Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am a marine, just like James Mattis. While I was a grunt and he was a general, we both fought in Iraq. He is a man of social integrity and patriotism.

War shows the character of military leaders. Marines who served under Mattis in Iraq speak in glowing terms about his strength, intelligence, and ability.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise this evening to oppose legislation that would allow General Mattis to serve as our 26th Secretary of Defense. This might seem contradictory. It might appear partisan or unpatriotic. In fact, the opposite is true.

My position is entirely straightforward, Mr. Speaker. When it comes to something as basic as civilian control of the military, I believe exceptions should be granted for extraordinary circumstances, not extraordinary people.

For more than half a century, recently retired military leaders have been barred from assuming the top post at the Pentagon. The Members of Congress who enshrined this prohibition in law had fresh memories of the Second World War. They are wary of a decorated general slipping off his uniform and immediately stepping into a civilian role. They were apprehensive about installing a Secretary of Defense who could be perceived as partial to one service over others. They are also worried about whether the reputation of our military as a nonpartisan institution would suffer if its most respected leaders could transition directly into political positions.

The last time a recently retired military man, the great George Marshall, was permitted to lead the Pentagon, America was facing the prospect of a humiliating defeat in the Korean war. Even then, congressional leaders specified that his waiver was a one-time exception to the rule.

While our country must confront an array of threats today, none of our national security challenges remotely compares to a massive ground war in the Far East.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that many of my colleagues are eager to grant this waiver because they greeted the announcement of Mattis' appointment with a sigh of relief, a sigh of relief because it meant Donald Trump had picked someone who is known to be competent and patriotic, and someone who doesn't have a cozy relationship with the Russian Government.

That is an understandable reaction, and we are all extremely confident that General Mattis will do a much better job than General Flynn or some of the other alternatives.

We shouldn't let Trump's bad behavior and poor judgment compel Congress to lower the bar. If anything, we should raise the bar for Trump, not make exceptions just because we are glad he didn't go with someone like Flynn.

Mr. Speaker, a simple set of rules and norms form the fabric of American democracy. Since the founding of the Republic, leaders of every party and political persuasion have upheld this basic framework. For generations, American leaders have placed principle before party.

With remarkably few exceptions, Presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama have valued our institutions and our democracy more than private gain or personal advancement. Now, Mr. Speaker, we have a President-elect who doesn't think the rules should apply to him. We have a President-elect who is brazenly breaking norms left and right. We have a President-elect who promises to make America great again, but is dividing the country as never before.

Here in the United States, we believe every American is entitled to equal justice under the law. But Donald Trump believes that a different set of rules should apply to him than apply to President Obama or President Bush or any of the other men who have held our highest office.

Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has stubbornly refused to release his tax returns. Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has irresponsibly meddled in our foreign relations throughout the transition. Unlike his predecessors, Trump has done nothing to diminish massive conflicts of interest stemming from his complex business dealings overseas.

Yet, instead of applying a check on this pattern of reckless behavior, House Republicans have rolled over time and time again.

Mr. Speaker, the Republicans won't stand up to a President entering office with just a 37 percent approval rating because it is precisely that 37 percent of the public that scares them. In fact, that 37 percent has terrified them for 8 long years. It scared them into turning a blind eye to the racist birther conspiracy theories. It scared them into shutting down the Federal Government. That 37 percent even scared them into risking a debt limit default which would have immediately triggered an unprecedented economic meltdown.

Mr. Speaker, we need a President like Barack Obama who looks out for 100 percent of the American people. We need a President like Barack Obama who abides by 100 percent of the rules. We need a House majority that is willing to uphold its constitutional obligations 100 percent of the time.

Moving forward in this Congress, the power to check Donald Trump is in Republican hands and depends on Republican votes, but they have been too scared, too cowed, and too unwilling to do what these tough times demand.

If we, the Members of this great body, won't stand up for the norms that have sustained this Republic for 238 years, then who will?

General Mattis is a patriot, but now is the time for all of us in this Chamber to reiterate a basic truth in a democracy--rules matter. They shouldn't be discarded at the first sign of difficulty. They shouldn't be undercut by waivers. Important precedents must be upheld in good times and bad.

This is America, Mr. Speaker, not some banana republic where the incoming strongman gets to rewrite the rule

book. Our principles are enduring. Our values are timeless. For more than two centuries, our commitment to the rule of law has been unshakable. That is why we should reject this waiver. That is why we must hold Donald Trump to the same high standards as all of the 43 Presidents who came before him.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are only 16 days left until the Department of Homeland Security runs out of money. How did we find ourselves in this situation?

Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues decided to play political games with our national security. They decided to pass a DHS funding bill they knew the Senate would not approve and the President would not sign. They decided deporting DREAMers and the parents of American children was more important than funding the Department that helps protect the American people.

Thankfully, there is an easy solution to this manufactured crisis. The Republican leadership could bring up a clean bill this afternoon, and it would pass with strong bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, our most critical responsibility as Members of Congress is to ensure that the men and women charged with protecting our Nation have the resources to do their jobs.

It is time for the Republican leadership to stop playing games and start living up to this basic obligation by bringing a clean DHS funding bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, as he begins the transition to civilian life, I rise today to salute Lieutenant Colonel Allen Kirksey for his distinguished military career and years of dedicated service to our nation.

Lt. Colonel Kirksey most recently served as the Wing Chief of Staff in Phoenix, Arizona, a position he has held since June of 2013. He began his military career in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1983, during which time he completed two operational assignments with the 92nd Bomb Wing and the 435th Tactical Air Wing. He enlisted in the Arizona Air National Guard in 1984 as a drill status guardsman Combat Crew Communications Specialist. In 1998, he assumed command of the 161st Security Forces Squadron. Lt. Colonel Kirksey has deployed as the Wing Senior Intelligence Officer in support of Operation Desert Shield, Deny Flight, Phoenix Scorpion, and Southern Watch.

In 2001, as the Security Forces Commander, he was mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and was designated as the 201st Mission Support Squadron Detachment Commander. In 2005, he served as the 161st Deputy Mission Support Commander, and in 2006 he assumed command of the 161st Logistics Readiness Squadron. In 2010, as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, he was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

Throughout his years of service, Lt. Col. Kirksey has won numerous awards and distinctions, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, twice. In addition, he was named the Arizona National Guard Diversity Champion in 2008 and the National Guard Diversity Award Winner--Air National Guard Individual Category in 2011.

Incredibly, on top of his outstanding service in uniform, Lt. Colonel Kirksey also volunteers over 100 hours each year at Phoenix-area schools and is a motivational speaker in the community. In 2014, he was awarded the City of Phoenix Calvin Goode Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication to civil rights.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Allen Kirksey and thank him for his many years of exceptional service.