I ALSO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO CHAIRMAN SCHIFF WHO WILL BE
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF WHO WILL BE PRESIDING LATER IN THE DAY.
PRESIDING LATER IN THE DAY. MY COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING AND
MY COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING AND EVERY MORNING WHEN WE COME
EVERY MORNING WHEN WE COME TOGETHER MEMBERS RISE AND PLEDGE
TOGETHER MEMBERS RISE AND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. EVERY DAY ALL ACROSS AMERICA
EVERY DAY ALL ACROSS AMERICA CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, MEMBERS OF
CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, OFFICIALS AND
THE MILITARY, OFFICIALS AND THOSE CIVICALLY ENGAGED ALSO
THOSE CIVICALLY ENGAGED ALSO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. LET US RECALL WHAT THAT PLEDGE
LET US RECALL WHAT THAT PLEDGE SAYS.
SAYS. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC -- TO THE
AND TO THE REPUBLIC -- TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS
THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS IS ONE WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
IS ONE WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
TODAY. A REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN KEEP IT.
A REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN KEEP IT. WE GATHER TODAY UNDER THE DOME
WE GATHER TODAY UNDER THE DOME OF THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY TO
OF THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY TO EXERCISE ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN
EXERCISE ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN POWERS THAT THIS BODY CAN TAKE.
POWERS THAT THIS BODY CAN TAKE. THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES. NO MEMBER REGARDLESS OF PARTY OR
NO MEMBER REGARDLESS OF PARTY OR POLITICS COMES TO CONGRESS TO
POLITICS COMES TO CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT. BUT EVERY ONE OF US AS OUR FIRST
BUT EVERY ONE OF US AS OUR FIRST ACT AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
ACT AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS STOOD ON THIS HISTORIC HOUSE
STOOD ON THIS HISTORIC HOUSE FLOOR BEFORE OUR BEAUTIFUL
FLOOR BEFORE OUR BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN FLAG AND RAISED OUR
AMERICAN FLAG AND RAISED OUR HANDS IN THE SACRED OATH, I DO
HANDS IN THE SACRED OATH, I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL
SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALLEN ENEMIES,
STATES AGAINST ALLEN ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, SO HELP ME
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, SO HELP ME GOD.
GOD. FOR 230 YEARS MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN
FOR 230 YEARS MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN THAT SACRED OATH WHICH MAKES US
THAT SACRED OATH WHICH MAKES US CUSTODIANS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
CUSTODIANS OF THE CONSTITUTION. WHEN OUR FOUNDERS DECLARED
WHEN OUR FOUNDERS DECLARED INDEPENDENCE AND ESTABLISHED A
INDEPENDENCE AND ESTABLISHED A NEW NATION THEY CRAFTED A SYSTEM
NEW NATION THEY CRAFTED A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNLIKE ONE EVER
OF GOVERNMENT UNLIKE ONE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
SEEN BEFORE. A REPUBLIC STARTING WITH THE
A REPUBLIC STARTING WITH THE SACRED WORDS "WE THE PEOPLE."
SACRED WORDS "WE THE PEOPLE." FOR CENTURIES AMERICANS HAVE
FOR CENTURIES AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEND
FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE.
DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE. BUT VERY SADLY NOW OUR FOUNDERS’
BUT VERY SADLY NOW OUR FOUNDERS’ VISION OF A REPUBLIC IS UNDER
VISION OF A REPUBLIC IS UNDER THREAT FROM ACTIONS FROM THE
THREAT FROM ACTIONS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE. THAT IS WHY TODAY AS SPEAKER OF
THAT IS WHY TODAY AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE I SOLEMNLY AND SADLY
THE HOUSE I SOLEMNLY AND SADLY OPEN THE DEBATE ON THE
OPEN THE DEBATE ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE UNITED STATES. IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW, WE WOULD
IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW, WE WOULD BE DERELICT IN OUR DUTY.
BE DERELICT IN OUR DUTY. IT IS TRAGIC THAT THE
IT IS TRAGIC THAT THE PRESIDENT’S RECKLESS ACTIONS
PRESIDENT’S RECKLESS ACTIONS MAKE IMPEACHMENT NECESSARY.
MAKE IMPEACHMENT NECESSARY. HE GAVE US NO CHOICE.
HE GAVE US NO CHOICE. WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS
WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE
THE ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE
PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION. IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE
IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS AN ONGOING THREAT
PRESIDENT IS AN ONGOING THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, THE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY. HUNDREDS OF HISTORIANS AND LEGAL
HUNDREDS OF HISTORIANS AND LEGAL SCHOLARS AND FORMAL PROSECUTORS
SCHOLARS AND FORMAL PROSECUTORS REGARDLESS OF PARTY HAVE STATED
REGARDLESS OF PARTY HAVE STATED THAT THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED
THAT THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES.
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES. SINCE TODAY IS A NATIONAL CIVICS
SINCE TODAY IS A NATIONAL CIVICS LESSON, THOUGH A SAD ONE, I
LESSON, THOUGH A SAD ONE, I SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS FOR THE
SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS FOR THE RECORD AND COMMEND THEM FOR
RECORD AND COMMEND THEM FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY.
STUDENTS TO STUDY. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
ORDERED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS
WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE
THE ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT, AGAIN, VIOLATED THE
PRESIDENT, AGAIN, VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION. IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE
IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS AGAIN AN ONGOING
PRESIDENT IS AGAIN AN ONGOING THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. AND THE TESTIMONY OF DECORATED
AND THE TESTIMONY OF DECORATED WAR HEROES, DISTINGUISHED
WAR HEROES, DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMATS AND PATRIOTIC CAREER
DIPLOMATS AND PATRIOTIC CAREER PUBLIC SERVANTS, SOME OF THE
PUBLIC SERVANTS, SOME OF THE PRESIDENT’S OWN APPOINTEES OVER
PRESIDENT’S OWN APPOINTEES OVER THE PAST WEEKS HAVE TOLD US
THE PAST WEEKS HAVE TOLD US THIS.
THIS. THE PRESIDENT USED THE POWER OF
THE PRESIDENT USED THE POWER OF HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO OBTAIN AN
HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO OBTAIN AN IMPROPER PERSONAL POLITICAL
IMPROPER PERSONAL POLITICAL BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF
BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICA’S NATIONAL SECURITY.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL SECURITY. WHEN A PRESIDENT WEAKENS A
WHEN A PRESIDENT WEAKENS A DEMOCRATIC ALLY THAT IS
DEMOCRATIC ALLY THAT IS ADVANCING AMERICAN SECURITY
ADVANCING AMERICAN SECURITY INTERESTS BY FIGHTING AN
INTERESTS BY FIGHTING AN AMERICAN ADVERSARY, THE
AMERICAN ADVERSARY, THE PRESIDENT WEAKENS AMERICA.
PRESIDENT WEAKENS AMERICA. THIS ABUSE OF POWER ALSO
THIS ABUSE OF POWER ALSO JEOPARDIZES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
JEOPARDIZES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS. ALL AMERICANS AGREE THAT
ALL AMERICANS AGREE THAT AMERICAN VOTERS SHOULD CHOOSE
AMERICAN VOTERS SHOULD CHOOSE OUR PRESIDENT.
OUR PRESIDENT. NOT SOME FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
NOT SOME FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT
THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS PROFOUNDLY CORROSIVE FOR OUR
IS PROFOUNDLY CORROSIVE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY FOR OUR PRESIDENT TO
DEMOCRACY FOR OUR PRESIDENT TO INVITE INTERFERENCE IN OUR
INVITE INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS. AS GEORGE WASHINGTON, OUR
AS GEORGE WASHINGTON, OUR NATION’S PATRIARCH UNDER WHOSE
NATION’S PATRIARCH UNDER WHOSE GAZE WE STAND TODAY WARNED,
GAZE WE STAND TODAY WARNED, HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE PROVE
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE PROVE THAT FOREIGN INFLUENCE IS ONE OF
THAT FOREIGN INFLUENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST BANEFUL FOES OF
THE MOST BANEFUL FOES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT, GEORGE
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT, GEORGE WOUSH.
WOUSH. SADLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
SADLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE WITNESSED FURTHER WRONGS OF THE
WITNESSED FURTHER WRONGS OF THE PRESIDENT WHICH NECESSITATE THE
PRESIDENT WHICH NECESSITATE THE SECOND ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT,
SECOND ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHED AN
THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED INDISCRIMINATE AND
UNPRECEDENTED INDISCRIMINATE AND CATEGORICAL CAMPAIGN OF DEFIANCE
CATEGORICAL CAMPAIGN OF DEFIANCE AND OBSTRUCTION.
AND OBSTRUCTION. NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF
NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION HAVE WE SEEN A
OUR NATION HAVE WE SEEN A PRESIDENT DECLARE AN ACT AS IF
PRESIDENT DECLARE AN ACT AS IF HE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
HE IS ABOVE THE LAW. THE PRESIDENT GOES EVEN SO FAR
THE PRESIDENT GOES EVEN SO FAR AS TO SAY AND ACT ON THIS ABSURD
AS TO SAY AND ACT ON THIS ABSURD ITS WHEN HE SAYS ARTICLE TWO
ITS WHEN HE SAYS ARTICLE TWO SAYS I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT.
SAYS I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT. NO, IT DOESN’T.
NO, IT DOESN’T. THAT RECKLESSNESS IS A PROFOUND
THAT RECKLESSNESS IS A PROFOUND VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR REPUBLIC WHICH ENDURE
AND OUR REPUBLIC WHICH ENDURE BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEM OF
BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEM OF SEPARATION OF POWER, THREE
SEPARATION OF POWER, THREE CO-EQUAL BRANCHES, EACH AND
CO-EQUAL BRANCHES, EACH AND CHECK AND BALANCE ON THE OTHER,
CHECK AND BALANCE ON THE OTHER, A REPUBLIC AGAIN IF WE CAN KEEP
A REPUBLIC AGAIN IF WE CAN KEEP IT.
IT. THE FOUNDERS’ GREAT FEAR OF A
THE FOUNDERS’ GREAT FEAR OF A ROGUE OR CORRUPT PRESIDENT IS
ROGUE OR CORRUPT PRESIDENT IS THE VERY REASON WHY THEY
THE VERY REASON WHY THEY ENSHRINED IMPEACHMENT IN THE
ENSHRINED IMPEACHMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION. AS ONE FOUNDER WILLIAM DAVIE OF
AS ONE FOUNDER WILLIAM DAVIE OF NORTH CAROLINA WARNED, UNLESS
NORTH CAROLINA WARNED, UNLESS THE CONSTITUTION CONTAINED AN
THE CONSTITUTION CONTAINED AN IMPEACHMENT PROVISION, A
IMPEACHMENT PROVISION, A PRESIDENT MIGHT SPARE NO EFFORTS
PRESIDENT MIGHT SPARE NO EFFORTS OR MEANS WHATEVER TO GET HIMSELF
OR MEANS WHATEVER TO GET HIMSELF RE-ELECTED.
RE-ELECTED. ANOTHER FOUNDER GEORGE MASON
ANOTHER FOUNDER GEORGE MASON INSISTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WHO
INSISTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WHO PROCURED HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE
PROCURED HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THROUGH IMPROPER
FIRST INSTANCE THROUGH IMPROPER AND CORRUPT ACTS MIGHT REPEAT
AND CORRUPT ACTS MIGHT REPEAT HIS GUILT AND RETURN TO POWER.
HIS GUILT AND RETURN TO POWER. WE IN CONGRESS ARTICLE ONE, THE
WE IN CONGRESS ARTICLE ONE, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, MUST STAND
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, MUST STAND UP AND MAKE CLEAR TO THE
UP AND MAKE CLEAR TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TO ALL
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TO ALL PEOPLE THAT THIS BODY STILL
PEOPLE THAT THIS BODY STILL STANDS BY THE PRINCIPLES
STANDS BY THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION
ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND DEFENDED BY GENERATIONS OF
AND DEFENDED BY GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS.
AMERICANS. LAST WEEK IN OBSERVANCE OF THE
LAST WEEK IN OBSERVANCE OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE MEMBERS
BATTLE OF THE BULGE MEMBERS TRAVELED TO HALLOWED GROUND TO
TRAVELED TO HALLOWED GROUND TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE
EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE HEROES OF FREEDOM WHO SACRIFICED
HEROES OF FREEDOM WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO SECURE VICTORY OF
EVERYTHING TO SECURE VICTORY OF FREEDOM OVER TYRANNY, NOT JUST
FREEDOM OVER TYRANNY, NOT JUST FOR AMERICA BUT FOR THE WORLD.
FOR AMERICA BUT FOR THE WORLD. THE VETERANS OF THAT BATTLE IN
THE VETERANS OF THAT BATTLE IN THEIR 90s THERE TOLD US HOW
THEIR 90s THERE TOLD US HOW AFTER THE WAR WAS WON, THE
AFTER THE WAR WAS WON, THE EUROPEANS TO WHOM THEY LIBERATED
EUROPEANS TO WHOM THEY LIBERATED WOULD ASK, WHY DID YOU RISK US.
WOULD ASK, WHY DID YOU RISK US. YOU DON’T KNOW US.
YOU DON’T KNOW US. AND GIVE YOUR LIVES TO SAVE US.
AND GIVE YOUR LIVES TO SAVE US. WE’RE NOT AMERICANS.
WE’RE NOT AMERICANS. AND OUR MEN WOULD SAY, WE CAME
AND OUR MEN WOULD SAY, WE CAME HERE TO FIGHT FOR YOU, NOT
HERE TO FIGHT FOR YOU, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICANS, BUT
BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICANS, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICANS.
BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICANS. AS OUR BELOVED CHAIRMAN ELIJAH
AS OUR BELOVED CHAIRMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS AND OUR NORTH STAR SAID
CUMMINGS AND OUR NORTH STAR SAID WHEN ANNOUNCING HIS SUPPORT FOR
WHEN ANNOUNCING HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS ACTION, QUOTE, "WHEN THE
THIS ACTION, QUOTE, "WHEN THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE WRITTEN ABOUT
HISTORY BOOKS ARE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS TUMULTUOUS ERA, I WANT THEM
THIS TUMULTUOUS ERA, I WANT THEM TO SHOW I WAS AMONG THOSE IN THE
TO SHOW I WAS AMONG THOSE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO STOOD UP TO LAWLESSNESS AND
STOOD UP TO LAWLESSNESS AND TYRANNY."
TYRANNY." HE ALSO SAID, ALMOST
HE ALSO SAID, ALMOST PROPHETICALLY, WHEN WE ARE
PROPHETICALLY, WHEN WE ARE DANCING WITH THE ANGELS, THE
DANCING WITH THE ANGELS, THE QUESTION WILL BE WHAT DID WE DO
QUESTION WILL BE WHAT DID WE DO TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT OUR
TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT OUR DEMOCRACY IN TACT?
DEMOCRACY IN TACT? EL IEJA HAS PASSED ON AND NOW HE
EL IEJA HAS PASSED ON AND NOW HE IS DANCING WITH THE ANGELS AND I
IS DANCING WITH THE ANGELS AND I KNOW THAT HE AND ALL OF US HERE
KNOW THAT HE AND ALL OF US HERE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE MORAL
ARE VERY PROUD OF THE MORAL COURAGE OF MEMBERS TO HONOR THE
COURAGE OF MEMBERS TO HONOR THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS FOR A
VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS FOR A REPUBLIC, THE SACRIFICE OF OUR
REPUBLIC, THE SACRIFICE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR UNIFORM TO
MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR UNIFORM TO DEFEND IT AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF
DEFEND IT AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE FREELY
OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE FREELY WITHIN IT.
WITHIN IT. TODAY WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE.
DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA. I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
TIME. [ APPLAUSE ]
