Mark Takano: “I thank Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez for leading this Special Order hour, and I thank her for the bravery she exhibited…”

“I thank Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez for leading this Special Order hour, and I thank her for the bravery she exhibited by sharing her story. January 6 was unlike any other day I lived through during my time in Congress. I awoke with Georgia on my mind, with hope in my heart, after the runoff victories delivered us a Senate Democratic majority. That morning, it felt like we were turning the page on a dark chapter and entering a chapter of reckoning, progress, and, ultimately, unity. To fully turn that page, Congress needed to count the electoral college votes and certify the historic election of President Biden and Vice President Harris. That was supposed to be a perfunctory, procedural action. But it became, instead, the target of an angry mob incited by the President, who encouraged that very mob to interfere and stop the counting of the ballots. Too many Republican colleagues empowered the lies that Trump told instead of standing up for the truth and for our democracy. Earlier that day, I had followed press reports about a rally being organized by Trump supporters in Washington, and my staff warned me to be careful as I carried out business in and around the Capitol. I got to the Capitol early because I did not want to run into too many crowds, but I never imagined what was coming after Trump encouraged his supporters at a rally to storm the Capitol and disrupt the electoral college count.…”