King. Memorial day Holiday Weekend, the dos and donts, safety tips if you will and compliments on the Vaccine Rollout Heading into this Holiday Weekend. To the right of your screen thats the floor of the United States senate, a key vote under way right now, will the United States senate proceed to debate whether we should have an independent Bipartisan Commission to investigate the capitol insurrection . We expect the answer to be no. But this key procedural vote is under way right now. It should wrap up any moment from now. Democrats need ten republicans to break ranks to keep the idea of this commission alive. Lets get straight up to capitol hill and our chief Congressional Correspondent manu raju. As it plays out right now, explain the significance of the vote that should be concluded in a matter of moments. Reporter the significance here is that there are 60 votes to move ahead theres a possibility that an Outside Commission could be created to investigate the january 6th attack. If there are not ten republicans who break ranks this bill will fall part. It will essentially be over and then democrats may decide to investigate things on their own hands and not be have this Outside Commission. A bipartisan Investigation Move forward. At the moment there are not those ten republican votes. There are six republicans who have broken ranks. So six republicans, five of them actually voted to convict donald trump at his Impeachment Trial. Senator susan collins, lisa murkowski, mitt romney, bill cassidy and ben sasse, those are the five who voted to convict donald trump for inciting the january 6th election. One of them, rob portman, voted to move ahead, he did not vote for conviction. One republican who did vote to convict, richard burr, has already indicated he will not vote to advance this. So the question ultimately, can there be ten . And theres really no sign that that is going to happen here. The republican argument, the leadership has said that their concern is this could become a political investigation, it could undercut their messaging going forward. The democrats say this is a Bipartisan Commission that was cut by a republican and a democrat in the house, a deal that was cut, five members on each side will be selected here and the report would be due by the end of the year. But republicans want this over with and expect them to succeed in a matter of minutes. Well come back to you as soon as we get the decisive tally in the vote. Lets go to alexandria, virginia, the president of the United States. Before i begin, id like to say a quick word about an old friend of mine, quick word about senator john warner. I had the privilege of serving with john for three decades in the United States senate. I can say, without hesitation, he was a man of conscience. And a man of honor. And in his life full of honors, the most enduring was his service to the people of virginia. And were going to miss him dearly. And, you know, john took chances. I was stunned, pleased and stunned when in the middle of my primary john endorsed me for president of the United States. It was how things sort of used to be back in the old days in the United States senate when i first got there, people that didnt happen that often but people would cross the aisle to work with one another. John was a man of great integrity, and hes missed going to be missed in virginia, which was fortunate to have him as long as they did. Jacob, i want to thank you for sharing your story. And i want to you pointed out that my wife works for the governor. No wonder she doesnt Pay Attention to me when but all kidding aside, im very proud of the fact that jill has teaching is not what jill does. Teaching is who she is and shes done it her whole adult life. And shes still doing it. I know some people said when youre first lady, are you going to continue to teach . She said yes, but i dont think she bargained for having to teach online initially. You know, students, i watched her. She spent more time, four hours a day, for about a month, learning how to teach online. So dont feel bad about yall having to do it, i watched the teachers have to do it. Any rate, i just want to say that, you know, were in a position now, Governor Northam, i want to thank you for your welcome to the commonwealth and i want to thank you for all youre doing to help win the fight against covid. Youre one of the best governors in the country at taking this on, and you did it from the beginning. [ applause ] and mayor wilson, thanks for the passport into the city. I promise ill leave in time, but thank you. And Congressman Connelly and beyer, both members of congress, but Congressman Connelly got to congress with a real impediment. He worked for me for years before that on my staff, and everythings gone downhill since you left, thank you. And i want to thank the speaker as well and the Senate Majority leader as well as thank all of you working so hard for the people here in Northern Virginia. Four months after i took office were further along in this fight than anyone thought possible. Lets remember where we were 129 days ago. When i took office we were averaging 184,000 cases per day nationwide. Here in virginia, as the governor pointed out, schools were closed. Main street had gone quiet here and in cities all across america. Virginia tech didnt play in a bowl game this winter, first time in 28 years. And so many joys of life, large and small, have been halted by a long, dark winter. And today youve gone from 184 cases per day nationwide to fewer than 22 cases 22,000 cases per day. Deaths have dropped by over 85 . Tens of thousands of moms and dads, grandpops and grandmas, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends are still with us today who would otherwise have been lost. This has been true here in virginia particularly, from 43,000 cases the week before i took office to fewer than 2,800 in the past week, a 93 decline. Weve been able to do it for three reasons. First, we planned and executed a Vaccination Effort at a scale and speed never before seen here or anywhere in the world. Here in virginia that meant 247 million in federal funding for Community Vaccination sites. Over 360 federally funded National Guard members supporting the states covid19 response. Getting doses to Community Health care centers, 1,000 pharmacies all across virginia. And creating a mass vaccination site in norfolk, officially run by the federal Emergency Management agency and the United States navy in partnership with virginia. Second reason that we succeeded is governors like Governor Northam have been instrumental partners, leaders in red states and blue states working with businesses, faith leaders, Community Groups to get it done at a local level. And thirdly, most crucially, the American People, more than 165 million americans so far have done their patriotic duty, 165 million. And gotten at least one shot. Americans of every party, every race, creed, have come together and rolled up their sleeves, literally, and done their part. Now 51 of American Adults have been fully vaccinated. 75 of seniors fully vaccinated. Leaving nobody behind. Black, white, hispanic, across the world, across the board. Theyve been getting their vaccinations. In virginia, 55 as the governor said of all adults are vaccinated. I believe thats the right number. And look at what that means. We arent just saving lives, were getting our lives back, stores and restaurants, up and down main street, are hanging open signs on their front doors. And here, in the rock climbing gym, were greeted by another and were greeting one another, with smiles, with our masks off, and im about to do this 60 foot wall. But i tell you what, i work out every morning but i said i have Trouble Holding those grips. And the young man said to me, he said the way to work your hands, he said get a kettle bell, a light one, and just put it under your fingers and work it that way. Tonight im trying it. But folks are heading back to the minor league ballparks, pools and parks are opening up across the state, families are heading down to spend Memorial Day Weekend at Virginia Beach and all over the country weve gone from pain and stagnation of a long, dark winter to an economy on the move, growing faster than it has in nearly 40 years. From anemic job creation in the months before i took office to the fastest job creation in the first three months of any administration in american history. And rising wages, rising wages. As more americans get vaccinated, the days grow brighter and brighter. But let me be clear, were not done yet. We have to reach those who are not vaccinated and make it as easy as possible for them to get protected. I set an ambitious goal of getting 70 of adult americans at least one shot by july the 4th. Today, just over a month to go, were at 62 . Ten states have already reached the 70 milestone. Virginias 66 is moving closer every day. And continuing on all counting on just all the help, and continuing this process. Is really, i think youre going to get the job done here in virginia pretty quickly, g ov. 70 , and keep sprinting through the finish line is what were all about. If we succeed, we can celebrate our independence from the virus together on the 4th of july as we celebrate our independence as a nation. The future is only going to get brighter because there will be no doubt what america can achieve when we do it together. I know, when i ran for office, i said i wanted to do three things. One of which was to unite the country. Its difficult. But this is the first real evidence that were able to do it. The American People are more ready to come together, i believe, than the congress and the elected officials are, but were getting there. If you arent vaccinated yet, its never been easier. If convenience is the issue there are 80,000 locations, visit vaccines. Gov or text you zip code to 438829 and youll find the sites nearest you. It will pop up. And almost all cases you dont need an appointment. If transportations an issue i want to thank lyft and uber offering free rides to and from the Vaccination Sites until july 4th. Theyll come and pick you up, take you to the vaccination center, get you wait for you, and take you back to your home or wherever you emerge from. And, you know, if cost is an issue, dont let that be a concern. The vaccine is 100 free. If time is an issue, there are 10,000 sites offering vaccinations without an appointment. 1,000 pharmacies in virginia alone. And the vast majority offer it no appointment. With no appointment required. You made extraordinary progress. Every american should be proud of what weve accomplished and we did it together. We still have five weeks left to hit our goal. You know and i know we can do it. Just look at what weve done so far. Theres not a single thing that ive been saying this a long time and i think a lot of the press who think im being naive, theres nothing we cannot accomplish if we do it together, i really believe that, nothing, nothing weve ever set our mind to as americans that weve failed at when weve done it together. In virginia, you know youre doing your part. So, you know, i remember always, adhere to the in the last administration, id hear when they talk about vaccines and that were going to make progress he said theres light at the end of the tunnel. I was reminded in my generation in the 60s there was a were going to leave the president s event in Northern Virginia to take you up to capitol hill, the United States just wrapped up a vote, 5435. That means the democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation that would create a Bipartisan Commission to investigation the january 6th insurrection. Lets get straight up to chief correspondent manu raju. Some senators clearly gone for the Holiday Weekend. Democrats falling short of this goal. This commission, if it advanced would be a life support. Is it now dead, done . Reporter it seems that way. Sometimes people point to the 9 11 commission as something that took about with a year to put together, after much negotiation, and in this case the situation is different, the politics are much different, and the expectation here is different, that instead democrats may take matters in their own hands and try to investigate things in a democraticled investigation in the house. This would have been much different had this bill gone forward. It would have been an outside Bipartisan Commission, five commissioners selected from both parties, judicial notice Subpoena Power, they would have to issue a report by the end of the year but republicans simply just did not want to go this route. They did not some are frankly concerned about having an outside Commission Like this, where would it go, what it would lead to, and others said they believe the investigations that have been ongoing already are good enough, narrower, looking at what happened on that day, why the capitol was so unprepared. Not all the Influencing Factors, not Donald Trumps role, not the role of some republicans, which is what this Outside Commission would undoubtedly look at, the Influencing Factors behind this attack. But this vote, significant, 5435, a bipartisan majority did vote to open debate, but they needed 60 votes to move ahead. And just from our tally right now, unofficial tally, just six republicans voted to move ahead. They needed ten to move forward. Some were democrats and republicans were absent from this vote, knowing this was going to fail, almost as we expected for days here, but they did need ten. They did have five republicans who voted to convict donald trump at his Impeachment Trial voted yes, and one who did not vote to convict donald trump voted yes, rob portman. Now democrats have to decide what to do next if they want to pursue this investigation in what happened to january 6th in the months ahead. Please stay with us, with me in studio is rachel baittes, an katherine lucy. Rachel, starting with you, to manus point, this Bipartisan Commission, to investigation, an attack on the capitol building, an investigation that should not become partisan but somehow has even though they cut a bipartisan deal. Senator bill cassidy, one of the republican senators who voted yes, not enough republican senators voting yes but one of them said the investigation will happen without republicans to ensure the investigations are fair and partial and focused on the facts republicans need to be involved. That was what he hoped to convince his colleagues, but the leader, Mitch Mcconnell, has made the decision, donald trump doesnt want this, we need a happy trump to win in 2022. Lets make this go away. I mean, like thats a logical argument but then theres the political flipside which is that, you know, republicans know its much harder to ignore a subpoena from a Bipartisan Commission when youre being summoned, you know, from an independent investigation that has nothing to do with politics. Thats harder for someone like Kevin Mccarthy to ignore that. Its harder to smear the results, if you dont like what the finding is. You know, and this would be a commission that went deep inside the white house, and detailed potentially what trump was doing and was not doing on january 6th when violence was happening at the capitol. So, you know, from a very cynical point of view, which is where democrats are coming from, they do not want this commission to be bipartisan because its easier to attack an investigation that is led by democrats, you already hear Kevin Mccarthy calling this, quote, pelosi commission, even though one of his allies was the one who struck this deal. Theyre worried about what donald trump will say about this. They want to focus on biden and his agenda but they want to attack these findings and this enables them to do that. The democrats go forward with a select committee or some other investigative committees. But the republicans keep saying there are committees looking at this, and one of the things that democrats say, yeah, theyre not going to call up donald trump, not asking the Chief Of Staff to come to the white house and say what was the president doing. Theyre not going to get leader Kevin Mccarthy, thats the challenge now, can democrats come up with something, and put it on a timeline, that gets you findings, quickly, but thats right. We heard from manu, the scale and scope of what im sorry, lets just listen, the Majority Leader chuck super talking about the vote. Good news, republicans worked with democrats on comprehensive legislation to strengthen our commitment to scientific research, which will pass the senate when Senate Resumes session. The bad news, the republican minority just mounted a partisan filibuster against an independent commission to report on january 6th. Both efforts should have moved forward in a solidly bipartisan way but out of fear or feelty to donald trump, the republican minority just prevent it had American People from getting the full truth about january 6th. The republican minority just prevented the senate from even debating the bill. No opportunity for amendments, no opportunity for debate. There was an attempt by the republican minority to shunt this vote into the dark of night. But because of todays senate time agreement it was done in broad daylight. The American People will see how each republican senator voted. Now, this should have been simple. The commission was bipartisan, independent, straight down the middle. House democrats accepted every change that House Leadership requested. Speaker pelosi and i supported and still do support the changes Senator Collins proposed. And we told that to other senators. Senate republicans for months publicly supported the idea of a commission. But now all of a sudden the Senate Minority and the Senate Minority leader waged a partisan filibuster against the bill. This vote has made it official. Donald trumps big lie has now fully enveloped the Republican Party. Trumps big lie is now the defining principle of what was once the party of lincoln. House republicans canned congresswoman cheney for the crime of telling the truth that joe biden is president. Republican State Legislature seizing on the big lie are conducting the greatest assault on Voting Rights since the beginning of jim crow. Republicans in both chambers are trying to rewrite history and claim that january 6th was just a peaceful protest that got a little out of hand. And now this. A partisan blockade of a simple, independent, Bipartisan Commission. Ive heard all the excuses why republicans are posing this bill. Its too early. Goes on too long. Its not needed. Almost all of these excuses are meritless, and were invented in the past two weeks. We all know whats going on here. Senate republicans chose to defend the big lie because they believe anything that might upset donald trump could hurt them politically. Weve all lived through the horrors of january 6th. I was no further than 30 feet from those White Supremacists hooligans. Do my republican colleagues remember that day . Do my republican colleagues remember the savage mob calling for the execution of mike pence, the makeshift gallows outside the capitol . Men with Bullet Proof Vests and zip ties breaking into the senate gallery, and rifling through your desks. Police officers crushed between doorways. Shame on the Republican Party for trying to sweep the horrors of that day under the rug because theyre afraid of donald trump. Our democracy has long endured because leaders of good faith, even if they disagreed even at political cost, Shared A Fidelity to the truth. Not so today. I hope this is not the beginning of an effort by Senate Republicans to prevent this chamber from debating reasonable common sense legislation. We will soon see. After the state work period,ly bring forward legislation that would help provide equal pay for women. Will our republican colleag