INSIGHTi
H.R. 3233, the National Commission to
Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United
States Capitol Complex Act
Updated May 26, 2021
On May 14, 2021, House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member
John Katko introduced H.R. 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the
United States Capitol Complex Act (hereinafter, January 6 Commission). The January 6 Commission
would study “the facts and circumstances surrounding the facts and circumstances of the January 6, 2021
attack on the Capitol as wel as the influencing factors that may have provoked the attack on our
democracy.” The House considered and passed H.R. 3233 on May 19, 2021.
This Insight provides an overview of congressional advisory commission structures and outlines key
features of the proposed January 6 Commission in H.R. 3233.
What Are Congressional Advisory Commissions?
Historical y, Congress has used advisory commissions to assist public policy development. Advisory
commissions can provide Congress with a potential y high-visibility forum to assemble expertise that
might not exist within the legislative environment and al ow for the in-depth examination of complex,
crosscutting policy issues.
Congressional advisory commissions provide advice, develop recommendations, or find solutions to
public policy problems, and may include nongovernmental policy experts. A congressional advisory
commission is general y defined as a multimember independent entity that
is established by Congress,
exists temporarily,
serves in an advisory capacity,
is appointed in part or whole by Members of Congress, and
reports to Congress.
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As Congress considers its range of responses to the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol
Complex, the creation of a congressional advisory commission is an option that could provide a platform
for evaluating myriad security-related policy issues. Past commissions have retrospectively evaluated
policy responses, brought together diverse groups of experts, and supplemented existing congressional
oversight mechanisms.
Congressional Commissions Established in Response to a Crisis
As part of its response to crises, Congress may establish a congressional commission to provide a
retrospective view on the causes and to develop recommendations for legislative or administrative
actions, including following a crisis (e.g., September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the 2008 financial
crisis). Among the best-known examples of crisis-related commissions is the National Commission on
Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (known as the “9/11 Commission”). The 9/11 Commission was
directed to report to Congress and the President regarding the causes of the 9/11 attacks, and to make
recommendations to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Considerations When Establishing a Commission
Should Congress choose to create a commission to respond to an emergency or crisis, several issues
might be considered. Commission advocates often cite the ability to obtain expertise, overcome issue and
political complexity, build consensus, solve collective action problems, and raise visibility. Commission
critics often note that Congress might be abdicating responsibility for a public policy issue, democratic
accountability might be reduced since nonelected officials would make recommendations, and
commissions can be financial y and time inefficient.
Selected Features of H.R. 3233
H.R. 3233, as introduced, proposes a commission structure similar to past congressional advisory
commissions. These features include duties, purposes, and reports; commission size and appointment
authority; powers; funding; and termination. In addition to H.R. 3233, three other bil s (H.R. 275, H.R.
276, and H.R. 410) that propose other commission structures have been introduced in the House. No
legislation has been introduced in the Senate.
Duties, Purposes, and Reports
H.R. 3233 would investigate the events of January 6, 2021, and make recommendations to Congress and
the President by December 31, 2021. The legislation would specify the January 6 Commission’s purposes
and functions (duties) (§3 and §4), specify that the January 6 Commission could issue interim reports
(§10(a)), and that the final report would include findings, conclusions, and recommendations for
corrective measures as agreed to by a majority of commission members (§10(b)).
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Commission Size, Appointment, and Compensation
The January 6 Commission would consist of 10 members:
Chair—appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader;
Vice Chair—appointed jointly by the House minority leader and the Senate minority
leader;
Two members by the Speaker of the House;
Two members by the House minority leader;
Two members by the Senate majority leader; and
Two members by the Senate minority leader (§3(a)).
Each member would serve for the life of the commission, may not be an government officer or employee,
and should be a prominent U.S. citizen with experience in at least two of the following areas:
governmental service; law enforcement; civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy; the Armed Forces;
intel igence; counterterrorism; cybersecurity; technology; or law (§3(b)).
The appointing authorities are to appoint members within 10 days of enactment (§3(c)), with the first
meeting within 15 days of enactment (§3(b)(3)). Each commission member would receive compensation
not to exceed the daily equivalent for a position at level III of the Executive Schedule ($181,500 in 2021)
(§3(e)), and may be reimbursed travel expenses (§3(f)).
Powers
H.R. 3233 would grant the January 6 Commission certain powers to carry out its duties. The commission
would be authorized to
issue subpoenas (§6(a)(2));
hire staff (§7(a));
request the detail of federal employees (§7(c));
hire experts and consultants (§7(b));
hold hearings (§6(a)(1));
enter into contracts (§6(b));
obtain information from federal agencies or departments upon request (§6(c));
request administrative support from the General Services Administration or other
agencies (§6(d)); and
accept, use, and dispose of services or property (§6(e)).
Funding and Termination
H.R. 3233 would provide an authorization of such sums as necessary for the commission, available until
expended (§12). The January 6 Commission would terminate within 60 days of issuing its final report
(§10(c)).
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Author Information
Jacob R. Straus
Specialist on the Congress
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
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