New Democrats Endorse Slate of Measures to Fight Domestic Terror

WASHINGTON – The New Democrat Coalition has endorsed a slate of legislation intended to prevent future acts of domestic terrorism.

The measures, drafted in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, honor the actions of the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement on that day; honor the reporters on Capitol Hill who continued to work under the threat of violence; condemn the violent bigotry displayed during the insurrection; establish new standards and protocols to ensure the security of the U.S. Capitol and members of Congress; and advance important policies to prevent similar events from occurring in the future.  

Most of the measures have bipartisan support.

“January 6 was one of the darkest days in American history. An armed rebellion assaulted the physical embodiment of American democracy, the United States Capitol,” said NDC Chair Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. 

“We can never forget the events of that day or the heroic actions of the U.S. Capitol Police, who risked their lives to defend the Capitol and all who work there,” she continued. “The New Democrat Coalition is committed to pushing these bills forward to honor the brave men and women who defended American democracy, condemn the acts of violence that were committed, and better prepare our country for future threats of domestic terrorism.”

The endorsed resolutions and bills are:

Recognize the Heroic Acts of January 6, Remember What Took Place, & Better Prepare

1. H.Res. 39: Resolution honoring law enforcement for bravery on January 6, 2021 – Co-Led by Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo.;
2. H.Res. 51: Resolution commending reporters for their actions on January 6, 2021 – Led by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.;
3. H.Res.103: Resolution condemning the bigotry displayed on January 6, 2021 – Co-Led by Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif.;
4. H.R. 1627, the Capitol Remembrance Act: a bill to authorize the creation of a national memorial to remember the acts of January 6, 2021 – Led by Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Susan Wild, D-Penn.;
5. H.R. 284, Require USCP to Utilize Body Cameras Act: a bill to require United States Capitol Police to be equipped with body-worn cameras – Led by Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.

Prevent Future Acts of Domestic Terrorism

6. H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act: a bipartisan bill to strengthen the federal government’s efforts to prevent, report on, respond to, and investigate acts of domestic terrorism by authorizing offices dedicated to combating this threat – Led by Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill.;
7. H.R. 1178: a bipartisan bill to establish an independent, bipartisan commission modeled after the 9/11 Commission to investigate domestic terrorism over the past two decades including the events of January 6 – Co-led by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J.;
8. H.R. 1540, The REPORT Act: a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to collaborate with the FBI, Office of the US Attorney General and National Counterterrorism Center to submit a report to Congress in the wake of domestic terror incidents and recommend actions to prevent future terror incidents – Led by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.;
9. H.R. 1539, The PREVENT Act: a bill to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide training to local communities on how to best mitigate threats from extremists such as white nationalists – Led by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.;
10. H.R. 1541, The PROTECT Act: a bill to make DHS resources available to help local communities prepare for and prevent active shooter incidents – Led by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.

 “Following the devastating attack on the U.S. Capitol in January, our New Democrat Coalition members are devoted to honoring the lives lost and preventing such a horrific event from ever happening again,” said NDC Vice Chair of Policy Scott Peters, D-Calif. 

“The bills we endorsed today recognize the American heroes of January 6, denounce the hateful violence committed against our country’s sacred institutions and traditions, and will ensure we are ready to confront similar terroristic assaults moving forward. We will never forget what happened that day and pledge to do everything we can to defend America’s democracy,” he concluded.