[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          January 6 Commission

  Now, about January 6, this morning a special committee of the House 
of Representatives will convene for the first time to begin an inquiry 
into the events of January 6. It is important we do this. January 6 was 
one of the darkest episodes in the history of our democracy, the first 
time the Capitol was breached since the War of 1812.
  In both the runup and aftermath, vicious lies about our elections 
fueled dangerous conspiracies and mob violence. We must establish a 
trusted account of what transpired on January 6, what and who caused 
it. Not just the people in the building, as bad as they were, but many 
others may have been involved, as well, and I am hopeful that this 
inquiry will get to the bottom of that. We have to do this to make sure 
that such an event is never repeated.
  But let me say, Mr. President, we have traveled a very sorry road to 
get to this place. The special committee in the House was forced into 
existence because Senate Republicans and Leader McConnell blocked the 
formation of an independent commission, appointed on a bipartisan 
basis, to report on the events of the 6th. We had modeled it on the 
bipartisan 9/11 Commission, but Leader McConnell stood in the way.
  How did we come to such a moment? Well, in the immediate aftermath of 
the attack on the Capitol, the House Republican leader said that 
President Trump ``bears responsibility.'' The Republican leader warned 
of a ``death spiral'' for our democracy if election lies told by the 
losing side were to be believed. Republicans of all stripes, many in 
this Chamber, demanded accountability and answers.
  But, in the last 6 months, all that courage and truth-telling has 
evaporated into smoke. All that courage and truth-telling has 
evaporated into smoke. What a shame for the Republican Party. The House 
Republican leader deputized Members of his own party to negotiate an 
independent commission with Democrats, and once they did, he stabbed 
them in the back and instructed his Members to vote against it.
  Weeks later, the House Republicans fired the only member of their 
leadership team willing to call out President Trump's election lies. 
House Republicans are now likening January 6 to a peaceful protest and 
a ``normal tourist visit.''
  Again, I would commend to people the New York Times video--40 
minutes--that simply documents what happened. And it is appalling to 
see one of the Congress Members say this was like a normal, peaceful 
visit when you watch the violence that occurred before your very eyes.
  Here in the Senate, the Republican minority mounted a partisan 
filibuster to prevent this Chamber from even debating legislation to 
create an independent commission. Is that amazing? Every Democratic 
Member was appalled that they wouldn't even let a debate on whether to 
have a commission go forward
  Four months, that is how long it took for House and Senate Republican 
leadership, who denounced former President Trump in the aftermath of 
January 6, who said they held him practically and morally responsible--
4 months was all it took for Republican leadership to back down, turn 
silent, and then thwart an independent investigation into the January 6 
attack.
  So, today, the House begins an important task under the only 
circumstances that congressional Republicans would allow. I have no 
doubt that House Republicans will engage in efforts to discredit even 
this: the work of a bipartisan panel of investigators. They will dredge 
up the same dreary talking points. They will call it a witch hunt. They 
will call Republicans who participate Pelosi Republicans. They will 
cheapen the public discourse even more than it has already been 
cheapened and do their level best to sow distrust about any account of 
what happened on January 6.
  For what? Fear of Donald Trump? The belief that their political 
viability hinges on whitewashing an attempted coup? Who knows.
  But let the record reflect that the House will proceed with this 
important investigation and it will be done by Members from both 
parties and that it will get at the truth.