Chuck Schumer

We’re in a different Republican Party than we used to be.

This is a dagger aimed at the heart of our democracy.

January 6th was not a one-off. It stemmed from the big lie perpetrated by Donald Trump.

The invasion of the Capitol, that was one of the darkest moments in American history. It was an attempt to actually change the government illegitimately which we don`t see in a democracy, using violence.

Before I get into my remarks, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote on the Sanchez nomination occur at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Republican leader. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore…

Unless we confront the big lie, unless all of us do our part to fortify and strengthen our democracy, the political violence of January 6th risks becoming little more than a taste of dangers to come.

We are here today because one year ago, the men and women of our Capitol Police stood on the front lines of the unthinkable in America.

That means passing legislation to protect our democracy from subversion and safeguard the right to vote, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.

The biggest threat to our Capitol, our Capitol Police, and our democracy is the insidious, insidious motives stemming from the big lie propagated by the former President.

What has this country come to when that happens, when the wellspring of our democracy, the fair, unbiased counting of the votes... is threatened with violence?

It was so important to me that we had a new Police Chief who was competent, experienced, and dedicated.

I feel safe walking around the halls of this hallowed building.

Yet their bravery, their quick thinking, saved many lives and prevented a violent riot from becoming something even worse.

My experience that day was sort of like Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.

More than at any point in recent history, threats of political violence are on the rise.

Today we honor those who stepped up that day and especially those whom we have lost in the aftermath.

Every Member of the United States Senate is called on to do the same, to reckon with the lessons of that terrible day, and to take action to cure America of the disease of the big lie.

As a member of the Capitol Police Board, Ms. Gibson led a diligent search and helped us find the new Police Chief who sits here today.

January 6th was not a mere--not merely a senseless act of a mob violence that sprung up spontaneously.

If Republicans continue to hijack the rules of the chamber to prevent action on something as critical as protecting our democracy, then the Senate will debate and consider changes to the rules on or before January 17th, Martin Luther King…

What I can tell you this is, they have made even public statements that -- particularly Manchin -- that we -- he wants to get voting rights done and wants to figure out a way to do it.

The attack on January 6 was not a one off. It did not materialize out of the blue. On the contrary, January 6 was a symptom of a much broader illness that has now infected the modern Republican Party. An effort to delegitimize our…

This thing that we think happened a year ago, is ongoing, that there are still forces, particularly within the Republican Party who are trying to undermine the election.

Circumstances have changed dramatically with Donald Trump, the big lie, the violence of January 6, and all the efforts to take away voting rights.

We must adapt. The Senate must evolve, like it has many times before.