On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos voted to award four Congressional Gold Medals to the U. S. Capitol Police and other Law Enforcement agencies, that protected the U. S. Capitol during the Wednesday, January 6, attack on the Capitol, including the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Architect of the Capitol.
Since the attack on the Capitol, Congresswoman Bustos voted to pass the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act. This legislation will establish a 9/11-style Commission would investigate the assault on the U. S. Capitol.
Congresswoman Bustos also led 42 House Members in introducing a resolution to honor the journalists and news staff who risked personal injury and threats of violence, in order to continue reporting from the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. That legislation has been endorsed by the New Democrat Coalition. The Congresswoman visited Illinois National Guard members deployed to Washington following the insurrection, to thank them for their work, and wrote about her experiences surviving the attack
“I am forever grateful to the Law Enforcement agencies and Officers who responded during the January 6 attack on the Capitol and saved my life, and the lives of my colleagues and our staff,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “Their selfless devotion to Country and heroic actions to defend our democracy must never be forgotten, It is my hope that these Congressional Gold Medals adequately express our deep appreciation for their service.”