[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING OFFICER BRIAN SICKNICK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise during Police Week to 
honor a son of New Jersey's 12th District who gave his life protecting 
many of the people that are Members of this Chamber.
  Brian Sicknick was raised in South River, New Jersey. He attended 
East Brunswick Technical High School where he dreamed of being a police 
officer.
  He later joined the New Jersey Air Force National Guard's 108th Wing 
at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
  Officer Sicknick served in Operation Enduring Freedom, attaining the 
rank of staff sergeant. He later moved to Springfield, Virginia, and 
joined the United States Capitol Police. One of his first assignments 
was the inauguration of President Obama.
  For 12 years, Officer Sicknick was a dedicated protector of our 
Capitol. On January 6, 2021, he found himself at the front lines on the 
Capitol's west side, facing off against a violent mob bent on 
dismantling our democracy.
  He came under repeated attacks but held his post, defending the lives 
of the people who had been elected, their staff, and employees of this 
Capitol. Later that night, Officer Sicknick collapsed at the Capitol 
and sadly passed away the next day.
  Officer Brian Sicknick gave his life defending our democracy against 
an insurrection fomented by the former President of the United States 
of America, who is currently on trial.
  Were it not for that insurrection, Officer Sicknick would still be 
with us today. Were it not for the heroism of Officer Sicknick and his 
fellow USCP officers, we would not be here today.
  For those who were not with us on that day, it must be hard to 
imagine the danger of the moment, how close we came to losing 
everything, particularly our lives and our democracy.
  We have a responsibility to the officers who defended the Capitol on 
that day and who still protect us now to ensure that never again shall 
they be called upon to sacrifice in such a way.
  I will be forever grateful to Officer Sicknick and his fellow USCP 
and Metro Police Department officers for defending my life, for the 
lives of my colleagues, and most importantly, for our democracy. We are 
all forever in his debt.

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