Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present to cast votes on December 8. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 513, and YEA on Roll Call No. 516.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today and for the next few minutes, I would like to reflect on my 12 years serving in this body.

I knew from a young age that I wanted to serve our Nation. While I was still in college, I was elected to the McLean County Board, the youngest person ever to do so.

In 2003, I was commissioned in the Air Force, a responsibility that I took very seriously, and one I still serve to this day.

Returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, I ran for Congress, and I won.

Well, at the time I didn't have a family, I promised to myself to leave them a better country than the one that I inherited. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I cannot in good conscience say that I have done that.

When preparing this speech, I knew that reflecting on our country's past would be the guiding light to our destiny.

What made the experiment of our great Nation so remarkable was that the American people put their faith in their fellow citizens to tell the truth and make difficult choices.

We have taken these ideals for granted for far too long. Instead of using our platform to advance the well-being of our Nation and our people, we have turned this institution into an echo chamber of lies.

Coming home from war, I truly believed that American democracy was infallible.

How could a Nation that fought a civil war for the freedom of all, a Nation that vanquished fascism and communism in Europe, how could it falter.

How could we stand atop Mount Everest only to decide that we prefer to fight in the mud.

I have sworn an oath, both in uniform and in this office, to protect this Nation and its Constitution. While overseas, I witnessed the dangers that radicalization of beliefs can have on people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, since coming to Congress, I have watched how Republicans and Democrats have weaponized fear in much the same way.

We must not abandon our values or our beliefs in the U.S. Constitution. We all swore an oath in this very Chamber to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, not a political party and not a single man. Let us renew this belief while casting out those who take the unprecedented call to abolish this sacred document.

Just as Lady Justice looks upon the Constitution and the Old Supreme Court one floor below us, we must remove the blindfold of politics and govern for all Americans when we are executing our duties.

Where Republicans once believed that limited government meant lower taxes and more autonomy, today, limited government means inciting violence against government officials.

Following the tragic Oklahoma City bombing, former President George H.W. Bush publicly refuted those who used fear to gain support. In stark contrast, our leaders today belittle, and in some cases, justify attacks on the U.S. Capitol as ``legitimate political discourse.''

The once great party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan has turned its back on the ideals of liberty and self-governance. Instead, it has embraced lies and deceit.

The Republican Party used to believe in the big tent, which welcomed the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Now, we shelter the ignorant, the racists, who only stoke anger and hatred to those who are different than us.

Our constituents voted us in based on our beliefs, but we cannot use our faith as a sword and a shield while ignoring the fact that we are all children of God, that we are all Americans.

To my Democratic colleagues, you must, too, bear the burden of our failures. Many of you have asked me, Where are all the good Republicans?

Over the past 2 years, Democratic leadership had the opportunity to stand above the fray. Instead, they poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of MAGA Republicans, the same candidates President Biden called a national security threat, to ensure these good Republicans did not make it out of their respective primaries.

This is no longer politics as usual. This is not a game. If you keep stoking the fire, you can't point the fingers when our great experiment goes up in flames.

Unfortunately, there are too few Republicans and Democrats that have the spines to stand up and put country over party. This is not how our Founding Fathers intended for our democracy to function, because, Mr. Speaker, our democracy is not functioning.

When one party's megaphone echoes calls for a civil war and the other tacitly, and in some cases, openly supports it, then we are clearly lost, Mr. Speaker.

Much like the Titanic on its maiden voyage, if Republicans and Democrats don't urgently course correct, I fear we will hit the iceberg right in front of us.

While our politics are more divided now than any time over the past 160 years, we are often reminded of the magic of America at its best.

Following tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombing, or Hurricanes Sandy and Harvey, Americans from all walks of life banded together to support their neighbor, regardless of their political affiliation. Through hardship, hope reigns.

With this in mind, we cannot allow the loudest voice in the room to become the voice of reason. While we in recent years have failed our constituents, there have been times when we have come together to find commonsense solutions to some of the pressing challenges of our times. As a Nation, we achieve more when we work together.

Americans deserve a democracy that values truthful leaders and real dialogue between our parties. It is my belief that we have to put aside our differences and remember that the Nation itself will only survive if the people have faith in one another.

Unfortunately, we now live in a world where lies trump truth, where democracy is being challenged by authoritarianism. If we, America's elected leaders, do not search within ourselves for a way out, I fear that this great experiment will fall into the ash heap of history.

To millions of Americans looking for solutions, not lies, it is up to us to ensure that this ship does not sink. We are being challenged at home and abroad. We must not crumble under the gravity of this moment.

So many men and women around the world would die and have died trying to achieve what we have in the United States. So many of America's sons and daughters, many of whom were my friends, have died protecting it.

As we continue to navigate a challenging and changing world, we must remember the past. Whenever the United States turns its back on humanity, we all suffer the consequences.

Western appeasement of Hitler not only led to the Second World War, but also the genocide of millions of Jews across Europe. Believing that we could leave Europe destroyed following the demise of Nazi Germany only emboldened Communist Russia to repress the Eastern Continent for nearly five decades. Only through continued American engagement did we defeat communism and liberate our European allies to enjoy their God- given freedoms.

Unfortunately, we once again retreated from the world thinking that no one would challenge the sole superpower. Our hubris left a window for 19 men armed with box cutters to murder 2,996 Americans here at home. History has proven that American isolation from world affairs is dangerous.

Over the years, I have been privileged to lead the effort on supporting American leadership in a world drowning in faux strongmen.

Advocating for the rights of Syrian men, women, and children to live without fear of Assad's death squads

shouldn't be political, it is just simply the right thing to do.

Advocating for a stronger American assistance in Ukraine to counter Putin's illegal invasion shouldn't be political, it is just the right thing to do.

By supporting those who believe in freedom, we advance the interests of the American people. Should this Congress or any future Congress decide to turn their back on our alliances and commitments, it will do nothing but embolden our adversaries. None more than the Chinese Communist Party.

It is all but certain that China is gauging their tolerance for pain based on our response to Ukraine. Should we fail to support our allies in Kyiv, China will unleash their own imperial aspiration across the region.

Had I known that standing up for truth would cost me my job, friendships, and even my personal security, I would, without hesitation, do it all over again.

I can rest easy at night knowing that I fulfilled my oath to the office. I know many in this institution cannot do the same.

Some of my most rewarding and memorable accomplishments in Congress have come from working to solve issues directly impacting the 16th District and Illinois as a whole.

Whether it was fighting the opioid epidemic or keeping nuclear power plants running and our bridges standing, to responding to more emergent events like flooding, tornadoes, and even a global pandemic, these projects always felt so personal to me, and I took them seriously.

Even though my time in Congress is coming to an end, I stand here renewing that promise I made over a decade ago to leave this country a far better place than the one I inherited, not only for my son, Christian, but also for future generations.

In closing, I need to first thank God Almighty for his blessings. Without his guidance and protection, I would not be where I am today.

I also thank the hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans who placed their trust in me to represent them in this Chamber. While we may not have always agreed on every issue, I always worked to best represent my constituents and my Nation.

I certainly would not be the man I am today without my family. For my parents, Rus and Jodi Kinzinger, to my wife and newborn son, Sofia and Christian, you have all lifted me in my time of need. While others fled, you stood your ground, and you supported me through thick and thin. For this, I am eternally grateful.

Last but not least, I need to thank my staff, both past and present. Over my 12 years in Congress, I had the privilege of having dedicated young men and women who sacrificed long hours, weekends, holidays, and special events in support of my goals.

Without them, legislating would have been impossible. They serve on the front lines every day, prosecuting casework for my countless constituents, advancing my legislation, and taking the brunt of the vitriol from angry and lost individuals. Their work was never easy, and they never wavered.

I especially thank my chief of staff, Austin Weatherford; my deputy chief of staff and district director, Bonnie Walsh; my legislative director, Sebastian De Luca; my deputy district director, Patrick Doggett; my policy adviser, Paul Laurie; my field representatives and caseworkers, Greg Ridenour, Casey Gross, Luke Phalen, and Leah Bohlmann; my communications director, Theresa Reed; my legislative correspondent, Luke Sandlin; my press assistant, Emily Hayes; and my staff assistant, Anna Brooks Reed.

I was truly blessed to have such a dedicated staff to advise me through this whole process. They have become like family, and I will never forget the work they have done in service to their Nation and me.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize the service and career of Drew Trojanowski, who has a long record of service to National Security and our Nation's veterans.

Mr. Trojanowski served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2015, most notably as a sniper. Mr. Trojanowski deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism; also serving as a combat advisor to a foreign military in the realms of operations, tactics, intelligence, and civil affairs. He concluded his military career serving in the Arizona Army National Guard, where he helped develop long-range plans for the Joint Counter Narco-Terrorism Task Force.

Mr. Trojanowski began serving veterans in 2015, after returning from Afghanistan, at the Mesa Chamber of Commerce; he established the Mesa Veterans Program and Mesa Industry and Defense Council, a consortium of more than 70 aerospace and defense companies.

Mr. Trojanowski's career with U.S. Senator John McCain initiated in 2016 as a military and veteran advocate, where traveled throughout Arizona interfacing with veterans, DoD instillations and personnel and industry.

In December of 2016, Senator McCain asked Mr. Trojanowski to be his Military Legislative Assistant and senior policy advisor. In that role, he was at the forefront of advocating for reform, resources, funding, and benefits that our military and veterans earned and deserve.

During his time with Senator McCain, Mr. Trojanowski helped champion the writing and passage of significant legislation impacting American servicemembers families and veterans. These include the VA Mission Act, National Defense Authorization Act, the VA Appeals Modernization Act, the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act--also known as the Forever G.I. Bill--and the Veteran Overmedication and Prevention Act. These bipartisan bills, all of which were signed into law, serve as Mr. Trojanowski's dedication and leadership on behalf of the military and veterans.

In 2018, Mr. Trojanowski joined the White House as a Presidentially Commissioned Officer and Special Assistant to the President on the Domestic Policy Council. In this role he oversaw the Departments of Veteran Affairs, Defense, NASA and Labor. During his tenure, Mr. Trojanowski was the policy lead on three executive orders and 56 regulations, including the implementation MISSION Act and the PREVENTS initiative.

It is my honor to recognize Mr. Trojanowski's outstanding military service and continued service to our military, veterans, and their families. As Mr. Trojanowski begins a new chapter, I have no doubt that he will continue to be a voice for all those who serve.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, for all practical purposes, Dan Scavino's career is Donald Trump. Scavino was 16 when they met, and he is, to this day, a Trump stalwart.

Scavino was central to the Trump administration's social media program. He was, for 2 years, President Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. Using social media to monitor trends and shape political views was Dan Scavino's core business.

He did that for Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, and he kept doing it right on through the ``stop the steal'' and the fraudulent challenge to the 2020 election. He also monitored extremist social media sites for the President.

Dan Scavino was with the President on January 5 and 6. He spoke with Trump by phone several times on January 6 and was with the President as many urged him to help stop the violence at the Capitol. So, Dan Scavino could shed light on what then-President Trump thought would happen on January 6, especially the potential for violence.

Did the President know that the rally could turn violent; that his rhetoric on the Ellipse could send an angry mob to storm the Capitol; that what on the evening of January 5 President Trump called a fired-up crowd might take it literally when, the next morning, he told them to ``fight hard''; that he was pouring fuel on the flames?

Dan Scavino was there, so if he were willing to do his duty as a citizen, he could tell us a lot about that. But instead, he has chosen to stiff-arm the American people.

President Trump acknowledged that Scavino sometimes helped shape his tweets. On December 19, Trump retweeted a video that urged viewers to ``fight for Trump.'' The January 6 attack was then just 2\1/2\ weeks away.

Why did Donald Trump retweet that particular message? Dan Scavino could give us the inside scoop.

While Trump and his stop the steal gaggle were working hard to subvert the Constitution and steal the election for themselves, President Trump retweeted, after QAnon already had, a video called, ``How to Steal an Election.''

What would Dan Scavino say about why Trump retweeted a QAnon-blessed video on how to steal an election? He won't risk telling us.

What did President Trump's extremist followers on ``The Donald'' and other hard-right sites make of Trump urging them to join a wild protest on January 6? Polls show that some took it as marching orders, in fact. Dan Scavino had to know they would.

Dan Scavino knew very well what his boss wanted. He knew that sites like ``The Donald'' attracted violent extremists. Scavino himself sent out a video that a user on that site understood as literal marching orders and literal war drums.

President Trump and Dan Scavino had been in the White House for 4 years by then. They knew the January 6 crowd could turn violent. They knew exactly what they were doing.

We are here today because Dan Scavino, a key witness, is unwilling to speak with us. He failed to produce a single document in response to the subpoena, and he has clearly demonstrated his complete and utter contempt for Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Dan Scavino's blatant disregard for our subpoena is his effort to ensure that Congress and the American people never get the firsthand story that he has to tell.

None of us should find that acceptable. It is contempt for the law and contempt for Congress.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Megan Bugg of Coal City, Illinois, who passed away in her home on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 after a seven year and three month battle with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcorma. Megan will be greatly missed by many, but most especially her family, whom she loved dearly. Megan believed that everyone deserved the honor of dignity, respect, and kindness, and she lived her life spreading that message.

Throughout Megan's battle with childhood cancer, she maintained a positive attitude and zest for life that became an inspiration for family, friends, and many others. Although Megan was fighting her own personal battle, she made her fight about something much bigger than herself by becoming a passionate advocate for childhood cancer awareness and the need for increased funding for cancer research. She lobbied legislators for the cause and helped lead marches in- Washington, D.C. calling for increased funding for childhood cancer research. I was lucky enough to meet Megan on one of these visits and was incredibly impressed by her courage, passion, and spirit. It's no wonder she was chosen as the 2019 American Red Cross Youth Hero, one of the Morris Daily Herald ``Women of the Year'' recipients, a Joliet Herald News ``Everyday Hero'', the Grand Marshall of the Grundy County Comfest Parade, and had her efforts honored by the Illinois Legislature in House Resolution 1071. In recognition of her achievements, the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute of Oregon is opening the ``Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Lab'' to carry on Megan's goal of making sure no more children go through what she endured.

Without a doubt, the world feels a void in the absence of Megan's steadfast presence. As her family shared, Megan had a sense of humor that could light up the room and held a genuine Jove for all of those around her. They will remember all the lives she touched and by honoring her in this way, they can keep her spirit alive and continue to inspire others as she inspired so many.

Megan is survived by her father, mother, and sister. She is also survived by her paternal grandparents and her maternal grandparents. May the memories of her light be a comfort to her family and friends, and may we all carry her legacy forward in putting an end to childhood cancer.

Madam Speaker, in expressing my condolences, I want to take this time to also encourage the family, friends, and the community to celebrate the life of Megan Bugg--not only for her service in helping address the specific obstacles related to childhood cancer awareness, but for being a beacon of light and hope for all of those who had the opportunity to meet her. She remains an inspiration to not only her community, but to me as well.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Let me just say first, Madam Speaker, as a Republican, don't let my side use the security posture as the straw-man argument in this. The reality is that that is the equivalent of blaming the victim of a crime for the crime. And while it is important, that is not what we are here to talk about today.

Madam Speaker, voting on a criminal contempt resolution is not the position we had hoped to be in, but Steve Bannon went out of his way to earn this resolution before us and now we must approve it.

Mr. Bannon's willful disregard for the select committee's subpoena demonstrates his utter contempt for the American people's right to know how the attacks on January 6 came about. He has advanced a ludicrous legal argument in support of his decision not to corroborate or comply, a decision that defies the rule of law and rejects the will of the American people.

Mr. Bannon's reported actions put him near the center of the investigation into the events surrounding January 6. His own words strongly suggest that the actions of the mob that stormed the Capitol and invaded this very Chamber came as no surprise to him. He and a few others were, by all accounts, involved in planning that day's events, and encouraged those who attacked the Capitol, our officers, and our democracy.

I have no doubt that Mr. Bannon's scorn for our subpoena is real. But no one--and I repeat, no one--is above the law, and we need to hear from him.

As the select committee's contempt report states, it was Mr. Bannon who on January 5 predicted with chilling accuracy: ``All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.''

On his radio show that day he stated: ``It's not going to happen like you think it's going to happen. Okay. It's going to be quite extraordinarily different. All I can say is, strap in. You made this happen and tomorrow it's game day. So strap in. Let's get ready.''

And it was Mr. Bannon, who was recorded as saying: ``It's all converging, and now we're on the point of attack tomorrow.''

Mr. Bannon said these things publicly, as a private citizen, someone deeply involved with the Stop the Steal movement, and he said them nearly 3 years after leaving his job at the White House.

Mr. Bannon was also reportedly among the small group of Trump confidants assembled at the Willard Hotel to discuss plans to stop or delay the January 6 count.

Is it any wonder that the select committee needs to hear from him; that we want to see related materials that he has?

Furthermore, does anyone really believe Mr. Bannon's actions are covered by a blanket, no-questions-asked claim of executive privilege? One the former President has never actually made.

Madam Speaker, Steve Bannon is a key witness to the select committee's probe. He has yet to say or produce anything in response to the subpoena. His assertion of executive privilege is farfetched in the extreme and not his to make.

I urge my colleagues to join me to support the contempt resolution.

Madam Speaker, I remember over the period of the last Presidency joining my colleagues on both sides of the aisle at various times when statements were made that we are just going to leave Iraq or we are going to leave the Kurds in Syria, and I think that was shortsighted, those statements, so I joined my colleagues on both sides.

But, yet, today, we are debating the repeal of the 2002 AUMF as if we all somehow believe that we are going to magically repeal this and then come up with some narrow replacement that is going to authorize, when we can't really agree that the sky is blue in this group.

But I want to, for a second, look back and say what would have happened when this was introduced originally. So in January of 2014 this repeal was introduced. Let's say we passed it.

What happened since January of 2014? Well, I will tell you. In June of 2014 we began airstrikes against ISIS. Because of the 2002 AUMF, we were able to assist our allies to defeat ISIS in their capital of Raqqa, their stronghold in Mosul, and we even destroyed their caliphate throughout the region.

I know my colleagues who support this legislation have the right intentions in mind, but even President Biden's own Statement of Administration Policy admits that this repeal would have an impact on our military operations. That is why we don't call for a blanket repeal, but a narrowly crafted replacement. Let's do that first.

The bleak reality is that without an authorization to fight terror, more innocent human beings will suffer. Let us not forget the horrors that ISIS perpetrated on innocent men, women, and children. Men were beheaded for practicing their faith, women were stoned to death for trying to flee abusive relationships. Children were made foot soldiers and suicide bombers. Without this AUMF, this would still be happening.

Today, we have militia groups attacking the American Embassy in Baghdad. We have malign forces trying to destabilize the democratically elected Iraqi Government. We have dozens of terror organizations, including ISIS, that want to revive the caliphate which brought so much pain and suffering to so many in the region.

Before we hastily pass this ill-thought-out and ill-timed political legislation, I urge every Member to meet with Intel, to meet with the Department of Defense to hear about the realities of the threats we face in this world, and maybe once that happens and we put aside these partisan stripes for a moment, we can have an honest debate about what a replacement would look like. Short-term political gain has no impact on what foreign actors make in terms of their policy decisions. ISIS and terrorists don't change based on what we debate here, and they certainly didn't give up yet.

We made a decision; the President made a decision to leave Afghanistan. While I disagree with that, I certainly hope he is successful and that my predictions are wrong, but I do know that that sent a message. It sent a message that America is disengaging in the war on terror. What would this send as well, right on the heels of this?

What message would this send to the terrorists who are on the ropes, who haven't attacked in the United States, not because they don't want to, but because we haven't let them because we have fought them on their territory, before they have the ability to organize and attack us here?

What does that message send? Because to a terrorist, all they need is the ability to go out and say, ``We are winning,'' to recruit somebody, to give their life for that terrorist cause.

Madam Speaker, I understand where this is coming from. I deeply would love an AUMF that replaces this the right way, but this is the wrong process and the wrong order to do that. So I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present to cast votes on February 26. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 45.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Remington Kristine Viney, who passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at the age of 26. Through passion for aviation and flying, Remington dedicated herself to service as a member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Remington was always flying in the seat of an airplane surrounded by miles of breathtaking sky doing what she loved.

On March 14, 1994, Remington was born in Madison, Wisconsin, daughter to Kevin and Tia (Scanlon) Viney. She would then graduate with honors from Sun Prairie High School in 2012, earn an associate degree in tactical aircraft maintenance, and then receive a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UW-Madison in 2017. Her accomplishments were many, but her most memorable asset and what was most important to her was the depth and breadth of her relationships with family and friends.

Remington was passionate about any adventure that life had to offer and obtained her pilot license in high school. While in college, she was the captain of the Wisconsin Flying Team. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Women in Aviation, Madison chapter. Remington enlisted in the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 2013 where she proudly served through several deployments and obtained the rank of staff sergeant. She pursued accreditations and licensing to receive her commercial pilot license in addition to becoming a flight instructor. Further, Remington was working on a degree in Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics.

During her service in the Air National Guard, Remington met the love of her life, fellow service member, Kyle Henry. They shared so much together, including her passion for real estate, flying, and raising her future stepson, Kellan. Above all else, her family was the anchor of her life, and she was so excited for her future with her fiance, Kyle.

Madam Speaker, I want to express my condolences, but encourage family, friends, and the community to celebrate the life of Remington Kristine Viney, for her service to our country and love for life. My thoughts and prayers remain with her family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Congressional Record an opinion-editorial piece written by two of my good friends and colleagues, Former Representatives Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Charles Boustany of Louisiana, which was printed in Roll Call on February 4, 2021.

On Jan. 6, 2021, at 2:24 p.m., an angry Donald Trump

tweeted: ``Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what

should have been done to protect our country and our

Constitution . . .''

At that very moment, Vice President Pence and his family

were hiding from a violent mob at the Capitol, having been

whisked out of the Senate chamber where he had been

conducting his constitutional duty of certifying the

election.

Over the course of the afternoon, the crowds shouted ``Hang

Mike Pence,'' ``President Trump sent us,'' ``Traitors,''

``Nancy Pelosi, we're coming for you'' and other frightening

and direct threats to members of Congress. This violent

insurrection culminated in five deaths, including a Capitol

Police officer, and 140 other officers were injured

protecting members. During this time, the president and his

attorney called at least one senator to ask him to delay the

count further.

``The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president

and other powerful people,'' Senate Republican leader Mitch

McConnell said. At a rally near the White House that morning,

Trump spoke apocalyptically, warning, ``If you don't fight

like hell, you aren't going to have a country anymore.''

Trump lied that he had won in a ``landslide.'' He had to know

this was a lie because his pollster had already issued a

lengthy report detailing why he lost. Donald Trump Jr. wildly

shouted at the rally, ``We are coming after you,'' directed

at members of Congress who were doing their constitutional

duty of certifying the election.

Many of those arrested at the Capitol echoed Donald Trump

and his lies. They said, ``We were invited here by the

president of the United States.'' Rioters included members of

the Proud Boys, QAnon conspiracy theorists and white

nationalists who ripped off the helmets of officers, beat

them with batons and flagpoles, and hurled racial epithets at

our Capitol Police. Some came with zip ties, presumably to

take hostages. At the end of the day, Trump recorded a video

message, saying to those who stormed the Capitol, ``You're

very special. . . . We love you.''

In the months and days leading to Jan. 6, these election

fraud lies that Trump whipped up the crowd with had been

rejected across the board:

By dozens of conservative judges in over 60 court cases who

said they were ``without merit'' and ``not credible.''

By Attorney General William Barr who said, ``We have not

seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different

outcome,'' and reportedly called the claims of the

president's lawyer ``bulls---.''

By Republican state election officials in Georgia, whom the

president belligerently attacked and asked to ``find'' him

more votes.

By his own White House counsel's office.

Nevertheless, Donald Trump persisted. Even after the worst

of the siege was visible for the world to see, he tweeted,

``These are the things and events that happen when a sacred

landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously

stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and

unfairly treated for so long.''

We Republicans cannot avert our eyes from these violent

realities. Some say we must move on. But it is clear that

Trump and his mob still aren't moving on. Trump, his family

and supporters continue to threaten political revenge and

have shown no remorse for their actions. Angry Trump

supporters continue to make dangerous threats.

``If this isn't impeachable, what is?'' has been the

question asked even by friends of Trump, such as former New

Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Such blatant anti-constitutional,

anti-democratic actions by a president and the violence he

inspired against a coequal branch of government cannot go

unpunished. They were unprecedented.

The president attempted to use his executive power to

direct Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General William

Barr and other Republican officials to pursue anti-

constitutional actions on his behalf.

As for whether a trial can be held after the president has

left office, retired federal appeals court Judge Michael

McConnell, a conservative, has pointed out that impeachment

in the House occurred while the president was still in

office, so that point is moot. Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6

of the Constitution states: ``The Senate shall have the sole

Power to try all Impeachments.'' According to Judge

McConnell, a trial is not limited to ``sitting officers.'' If

it was, there would be no consequence to a president who

engaged in impeachable conduct at the end of his term,

The Senate must convict Donald Trump and keep him from

holding office ever again. This is not a close call. Trump

refused to accept the results of an election. He ignored the

courts and even attacked the Supreme Court with three of his

own appointees. He incited a mob to stop the certification of

the election in Congress. And he tried to illegally overturn

an election in violation of his oath to uphold the law.

Already the House impeachment has been the most bipartisan

impeachment in history. Republicans must stand up to police

our own. If Republicans continue to excuse Trump's lies and

actions that they know are among the worst in history by a

president, they will only further divide, not just our own

party, but the entire country.

Barbara Comstock represented Virginia's 10th District as a

Republican from 2015 to 2019.

Charles Boustany Jr. represented Louisiana in the House as

a Republican from 2005 to 2017. He serves as president of the

Association of Former Members of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the objection.

Madam Speaker, as a student of foreign policy, if somebody described to me the actions that we saw, I would have assumed we were in a failed nation or a banana republic. Storming past police, some carrying the flag of the Confederacy, the mob breached this House.

But there is good news: The democracy held today.

For the last few years, misinformation and fear has been fed into people for profit and power, and for too many years, leaders around the country said nothing and sometimes echoed those messages because of the belief that winning, no matter the cost, was worth everything.

Today, we saw the result of ignoring these warning signs.

People look to Washington to give hope. Instead, we simply amplify fears.

People look to us for expertise on what can and can't be possible. Sometimes it is easier to say what makes people feel good instead of the hard facts.

Today, some Members of Congress argue that we can unilaterally pick the next President, that with our glorious wisdom, armed with Twitter, we know better than the American people. Some have shown that, if conspiracies are repeated enough, they become facts and they aren't disputed.

Even here in this Chamber after the events today, some speeches have been shockingly tone-deaf. I have seen people applaud cheap political lines that are embarrassing.

Power and cultural fights have divided us so much that they are the ultimate goal now, and sometimes the oath we swear to uphold feels like a prop.

People have been lied to by too many for too long.

So here is the truth: Joe Biden won this election, the effort will fail, and everybody knows it.

For some out there, this isn't about making a statement for the betterment of our country; it is about avoiding the pain of leveling with the people and telling them the truth: the emperor has no clothes.

I know many are disappointed in the result, but what legacy are we leaving? Have our kids seen the day where Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill had a beer over their differences, or have they learned that to lead, you must tweet, and sometimes all in caps, because now this is Hollywood, fame is the ultimate goal?

But the first step that we can take to restore this is to reject the charade, and what happens next is up to us.

We get threatened with primaries; we worry about the political implications. But our names will long be forgotten; the legacy of now will exist.

The bottom line: If we ask men and women to be willing to give their lives for this Nation and we talk about their service with tears in our eyes, shouldn't we be willing to give up our jobs to uphold that Constitution?

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler).

Madam Speaker, earlier this month, I gave opening remarks with my esteemed colleagues Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI), Rep. Keating (D-MA) and Rep. Rooney (R-FL) at an event hosted by the Free Russia Foundation discussing the Kremlin's disturbing and significant attacks on Western institutions.

During the event, the Free Russia Foundation released a report, which can be found at https://www.4freerussia.orglwp-content/uploads/2019/06/ misruleoflaw-web-pages.pdf, demonstrating how the Kremlin's active measures and subversion campaigns infiltrate Western institutions to undermine the rule of law. The power of this report comes from specific instances of Russian influence and corrupt practices aimed at the United States and European Union. This includes a Kremlin-directed effort to pass legislation in European parliaments to effectively nullify the Yukos shareholder court decisions, to the benefit of the Russian Federation.

I encourage others to produce thoughtful research documenting Russian abuses of the rule of law. I am glad a light is being shown on these cases, but I know other instances of abuse continue unabated within Russia. As a nation, we must stand up to Putin's disregard for the international rule of law and ensure that the world is a safe place to live and conduct business.

I encourage Congress to continue to hold hearings on Russia's malign influence campaigns so the United States can defend our institutions from manipulation and misuse by the Russians.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, my amendment is very simple. It would require that the Director of National Intelligence and other relevant agencies report to Congress on the threat that international mobile subscriber identity catchers, also referred to as ``cell-site simulators'' or under the brand name ``StingRay,'' pose to U.S. Government personnel and national security.

In addition to providing this report, the DNI would need to provide recommendations to Congress regarding possible policy changes to counter these devices.

IMSI catchers send signals to mobile phones that appear to be coming from legitimate mobile networks. Once connected, the phones are used to track the locations of the users, which can be seen by whoever is controlling the IMSI catcher. The more advanced versions of these cell devices allow their owners even to access messages and phone call data.

Many of us were shocked when a report came out last year that the Department of Homeland Security had found these devices around the national capital region. Even more concerning was that many of these were located around sensitive government buildings.

My amendment would help Congress understand the proliferation of these devices around our Nation, with a focus on their prevalence in the national capital region. We need to know which actors, foreign or domestic, are deploying them and what Congress can do to ensure the safekeeping of our national security apparatus.

Madam Chair, I urge support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present to cast votes on the afternoon of June 27. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 426; YEA on Roll Call No. 427; NAY on Roll Call No. 428; YEA on Roll Call No. 429; and YEA on Roll Call No. 430.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present to cast the first vote during the first vote series on June 18, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on Roll Call No. 323.