Aug. 5 (UPI) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday signed a bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to police who responded to riots at the building on Jan. 6.
She and fellow House Democrats, Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., held a bill enrollment ceremony one day after the Senate voted unanimously to give the award to Capitol Police and Washington, D.C., Police Department officers. The House passed the measure June 15.
“January 6 was … a day of extraordinary tragedy for our country. I know how fortunate we are to have the bravery, the patriotism of our capitol police,” Pelosi told those in attendance.
“I’m so sad that it took a tragedy of this nature for the recognition to be given to them.
“You bring luster to that important award,” Pelosi added, speaking directly to the officers.
More than 135 officers were injured while responding to the Jan. 6 riots by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
One, Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who was pepper sprayed during the violence, died a day later after having two strokes. The chief medical officer in Washington, D.C., said Sicknick’s death was natural, but the riots played a role in his condition.
Four other officers who responded to the attack died by suicide in the days and months after, though it’s unclear what, if any, role the riots played in their deaths.
