Texas Reps. Cloud, Gohmert and Roy vote against awarding Capitol police gold medals for actions on Jan. 6

Texas Reps. Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and Chip Roy, R-Austin, voted against a House bill Tuesday to award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the building on January 6, 2021.

The bill, introduced by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, passed 406-21 with strong bipartisan support. Cloud, Gohmert and Roy voted against, with all “nays” coming from Republican representatives.

“The sacrifice of heroes including Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith, and those who sustained injuries, and the courage of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, exemplify the patriotism and the commitment of Capitol Police officers, and those of other law enforcement agencies, to risk their lives in service of our country,” the bill reads.

It is initially unclear why Cloud, Gohmert and Roy voted against the bill, but they were not alone. Other members of the GOP also opposed the measure, including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, spoke in support of the bill during the debate.

“I am very proud to rise today, and to thank Speaker Pelosi for the vision and leadership,” Jackson Lee said on the floor. “I rise and support this gold medal, I rise that we never have this happen again, and I rise to say ‘thank you.’ The simple words of ‘thank you.’”

Cloud, TX-27, has served his coastal district for three years. The Republican is a “Constitutional Conservative” who “defends American values, while working for economic growth, our Constitutional liberties, and a strong national defense,” according to his website.

Gohmert made headlines just yesterday when he filed a lawsuit against House administration officials for “unjust and unconstitutional” fines after he evaded the metal detectors outside the House chamber. He has represented his East Texas district for 16 years.

And Chip Roy, the Austin Republican, has a history of fiercely opposing Democratic measures in the House over the course of his two years in office.

He previously served as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, staff director of Sen. John Cornyn’s leadership office and senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee.