In a Congress plagued by gridlock, lawmakers have become accustomed to the slow pace of their work on Capitol Hill. However, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democratic representative from California who has been serving her Northern California Bay Area district since 1995, is furious about a specific delay.
Lofgren expressed her frustration, exclaiming that her letters have gone unanswered and it remains a baffling mystery to her.
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Lofgren, along with a group of distinguished House Democrats, is raising concerns about the delayed completion and installation of a small plaque to honor the heroic police officers who saved the Capitol, as well as the lawmakers and staffers present on January 6, 2021. According to the established law, the plaque should have been in place by March 2023.
In a letter recently sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Representative Lofgren expressed her deep concern regarding the delay in installing the plaque. The plaque, as mandated by law, was supposed to be placed on the western side of the Capitol building.
In March 2023, a spending bill was passed and signed into law, which mandated the creation of a plaque. This plaque would list the names of the officers who served on January 6 and it would be placed on the western front of the Capitol. It is on this side of the Capitol that some of the most violent attacks against officers took place.
The completion of the plaque has been delayed, and the dispute surrounding it has become a subject of concern. The House leadership has provided unclear responses, indicating that the issue is intertwined with the divisive politics of 2024. Unfortunately, the plaque has become a casualty of the ongoing fight over election denialism that emerged following President Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
According to Lofgren, a member of the House Select Committee that conducted the investigation into the January 6 attack and former President Trump’s attempts to overturn the election, the plaque is a significant recognition for the officers. She emphasized that the officers endured a brutal attack and it is unjust that the plaque has not been completed. Lofgren also stated that failing to comply with the law is a form of disrespect towards the officers who risked their lives to protect others.
According to page 130 of the legislation, a plaque was mandated to be created by multiple congressional committees. These committees, including the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Committee on House Administration, were tasked with compiling a comprehensive list of names of all the officers who responded to the Jan. 6 violence.
According to Democrats on the House and Senate committees, they have successfully compiled the list of officers’ names. A House aide emphasized that Democrats have fulfilled their obligations and that the installation of the plaque has been delayed for far too long.
However, when asked about the progress of the project, Republicans on a House Appropriations subcommittee chose not to provide any information and directed CBS News to the Speaker’s office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spokesperson declined to provide any updates on the progress of the plaque or offer an explanation for the delay. Instead, the spokesperson issued a statement to CBS News, stating that the Speaker’s office is actively collaborating with the Architect of the Capitol to ensure the proper mounting of the plaque.
Some of the police officers who responded on January 6 and have since been critical of Trump and his allies for denying the results of the 2020 election are furious about the delay.
Retired Capitol Police Sgt. Aqulino Gonell expressed his strong opinion on the matter, stating that the installation of the plaque should be done without delay. He further emphasized the importance of making the plaque easily accessible to the American people, so that they can fully comprehend the perilous circumstances the Capitol Police faced and the immense sacrifices they made in safeguarding our leaders.
Gonell continued by stating that he had protected elected officials, regardless of their party affiliation, even those who had supported the rioters by referring to them as hostages.
Earlier in the month, a new architect of the Capitol was appointed by Congress to oversee the management of the Capitol grounds and the preservation of the numerous historic markers and artifacts on site.
Top Democrats have escalated their critique of Johnson regarding the plaque. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who chaired the House Jan. 6 select committee, expressed his disapproval to CBS News, stating, “The Speaker of the House should take appropriate action, but for some inexplicable reason, he has chosen not to do so. This lack of action demonstrates disrespect towards the individuals who defended this institution.”
During the hearing, she emphasized the importance of never forgetting the courage displayed by the officers and the plaque.
She continued by emphasizing the significance of establishing a plaque, stating that it would serve as a powerful and lasting reminder of the immense sacrifice made by those officers on that fateful day.
Herrera Beutler, along with nine other House Republicans, made the decision to vote in favor of impeaching Trump following the attack on January 6th. Unfortunately, she faced defeat in the 2022 Republican primary election, with Trump backing her primary opponent.
Lofgren wrote a letter to Johnson on May 6, urging the House to take immediate action in order to address this oversight and ensure that the plaque is promptly installed in accordance with the law.
She expressed her eagerness to receive any updates or information regarding the cause of the delay and the steps being taken to resolve it.
There has been no response from the speaker’s office.
