Lawmakers reach deal on bipartisan January 6 commission

Four months after the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, House lawmakers have reached a deal on a bill to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the assault and come up with recommendations for securing the Capitol. The agreement comes amid efforts by some House Republicans to downplay the insurrection by a mob of Trump supporters.

House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson announced Friday that he had reached an agreement with ranking member John Katko. The two will introduce the legislation, entitled the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act, on Friday, and it may be considered by the House as early as next week. "There has been a growing consensus that the January 6th attack is of a complexity and national significance that what we need an independent commission to investigate. I am pleased that after many months of intensive discussion, Ranking Member Katko and I were able to reach a bipartisan agreement," Thompson said in a statement announcing the agreement. "Inaction - or just moving on - is simply not an option. The creation of this commission is our way of taking responsibility for protecting the U.S. Capitol."