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.
Den Leventhal says
Given his background, education, profession, wealth, position, etc., one wonders why he can think about politics, but not about people.
William jearley says
A shallow representation of a human being showcasing what a lazy representative he is.
john Ames says
My vocabulary does not contain any non-obscene words adequate to describe Dr. Harris’ vote against honoring the police officers who defended the Capital against the mob that briefly captured it on January 6. I used to write Dr. Harris with some frequency, but have not done so since he joined the “Sedition Caucus” and voted not to certify the results of the Presidential election. Surely there are enough patriotic Republicans who will join with others to deprive the nation of his service.