Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 422) to allow Senators, Senators-elect, committees of the Senate, leadership offices, and other offices of the Senate to share employees, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Cardinal O'Hara Lady Lions basketball team, which recently won the PIAA class 5A

girls championship, securing their first-ever State basketball title.

On March 27, the team defeated the defending champion, Chartiers Valley, 51-27, led by junior Sydni Scott's game-high 16 points.

The victory made history on several fronts. Not only was this the school's first State basketball championship, but it also marked just the third time a mother-daughter duo has won a PIAA state title, with Coach Chrissie Doogan at the helm and her daughter Maggie playing forward. O'Hara's win also gave the Philadelphia Catholic League the distinction of becoming the first league to win three straight girls' titles in the same year.

The young women of Cardinal O'Hara are an inspiration to our Delaware Valley community. Congratulations to the entire Lady Lions basketball team. Keep making HERstory.

Mr. Speaker, this week, I was so proud to welcome President Joe Biden to our district to see firsthand the impact the American Rescue Plan will have on our community and small businesses in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and to see the enthusiasm with which his visit was welcomed.

Together, we visited Smith Flooring, a successful, minority-owned small business in Chester that provides good union jobs and is an economic driver in an area that has struggled. The President and I spoke with founders Kristin and James Smith about how the COVID pandemic has impacted their business. The struggling economy has meant leaner times, but they are trying to do right by their employees until things get moving again.

The American Rescue Plan has over $50 billion in aid for small businesses, including over $7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. These funds will help small businesses, like Smith Flooring, keep up their payroll, protect jobs, and keep going until the economy is fully open again.

I wanted President Biden to see up close one of the Delco businesses that is the backbone of our economy. Thank you to Smith Flooring for talking with President Biden and me. And equally important, I wanted to thank Congress and President Biden for bringing renewed help and hope to our community with the American Rescue Plan.

Madam Speaker, before coming to Congress, I organized volunteer lawyers to represent survivors of domestic abuse, so I have seen firsthand both the need for the Violence Against Women Act and the remarkable impact of legal representation in moments of crisis.

That is why I am proud to support reauthorization of VAWA, which would, among other things, expand access to legal counsel for those who need it most.

Too often, survivors are left to navigate alone the overwhelming aftereffects of violence and abuse. Whether that means finding housing, medical, or other care in the aftermath of trauma, the process can be complicated and hard to manage.

Legal representation in these critical moments can make a life- changing difference. That is why I am proud to offer two amendments to VAWA today.

The first would expand efforts to provide legal representation in postconviction relief proceedings. The second would increase access to legal aid for veterans who have unmet legal needs.

Everyone deserves access to quality legal representation for fundamental needs, and this bill gets us one step closer to that goal.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support my amendments and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lawrence for bringing us together for this Special Order hour.

In honor of Women's History Month, I rise to celebrate the League of Women Voters nonpartisan work to encourage active and informed participation in our democracy since 1920. Founded shortly before the ratification of the 19th amendment, the League has always believed in women's power to help create a more perfect democracy.

In recent years, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania has worked to combat 21st century voter suppression tactics, including strict voter ID laws and extreme gerrymandering.

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a decision in the League of Women Voters v. Pennsylvania that declared our congressional districts had been so extremely gerrymandered that they violated our State constitution. In doing so, that decision created districts, including mine, that are more compact, contiguous, and constitutional. The League of Women Voters' decision paved the way for the election of four women, myself included, to serve in our State's congressional delegation at a time when there were none.

From the first suffragists through the present day, I want to applaud the League of Women Voters for its ongoing work to empower voters and defend our democracy.

Mr. Speaker, for too many communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, the steady toll of gun violence day in and day out is a horrifying reality.

Right now, my region is at the epicenter of a staggering uptick in gun violence taking place in the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 3 months of this year, over 300 people in the city of Philadelphia have been shot. Over 50 have been killed, and 5 of those were children.

Mr. Speaker, the gun violence measures we are voting on this week close major loopholes in our gun laws that have allowed people, who we all agree should not have guns, to purchase guns without completed background checks.

While our colleagues across the aisle claim these laws won't prevent gun violence, that is not true. Even with the loopholes, Federal background checks have prevented over 3 million sales to people we all agree should not have guns.

When required and enforced, background checks work, and they have the power to keep guns out of dangerous hands and off our streets.

Congressional complacency in addressing this issue has made our country less safe and put children and our most marginalized communities at risk.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support these bills.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule and underlying act, the American Rescue Plan Act.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of over 525,000 Americans. Our communities are struggling and our constituents are desperate for relief. Millions remain out of work, and as many as 12 million children are living in households where they don't get enough to eat.

We are grateful to have new leadership in the White House and in the Senate. I look forward to passing legislation that will end the pandemic and open our economy and let America get back to work. The American Rescue Plan puts money directly in the hands of American people.

The direct cash infusion will help millions of Americans pay their rent and keep the lights on at home. In addition to $1,400 worth of direct stimulus payments for a large chunk of Americans, support for small businesses and restaurants, and an extension of unemployment insurance benefits, the American Rescue Plan Act expands the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit to give families the support they so desperately need. The child tax credit expansion alone will cut childhood poverty in half.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to passage of this act because, unlike the political charade that our colleagues just treated us to and wasting the time of the House and the American people, the American Rescue Plan Act will, number one, crush the virus; number two, get Americans back to work; and number three, actually help children get out from behind their screens and back in the classroom.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and this rule.

Madam Speaker, over the last 30 years I have been a poll worker, an election judge, an election protection lawyer, and a civics educator working to protect the right to vote.

I have seen firsthand the flaws in our system that prevent Americans from participating in our democracy. Voter suppression tactics, the influence of dark money, gerrymandering, and other anti-democratic practices have all disenfranchised voters.

In my home State of Pennsylvania, voters have been victim of such tactics for years. But many Americans have made clear that we want a government for the people and by the people, and House Democrats are answering that call.

I am particularly proud that my bills to increase access for voters with disabilities, bring transparency to inaugural funds, and increase the availability of ballot drop boxes have all been included in this legislation. I am also hopeful that my amendment to increase access to early voting for college students will also be included.

H.R. 1 will strengthen our democracy and ensure that the power in our government rests with the people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, I began volunteering to provide election protection services to voters after I saw political operatives try to block Swarthmore College students from voting by posting signs around their campus saying that they could not legally vote where they attended college. That was a lie. But we had to get a court order to take the signs down.

Fast forward almost 20 years, and Haverford College students and their neighbors had to wage a multiyear campaign to get local officials to put a polling place on campus. The existing polling place was 1\1/2\ miles away, in another district entirely, and was inconvenient for students--most of whom had no cars--and the majority of residents alike.

The college offered to provide free space and parking for the polling place, but students and neighbors were met with excuse after excuse. These excuses were textbook voter suppression tactics used to box out young voters from making their voices heard.

If we have learned anything from this past election, it is that when we make it more convenient for eligible voters to vote, they do.

That is why I am offering an amendment to H.R. 1 that requires States which offer early voting to make it available to polling places serving college campuses. It is high time we make our democracy, our elections, accessible to the generations who will inherit the world that we are legislating about.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the rule, to support my amendment, and to support final passage of H.R. 1.

Mr. Speaker, as we emerge from the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic and some pretty brutal weather, I rise today to offer some good news and to celebrate a development that is bringing jobs and economic development to my district, along with a renewed connection to our shared heritage with the island of Ireland.

Since the founding of our country, the Philadelphia region has been known for some of the best ports and shipyards in America. Also since that time, our area has been home to one of the largest groups of native Irish and their descendants in North America. Fully 20 percent of the people in my congressional district claim Irish heritage, including myself.

Over the years, this robust community has developed strong relationships with Irish educational, cultural, and business institutions, including through the Irish American Business Chamber & Network.

Therefore, I am very proud and excited to celebrate the new weekly shipping route between the Port of Chester in Delaware County and Cork, Ireland, which will expand our region's leadership as an entryway to America. In addition to bringing critical medical, pharmaceutical, food, and raw material supplies to the East Coast, the shipping route is supporting good-paying jobs and a long-hoped-for renaissance in Chester's riverfront economy, which can be an economic driver for our entire region.

I am excited to continue working with my colleagues in the Friends of Ireland Caucus and to increase our ties with Ireland, grow our economy, and create good-paying jobs.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 147 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman and my colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 147, providing for consideration of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 90 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary and one motion to recommit.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 803, the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources and self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Grijalva. It also makes in order 29 amendments, provides en bloc authority to Chairman Grijalva, and provides one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today to debate the rule for two critical pieces of legislation, H.R. 5, the Equality Act, and H.R. 803, the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act.

This is a historic day for Congress and for equal rights. Over 45 years ago, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced the first version of the Equality Act, a bill that will provide full legal protections to LGBTQ people all across our country by extending the protections of the Civil Rights Act to them and making clear that we must respect, defend, and celebrate the dignity innate of everyone in our communities, including--and perhaps especially--those who are perceived as different or non-binary.

The version of the Equality Act that we consider today is the result of years of careful legislative drafting and amends existing civil rights laws to provide protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in key areas of public life: employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

Additionally, the Equality Act updates the public spaces and services covered in current law to include retail stores and services, such as banks, legal services, and transportation. These important updates would strengthen existing protections for everyone.

The journey to this final version of the Equality Act was led by a dear colleague who is a historymaker in his own right, co-chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus and my colleague on the Judiciary Committee, Congressman David Cicilline of Rhode Island. Congressman Cicilline worked with lawyers and advocates from the left and the right, religious groups, and a host of civil rights groups to make sure the language of the Equality Act achieved full legal equality while protecting existing civil rights for other marginalized groups.

The resulting bill is supported by 130 of the largest employees in the country, our largest labor unions, and the hundreds of organizations including, to name just a few, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, the National Women's Law Center, the Episcopal Church, the Union for Reform Judaism, and the United Church of Christ.

And, most importantly, it is supported by a clear and overwhelming majority of the American people. Seventy-one percent of Americans support this legislation, including majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.

The clear majority of both the House and the American people recognize that for too long LGBTQ people have faced discrimination with no Federal legal recourse. It is beyond dispute that LGBTQ people-- especially transgender people and, even more so, transgender women of color--face discrimination across this country.

To echo other speakers, this issue is deeply personal for me. It has been personal since my baby sister came out to me almost 40 years ago. For many people all across this country and across this House, that is when this fight hits home.

It gets personal when someone whom you love says: This is who I am.

It gets personal when you know and value that person and you want to do whatever you can to make sure that your loved one can live their life to the fullest, free from hate and discrimination.

I am sad to say that my home, Pennsylvania, is one of the 30 States that defies the will of its people by not having legal protections for LGBTQ people. The idea that my sister--someone who put her life on the line for our country when she served in our Armed Forces--could drive across State lines and lose protections is heartbreaking.

The Equality Act ends the patchwork of State laws and creates uniform, nationwide protections. LGBTQ people won't have to worry that being transferred to another State by their employer or needing to move home to take care of ailing parents will cause them to lose civil rights protections. From sea to shining sea, LGBTQ people will have the security and stability that comes from knowing that, if they face discrimination, they have legal recourse.

It is also important to note what the Equality Act does not do. The Equality Act does not impinge on religious freedom. Religious liberty is a cornerstone value of our Constitution and our country. Religious organizations are currently able to prefer their own members and their version of morality in hiring for religious positions, such as ministers and schoolteachers. The Equality Act does nothing to change that. The Equality Act does not force anyone to perform or obtain abortions in violation of their religious beliefs, and it does not strip girls of their title 9 protections.

The Equality Act does clarify what has long been held: That religious freedom laws do not create an exemption to civil rights laws.

Just like a person can't use a claim of religious freedom to refuse to sell a house to an interracial couple, under the Equality Act LGBTQ families will be protected from discrimination regardless of its motivation.

Consider the stakes facing LGBTQ people too often all across this country. A same-sex couple walks into a restaurant. Having hired a babysitter to look after their young children, they are hoping to have a relaxing night out. But, instead, when they are seated and looking at the menu, the manager comes over and tells them that they have to leave. They aren't welcome.

This kind of insecurity and humiliation occurs on a daily basis across this country, and in 30 States the couple would have no legal recourse. Often, humiliation is just the tip of the iceberg. Same-sex couples are far more likely to be denied housing; qualified and high- performing transgender people are more likely to be fired from their jobs; and LGBTQ young people face rejection and discrimination in school, which can deny them an education.

These injuries compound and lead to poverty, homelessness, and violence. The impact is felt the hardest by transgender women of color, who confront racial discrimination, sex discrimination, and gender identity discrimination. The intersection of these forms of discrimination is all too often deadly.

The protections provided by the Equality Act give LGBTQ people an equal chance at the American Dream. While discrimination and rejection has ended the lives of too many transgender people, many are succeeding despite discrimination.

We are talking here about the civil rights of our friends, our family, and public servants. In Pennsylvania, Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, served in the Governor's cabinet as Secretary for Health, and has recently been nominated by President Biden to serve as Assistant Health Secretary.

Mara Keisling, a Pennsylvania native, is the founder and Executive Director of the National Center for

Transgender Equality and a pioneer for civil rights protections.

Sarah McBride was recently sworn in as the first transgender Senator in the State of Delaware.

And of course, Pete Buttigieg was recently sworn in as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, becoming the first openly gay cabinet member to be confirmed by the Senate.

Opponents of the Equality Act keep trying to pit cisgender girls against transgender girls, when really this legislation is about strengthening opportunity for all girls and women. Whether it is women's sports, single-sex colleges, or homeless services for women, the Equality Act simply prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in these areas. It doesn't undermine these institutions or prohibit them; it simply ensures that they are inclusive of all women and girls, including trans women and girls.

Support for this legislation is overwhelming and deserves an overwhelmingly positive response from this body. I encourage all of my colleagues to support the rule and underlying legislation, and further encourage the Senate to swiftly act to pass this bill so that we can finally provide firm, statutory protections to the LGBTQ community.

Next, Mr. Speaker, is H.R. 803, the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. This is a package of public bills from the Natural Resources Committee that will designate more than 1.5 million acres as wilderness areas, and more than 1,200 river miles into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The bill would also withdraw more than 1.2 million acres of public land from new drilling and mining, ensuring that iconic landscapes like the Grand Canyon and Colorado's Thompson Divide are permanently protected for future generations to enjoy.

Few things in the United States are as universally cherished by Americans as are our public lands. Our country is home to more than 111 million acres of designated wilderness, and these lands help us combat climate change, provide for an array of ecological diversity, and offer recreational activities to Americans young and old.

As we continue to endure the devastating effects of climate change, providing for millions of additional acres of wilderness will allow for these areas to continue to serve as critical ``carbon sinks'' to capture and mitigate carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

A similar version of this legislation passed the House last Congress, but this version includes a critical new piece from Natural Resources Committee Chairman Grijalva, the Grand Canyon Protection Act. This bill would permanently ban new mining claims on approximately one million acres of public land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park, while helping to protect the clean water resources critical to the livelihoods of local Tribal communities.

The Grand Canyon Protection Act was developed by Chairman Grijalva in close consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders in his district and serves to protect one of the most cherished places in the United States.

You may hear my colleague from Pennsylvania argue that this bill is nothing but a land grab, an attempt to subvert private industry. Of course, this couldn't be farther from the truth.

Mining, like every other industry, is subject to the whim of the free market. Historically, when the demand for these minerals has dropped, mining companies are all too prepared to skip town without cleaning up any of their mess.

This bill isn't about whether or not nuclear energy and its inputs will be part of our clean energy future, but if we want to ensure that it is, then I would recommend that we first start by supporting effective regulations on new and existing nuclear plants and their capabilities. The best way to ensure demand for a product is to similarly ensure that its user won't decide it isn't worth pursuing or is unaffordable.

The merits of nuclear energy aside, you can't deny that its use in this country is on the downswing or, at the very least, stagnant. This isn't due to over-regulation; it is due to under-regulation. It is due to massive cost overruns and incompetent government oversight.

The U.S. has had only one new nuclear reactor become operational in the last 20 years. This isn't because a mining company or two hasn't been afforded the opportunity to desecrate our national resources, but because the U.S. has not yet proven we can responsibly operate a nuclear plant that, from start to finish, is safe and has the trust of the American people.

Public lands do not belong to those only in the Congressional district in which they are located; they belong to all of us. Wilderness areas in the great State of Colorado belong to you and me as much as Independence Hall belongs to a native of Colorado. We all have a role to play in protecting these lands and seeking carveouts for mining companies is not the right way forward.

I want to especially thank my colleague, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, for her tireless and bipartisan work in getting this legislation to such a great place.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I would just note for the record that over 20 States already have versions of this law, the Equality Act, with respect to participation in sports, as do the Olympics, and we have not seen the kind of behavior that has just been suggested.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. Speaker, I would just restate that this act does not take away any of the religious freedoms that are already enshrined in multiple laws. It does not change those laws.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the gentlewoman's question, with respect to the language in question, it has long been held by our courts that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not apply to civil rights laws.

The Equality Act looks to treat discrimination against LGBTQ individuals the same way as other forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination. So, these arguments just don't hold water.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would just note that what we saw in Texas this past week was a truly astonishing, unusual snowstorm with frigid cold conditions that are not normal--as the Speaker knows--in Texas, and that happens because of climate change.

Because we haven't done enough to protect our wilderness and to protect our environment, we end up with extreme climate events like we just saw, and this bill is a step toward redressing that imbalance.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would just note, as a parent, a former school board member, and education advocate, of course, we all want what is best for our students and what is best for our schools.

But I would also suggest that a one-size-fits-all, everybody has to go back in person to schools does not serve anybody well.

We have seen around the country--first of all, our schools in Pennsylvania are not closed. They are open. Some are virtual, some are hybrid, some are in person. But each community is doing what it needs to do in response to the conditions that are present at this time.

So I agree with my colleague on the Rules Committee that we absolutely need to get our school districts and our State and local governments the money they need to safely reopen schools, and we are looking forward to doing that with our reconciliation bill on Friday.

Mr. Speaker, I just inquire whether the gentleman from Pennsylvania is prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are moving forward on two pieces of legislation whose timely consideration is long overdue. And I would note that H.R. 5 did pass last Congress with a bipartisan majority.

So we are looking forward, at long last, to passing the Equality Act through both Chambers and removing the burden of discrimination that can move us closer to a country where members of the LGBTQ community have an equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream.

The Equality Act isn't going to be the end of our long journey toward full LGBTQ equality, but it will bring our laws into line across the country with values that our country was founded upon.

We must continually take steps to make our country more perfect. Acknowledging in law the challenges that actually face LGBTQ people and taking concrete action to correct them brings us another step closer.

Mr. Speaker, we will pass the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act in order to ensure that the sacred lands that all Americans share equally cannot be tarnished for the benefit of a few.

We have a long way to go in addressing the myriad problems facing this country, but the two bills before us today are a strong and necessary start to helping our Nation live up to its full potential.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows:

Amendment to House Resolution 147

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 6. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall resolve into the Committee of the Whole House on

the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R.

682) to encourage local educational agencies to resume in-

person instruction at elementary and secondary schools, and

for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be

dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of

the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the

bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and

controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the

Committee on Education and Labor. After general debate the

bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute

rule. All points of order against provisions in the bill are

waived. When the committee rises and reports the bill back to

the House with a recommendation that the bill do pass, the

previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill

and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening

motion except one motion to recommit. If the Committee of the

Whole rises and reports that it has come to no resolution on

the bill, then on the next legislative day the House shall,

immediately after the third daily order of business under

clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of the Whole

for further consideration of the bill.

Sec. 7. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the

consideration of H.R. 682.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Youth Mentoring Month, which we celebrate in January.

Established in 2002, Youth Mentoring Month celebrates the powerful impact of mentoring relationships and raises awareness about the need for more caring adults to become mentors in their communities.

In 2006, I created a career development and mentorship program at Constitution High School in Philadelphia and, throughout the years, I have served as a mentor many times over.

We often talk about mentoring in terms of the benefits to young people, but what surprises so many people about mentoring is the emotional satisfaction and benefits to the mentor. Whether it be through a classroom, an arts program, or a local youth sports team, mentors provide young people with the guidance and encouragement they need to find success and reach their full potential.

As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Youth Mentoring Caucus with Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, I look forward to celebrating and promoting mentoring programs across our country.

Madam Speaker, I, too, have to agree with the ranking member of the Rules Committee that this does raise serious questions for our institution and assure him that this is not a move taken lightly, but our colleagues have left us no choice.

Historically, the parties have policed themselves. Even as recently as 2 years ago, our Republican colleagues removed a Member from committees after he made a series of false and despicable statements, which were less serious than the conduct we consider here.

But, apparently, that was the old GOP. In the words of Republican Senator John Thune from South Dakota, the party of ``limited government and fiscal responsibility, free markets, peace through strength'' has become the ``party of conspiracy theories and QAnon.''

No matter how much our colleagues here today say that they disapprove of the conduct of the Representative from Georgia, they must realize that she is now the face of their party.

If today's House Republican caucus wants to embrace this behavior, the majority does not. The Member in question has advocated for insurrection and violence against elected officials and children, has challenged the safety of Members and our Capitol Police, and has promoted fringe conspiracy theories that damage our work.

Such behavior would not be tolerated in any other workplace, and it cannot be tolerated in the people's House.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know this. While they have been careful to distance themselves from their Member's remarks and actions, they have not shown the courage to hold a Member of their own party accountable when they don't have the shield of a secret vote.

They force us to take this action to stop the spread of conspiracy theories, lies, and hate in the Halls of Congress.

This isn't canceling the Representative from Georgia's voice. It is about accountability. There is no right to committee assignments, but if a Member conducts himself or herself in so disgraceful a way that she brings discredit upon Congress, and her own party cannot address the problem, then the House, as a whole, has to deal with it.

I urge my colleagues to recognize what the public has recognized in a bipartisan manner, that the indecent behavior of this Member is a threat to Congress and our government.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for arranging this really important Special Order hour.

Every day, we are so grateful for the hard work and support of our congressional staff. Many of them are young enough to be my children, but they serve Congress and our country with brilliance and honor every single day.

This evening, I want to read a letter signed by nearly 400 congressional staffers to their Senators because they don't often have a voice on this floor, but their words are so raw and so heart- wrenching.

Here is their letter, titled ``An Open Letter to Members of the U.S. Senate.''

``We are staff who work for Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, where it is our honor and privilege to serve our country and our fellow Americans. We write this letter to share our own views and experiences, not the views of our employers. But on January 6, 2021, our workplace was attacked by a violent mob trying to stop the electoral college vote count. That mob was incited by former President Donald J. Trump and his political allies, some of whom we pass every day in the hallways at work.

``Many of us attended school in the post-Columbine era and were trained to respond to active shooter situations in our classrooms. As the mob smashed through Capitol Police barricades, broke doors and windows, and charged into the Capitol with body armor and weapons, many of us hid behind chairs and under desks or barricaded ourselves in offices. Others watched on TV and frantically tried to reach our bosses and colleagues as they fled for their lives.

``On January 6, the former President broke America's 230-year legacy of the peaceful transition of power when he incited a mob to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes. Six people died. A Capitol Police officer--one of our coworkers who guards and greets us every day--was beaten to death. The attack on our workplace was inspired by lies told by the former President and others about the results of the election in a baseless, monthslong effort to reject votes lawfully cast by the American people.

``Our Constitution only works when we believe in it and defend it. It is a shared commitment to equal justice, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of our differences. Any person who doesn't share these beliefs has no place representing the American people, now or in the future. The use of violence and lies to overturn an election is not worthy of debate. Either you stand with the Republic or against it.

``As congressional employees, we don't have a vote on whether to convict Donald J. Trump for his role in inciting the violent attack at the Capitol, but our Senators do. And for our sake, and the sake of the country, we ask that they vote to convict the former President and bar him from ever holding office again.''

It is signed by nearly 400 congressional staff.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Congressional Record their letter and their signatures.

An Open Letter to Members of the U.S. Senate: We are staff

who work for members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of

Representatives, where it is our honor and privilege to serve

our country and our fellow Americans. We write this letter to

share our own views and experiences, not the views of our

employers. But on January 6, 2021, our workplace was attacked

by a violent mob trying to stop the electoral college vote

count. That mob was incited by former president Donald J.

Trump and his political allies, some of whom we pass every

day in the hallways at work.

Many of us attended school in the post-Columbine era and

were trained to respond to active shooter situations in our

classrooms. As the mob smashed through Capitol Police

barricades, broke doors and windows, and

charged into the Capitol with body armor and weapons, many of

us hid behind chairs and under desks or barricaded ourselves

in offices. Others watched on TV and frantically tried to

reach bosses and colleagues as they fled for their lives.

On January 6, the former President broke America's 230-year

legacy of the peaceful transition of power when he incited a

mob to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes. Six

people died. A Capitol Police officer--one of our co-workers

who guards and greets us every day--was beaten to death. The

attack on our workplace was inspired by lies told by the

former president and others about the results of the election

in a baseless, months-long effort to reject votes lawfully

cast by the American people.

Our Constitution only works when we believe in it and

defend it. It's a shared commitment to equal justice, the

rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of our differences.

Any person who doesn't share these beliefs has no place

representing the American people, now or in the future. The

use of violence and lies to overturn an election is not

worthy of debate. Either you stand with the republic or

against it.

As Congressional employees, we don't have a vote on whether

to convict Donald J. Trump for his role in inciting the

violent attack at the Capitol, but our Senators do. And for

our sake, and the sake of the country, we ask that they vote

to convict the former president and bar him from ever holding

office again.

Signed,

Aaron Fritschner, Abigail Hewins, Adam Comis, Adam Veale,

Alex Guajardo, Alex Karabatsos, Alex Marston, Alex Molina,

Alexa Marquez, Alexa Sledge, Alexander Gristina, Alexandra

Schnelle, Alexandra Yiannoutsos, Alexis C. MacDonald, Alisa

La, Allan Rodriguez, Allison Blankenship, Allison Lukas, Aly

DeWills-Marcano, Alyssa Mendez.

Amanda J. Quesada, Amand Yanchury, Amy Fischer, Amy Kuhn,

Amy Soenksen, Andi McIver, Andre Earls, Andrea N. Goldstein,

Andrew Goddeeris, Andrew Myslik, Andrew Noh, Aneeb Sheikh,

Angele Russell, Angelica Duque, Angie Wells, Anissa Z.

Caldwell, Anne Feldman, Anne Wick, Annetta Joyce, Annmarie

Goyzueta.

Anthony Barnes, Anthony Lemma, Anuj Gupta, Aria Kovalovich,

Artin Haghshenas, Asha Samuel, Ashlee Wilkins, Avery

Bonifati, Barbara Hamlett, Beatrix M. Dalton, Ben Kamens, Ben

Rutan, Ben Turner, Benito Torres Jr., Benjamin Bernier, Brad

Korten, Brandon Garay, Brandon Mendoza, Brendan Greenlee,

Bridget Hogan.

Brigid Campbell, Brittan Robinson, Bryce Causey, Caleigh

Lynch, Carianne Lee, Carlos Murillo Villasenor, Carmen

Palumbo, Caroline Ramos, Carolyn Olortegui, Cassie Winters,

Caty Payette, Cesar Solis, Chandler Mason, Chelsea Alatriste

Martinez, Chelsea Rivas, Chloe Kessock, Chris Gibson, Chris

McCarthy, Christian Seasholtz, Christopher Nguyen.

Cindy M. Buhl, Cindy Matos Beltre, Clarissa Rojas, Cole A.

Baker, Colin Pio, Collin Davenport, Connor McNutt, Connor

Vargo, Cori Duggins, Corinne Paul, Courtney Callejas,

Courtney Hruska, Courtney Rogers, Cyre Velez, Dan Riffle,

Dana Hanson, Daniel Gleick, Daniel Holt, Daniel Maher,

Daniela Contreras.

Daniela Valles, Danielle Fulfs, David Lucas, David Sanchez,

David Todisco, Dayanara Ramirez, Denzel McCampbell, Dr.

Heather O'Beirne Kelly, Drew Hammill, Eddie Meyer, Eduardo N.

Lerma, Jr., Edwin Sevilla, Eleanor Trenary, Elena Radding,

Elizabeth Austin-Mackenzie, Elizabeth Kulig, Eloise Melcher,

Elyse Schupak, Emily Amador, Emily Lande-Rose.

Emily Loya, Emily Morrison, Emma Norman, Emma Zafran, Erin

Melody, Eva Naomi Gutierrez, Evan Brooks, Evan P. Dale,

Fabiola Pagan Melendez, Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampol, Frederick

Castro, Gabby Richards, Gail Chaney Kalinich, George

``Stephen'' Williams, Jr., George Flynn, Grace Rubinger, Greg

Claus, Griffin M. Anderson, Hannah Ceja.

Hannah Melissa Borja, Hannah Weinerman, Harsh Deshmukh,

Heather Boyd, Hector Colon, Helen Beaudreau, Humberto Ramos,

Hussain Altamimi, Jack Gebbia, Jack Stelzner, Jacqueline A.

Sanchez, Jae'Von McClain, Jaime Cobham, Jaimee Gilmartin,

Jamari Torrence, James E. McFeely, Jamie Smith, Jason Nerad,

Jason Tufele Carl Johnson, Jed Ober.

Jen Fox, Jenna Jaffe, Jennifer Chandler, Jeren Totten,

Jermaine Simmons, Jesse Malowitz, Jessica Andino, Jessica

Hernandez, Jessica Mulligan, Jessica Pedroza, Jessica Valdez,

Jessie Durrett, Jill Hirsch, Johana Mata, John Chapa

Gorczynski, John Swords, Johnathan Garza, Joicelynne Jackson,

Jona Koka, Jonathan Nwaru.

Jordan Dashow, Joseph Valente, Joy A. Hamer, Juan Romero-

Casillas, Julia Kravitz, Julian Gerson, Julie Jochem, Justin

McCartney, K'Yetta McKinney, Kaozouapa E. Lee, Kat Cosgrove,

Kate Brescia, Kate Stotesbery, Katharine Nasielski, Katie

Worley, Katrina Martell, Kelli Scott, Kelsey Smith, Kendra

Wood, Kenneth Russell DeGraff.

Kevin Figueroa, Kevin ONeil, Kevin Vargas, Kiara Tringali,

Kichelle Webster, Kimberly Stanton, Kimiko Hirota, Kira

Floersheim, Koray Rosati, Kory Haywood, Kristi Black, Kristin

Kopshever, Kristina Broadie Jeter, Kurtis Miller, Kyle

McKenney, Lana Abbasi, Lana Westfall Marro, Lanette Garcia,

Larissa Richardson, Laura Brantley.

Laura Ellen Schock, Laura Forero, Lauren Pauley, Lauren

Covington, Lauren Geiser, Lauren Linsmayer, Lauren Meininger,

LaVontae Brooks, Leslie Merrill, Leslie Zwicker, Liam

McCaffery, Libby Wiet, Lillian Adelstein, Lily Fitzpatrick,

Lisa Pahel, Lisa Tencer, Lucia Rodriguez, Luis Zegarra,

Maggie Harden, Malcolm Yates.

Mara Kelly, Maria Camila Gomez Osorio, Maria Di Leone,

Maria Martirosyan, Maria Robayo, Mariam Jalloul, Marilyn

Dillihay, Mark A. Hinson, Marlon Dubuisson, Maru Vazquez,

Matt Corridoni, Matt DeFreitas, Matt Jansen, Matt Sonneborn,

Matthew A. Ceja, Matthew Bonaccorsi, Matthew E. Fried,

Matthew Holcombe.

Matthew Morgan, Matthew Steil, Maureen Acero, Max Frankel,

Maytham Alshadood, Meaghan Johnson, Melanee Farrah, Mia

Robertson, Michael Harris, Michael Lawson, Michele Lockman,

Michelle Sanchez, Mike Lucier, Mike Shanahan, Moh Sharma,

Molly Cole, Mustafa Alemi, Natalie C. Adams, Nawaid Ladak,

Nick Burroughs.

Nicolas Ballon, Noah Simon, Numa St. Louis, Olga Avant-

Mier, Oliver Edelson, Olivia Byrd, Pam Trinward, Patrick

Carroll, Patrick Koetzle, Paula Mckinney-Rainey, Philip

Bennett, Pierre Whatley, Pilar Lugo, Priyanka Hooghan,

Quinton Johnson, Rachel Dembo, Rachel Montoya, Raman Khanna,

Randy Love, Rebecca Eichmann.

Rebecca R. Kelly, Rebekah Eskandani, Reecha Patel,

Remmington F. Belford, Rex Dyer, Ricardo Martinez, Rita L.

Waters, Robert M. Gottheim, Robert Montgomery, Rona Sayed,

Rosario Duran, Ryan A. Washington, Ryan Early, Ryan Morgan,

Rylee Stirn, Saira Bhatti, Sammi Goldsmith, Samuel R. Spencer

IV, Sara Barber.

Sara Guerrero, Sara Palasits, Sarah Dean, Sarah Mulero,

Scott Balough, Scott Heppard, Scott R. Nelson, Ph.D., Serena

Li, Shadawn Reddick-Smith, Shalini Gagliardi, Sharon Eliza

Nichols, Shawn M. Meredith, Sonia C. Norton, Sool Abdirahman,

Stephany Ospino, Stuart Styron, Sullivan Gassmann, T. Scott

Harris, Talia Marcus, Tamara P. Zapata.

Tara Jordan, Tara Rountree, Tendrina Alexandre, Thelma

Teresa Carrera, Theodore Steinberg, Thomas J. Story, Todd

Stein, Tommy Brown, Toni Dunbar, Udit Thakur, Victoria

Bonney, Victoria Graham, Victoria Oms, Wendy Ginsberg,

Whitley O'Neal, Will Barrett, William (Billy) Hennessy, Xiao

Shan Susan Liu, Yael Velvel, Yazmin Mehdi, Yonathan Teclu,

Zac Mitchiner, Zach Cafritz, Zach Fisch, Zoe Bluffstone.

Madam Speaker, on January 6, President Trump launched an attack against the United States Capitol. I, too, urge my colleagues to unite, but to unite in love of country, and to hold this President accountable.

What unites our country is respect for the rule of law. Without accountability for those who would shatter the rule of law by overturning a Presidential election, we cannot take seriously the cries of being a united people.

This President remains a serious threat to our country and he must be held accountable.