For me, the U.S. Capitol Building has always instilled a sense of awe. It is a moving symbol of our democracy and the promise of this country forged by our founders. Despite four years as your Congresswoman, I still get chills thinking about how lucky I am to call this building my workplace.

That’s why the events of January 6, 2021, were truly devastating to me. 

It’s been two years since an angry, violent mob -- sent by President Trump -- stormed the Capitol with the intention of preventing Congress from carrying out the will of the voters and certifying the 2020 election. On that day, I stood in the House Gallery, with a gas mask in one hand and my cellphone in the other. Like many of my colleagues, I called home to my family to tell them I loved them. We were all unsure what would happen next.

When I think back to that day, I am filled with two emotions: sadness and anger. I am saddened by the fact that our own fellow citizens were lied to and misled by elected officials they trusted. But I am also deeply angry that they felt emboldened enough to turn on their own country, their own democracy. 

Two years later, the same lies that precipitated the attack on the Capitol remain an ongoing threat that strikes at the core of our democratic process. Too many people still won’t condemn what happened on January 6th and continue to obstruct the pursuit of truth. 

I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That’s what I’ve done. I was one of the first members of Congress to speak out against the January 6th attack, demand accountability, and ensure that we get to the bottom of what happened.

I’ve been attacked for those efforts, but that won’t stop me. I won’t ever back down from my sworn duty to the American people. Today, as we remember what happened, my focus remains the same: doing whatever it takes to protect our democracy going forward.

Thank you for all you do,

Mikie