# What This Bill Does: Creating a Commission to Investigate January 6th

This bill creates a special investigative commission to thoroughly examine what happened during the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Think of it like assembling a team of independent investigators to figure out exactly what occurred, why security failed, and how to prevent something similar from happening again.

The commission would have ten members appointed by leaders from both political parties, with a mix of Democrats and Republicans to ensure balanced representation. These members would be prominent citizens with backgrounds in law enforcement, government, the military, law, or intelligence work—not sitting government officials. The commission would have real investigative power, including the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, hold public hearings, and demand information from federal agencies. They could examine everything from how intelligence agencies handled warnings to how law enforcement responded, including whether the race of the attackers affected how police reacted.

The commission would have 18 months to complete its work and submit findings and recommendations to the President and Congress. During that time, they'd investigate what led to the attack, evaluate how prepared the government was, and propose specific changes to prevent future insurrectionist or domestic terrorist attacks. The commission would hold public hearings and release public versions of their reports so Americans could see what they found. After submitting their final report, the commission would have 60 additional days to wrap up and then dissolve.

For most Americans, this bill wouldn't directly affect daily life, but it would determine what the public learns about January 6th and what changes might result—potentially affecting security at the Capitol and how federal agencies handle domestic threats going forward.

To establish the National Commission on the Insurrectionist Attack Upon the United States Capitol.

Norton, Eleanor Holmes

This bill establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission on the Insurrectionist Attack Upon the United States Capitol. The commission shall (1) conduct an investigation that investigates relevant facts and circumstances relating to the insurrectionist attack on January 6, 2021, that ascertains, evaluates, and reports on the evidence developed by all relevant sources and that builds upon the investigations of other entities; (2) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons learned from the attacks regarding the structure, coordination, management, policies, and procedures of the federal government, and, if appropriate, state and local governments and nongovernmental entities, relative to detecting, preventing, and responding to such attacks; and (3) report to Congress and the President. The investigation may include relevant facts and circumstances relating to intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies, the flow of assets to insurrectionist and domestic terrorist organizations, the role of congressional oversight and resource allocation, and other areas of the public and private sectors deemed relevant.