The House passes the bipartisan bill to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and American democracy, despite loud opposition from GOP leaders.

Today, the Senate and House voted for a bipartisan bill proposed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to increase U.S. Capitol security following the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. 

This bill is modeled after the 9/11 bill in hopes to create an investigative team to further probe the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

Pelosi wants bipartisan support for this bill since all members of Congress were affected by the attack on January 6, but the Trump loyalists are relentless. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell opposed the bill earlier this week, following House minority leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise under the premise of it being unnecessary and unfair. 

35 Republicans defy GOP

“Given the political misdirections that have marred this process, given the now duplicative and potentially counterproductive nature of this effort, and given the Speaker’s shortsighted scope that does not examine interrelated forms of political violence in America, I cannot support this legislation,” Kevin McCarthy said.

Despite GOP opposition, the bill was passed through the House 252 to 175. 35 Republicans defied the GOP orders and joined Democrats in support of the bill. 

For the bill to pass the Senate, 60 total votes are needed, including 10 Republican votes. This will be fairly hard to maintain due to the immense amount of opposition from McConnell and McCarthy. 

GOP leaders say it is counterproductive and too focused on the insurrection which occurred on January 6th. Many Republicans, however, chose to vote for the bill due to the necessity of higher and stricter security for the Capitol and an investigation of the harmful and deadly events, including Liz Cheney, Anthony Gonzalez, John Katko, and Adam Kinzinger.

Much of the GOP opposition stems from former President Trump’s statement, declaring it a “Democratic trap” and urging minority House and Senate leaders to fight against the investigation. 

Another reason the GOP is resisting the passage of the bill is that the Democrats are in charge of the House and Senate and will be making the majority of decisions and appointments. McCarthy lobbied multiple Republicans under this premise arguing the commission would consist of a Democratic-appointed chairman and no Republican input. 

Anoosha Murtaza is a Gen Z Voice at the Pavlovic Today and a rising third-year student at the University of Virginia. Anoosha has a passion for good journalism, strong political views, and social justice. 

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