By Emmanuel Bobby
The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution to display a plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack by a pro-Trump mob, five years after the violent assault on Congress.
The measure directs the Architect of the Capitol to “prominently display, in a publicly accessible location in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol, a plaque honoring the members of law enforcement responding on January 6, 2021,” until a permanent location for the memorial is finalized.
The bipartisan resolution was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina after House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to display the plaque despite a federal law passed in 2022 requiring it. Johnson’s office has argued that the law could not be implemented because it called for a plaque listing the names of individual officers, while the plaque that was produced instead names the law enforcement agencies that responded to the attack.
Johnson has been a central figure in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. In late 2020, Johnson supported a legal brief backing a Texas lawsuit that sought to invalidate the election results in several battleground states won by Joe Biden. The Supreme Court ultimately rejected that lawsuit.
Proposed Locations and Swift Senate Action
Speaking to reporters after the resolution passed, Tillis said senators have identified two potential temporary locations for the plaque: the first floor of the Capitol, where visitors check in for meetings with senators and staff, or the third floor along the tour route leading to the Senate gallery.
Tillis, who is not seeking reelection, has been a vocal supporter of Capitol Police officers and a critic of efforts to downplay the events of Jan. 6. He described the resolution as a practical and fast solution to ensure the plaque is finally displayed.
“This is a fast way to get it up, and then it will stay up until a final permanent place is found,” Tillis said. He added that he initially assumed the delay was due to bureaucratic hurdles rather than outright refusal. “Once it became clear there was a claimed defect, we decided to fix it — and we did so in just a few days.”
The resolution passed by unanimous consent, meaning all 100 senators agreed without the need for a recorded roll-call vote. Because it applies solely to the Senate wing of the Capitol, the measure does not require approval from the House of Representatives or the president.
Honoring Law Enforcement and Preserving History
On the Senate floor, Merkley emphasized the importance of honoring the officers who protected lawmakers, staff, and democratic institutions during the attack.
“It’s so important that we fulfill the vision of the 2022 law and get this plaque up to honor those police officers,” Merkley said. “This resolution makes clear that the Senate can act on its own to ensure the public sees this tribute while discussions with the House continue about a permanent location.”
The vote comes as the Trump administration has faced criticism for attempting to recast the history of Jan. 6. Trump was previously charged in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election, though those charges were dropped after he won the 2024 election.
Former special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation into Trump’s actions, has told lawmakers that Trump was “the most culpable and most responsible person” in the effort to interfere with the election. Smith said prosecutors had assembled evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt” showing Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn his defeat.
In a prior report, Smith wrote that Trump “inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence” on Jan. 6 and knowingly promoted false claims about election fraud.
Legal Challenges and Future Plans
Despite the Senate’s action, litigation over the plaque is expected to continue. Brendan Ballou, a former Jan. 6 prosecutor now representing officers who sued the government for failing to comply with the 2022 law, said the resolution is a meaningful step but not the final word.
He said the temporary display will ensure officers are honored publicly, but stressed that the law still requires a permanent placement agreed upon by both chambers of Congress.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier this week that the plaque would be properly installed after the 2026 midterm elections if Democrats regain control of the House.
“Just wait a little longer,” Pelosi said on the fifth anniversary of the riot. “If Democrats win back the House, we will place it in a place of honor.”
Asked where that permanent location might be, Pelosi said the decision would be left to the future House speaker.
For now, Senate leaders say the unanimous vote ensures that the sacrifices and bravery of the officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 will finally be visible to the public — a symbolic but significant step in preserving the historical record of one of the most consequential days in modern congressional history.
Original article
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