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Larson Statement on the One Year Anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection at the United States Capitol

January 6, 2022

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the United States Capitol:

"Most Americans will never know how perilously close our democracy came to being overturned by anarchists committed to insurrection and stopping the peaceful transfer of power," said Larson. "It is startling to think 71% of Republicans believe the Big Lie that our 2020 election was ‘stolen.'"

"It's heartbreaking to think about the lives lost by valiant Capitol Police officers and the trauma of Capitol Police, congressional staff, and my colleagues. I witnessed firsthand the mob overtake Capitol Police officers from the window of my office. It was a sad day for democracy and an eye-opener, but we returned to the Capitol, we voted and defeated the insurrection," Larson continued.

"Following that day, to see the Capitol grounds lined with barbed wire and monitored by 20,000 troops, is a sight I never want to see again," said Larson. "It made me feel like I was a part of a banana republic - the People's House no longer accessible by the public, government in lock-down mode, as we continued to recover from an outright assault, not just on the Capitol but on our Democratic Republic."

"The fight continues today. The Big Lie continues. Confronting the Big Lie starts with Congress proving democracy works and that starts with voting and passing legislation that expresses the will of the people. Whether it's protecting voting rights, negotiating prescription drug prices, universal background checks - if Congress, specifically the Senate, fails to vote, how is the democracy well-served? The filibuster and cloture vote must end so the American people can see their government openly debating the issues and then voting. Our country needs this action now," said Larson.

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