right extremist was later charged in the fatal shooting of federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood. Police accuse the shooter and his accomplice of going to Oakland to kill police, believing the large demonstrations spurred by the death of George Floyd would help them get away with it. Underwood’s alleged shooter also was charged with killing a Santa Cruz County deputy who came to arrest him for Underwood’s murder.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/killings-by-police-declined-after-black-lives-matter-protests1/
Michael Davis says
Thanks for doing the research. It has to been done. However, it is sad how true believers care nothing about facts. Harris is one of those true believers who is a member of Trump’s cult of personality.
Bob Parker says
While Rep Harris and the other 11 Republicans are not wrong in characterizing this measure as politically motivated, their comments in explaining their votes do nothing to reduce the political showboating in Congress. Indeed, one might take their positions on this bill more seriously if they themselves hadn’t voted in favor of Republican sponsored bills laced with similarly politically motivated language in the previous Congressional sessions. As Queen Gertrude said in Hamlet: “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.” If Rep. Harris is truly committed to reducing partisan venom in Congress, he needs to take the first step and work with the other side on measures that help Americans and on those, such as this measure, that are basically “feel good” bills that certainly do no harm. Time to grow up and become an adult Rep Harris and do your job, work for the people of your district and state. What are you afraid of? Trump can’t hurt you – he probably doesn’t even give you a second thought – listen to the people. There are several Democratic sponsored measures that have 70% (+/-) support nationwide, as well as over 50% Republican support, that you could and should support. Rep Harris, and all members of Congress, need to realize that political rancor serves no one, and only feeds the forces of discord. All in Congress need to take to heart the adage “If it is to be, it is up to me”.