WASHINGTON, DC – On May 19, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued this statement following her vote to establish an independent, bipartisan 9/11-type commission to examine the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021:

“Today, the House took a historic step in voting to establish an independent, bipartisan January 6 Commission to investigate the root causes of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol—one of the darkest days in our nation’s history.  The need for a commission has only grown clearer in recent days as some have tried to whitewash the violent attack of January 6 before Americans can learn the full set of facts about what happened, and before Congress can examine what reforms are needed to prevent future attacks on the Capitol and our democracy.

“Nearly two decades ago, as our country was reeling in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Members of Congress of all political stripes came together and put country over politics to establish an independent commission to investigate that unprecedented tragedy.  The 9/11 Commission was a model of bipartisanship and serious fact-finding.  Following an extensive investigation, the 9/11 Commission provided crucial, overwhelmingly bipartisan recommendations that strengthened our nation’s security and helped to prevent future acts of terrorism.

“The Committee on Oversight and Reform, in coordination with other House Committees, will continue to conduct our investigations of the January 6 insurrection.  This ongoing work has confirmed the need for a Commission by revealing deeper, unanswered questions about how a violent mob could strike at the heart of our republic, why security collapsed in the face of the mob, and why reinforcements took so long to mount a rescue.

“I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join the House in supporting this essential Commission, which passed this Chamber with bipartisan support.  Today’s historic vote has shown that Democrats and Republicans can come together, even in our most difficult moments, to look at the events of January 6 and say:  never again.”

Chairwoman Maloney’s speech delivered on the House Floor in advance of the May 19 vote is available online: