John,

The Senate just blocked the creation of a January 6th Commission. The final vote was 54-35 with six Republicans voting yes with the Democrats.

But this is not over.

Together, we helped make a commission to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol a defining national issue. You made calls and sent letters. We lobbied on Capitol Hill. Democracy reform groups across the country came together and made a compelling case for establishing this critical commission to deliver an honest and objective account of the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021.

We’re disappointed, but we’re not giving up. We’re planning our next steps, and we will need you with us to continue building a powerful movement for the truth and an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Please stay tuned, and thanks for all you do.  

Below are statements about the vote from Issue One’s Founder and CEO Nick Penniman and Executive Director Meredith McGehee:

Penniman said: “Our hearts broke a bit after today’s vote in the Senate. January 6th was a day of national trauma. Our nation deserves a bipartisan reckoning with what happened, and a collective search for solutions so that it never happens again. It wasn’t merely a day of random violence. It was an attack on our constitutional system itself. If such attacks don’t deserve the attention of a congressionally enacted bipartisan commission, then I don’t know what ever would. So as we mourn the loss of lives and stand with those who protected the U.S. Capitol that day and those harmed by the attack, we also mourn the continued breakdown of our political system and stand with those who want to repair it and make America stronger.”

McGehee added: “Today was not the end. We need an independent and comprehensive investigation that brings together all of the inquiries about this day from Congress and across the government to produce a clear and comprehensive picture of what happened, how it happened, and what can be done to make sure this never happens again. Our national security is too important to let this vote be the end of this effort. We at Issue One look forward to helping forge ways in which the American people get the investigation and report they deserve.”