**Today, Rep. Kuster is in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the anniversary of the January 6th attack – she will join fellow Members of the U.S. House of Representatives at 2:30 pm to recount their experiences that day in the spirit of unity, patriotism, and prayerfulness**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) will deliver the following testimonial in Washington, D.C. on the first anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol and the failed insurrection attempt to overturn the lawful, democratic election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. A live stream of the testimonials will be available here at 2:30 pm.

“One thousand acts of courage saved my life and our democracy one year ago today in the January 6th attack on our Capitol. I am here today as both a survivor and a witness to the brutal, violent attack that threatened my life and continues to threaten the future of our democracy.

“America does not yet know just how close we – the Members here today and our democracy – came to our demise that terrifying day. One thousand acts of courage by the Capitol Police, the DC Metro Police, and House staff saved our lives and saved the future of our democracy.

“I was in the House gallery to witness the certification of the election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We could hear the shouting and commotion in the hallways outside the gallery and then the pounding on the door to the chamber as the Members on the House floor were evacuated. Terror and adrenaline coursed through our bodies as we lay on the floor hidden behind the gallery rail. I grabbed the hand of my colleague, Sarah Jacobs, just 31 years old on her fourth day of Congress. ‘Sarah,’ I whispered, ‘we have to crawl around this corner to get out of the line of fire.’ We were all terrified.

“Suddenly, a Capitol police officer shouted, ‘Run! Run, run, run, run, run!’ We scrambled across the entire length of the gallery, crouching down and ducking under the railings, terrified by the pounding on the door and the shouting outside the chamber. A tall, brave officer grabbed four of us. ‘I will get you to the elevator to safety.’

“We ducked into the elevator just as the raging rioters came charging down the hallway. One thousand acts of courage saved my life and our democracy, by moments, not minutes. Every struggle that slowed the monstrous mob saved our lives.

“What would they have done to us? Bear spray? Tear us limb from limb? Kidnap or kill four Members of Congress? Or many, many more. Seconds later, Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, heard the commotion in the hall and commanded the police to lock the last gallery door. Two dozen Members of Congress and a dozen or more journalists were pinned down for the next eight and a half minutes while the police finally subdued the mob.

“When my colleagues finally evacuated the gallery, the rioters were sprawled on the floor with guns to their heads. A combat scene that no one could begin to imagine in the halls of Congress. We survived that day. We returned to the chamber that night. And at 3:30 am, we certified the election of our new President and Vice President.

“Let us never forget how close we came. Let us carry a thousand acts of courage in our hearts and act to save our democracy, today and every day. God Bless America.”

###