news

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today joined his colleagues and released a statement below marking two years since the violent attack by insurrectionists on the U.S. Capitol building:

“Two years ago today—as Congress met to ratify the will of the American people and certify President Biden as the winner of the election—a violent mob tore through the U.S. Capitol, incensed and incited by the complete and utter lie that the Presidential election was stolen.  Several lost their lives defending me, my colleagues, and our republic that day, hundreds bore the physical injuries, and countless more the mental scars of that dark day in our nation.  Yet through it all, democracy prevailed.  The selfless service of our law enforcement personnel kept the light of democracy shining that day, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

“As we reflect on the two-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, we must continue to do everything in our power to ensure no such attack ever happens again.  Congress took steps toward this goal in December with the passage of important reforms to the Electoral Count Act, but there is still more work to do to strengthen the foundations of our democracy and to preserve the sacred right to vote.  I remain committed to bringing accountability for those who provoked the attempted coup and to securing our democracy for future generations.”