House passes bill awarding Congressional Gold Medals to Capitol Police following Jan. 6 riot

House lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday to award Congressional Gold Medals to the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies who defended the complex during the Jan. 6 riot.

Gaetz and other lawmakers who cast nay votes cited language included in the bill, which described the rioters as a "mob of insurrectionists." Rep. Louie Gohmert sponsored a competing bill that did not contain direct references to the Jan. 6 riot. "Dems combined recognition of USCP with editorial comments about January 6th," Gaetz wrote on Twitter. "The brave men and women of the USCP deserve better, which is why I cosponsored a clean recognition of their heroism with @replouiegohmert." The approved bill, introduced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would award Congressional Gold Medals to the Capitol Police and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. A third medal would be sent to the Smithsonian Institute, where it would be displayed alongside a plaque listing every law enforcement agency that responded to the attack.