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Remarks: Joe Biden Signs Bill to Award Capitol Police Officers Gold Medals - August 5, 2021
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Joe Biden Person
-
Kamala Harris Person
Positive
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:00:00-00:00:11 (12 sec)
"Please be seated. Good afternoon, everyone. It is an honor to be with you."
1
Kamala Harris
Somewhat Positive
00:00:11-00:00:25 (14 sec)
"Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member Roy Blunt, and all the members of Congress, including the mayor of Washington, D.C.: Thank you for being here with us this afternoon."
2
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:00:25-00:00:42 (17 sec)
"Like so many gathered here, I was at the United States Capitol the morning of Wednesday, January 6th. I was in a classified meeting with Senator Blunt on national security with fellow members of the Senate Intelligence Committee."
3
Kamala Harris
Very Negative
00:00:42-00:01:01 (19 sec)
"And not long after I left, the chaos began. Like Americans everywhere, my husband Doug and I watched with absolute shock, as our Capitol was under siege and the people within it afraid for their lives."
4
Kamala Harris
Leans Negative
00:01:01-00:01:21 (20 sec)
"What we know now is in the midst of that violent attack, there were countless acts of courage. And we are here today in the Rose Garden at the White House to recognize that courage."
5
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:01:21-00:01:44 (23 sec)
"The officers of the United States Capitol Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police risked their own lives to save the lives of others, both on January 6th and on April 2nd. They sacrificed so much to defend our nation."
6
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:01:44-00:02:20 (36 sec)
"And in securing our Capitol, they secured our democracy. These officers are heroes. [Applause] And these officers are patriots. [Applause] And they deserve, today and every day, this honor. Our nation is grateful for your service."
7
Kamala Harris
Neutral
00:02:20-00:02:35 (16 sec)
"And now there are some officers who, of course, continue to suffer from the injuries, seen and unseen. And I want to make it clear that you know that you are not alone and that we all stand with you."
8
Kamala Harris
Very Negative
00:02:35-00:03:10 (34 sec)
"And, of course, there are other officers who tragically lost their lives. There's nothing that we can do to bring these officers back or to take away the pain their families feel now. But it is my prayer that their sacrifice will serve as a constant reminder of the work we must all do together, of the vigilance we must have in order to protect our democracy."
9
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:03:10-00:03:50 (41 sec)
"So, I returned to the Senate at around 8:00 p.m. the night of January 6th, and we gathered in the Senate Chamber -- in the same chamber where the New Deal was struck and the Great Society was forged, in the same chamber where the Interstate Highway System was started and voting rights were won. And in that chamber, just before 1:00 a.m., as officers stood guard, the final vote was tallied."
10
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:03:50-00:04:21 (31 sec)
"Democrats, independents, and Republicans came together and upheld the vote and the voice of the American people. As those officers continued, even at that late hour, to secure our Capitol, they secured our democracy. So, let us never forget that, and let us always remember their courage."
11
Kamala Harris
Very Positive
00:04:21-00:04:32 (11 sec)
"And now, it is my great honor to introduce a true champion for all those who serve in uniform, President Joe Biden. [Applause]"
12
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:04:32-00:04:44 (12 sec)
"Good afternoon. Thank you, Vice President Harris."
13
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:04:44-00:05:10 (26 sec)
"Folks, not even during the Civil War did insurrectionists breach the Capitol of the United States of America, the citadel of our democracy -- not even then. But on January the 6th, 2021, they did. They did."
14
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:05:10-00:05:24 (14 sec)
"A mob of extremists and terrorists launched a violent and deadly assault on the People's House and the sacred ritual to certify a free and fair election."
15
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:05:24-00:05:30 (7 sec)
"It wasn't dissent. It wasn't debate. It wasn't democracy."
16
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:05:30-00:06:02 (32 sec)
"It was insurrection. It was riot and mayhem. It was radical and chaotic. And it was unconstitutional. And maybe most important, it was fundamentally un-American -- an existential threat and a test of whether our democracy could survive, whether it could overcome lies and overcome the fury of a few who were seeking to thwart the will of the many."
17
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:06:02-00:06:19 (17 sec)
"But while the attack on our values and our votes shocked and saddened the nation, our democracy did survive. It did. Truth defeated lies. We did overcome."
18
Joe Biden
Positive
00:06:19-00:06:31 (12 sec)
"And that's because of the women and men of the U.S. Capitol Police, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and other law enforcement officials who we honor today."
19
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:06:31-00:06:48 (17 sec)
"Speaker Pelosi, who led the effort in the House; Senators Klobuchar and Blunt, the co-sponsors of the legislation in the Senate; and to all my colleagues -- Pat Leahy and House members as well that are here: Thank you. Thank you."
20
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:06:48-00:07:08 (20 sec)
"Today, I'm signing into law the bill you sent me that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Capitol Police, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and other law enforcement for their service in defense of our democracy on January the 6th."
21
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:08-00:07:30 (23 sec)
"To all of them, on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you, thank you, thank you for protecting our Capitol. Maybe even more importantly, for protecting our Constitution and saving the lives of duly elected members of the Senate and the House and their staffs."
22
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:30-00:07:59 (29 sec)
"In these moments when we're still debating -- these were tragic hours back then -- you stood in the breach. You did your duty -- a duty to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The events that transpired were surprising but not your character or your courage, Chief, and all your men and women."
23
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:59-00:08:23 (24 sec)
"I didn't grow up with any of you, but I know you. You're just like all the women and men I grew up with -- particularly, at that time, it was men -- in Scranton and Claymont, places where -- the neighborhood I lived in -- you became a cop, a firefighter, or a priest. [Laughter] I wasn't qualified for any of them -- [laughter] -- so here I am. [Laughter]"
24
Joe Biden
Negative
00:08:23-00:08:57 (34 sec)
"But, look, all kidding aside, I got to know you. You're the same ones, after a ballgame in a visiting field, that come walking out of the gym if you won, and you may get jumped by the other team or their supporters. You may be all by yourself -- the only one standing there when you watch six people jump one of our teammates. What the hell would you do? You'd jump in. You'd jump in, knowing you're going to get the hell beat of you too."
25
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:08:57-00:09:06 (9 sec)
"Police officers are not what you do; it's who you are."
26
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:09:06-00:09:17 (10 sec)
"I got to know you after 36 years in the Senate, 8 years as Vice President. You're always there."
27
Joe Biden
Positive
00:09:17-00:09:31 (14 sec)
"It's not a joke. It's not some hyperbole to suggest "duty, honor, service." That's who you are. That's who your dad was. It's who your dad was."
28
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:09:31-00:09:35 (4 sec)
"And America owes you a debt we can never fully repay."
29
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:09:35-00:10:01 (27 sec)
"But I know receiving this award is bittersweet. On that day, more than 140 law enforcement officers suffered physical injuries, an untold number suffering emotional toll. Fifteen of you were hospitalized and others were lost forever. May their souls rest in peace and rise in glory."
30
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:01-00:10:20 (19 sec)
"I know each time you put on that shield in the morning or whenever you show for work, your families wonder whether they're going to get a call that day -- a call they don't want to receive -- hoping you come home safely."
31
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:20-00:10:37 (17 sec)
"And it breaks my heart. It breaks the heart of the nation to remember that you were assaulted by thousands of violent insurrectionists at the Capitol of the United States of America."
32
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:37-00:11:10 (33 sec)
"Jill and I would never have thought we'd have to join you in the Capitol Rotunda not once, but twice. Once to hiron [sic] -- to honor Officer Brian Sicknick, who lost his life. And a second time to honor Officer Billy Evans, who lost his defending the Capitol as well. Both gave the full measure of their devotion to the country at the United States Capitol."
33
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:10-00:11:49 (39 sec)
"Their families are here today. I know from similar -- [Applause] -- yes, we should clap for the families. [Applause] I know, like others may know, from personal experience, getting that phone call. It's nice to be honored and have those who you lost remembered, but it's tough to be here because it brings back everything like it happened 10 minutes ago."
34
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:49-00:12:06 (17 sec)
"So, I offer you not only our condolences, but recognize your courage, the courage of your children. And you have our most profound gratitude."
35
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:06-00:12:28 (22 sec)
"You know, the fallen, in my view, are casualties of a struggle, literally, for the soul of America -- a struggle that they didn't start, a struggle we didn't seek, and a struggle that, by the grace of God, we'll win."
36
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:28-00:12:44 (16 sec)
"As I said, I know this is a bittersweet moment. As proud of Brian and Billy as you are, it still brings back pain -- the moment it happened."
37
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:44-00:13:06 (22 sec)
"And also, we also offer our prayers to the families of the Capitol Police Officer, Howard Liebengood. Those who have been around a while, we knew his dad. We knew his dad well. He was Secretary of the United States -- Sergeant of Arms of the United States Senate."
38
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:13:06-00:13:11 (5 sec)
"We also pray for the families of the Metro Police Officer, Jeffrey Smith."
39
Joe Biden
Leans Negative
00:13:11-00:13:20 (9 sec)
"For anyone out there facing trauma, for anyone still struggling, please know there is help available."
40
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:13:20-00:13:37 (17 sec)
"My fellow Americans, the tragedy of that day deserves the truth above all else. We cannot allow history to be rewritten. We cannot allow the heroism of these officers to be forgotten."
41
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:13:37-00:13:52 (15 sec)
"We have to understand what happened -- the honest and unvarnished truth. We have to face it. That's what great nations do, and we are a great nation."
42
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:13:52-00:14:03 (12 sec)
"In the past weeks and months, we've heard the officers themselves -- some of whom are here today -- describe what happened: the threats, the violence, the savageness."
43
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:14:03-00:14:14 (11 sec)
"When asked what he was fighting for, Officer Hodges, who is here today, stated it eloquently -- one word: "Democracy.""
44
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:14:14-00:14:30 (16 sec)
"My fellow Americans, let's remember what this was all about. It was a violent attempt to overturn the will of the American people; to seek power at all costs; to replace the ballot with brute force; to destroy, not to build."
45
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:14:30-00:14:36 (6 sec)
"Without democracy, nothing is possible. With it, everything is."
46
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:14:36-00:15:05 (29 sec)
"So, my fellow Americans, we must all do our part to perfect -- perfect and to preserve our democracy. It requires people of goodwill and courage to stand up to the hate, the lies, the extremism that led to this vicious attack."
47
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:15:05-00:15:25 (20 sec)
"It requires all of us working together -- Democrats, Republicans, independents -- on behalf of the common good to restore decency, honor, and respect for our system of government."
48
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:15:25-00:15:40 (15 sec)
"And above all, it requires all of us to remember who we are at our best as a nation, as we see in the law enforcement officers who are here today -- the best of our nation."
49
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:15:40-00:16:17 (37 sec)
"The Congressional Gold Medal awards today will be housed in four locations. Two medals will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol Police Department in Washing- -- and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department so that every morning, as you officers walk by, seeing those medals, they'll remember the heroism of their colleagues and the importance of their work."
50
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:16:17-00:16:44 (27 sec)
"The third medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum with a plaque honoring all law enforcement that protected the Capitol on January 6th, so all visitors can understand what happened that day."
51
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:16:44-00:17:49 (65 sec)
"And the fourth one will be displayed at the Capitol itself, to remind all who served and currently serve there and all who visit the honor and the service of those who protect and preserve all of us."
52
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:17:49-00:18:51 (61 sec)
"I will now ask Speaker Pelosi, if she's able -- not able, willing -- [laughter] -- and Senator Klobuchar and Senator Blunt, Chief Contee and Chief Manger, and the other officers here today to join me as I sign this bill into law."
53
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:18:51-00:19:20 (29 sec)
"May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops and all those who serve watch over our democracy."
54
Joe Biden
Unknown
00:19:20-00:19:20 ( sec)
"[The bill is signed]"
55