Pelosi presses for Senate action on Jan. 6 commission: ‘No time to waste’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a Monday statement thanking the National Guard for protecting the Capitol called on the Senate to take action on the Jan. 6 commission, saying there’s “no time to waste.” 

The House approved legislation last week to set up a commission to investigate the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob overwhelmed Capitol Police, invaded the building and forced the evacuation of lawmakers.

Republican leaders in the Senate have come out against the commission, arguing it is unnecessary. House GOP leaders also opposed the measure, which won only 35 GOP votes on the floor last week, even after it was negotiated by the ranking GOP lawmaker on the House Homeland Security Committee.

“It is imperative that Congress continues to take action to honor the sacrifice of law enforcement and to protect the Capitol and ensure that an attack can never again be perpetrated against it,” Pelosi said in her statement. “Now that the House has passed bills to establish an independent bipartisan January 6th Commission and to fund additional security for the Capitol, the Senate must act. There is no time to waste or room for partisanship in keeping our Capitol and Country safe.”

Ten GOP votes in the Senate would be needed for the measure to move forward, which looks like an unattainable number for now. 

If the bill doesn’t pass, it’s possible Democrats could set up a special committee to look into the matter.

In thanking the National Guard for its deployment after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Pelosi said it had brought “security, safety and healing to the Congress and indeed the Country.” 

Guard troops wrapped up their work on Monday. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Monday that a vote on the commission will come up “very soon.”