Heinrich Statement After Senate Republicans Filibuster Bipartisan January 6 Commission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the establishment of an independent, bipartisan national commission to investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol Complex:

“Too often the filibuster has been used to block progress in our country and I cannot support the continued abuse of it in the United States Senate.

“Every Member of Congress swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Failing to do so is an egregious display of party over country – one that a majority of my Senate colleagues across the aisle showed today.

“It is urgent that we move quickly to establish an independent commission to investigate and report on the events of January 6th. What happened here on January 6th wasn’t spontaneous — it was a violent, bloody assault on our democracy born out of months of violent rhetoric and encouragement. Nothing like this can ever happen again."