[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 62 (Monday, April 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Honoring Officer William F. Evans

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on Good Friday, the U.S. Capitol 
Police were subjected to another violent attack. Once again, our 
uniformed heroes wound up in harm's way, and Officer Billy Evans, a 
friend and favorite of many here on the Senate side and a faithful 
protector of the Capitol, was killed.
  Investigators are still assessing what drove the perpetrator to 
attempt this attack on the Capitol and whether domestic, violent 
extremism played a role. He appears to have been captivated by the 
Nation of Islam--a racist, anti-Semitic, extreme group under the openly 
hateful leader, Louis Farrakhan.
  His attack injured Officer Ken Shaver, and it stole away the life of 
Officer Evans from his children Logan and Abigail, his mother Janice, 
his entire family, and all of his friends and colleagues decades too 
soon.
  Officer Evans was famous within the Senate for his friendly spirit 
and easy manner. He was the first face that many would see on the way 
to work here in the Capitol every day. His particular post often meant 
he was literally the first line of defense of the Congress--the 
interface between these grounds and the outside world. We could not 
have had a kinder and more likeable ambassador at this juncture or a 
more faithful protector to keep us safe.
  It will be with tremendous grief, but tremendous gratitude, that we 
will welcome Officer Evans to the Capitol for a final time tomorrow 
where he will lie in honor in the Rotunda.
  I think I speak for the entire Senate when I salute all of our U.S. 
Capitol Police officers for the heroism, courage, and resilience they 
displayed the Friday before last and which they display every single 
day. The Senate and the Nation are profoundly grateful for your 
selfless service.