The United States Capitol Police released a statement on Thursday supporting a bill to allow Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer who died in the January 6 riot, to lie in honor at the Capitol Rotunda.
Sicknick died after suffering serious injuries during the rebellion and is expected to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on February 3.
Sen. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene Scott, GOP senator, calls Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan “non-beginner”. The GOP senator questions the constitutionality of an impeachment trial after Trump leaves office. The pressure on Biden’s minimum wage faces an uphill battle with the GOP MORE (RS.C.) and Rep. Ralph Norman
Ralph Warren NormanREAD: Republicans who voted to contest election results Here are Republicans who plan to challenge the results of the Electoral College Leading Republican Party lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from the Intelligence Committee MORE (RS.C.) asked Sicknick to lie in honor before his burial.
Republican Party lawmakers on Thursday morning filed a petition for legislation for the ceremony.
Capitol Police Union President Gus Papathanasiou defended Sicknick to receive the posthumous tribute, saying: “Officer Sicknick died because he put the lives of members of Congress and his team before his own safety – he did his duty. We should celebrate his life and service with respect and dignity. ”
Thirty-two government officials and military officers have been placed in the state since the tradition began in 1852, however, only four people have been approved for the similar distinction of being placed in honor, reserved for private citizens, the office of the Notes Architect of the Capitol.
The first people to receive this honor were Capitol police officers who died in 1998 after being shot by a sniper, which they managed to subdue.
If the bills pass unanimously, Sicknick will become the fifth American citizen to receive a tribute at the Capitol Rotunda. The late Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks and Rev. Billy Graham also received this distinction.
In addition, legislation proposed by Scott and Norman would allow Sicknick’s funeral expenses to be covered, a plaque in honor of Sicknick to be placed on Capitol Hill and the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund to be amended.
In their statement, the Capitol Police supported the legislators’ proposal that “the amounts received in response to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021” would also be included in the memorial fund.