chairman, i was called on to serve during the riots as a national guardmen. i condemn the riots and the destruction, and not once did i feel the future of self governance was threatened like on january 6th. there's a difference between rejecting the rule of law, and as we begin our work today i want to call this committee's attention to the oath of office, an oath not to a party or individual but to the constitution that represents all americans. everyone, an elected office knows how hard it can be to preserve and protect the constitution of the united states, and with the political pressures and re-electtions always around the corner. mr. chairman, our witnesses today like every law enforcement across the country took the oath like we did. while we were whisked away from the danger, heroes like those here stood their post before it and paid the price and we're only here now because you guys were here then. therefore it's altogether fitting that we begin our investigation of january's lawless attack against the constitution with these four men, and we made su

yesterday chairman leahy and vice chairman shelby voted on a funding package that will reimburse the national guardmen who were deployed to defend this building after january 6. that package would provide relief to another group of heroes who risked their lives for america and did so on foreign soil. soldiers in afghanistan, there would be immigrant visas for those who defended our troops on the front line of america's longest war as we begin to bring our troops home from afghanistan, let's not forget the heroes who supported them and risked their lives to help them. many of these individuals and families are no longer safe if the taliban takes control. we need to give them a new home in america. i'm glad this bill provides the means to do so. i thank senator leahy for leading the negotiations. i hope every senator will support it. yesterday officer harry dunn told the select committee about the anxiety that he and other officers felt when the remaining security fence around the capitol was taken down but little else has been done to protect this building from another mob insurrection. officer dunn sa