The House Homeland Security Committee announced that the two ranking members of the committee have come to an agreement to form an independent commission to investigate the facts and circumstances of the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol.

As posted by Scott Wong of The Hill, Democratic Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi and Republican Ranking Member John Katko of New York announced that the 10-member commission will have a chair appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will appoint the vice chair.

Each party will be able to appoint four other members, who “must have significant experience in the areas of law enforcement, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, intelligence and(/or) cybersecurity.”  The members of the commission do not have to members of Congress, as was the case with the 9/11 commission.

The commission will have subpoena power, like the 9/11 commission, so it will be able to compel testimony from government employees and political appointees.  By December 31, 2021, the commission must submit a report on the causes of the January 6th insurrection attack and ways to avert future similar attack.

“Inaction–or just moving on–is not an option,” Homeland Security Chair Thompson said in the statement, dismissing calls heard from some Republicans that the insurrections were just “tourists.”