Senate presses forward with January 6 commission bill despite filibuster threat

The Senate is expected to vote this week on the House-passed bill creating a commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, despite the threat of a filibuster by Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Wednesday that the Senate will "likely" vote on the bill this week. The Senate is in recess next week, meaning the vote will be punted to later in June if it does not occur in the coming days. But most legislation requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate, and Democrats only have a 50-seat majority. Fewer than ten Republicans are expected to support the bill, meaning that it can be filibustered. This will be the first filibuster of the new Congress, a tool that is often used by the minority party to block legislation.