“Those who stormed this Capitol, and those who instigated and incited, and those who called on them to do so, held a dagger at the throat of America. The former president of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election. He’s done so because he values power over principle. Because he sees his own interest as more important than his country’s interest, than America’s interest. On Jan. 6, we all saw what our nation would look like if the forces who seek to dismantle our democracy are successful. The lawlessness, the violence, the chaos. I want to acknowledge our fallen heroes of that day. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood, Metropolitan Officer Jeffrey Smith, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Billy Evans, of a later assault. Now I ask all members to rise for a moment of silence in their memory. When the violent assault was made on the Capitol, its purpose was to thwart Congress’s constitutional duty to validate the electoral count and to ensure the peaceful transfer of power. But the assault, did not deter us from our duty. So when I look back at that day, that is the lasting image, that in the end, democracy prevailed, that in two weeks later, there we were under that beautiful blue sky with leaders of both parties on that inaugural stage saying that, yes, our democracy stood tall. It brushed itself off, and we move forward as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all, as we always do. [singing] God bless America, my home, sweet home.