[Page H1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION

  (Mr. ZELDIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my objection and 
disappointment with the decision that was made to disinvite the 
President of the United States to address this Chamber for the State of 
the Union.
  I would like to commend Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who, just 
yesterday, said he would welcome the President here to the Chamber this 
upcoming Tuesday.
  This decision that was made is not one to bring this House together. 
That is a decision that is not one to move our country forward. I 
object. And many others in this Chamber do as well, and I believe many 
Democrats do.
  Then I hear that we are about to leave again? I say we stay here. We 
should all be in one room. No phones, no pay, no one is leaving the 
room until we have a deal and there is white smoke.
  That is how to lead, not to set us backward, as we are seeing again 
by the Speaker's decision today.

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