
Blue Dogs Back Bipartisan Push for Domestic Terrorism Commission

WASHINGTON – The Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats have endorsed the Commission on Domestic Terrorism Act of 2021, which would create an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the federal government’s failure to more broadly respond to the threat of domestic terrorism over the past two decades.
The bill, which was introduced by Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., Jackie Speier, D-Calif., Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., calls for a panel modeled after the 9/11 Commission.
Once formed, its work would complement other congressional investigations into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
By broadening the investigation beyond the events of Jan. 6, the commission will be able to conduct a more robust investigation and provide better-informed recommendations to ensure the government is fully equipped to counter and prevent acts of domestic terrorism, the coalition says.
The Blue Dog Coalition’s endorsement follows Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ comments to NBC’s Meet the Press stating that domestic violent extremism poses the greatest terrorist-related threat to the homeland.
“The bipartisan Commission on Domestic Terrorism we’ve proposed is an attempt to get to the heart of the January 6 attack on the Capitol and the larger crisis of domestic extremism that’s currently afflicting our country,” said Rep. Sherrill, who is a member of the coalition.
“We need a 9/11-style commission to determine what led to this tragedy, address the underlying causes of extremism, and heal as a nation,” she continued. “Only then can we fully address the rampant violence that domestic extremists inflicted on the Capitol and routinely inflict on our fellow Americans. I am thrilled to have the endorsement of the Blue Dogs Coalition in this effort. We need members, of all political stripes and caucus affiliations, working together if we’re going to successfully confront this crisis.”
“Congress must take on the threat of domestic terrorism with a sense of urgency,” Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., the Blue Dog Coalition’s co-chair for Communications.
“In addition to investigating the January 6 attack in a bipartisan manner, Congress must also fully investigate the broader domestic terrorism threat to produce the information we need to better protect the American people. The Commission on Domestic Terrorism Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will help us fully address the threat posed by violent extremist groups,” he said.
In The News
Health
Voting
Congress
WASHINGTON — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who has represented the Lone Star State’s 18th Congressional District since 1995, is... Read More
WASHINGTON — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who has represented the Lone Star State’s 18th Congressional District since 1995, is running for mayor of Houston. Jackson Lee, who is entering a crowded field of candidates vying to replace incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is term-limited, made... Read More
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden responded to the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday that left three children and three... Read More
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden responded to the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday that left three children and three adults dead, saying it is “a family’s worst nightmare” and calling on Congress to do more to address gun violence. “Gun violence … is ripping our... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene swept into the District of Columbia jail to check on conditions for the Jan. 6 defendants, with... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene swept into the District of Columbia jail to check on conditions for the Jan. 6 defendants, with Republican lawmakers handshaking and high-fiving the prisoners, who chanted “Let's Go Brandon!” — a coded vulgarity against President Joe Biden — as the group left. A... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will press forward Friday with a midterm campaign promise by voting on legislation to give... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will press forward Friday with a midterm campaign promise by voting on legislation to give parents greater say in what is taught in public schools, even as critics decry the “parents' rights” bill as a burdensome proposal that would fuel a... Read More
WASHINGTON — The chief executive of social media app and website TikTok endured five hours of withering accusations in Congress... Read More
WASHINGTON — The chief executive of social media app and website TikTok endured five hours of withering accusations in Congress Thursday that his company acted as the alter ego of the Chinese government and failed to protect children from harmful video content. Several times the lawmakers... Read More
WASHINGTON — The chief executive of Moderna Inc. defended his plan to quadruple the price of the COVID-19 vaccine during... Read More
WASHINGTON — The chief executive of Moderna Inc. defended his plan to quadruple the price of the COVID-19 vaccine during a Senate hearing Wednesday by saying his company is preparing for a sharp decline in demand. With as much as a 90% drop in customers as... Read More