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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	June 28, 2021 11:44 AM
From:	Representative Malcolm Kenyatta
To:	All House members
Subject:	Establish January 6 as 'Democracy Observance Day'

January 6, 2021, is a day we must never forget -- or we are doomed to repeat it.  As Congress met in the People’s House to officially tally the Electoral College votes for President, a violent mob of domestic terrorists descended upon the Capitol Building and forcibly entered its hallowed halls.  Lawmakers and their staff barricaded themselves in secure locations, while the aggressors proceeded to pillage offices and destroy federal property.  Still others assaulted law enforcement personnel and took the life of Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick.   All Americans and Pennsylvanians should remember January 6 as a day that shook the foundations of our democratic republic. Democracy is a fragile and we all have a duty to protect it in the face of conspiracy theories, lies, and violence. As well as remembering those who risked – and gave – their lives to defend the United States Capitol Building on that day. For these reasons, I plan to introduce a series of bills to establish January 6 as Democracy Observance Day for Education, Remembrance, and Vigilance –to be referred to as Democracy Observance Day – in Pennsylvania.  I further plan to introduce a resolution to urge Congress to do the same on a national level.   President Lincoln in his Gettysburg address famously ended by saying "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Part of protecting our democracy is remembering the days it was threatened and what is required of us as citizens to preserve it.  Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation and send a unified message to the people of Pennsylvania that we will always protect our democracy.

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Document #1

Description:	Document 1 – The first bill will amend the Legal Holiday Law to establish January 6 as Democracy Observance Day in Pennsylvania.

Document #2

Description:	Document 2 – Much like the first piece of legislation, the second bill will amend the Banking Code to establish January 6 as Democracy Observance Day in our state.

Document #3

Description:	Document 3 – This will be a resolution urging Congress to declare January 6 as Democracy Observance Day for Education, Remembrance, and Vigilance.  It is critical that this date be reflected upon and the bravery of so many memorialized on a national scale, not just in our great commonwealth.