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[Page H7381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROCEED WITH IMPEACHMENT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise because I love my
country, and I also rise because I believe that we are currently in a
constitutional crisis.
The executive branch of the government is refusing to honor subpoenas
lawfully issued by committees of the Congress. The executive branch of
the government does not respect the judiciary.
We are in a constitutional crisis. We have a duty, an obligation, and
a responsibility to do something about this.
So I rise today, Mr. Speaker, some 99 days after the Mueller report
was made public. The Mueller report has been thoroughly vetted by the
Members of Congress to the extent that we have talked about it and have
proclaimed that there are impeachable acts that are clearly indicated
within the Mueller report. The Mueller report has been discussed ad
infinitum and ad nauseam by Members of Congress.
I am not saying that everybody knows what is in it, but I do know
that there is a notion that there is a Mueller report and that that
report has information in it--evidence, if you will--that is
antithetical to the President and would, in some circumstances, be such
that we would bring Articles of Impeachment.
I would also indicate that we are now 1 day since Mr. Mueller
testified before the Congress of the United States of America, the
Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee.
Mr. Mueller has written his report. He has testified before Congress,
and now the question really becomes: What are we going to do? Will we
seek additional testimony? I am not opposed to it, but I do believe
this: At some point, we will start to see evidence of what Dr. King
called the paralysis of analysis. I believe that we are now seeing the
initial evidence, if we haven't seen it before, of the paralysis of
analysis.
This paralysis is something that will stall us to the extent that
someone will move forward and say, rather than impeach, let's defeat.
I am not one of them. I believe that, if we violate Article II,
Section 4 of the Constitution, then we ought to enforce that law. No
one is above the law in the United States of America.
We must honor Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, which deals
with impeachment. If we do not, history will not be kind to us. It
especially will not be kind to those of us who are in control of this
House.
We decide what comes to the floor. We decide what the agenda is.
History will not be kind to us if we don't take up our duty,
responsibility, and obligation pursuant to Article II, Section 4 of the
Constitution.
Mr. Speaker, we are at the crossroads of accountability. Either we
will hold the Chief Executive accountable, or we will be held
accountable. I pray that we will do that which the Framers of the
Constitution fully intended, and that is to proceed with impeachment
when you have a Chief Executive who is causing harm to society.
This is a seminal moment in time for those of us who are in charge of
this House. Either we will act, or we will be acted upon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
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