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Congress orders plaque to honor police officers who defended Capitol

Congress has ordered the production and display of a plaque to honor the police officers who saved the US Capitol complex on January 6, 2021. The plaque was mandated as part of the sweeping, $1.5 trillion government funding law approved late Thursday by the Senate.

The legislation includes billions of dollars of aid for Ukraine and critical funding for the U.S. military, veterans hospitals, homeland security, federal courts, the FBI and nearly all functions of the federal government.  But legislators also set aside one page of the 2,741 pages of legislation for the specific purpose of requiring a plaque honoring the police heroes from the U.S. Capitol riot.

The law requires the plaque be produced within a year. Congress is requiring the “listing the names of all of the officers of the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and protective entities who responded to the violence that occurred at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

At least 114 US Capitol Police officers were injured while stopping the mob during the riot. Dozens of D.C. police officers sustained injuries as well. There were multiple officer suicides in the wake of the attack. One U.S. Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick of Virginia, died of natural causes shortly after sustaining injuries on January 6.

Sicknick’s girlfriend, Sandra Garza, told CBS News she’s grateful for the gesture by Congress. Garza said she’s pleased Congress has ordered the plaque include the names of each individual officer. She said, “Honoring people individually is really important. It validates their experience. And their pain.”

“For Brian and for the officers who sadly took their lives, it’s important (Congress) does this,” Garza said.

The new law requires that the plaque be placed on the west front of the U.S. Capitol complex. This was the side of the Capitol that saw the fiercest, largest and most violent attacks by the rioters, including vicious hand-to-hand combat in a closed tunnel. At least one officer was pinned and assaulted in a doorway on the west side of the Capitol.

Congressman Don Beyer, Democrat of Virginia, praised the bravery of the first responders, whose actions in defense of the Capitol “ensured that the peaceful transfer of power – a core principle of our system of government – could continue.” He added, “It is right that Congress should ensure that these heroic actions will be commemorated for future generations, which is what this plaque will help accomplish.”

Oversight Committee and Dan Snyder at odds over subpoena

Oversight Committee and Snyder at odds over subpoena originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a statement Monday alleging that Commanders owner Dan Snyder "has so far refused to accept service" of the subpoena that was originally mentioned by Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) last Wednesday."While the Committee has been, and remains, willing to consider reasonable accommodations requested by witnesses, we will not tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena or seek special treatment not afforded to other witnesses who testified in this matter," a Committee spokesperson said. "The Committee will not be deterred from obtaining Mr. Snyder’s testimony, and we remain committed to ensuring transparency about the toxic workplace culture at the Washington Commanders and the NFL’s inadequate response."Snyder's side, however, disputed those comments through its own statement hours later."Mr. Snyder has not refused to appear for a deposition," a spokesman texted NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay. "The Committee offered only one date – June 30 – and Mr. Snyder’s attorney is out of the country and unavailable on that date. Mr. Snyder's lawyer has provided alternative dates to the Committee and looks forward to finding a path forward for Mr. Snyder's further cooperation and to address remaining due process concerns."Washington Football Talk Podcast | Listen and Subscribe | Watch on YouTubeIn the June 22 hearing focused on Washington's allegedly toxic culture, Maloney announced her intent to subpoena Snyder for a deposition. Snyder didn't voluntarily show for the proceedings and was in France as it played out. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell participated and answered questions from members of the Committee."If the NFL is unwilling to hold Mr. Snyder accountable, then I am prepared to do so," Maloney said in the hearing.In addition to Goodell, multiple former employees of the franchise have spoken to the Committee about their experiences working under Snyder, including a couple of higher-level executives. Snyder himself, though, has yet to engage with the Committee, which has been investigating his ownership of the club for nearly nine months. 
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