Senate votes to display Jan. 6 plaque after House GOP refused to hang it

The Senate unanimously approved a resolution directing the Architect of the Capitol to display a plaque honoring officers who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after the House speaker declined to hang it; the plaque will be displayed in the Senate wing until a permanent location is set.

The Senate on Thursday unanimously agreed to display a plaque honoring the officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack. The resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to place the plaque in a publicly accessible location in the Senate wing until a permanent site is chosen. The measure was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Thom Tillis after House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to hang the plaque as required by a 2022 law. Johnson's office said the law was not implementable because the produced plaque listed responding agencies rather than individual officers. Key facts: - The resolution passed by unanimous consent, with all 100 senators agreeing not to object. - It directs the Architect of the Capitol to prominently display the plaque in the Senate wing in a publicly accessible location until a permanent placement is found. - The resolution was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). - House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to hang the plaque, saying the 2022 law could not be implemented as written because the plaque lists agencies rather than individual officers. - Sen. Tillis suggested temporary locations such as the first-floor visitor check-in area or the third-floor tour route near the Senate gallery. - The measure does not require House approval or the president's signature to be implemented. Summary: The Senate's action secures a visible placement for the Jan. 6 plaque in the Senate wing while officials consider a permanent site. Undetermined at this time.