[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING JANUARY 6

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                          HON. NORMA J. TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2022

  Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today on the 
anniversary of January 6th to reflect on a horrific day for our 
institution and our democracy.
  One year ago today, violent terrorists attacked our Capitol--the seat 
of our democracy, and what I used to think was one of the safest places 
in the world. I don't think that anymore.
  On that day, in the House gallery when the Capitol was breached, I 
sat alongside my colleagues in confusion and panic. I feared for my 
life. We heard the shot. We saw the tear gas coming in from under the 
door--but didn't know what it was. I struggled to get my gas mask on, 
because I couldn't hear the instructions over the chaos. I lost my 
glasses for a period of time.
  We were evacuated, running down the halls and stairs past a part of 
the mob that was being held down at gunpoint. We sheltered for hours in 
a room packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Then we went back to 
finish the job. Because that's what we had been there to do in the 
first place--certify the results of a free and fair election.
  That day shows that we can't take our democracy for granted. We still 
must fight to protect it every day, because there are still many 
people, including some of my Republican colleagues, who want to 
undermine it.
  I'm thankful to the Department of Justice, FBI, and law enforcement 
agencies across the country who are working to prosecute and bring to 
justice those who planned and participated in the violence. But there 
is still a long way to go--we won't have true justice until those in 
positions of power who helped inspire and enable the mob are put on 
trial. To that end, I appreciate the work of my colleagues on the 
January 6 committee to bring to light all the details of that day, 
including the role of the Trump administration. I also want to again 
thank the journalists who were with us that day and who worked 
fearlessly through the attack to make sure everyone saw what was really 
happening.
  Most importantly, I thank our Capitol Police Officers for selflessly 
protecting us that day. My thoughts are with the families and friends 
of the officers who lost their lives because of the attack. We will 
always remember and honor their sacrifice.
  Today, I no longer feel safe at work, and I still fear for our 
country because so many people want to forget the events of that day, 
or flat out deny that they happened. We won't forget, we won't let the 
American people forget, and we won't stop working every day to preserve 
our freedoms.

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