Van Hollen, Coons, Brown, Tillis, Cardin Announce Growing Momentum for Legislation Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to USCP Officer Eugene Goodman
Bill Garners over 67 Cosponsors, Allowing it to Move to Senate Floor for Consideration
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced that their legislation to award Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal has now garnered 67 cosponsors, meeting a key benchmark in Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee rules that is necessary for consideration on the Senate floor. Given the wide bipartisan support for the bill, the Senators hope to move quickly to final passage. Goodman, a Marylander, confronted rioters in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, delaying their access to the Senate chamber and protecting the lives of those inside.
“On January 6th, Officer Goodman protected our democracy by directing a violent mob away from the Senate chamber. His quick thinking and heroism undoubtedly saved lives – including of senators and staff – and we are proud that he is a fellow Marylander. I’m glad to see growing bipartisan momentum to honor his bravery, and I look forward to moving quickly on full Senate passage,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“I’m pleased to see broad bipartisan support to bestow one of our nation’s highest honors on Officer Eugene Goodman, whose bravery and quick thinking on January 6 averted further disaster and may well have saved lives,” said Senator Coons. “Officer Goodman embodies what it means to be a hero, and the Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting recognition of his courage and selflessness.”
“We all watched footage of Officer Eugene Goodman putting his own life at risk to save ours,” said Senator Brown. “What was already a tragic day could have been worse if he had not bravely led the violent mob away from the Senate chamber. Bestowing Officer Goodman with a Congressional Gold Medal to honor his commitment and courage on January 6th, is one important way we can thank him for his service on that day and every day.”
“Officer Eugene Goodman is a hero for bravely facing down a violent mob and leading them away from the Senate Floor on January 6, preventing a potential catastrophe,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud this bipartisan legislation to award Officer Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal is gaining much-deserved support, and I will continue to work towards passing the legislation out of Congress.”
“The Senate and our country owe Officer Eugene Goodman an eternal debt. His bravery and quick thinking saved lives and saved democracy from what could have been an even darker tragedy,” said Senator Cardin. “It is heartening to see such support for this well-earned honor. All of Maryland is proud of Officer Goodman’s courage and service to our nation.”
The Senators’ legislation has also been cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
The full text of the bill can be found here.