[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY  
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING 
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION 
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS  
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE 
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ON 
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 188. 
THE NAYS ARE 226. 
THE MOTION IS NOT ADOPTED.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK  
RECOGNITION?
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TO 
QUESTION A PRIVILEGE OF THE 
HOUSE AND SEND TO THE DESK A  
PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
CLERK WILL REPORT THE 
RESOLUTION. 
THE CLERK: WHEREAS CHAIRMAN 
SCHIFF AND CHAIRMAN NADLER  
WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY 
VIOLATED THE RULES OF THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES BY ABUSING 
AND EXCEEDING THEIR POWERS AS 
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. 
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2019, 
WUT CONSULTATION OF THE RANKING 
MINORITY MEMBER IN VIOLATION OF 
RULE 9 OF THE RULES OF THE  
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF 
IN COORDINATION WITH THE  
COMMITTEES ON OVERSIGHT AND 
REFORM AND FOREIGN AFAIRS 
ANNOUNCED A WIDE RANGING  
INVESTIGATION INTO THE  
TRUMP-GIULIANI UKRAINE SCHEME.
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 26, TO 19, 
IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ACTION, 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF UNILATERALLY  
RELEASED A REDACTED VERSION OF  
THE AUGUST, 2019 WHISTLEBLOWER  
COMPLAINT.
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019,  
IN HIS OPENING STATEMENT AT A 
PUBLIC HEARING, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF 
ENGAGED IN A FALSE RETELLING OF 
THE JULY 25, 2019 TELEPHONE 
CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT  
TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. 
WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019, A 
LETTER WAS TRANSMITTED FROM THE 
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER TO  
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF REQUESTING  
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION  
660, THE CONCURRENCE OF THE 
CHAIR TO ISSUE CERTAIN  
SUBPOENAS.
WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019, 
AFTER EXCUSING THE WITNESSES AT 
AN OPEN HEARING AND WITHOUT 
PRIOR NOTICE TO THE REPUBLICANS 
ON THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN  
SCHIFF ANNOUNCED THAT THE 
COMMITTEE HAD A BUSINESS MATTER 
TO TAKE UP AND CONVENED AN  
IMPROMPTU BUSINESS MEETING TO 
KRT RANKING MINORITY MEMBER'S 
NOVEMBER 20 REQUEST CONCERNING  
CERTAIN SUBPOENAS.
WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019, 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF VIOLATED CLAUSE 
2-G-3 OF RULE 11 OF THE RULES 
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
WHICH STATES, THE CHAIR OF A  
COMMITTEE SHALL ANNOUNCE THE  
DATE, PLACE, AND SUBJECT MATTER 
OF A COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH  
MAY NOT COMMENCE EARLIER THAN 
THE THIRD CALENDAR DAY ON WHICH 
MEMBERS HAVE NOTICED THEIROF. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
CLERK SHALL SUSPEND.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. 
THE CLERK MAY CONTINUE. 
THE CLERK: WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER  
20, 2019, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF'S 
ACTION FURTHER VIOLATED 
PARAGRAPH 4-B OF HOUSE  
RESOLUTION 660 WHICH STATES, IN 
A CASE THAT THE CHAIR DECLINES  
TO CONCUR IN A PROPOSED ACTION  
OF THE RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, 
THE RANKING MINORITY MEMBER 
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFER 
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR DECISION 
THE QUESTION WHETHER SUCH 
AUTHORITY SHALL BE SO EXERCISED 
AND THE CHAIR SHALL CONVENE THE 
COMMITTEE PROMPTLY TO RENDER  
THAT DECISION.
SUBJECT TO THE NOTICE 
PROCEDURES FOR A COMMITTEE  
MEETING UNDER CLAUSE 2-G, 3-A 
AND B OF RULE 116789 WHEREAS ON 
NOVEMBER 21, 2019, PURSUANT TO  
CLAUSE 2-J-1 OF RULE 11 OF THE  
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ALL REPUBLICAN  
MEMBERS ON THE PERMANENT SELECT 
COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE WROTE 
TO CHAIRMAN SCHIFF DEMANDING TO 
CALL WITNESSES AT A MINORITY  
DAY OF HEARINGS.
WHEREAS SUBSEQUENT TO RECEIVING 
THE REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL 
DAY OF HEARINGS BY MEMBERS OF 
THE MINORITY PARTY, CHAIRMAN  
SCHIFF REFUSED TO SCHEDULE SUCH 
HEARINGS. 
WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 6, 2019,  
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF WITHOUT 
CONSULTATION OF THE RANKING 
MINORITY MEMBER IN VIOLATION OF 
SECTION 3 OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 
660, UNILATERALLY TRANSMITTED 
ADDITIONAL RECORDS AND OTHER  
MATERIALS TO THE COMMITTEE ON 
THE JUDICIARY.
WHEREAS CHAIRMAN SCHIFF 
COMPELLED THE PRODUCTION OF 
DOCUMENTS FROM AT&TP AND  
VERIZON AND IN VIOLATION OF 
CLAUSE 2-K-6 OF RULE 11 OF THE  
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES PUBLICLY USED 
THESE DOCUMENTS TO SMEAR THE  
PERSONAL ATTORNEYS OF THE 
PRESIDENT, A JOURNALIST, AND TO 
CREATE A FALSE NARRATIVE ABOUT  
A SITTING MEMBER OF CONGRESS  
AND CURRENT AND FORMER  
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.
WHEREAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS 
IN BOTH CLOSED DOOR DEPOSITIONS 
AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, CHAIRMAN 
SCHIFF ABUSED HIS POWER AS  
CHAIR BY UNILATERALLY 
RESTRICTING REPUBLICAN LINES OF 
QUESTIONS AND SUPPORTING  
WITNESSES ATTEMPTS TO EVADE 
ANSWERING REPUBLICANS OR THE  
MINORITIES QUESTIONS BY 
DIRECTING WITNESSES NOT TO  
ANSWER CERTAIN QUESTIONS FROM 
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AND STAFF. 
WHEREAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS 
IN BOTH CLOSED DOOR DEPOSITIONS 
AND PUB LIG HEARINGS CHAIRMAN 
SCHIFF ABUSED HIS POWER AS  
CHAIR BY FAILING TO FOLLOW  
PROPER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, 
FAILING TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS  
WHO WISH TO RAISE VALID POINTS  
OF ORDER AND REPEATEDLY 
INTERRUPTING REPUBLICAN MEMBERS 
AND STAFF WHEN THEY WERE  
CONTROLLING THE TIME. 
WHEREAS THAT THE HOUSE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S FIRST 
HEARING PURSUANT TO HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 660 ON DECEMBER 4, 
2019, CHAIRMAN NADLER WAS 
FURNISHED WITH A REQUEST FOR A  
MINORITY DAY OF HEARINGS  
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-J-1 OF 
RULE 11 OF THE RULES OF THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIGNED 
BY ALL REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF  
THE COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS SUBSEQUENT TO RECEIVING 
THE REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL 
DAY OF HEARINGS BY MEMBERS OF 
THE MINORITY PARTY, CHAIRMAN  
NADLER REFUSED TO SCHEDULE SUCH 
HEARINGS. 
WHEREAS RANKING MINORITY MEMBER 
COLLINS FUNNISHED CHAIRMAN  
NADLER WITH A LETTER REMINDING  
HIM OF HIS OBLIGATION TO  
SCHEDULE A MINORITY DAY OF  
HEARINGS AS REQUESTED BY  
MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY PARTY 
AND CHAIRMAN NADLER IGNORED THE 
LETTER AND FAILED TO RESPOND. 
WHEREAS CHAIRMAN NADLER 
REPEATEDLY MISSTATED THE RULES, 
MISGUIDING MEMBERS OF THE 
COMMITTEE, AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE, AND REFUSED TO RULE 
PROPERLY ON MEMBERS' POINTS OF  
ORDER CONCERNING THE REQUESTED  
MINORITY HEARING DAY. 
WHEREAS CHAIRMAN NADLER REFUSED 
TO CONSIDER THE SCHEDULING OF 
THE MINORITY HEARING DAY DURING 
A COMMITTEE MEETING UNTIL THE 
MARKUP OF ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
WHEREAS IN PLACE OF FINDING 
COMMON GROUND WITH THE  
MINORITY, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF AND 
CHAIRMAN NADLER HAVE CONSTANTLY 
DISREGARDED THE RULES OF THE  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND  
IGNORED THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS  
OF THE MINORITY.
AND WHEREAS CHAIRMAN SCHIFF AND 
CHAIRMAN NADLER'S ACTIONS AND 
ABUSES OF POWER AS CHAIRMAN OF  
THE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE  
ON INTELLIGENCE AND THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HAVE 
WILLFULLY TRAMPLED ON THE 
RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY IN 
VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND  
BROUGHT DISHONOR AND DISCREDIT  
UPON THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED 
THAT, ONE, THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES STRONGLY  
CONDEMNS CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF 
FOR PREETED AND BLATANT ABUSE 
OF POWER IN WAY THAT IS NOT 
BEFITTING AN ELECTED MEMBER OF  
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
NOR HIS POSITION AS CHAIRMAN. 
AND TWO, THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES STRONGLY  
CONDEMNS THE MANNER IN WHICH  
CHAIRMAN JERALD LEWIS NADLER  
HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE  
MINORITY'S REQUEST FOR AN 
ADDITIONAL DAY OF HEARINGS TO 
CONSIDER IMPEACHMENT OF 
PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR  
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE --  
RESOLUTION QUALIFIES. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE? 
MR. HOYER: MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE  
A MOTION AT THE DESK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION. 
THE CLERK: MR. HOYER OF 
MARYLAND MOVES TO LAY THE 
RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
QUESTION'S ON THE MOTION TO 
TABLE.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY 
AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,  
THE AYES HAVE T THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. MCCARTHY: I REQUEST A 
RECORDED VOTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED. 
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE  
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING  
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS  
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY  
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING 
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION 
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS  
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE 
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ON 
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 226. 
THE NAYS ARE 191. 
THE MOTION IS NOT ADOPTED --  
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION 
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE  
TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS  
RISE? 
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, BY 
THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE  
ON RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 767 AND ASK FOR ITS  
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
CLERK WILL REPORT THE 
RESOLUTION. 
THE CLERK: HOUSE CALENDAR 
NUMBER 63, HOUSE RESOLUTION 
767,RESOLVED, THAT IMMEDIATELY  
UPON
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION,
WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF ANY 
POINT OF ORDER, THE HOUSE SHALL 
PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION IN 
THE HOUSE OF THE RESOLUTION 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755, 
IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, 
PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES
AND MISDEMEANORS. 
THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY NOW
PRINTED IN THE RESOLUTION SHALL 
BE CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED. 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED, TO
ADOPTION WITHOUT INTERVENING
MOTION OR DEMAND FOR DIVISION 
OF THE QUESTION EXCEPT AS 
FOLLOWS, A, THE RESOLUTION, AS
AMENDED, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR 
SIX HOURS EQUALLY DIVIDED AND 
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND 
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY OR 
THEIR RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES.
B, THE QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED, 
SHALL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE
TWO ARTICLES. 
SECTION 2, DURING CONSIDERATION 
OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 755, ONLY 
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS SHALL BE
ADMITTED TO THE HALL OF THE 
HOUSE OR ROOMS LEADING THERETO, 
A, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 
B, THE DELEGATES AND THE
RESIDENT COMMISSIONER.
C, THE PRESIDENT AND VICE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
D, OTHER PERSONS AS DESIGNATED
BY THE SPEAKER. 
SECTION 3, AFTER ADOPTION OF
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755, IT SHALL
BE IN ORDER WITHOUT 
INTERVENTION OF ANY POINT OF
ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND 
AUTHORIZING MANAGERS FOR THE
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF DONALD 
JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, IF OFFERED BY
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
THE JUDICIARY OR HIS DESIGNEE.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
RESOLUTION TO ADOPTION WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION OR DEMAND
FOR DIVISION OF THE QUESTION
EXCEPT 10 MINUTES OF DEBATE 
EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED
BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY. 
NO OTHER RESOLUTION INCIDENTAL
TO IMPEACHMENT RELATING TO
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755 SHALL BE 
PRIVILEGED DURING THE REMAINDER 
OF THE 116TH CONGRESS.
SECTION 4, THE CHAIR OF THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY MAY
INSERT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL 
RECORD SUCH MATERIAL AS HE MAY
DEEM EXPLANATORY OF, A, HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755, NOT LATER THAN
THE DATE THAT IS 5 LEGISLATIVE
DAYS AFTER ADOPTION THEREOF,
AND, B, THE RESOLUTION
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS
RESOLUTION, NOT LATER THAN THE
DATE THAT IS 5 LEGISLATIVE DAYS 
AFTER ADOPTION THEREOF. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR  
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM LOUISIANA SEEK 
RECOGNITION?
MR. SCALISE: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
RAISE A POINT OF ORDER AGAINST  
--  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN STATE HIS POINT OF  
ORDER.
MR. SCALISE: FOR FAILURE TO 
DISCLOSE THE FAVOR CLAUSE 2-J-1 
OF RULE 11 PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 
6-G OF RULE 138 WHICH REQUIRES  
THE RULES COMMITTEE TO SPECIFY  
THEIR REPORT, ANY WAIVER OF A 
POINT OF ORDER AGAINST A  
MEASURE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS UNDERLYING  
RESOLUTION VIOLATES CLAUSE  
2-J-1 OF RULE 11 WHICH ENTITLES 
THE MINORITY TO -- OF THE 
COMMITTEE 20 HAVE THE ABILITY 
TO CALL WITHINS TO TESTIFY  
DURING AT LEAST ONE DAY OF A  
HARG OR ANY GIVEN MEASURE.
THIS WAS NOT AFFORDED TO THE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MINORITY  
MEMBERS DURING CONSIDERATION OF 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT,  
DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS BY  
THE MINORITY'S MEMBERS. 
THEREFORE I RAISE A POINT OF  
ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF  
THE RULE AND THE UNDERLYING 
RESOLUTION FOR THE VIOLATION OF 
MINORITY RIGHTS AND THE DENIAL  
OF THIS EVIDENCE TO BE PUT INTO 
THE RECORD AND FOR THIS 
HEARING, WHICH THE HOUSE RULES  
REQUIRE, WHICH WAS NOT COMPLIED 
WITH, AND WAS DENIED. 
I WOULD URGE THE ENFORCEMENT OF 
THIS RULE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA SEEKS  
TO RAISE A POINT OF ORDER 
AGAINST HOUSE RESOLUTION 767, 
ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE REPORT  
ACCOMPANYING THE RESOLUTION 
FAILS TO SPECIFY A WAIVER OF A  
PARTICULAR POINT OF ORDER AND 
IS THUS IN VIOLATION OF CLAUSE  
6-G OF RULE 13. 
THE GENTLEMAN IS STATING A  
MATTER FOR DEBATE RATHER THAN A 
PROPER POINT OF ORDER.
CLAUSE 6-G OF RULE 13 IS MERELY 
INFORMATIONAL ON ANY SPECIAL  
FIDE WAIVER'S QUOTE TO THE  
MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.
AS ILL LOUIS DATED BY CHAIRMAN  
SOLOMON IN THE LEGISLATIVE  
HISTORY ACCOMPANYING THE  
ADOPTION OF THIS RULE IN THE  
104TH CONGRESS, ANY, QUOTE, 
FAILURE OF THE RULES COMMITTEE  
TO SPECIFY WAIVERS IN A RULE  
WOULD NOT GIVE RISE TO A POINT  
OF ORDER AGAINST A SPECIAL RULE 
THAT WAIVERS ALL POINTS OF  
ORDER, END QUOTE. 
THE CHAIR WOULD THEREFORE 
ADVISE THE GENTLEMAN, AGAIN,  
THAT HE IS NOT STATING A PROPER 
POINT OF ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER,  
FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE ONLY 
I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30  
MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA, MY 
GOOD FRIEND, MR. COLE.
PENDING WHICH I YIELD MYSELF  
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 
DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS  
RESOLUTION ALL TIME IS YIELDED  
FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE  
ONLY. 
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT  
ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE 
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND  
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, ON 
TUESDAY, THE RULES COMMITTEE  
MET AND REPORTED A CLOSED RULE  
FOR HOUSE RESOLUTION 767, 
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF  
H.RES. 755, IMPEACHING DONALD 
JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES  
AND MISDEMEANORS. 
THE RULE PROVIDES SIX HOURS OF  
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND  
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND 
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OR THEIR  
DESIGNEES.
THE RULE PROVIDES THAT THE  
QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF THE 
RESOLUTION SHALL BE DIVIDED 
BETWEEN TWO ARTICLES, THE RULE  
LIMITS ACCESS TO THE HOUSE  
FLOOR.
IT PROVIDES AT ANY TIME AFTER 
ADOPTION OF H.RES. 755 THE  
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION 
APPOINTING AND AUTHORIZING  
MANAGERS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT  
TRIAL, IF OFFERED BY THE CHAIR  
OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, 
DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES. 
NO RESOLUTION INCIDENTAL TO 
IMPEACHMENT RELATING TO H.RES.  
755 SHALL BE PRIVILEGED DURING  
THE REMAINDER OF THE 116TH  
CONGRESS. 
FINALLY, THE RULE PROVIDES THAT 
THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE MAY INSERT  
EXPLANATORY MATERIAL IN THE 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, 232 YEARS AGO, 
AS HE WALKED OUT OF THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN  
PHILADELPHIA, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
STATED THAT THE FOUNDERS HAD  
JUST CREATED A REPUBLIC, IF YOU 
CAN KEEP IT.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT NOTHING WAS  
PREORDAINED.
OUR NATION WOULD CONTINUE TO BE 
SHAPED, DECISION BY DECISION, 
VOTE BY VOTE. 
NOT BY SOME OTHER LEADERS IN  
SOME OTHER TIME, BUT DAY IN AND 
DAY OUT, BOTH THROUGH THE 
REGULAR WORK OF GOVERNMENT AND  
DURING HISTORIC MOMENTS LIKE  
THE ONE WE FACE TODAY.
OUR FOUNDERS CRAFTED THE  
FUNDAMENTALS OF GOVERNMENT TO 
GUIDE US. 
PASSAGES LIKE ARTICLE 1,  
SECTION 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION 
GIVING THIS CHAMBER THE SOLE  
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT. 
BUT NOWHERE DOES IT LIST  
EXACTLY WHAT CONSTITUTES A HIGH 
CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR. 
IN THEIR WISDOM THE FOUNDERS  
UNDERSTOOD THEY COULD NOT 
ANTICIPATE WHAT THE FUTURE  
WOULD BRING.
THEY GAVE SUBSEQUENT  
GENERATIONS, US, THE CHANCE TO  
DECIDE PRECISELY WHAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT WOULD BECOME.
TO DECIDE WITH EACH PASSING DAY 
WHAT A NATION DEFINED BY THE  
RULE OF LAW -- TO DECIDE WITH 
EACH PASSING DAY WHAT A NATION  
DEFINED BY THE RULE OF LAW WAS  
WILLING TO TOLERATE.
THAT IS WHAT BRINGS US HERE 
TODAY.
TO DECIDE NEARLY 2 1/2 CENTRIST 
LATER WHETHER THE UNITED STATES 
IS STILL A NATION WHERE NO ONE  
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
OR WHETHER AMERICA BECOMES A  
LAND RUN BY THOSE WHO ACT MORE  
LIKE KINGS OR QUEENS. 
AS IF THE LAW DOESN'T APPLY TO  
THEM. 
YES, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS REALLY 
IS THAT SERIOUS.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS  
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN  
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO THE  
45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED  
STATES, DONALD JOHN TRUMP.
OUR INQUIRY IS SPLIM TO ANSWER  
THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, DID 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS TOP 
ADVISORS CORRUPTLY WITHHOLD 
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO  
OBTAIN AN IMPROPER ADVANTAGE IN 
THE NEXT ELECTION.
WE NOW KNOW THROUGH THE HARD  
WORK OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE 
COMMITTEES AND BECAUSE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S OWN ADMISSION THAT  
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS  
YES.
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD  
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED  
MILITARY AIDE TO UKRAINE, A 
COUNTRY UNDER SIEGE, NOT TO 
FIGHT CORRUPTION, BUT TO  
EXTRACT A PERSONAL POLITICAL  
FAVOR.
PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO MEET 
WITH UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IN THE 
WHITE HOUSE UNTIL HE COMPLETED  
THIS SCHEME.
ALL THE WHILE LEADERS IN  
RUSSIA, THE VERY NATION HOLDING 
A LARGE PART OF UKRAINE 
HOSTAGE, THE VERY NATION THAT 
INTERFERED WITH OUR ELECTIONS,  
HAD ANOTHER MEETING IN THE OVAL 
OFFICE JUST LAST WEEK.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY. 
THE PRESIDENT UNDERMINED OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
AND THE PRESIDENT, A SUCCESSOR  
TO THE SAME OFFICE AS GEORGE  
WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 
BETRAYED HIS OATH TO PRESERVE,  
PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
THESE AREN'T OPINIONS.
THESE ARE UNCONTESTED FACTS.
I HAVE READ THE DETAILS OF THE  
JULY 25 PHONE CALL WITH 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WHERE  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID I WOULD  
LIKE YOU TO DO US A FAVOR,  
THOUGH. 
I HAVE SEEN THE TELEVISED PRESS 
CONFERENCE WHERE HIS CHIEF OF 
STAFF OPENLY ADMITTED TO THIS 
DEAL AND TOLD THE NATION TO 
JUST GET OVER IT. 
HOURS AND HOURS OF DEPOSITIONS  
BY THE INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT 
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES  
HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WHERE 
WITNESSES OUTLINE THE 
PRESIDENT'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT  
IN THIS SCHEME. 
THE EVIDENCE IS AS CLEAR AS IT  
IS OVERWHELMING.
IF A PRESIDENT UNDERMINING OUR  
NATIONAL SECURITY AND USING THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HIS OWN  
SELFISH PERSONAL GAIN IS NOT  
IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT, THEN,  
MADAM SPEAKER, I DON'T KNOW 
WHAT IS.
I HAVE HEARD SOME ON THE OTHER  
SIDE SUGGEST THIS PROCESS IS  
ABOUT OVERTURNING AN ELECTION.
THAT IS ABSURD. 
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
THESE FACTS ARE BEYOND DISPUTE. 
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS  
WHETHER WE ARE WILLING TO 
TOLERATE SUCH CONDUCT.
NOT JUST TODAY BY PRESIDENT 
TRUMP BUT FURTHERMORE BY ANY  
PRESIDENT OF EITHER PARTY TO  
NOT ACT WOULD SET A DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT.
NOT JUST WITH THIS PRESIDENT, 
BUT FOR EVERY FUTURE PRESIDENT. 
11 MONTHS AGO MANY OF US TOOK 
AN OATH RIGHT HERE IN THIS  
CHAMBER.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO 
TAKE THAT OATH 12 TIMES NOW,  
AND I BELIEVE IT IS NOT JUST  
FOR SHOW. 
IT IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN EACH 
OF US AND THE PEOPLE WE 
REPRESENT.
TO PLACE THE NATIONAL INTEREST  
ABOVE PARTISAN INTEREST.
AND TO PRESERVE THOSE LAWS THAT 
MAKE OUR COUNTRY UNIQUE.
WE CANNOT RECONCILE THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER AND  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS WITH  
THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT WE  
TOOK. 
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE BEING 
TESTED ON SOMETHING GREATER 
THAN OUR ABILITY TO TOE A PARTY 
LINE, SOMETHING MORE THAN OUR 
ABILITY TO SCORE THE NEXT GREAT 
TELEVISION SOUND BITE.
THIS IS A DEMOCRACY DEFINING  
MOMENT. 
HISTORY WILL JUDGE US BY  
WHETHER WE KEEP INTACT THAT 
FRAGILE REPUBLIC HANDED DOWN TO 
US BY OUR FOREBEARERS MORE THAN 
200 YEARS AGO.
OR WHETHER WE ALLOW IT TO BE  
CHANGED FOREVER.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY'S 
FUTURE, I HOPE AND I PRAY THAT  
MY COLLEAGUES WILL MAKE THE 
RIGHT DECISION. 
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I THANK MY GOOD  
FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS, CHAIRMAN 
MCGOVERN, FOR YIELDING ME THE 
CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES. 
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I 
MAY CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCCOLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY IS A VERY  
SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, FOR THE  
RULES COMMITTEE, THE ENTIRE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND 
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE  
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
WILL BE VOTING TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
BUT UNLIKE IN 1998, THE 
DECISION TO HAVE THIS VOTE IS 
NOT THE RESULT OF A BIPARTISAN  
PROCESS NOR AN OPEN OR FAIR 
PROCESS.
INSTEAD, IT'S GOING TO BE A 
DEEPLY PARTISAN VOTE COMING AT  
THE END OF AN UNFAIR AND RUSHED 
PROCESS PRESCRIBED SOLELY BY  
DEMOCRATS TO ENSURE A 
PREDETERMINED RESULT. 
IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT IS 
ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL 
ACTS THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES CAN UNDERTAKE.
IT SHOULD ONLY BE DONE AFTER  
THE FULLEST AND MOST CAREFUL  
CONSIDERATION.
YET TODAY AFTER A TRUNCATED 
INVESTIGATION THAT DENIED THE 
PRESIDENT DUE PROCESS, CHERRY 
PICKED EVIDENCE, AND WITNESS  
TESTIMONY TO FIT THEIR  
NARRATIVE, AND TRAMPLED ON  
REPUBLICANS' MINORITY RIGHTS, 
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE ARE  
PRESSING FORWARD WITH A 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
DOING SO CONTRADICTS SPEAKER  
PELOSI'S ONLY WORDS BACK IN 
MARCH OF THIS YEAR WHEN SHE 
SAID THAT, QUOTE, AN  
IMPEACHMENT IS SO DIVISIVE TO 
THE COUNTRY THAT UNLESS THERE 
IS SOMETHING SO COMPELLING AND  
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN I 
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO DOWN 
THAT PATH BECAUSE IT DIVIDES  
THE COUNTRY.
UNQUOTE.
.
BUT IF WE'RE REALLY BEING 
HONEST, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
SEARCHING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT  
TRUMP SINCE THE DAY HE WAS  
ELECTED.
IN DECEMBER OF 2017, A CURRENT  
MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY FORCED A 
VOTE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
AND EVEN THEN, LONG BEFORE  
THERE WAS EVEN AN IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION, 58 DEMOCRATS 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
AND THOSE MEMBERS HAVE ONLY 
GROWN SINCE THEN. 
TO THE POINT WHERE THE MAJORITY 
IS NOW PUSHING FORWARD WITH A 
FINAL VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT,  
NEEDLESS WHERE IT TAKES THE 
COUNTRY, AND REGARDLESS OF  
WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE PROVEN 
THEIR CASE. 
IF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE 
MAJORITY BELIEVE THEY HAVE  
PROVEN THEIR CASE, LET ME BE  
CLEAR, THEY HAVE NOT. 
THE ENTIRE PREMISE OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT RESTS 
ON A PAUSE PLACED ON UKRAINIAN  
SECURITY ASSISTANCE, A PAUSE OF 
55 DAYS.
THE MAJORITY HAS SPUN CREATIVE  
NARRATIVES AS TO THE MEANING  
AND MOTIVE OF THIS PAUSE, 
ALLEGING THE PRESIDENT DEMANDED 
A, QUOTE, QUID PROQUO, UNQUOTE, 
BUT WITH NO FACTUAL EVIDENCE TO 
BACK IT UP. 
SECURITY AID TO THE UKRAINE WAS 
RELEASED. 
THE ADMINISTRATION DID SO 
WITHOUT THE UKRAINE EVER  
INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION 
INTO ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
EVEN IT'SES MORE STARTLING TO 
ME -- IT'S EVEN MORE STARTLING  
TO ME THAT THE MAJORITY WANTS 
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS 
RESOLUTION GIVEN HOW  
SUBSTANTIALLY FLAWED AND  
PROCEDURALLY DEFECTIVE THE  
ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN.
THE JEWISH, WHICH DRAFTED THESE 
ARTICLES -- THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, WHICH DRAFTED THESE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, HEARD  
FROM NO WITNESSES WITH  
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE  
EVENTS IN QUESTION. 
THEY DID NOT CONDUCT THEIR OWN  
INVESTIGATION AND ONLY HELD TWO 
HEARINGS ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE 
DRAFTING THE ARTICLES.
ONE WAS STAFF AND ONE WITH  
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SCHOLARS.
THAT'S HARDLY THE TYPE OF 
LENGTHY AND SERIOUS 
CONSIDERATION A TOPIC AS GRAVE  
AS IMPEACHMENT DEMANDS. 
THE COMMITTEE ACTUALLY CHARGED  
WITH AN IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION WAS THE PERMANENT 
SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE, NOT THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, BUT THAT COMMITTEE,  
TOO, FOLLOWED A PRIMARILY 
CLOSED PROCESS. 
REPUBLICANS WERE DENIED THE 
RIGHT TO CALL WITNESSES OR  
SUBPOENA DOCUMENTS, AND THE 
PRESIDENT WAS DENIED THE RIGHT  
TO REPRESENTATION IN THE  
COMMITTEE'S HEARINGS. 
WITHOUT RESPECTING MINORITY 
RIGHTS AND WITHOUT RESPECTING 
DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF THE 
PRESIDENT, HOW CAN ANYONE 
CONSIDER THIS A FAIR PROCESS. 
MADAM SPEAKER, IT GETS WORSE. 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WE  
ARE CONSIDERING TODAY ARE BASED 
ON THE SCHIFF REPORT. 
THE FINAL DOCUMENT PRODUCED BY  
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND  
TRANSMITTED TO THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE.
BUT THE SCHIFF REPORT INCLUDES  
UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS.
IT INCLUDES, IN SOME CASES, 
NEWS REPORTS AS THE ONLY  
EVIDENCE SUPPORTING SO-CALLED 
FACTUAL ASSERTIONS. 
AND IT INCLUDES AT LEAST 54 
DIFFERENT HEARSAY STATEMENTS AS 
ASSERTIONS OF EVIDENCE WITHOUT  
ANY FIRSTHAND INFORMATION FROM  
WITNESSES TO CORROBORATE THOSE  
STATEMENTS. 
THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT, 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF, WAS NEVER  
QUESTIONED BY THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, AND HE REFUSED TO  
SIT FOR QUESTIONS OR TO EXPLAIN 
HOW HIS COMMITTEE CONDUCTED ITS 
INVESTIGATION.
IN FACT, DURING THE STAFF 
PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE AT THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, RANKING  
MEMBER COLLINS ASKED HOW THE  
INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED 
THAT RESULTED IN THE DRAFTING 
OF THE SCHIFF REPORT, BUT HE  
NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER. 
DURING THE RULES COMMITTEE  
CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE  
RESOLUTION 755, THERE WERE  
NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE MEMBERS 
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE  
POSED QUESTIONS TO OUR  
WITNESSES, QUESTIONS THEY COULD 
NOT ANSWER BECAUSE THEY SIT ON  
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND 
WERE NOT THE AUTHOR OF THE  
REPORT THAT BROUGHT ABOUT 
H.RES. 755. 
THE AUTHOR HAS NEVER APPEARED 
BEFORE MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY  
TO EXPLAIN A SINGLE THING IN  
THE REPORT OR TO PROVIDE  
FACTUAL INFORMATION SUPPORTING  
THE MANY ASSERTIONS IT  
CONTAINS. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS NO WAY 
TO GO ABOUT IMPEACHING THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
THE ARTICLES BEFORE US ARE  
BASED ON VERY LIMITED 
INFORMATION.
THEY ARE BASED ON HEARSAY, ON 
NEWS REPORTS, AND ON OTHER  
UNSUPPORTED ALLEGATIONS.
THEY ARE BASED ON A REPORT  
WRITTEN BY A MEMBER OF CONGRESS 
WHO REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS 
ABOUT IT, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE  
THE ALLEGATIONS, WHICH ARE  
SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION,  
ACTUALLY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF 
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WHEN 
REPUBLICANS ATTEMPTED TO  
EXERCISE ONE OF THEIR RIGHTS  
UNDER HOUSE RULES, THEY WERE  
SHUT DOWN BY CHAIRMAN NADLER. 
UNDER CLAUSE 2-J-1 OF RULE 11,  
THE MINORITY IS ALLOWED TO  
DEMAND A MINORITY HEARING DAY.
ON DECEMBER 4, THE REPUBLICANS  
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE  
PROPERLY EXERCISED THAT RIGHT 
AND TRANSMITTED A DEMAND TO 
CHAIRMAN NADLER FOR A HEARING 
DAY AT WHICH THE MINORITY COULD 
CALL THEIR OWN WITNESSES. 
AND TO BE CLEAR, MADAM SPEAKER, 
A MINORITY HEARING DAY IS NOT 
SUBJECT TO THE CHAIR'S  
DISCRETION. 
IT IS A RIGHT AND REPUBLICANS 
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE  
PROPERLY DEMANDED THE EXERCISE  
OF THAT RIGHT.
AND YET, CHAIRMAN NADLER  
DECLINED TO ALLOW A MINORITY  
HEARING DAY TO BE HELD BEFORE 
THE VOTING OF THESE ARTICLES. 
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT 
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR 
THE INSTITUTION AND FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO ALLOW ALL  
VOICES TO BE HEARD AND ALL  
WITNESSES TO BE QUESTIONED  
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO A VOTE ON  
SOMETHING AS THIS 
CONSEQUENTIAL, AND YET THE  
MAJORITY TRAMPLED ON THAT 
RIGHT.
BUT I SUPPOSE I SHOULD NOT BE 
SURPRISED BY ANY OF THIS. 
WHEN THE HOUSE PASSED H.RES.  
660, THE RESOLUTION SETTING UP  
THE OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT  
INQUIRY LESS THAN TWO MONTHS  
AGO, I WARNED THAT THE MAJORITY 
WAS DOING WAS SETTING UP A  
CLOSED, UNFAIR PROCESS THAT 
COULD ONLY HAVE ONE OUTCOME.
AND TODAY WE ARE SEEING THE END 
RESULT OF THIS CLOSED AND 
UNFAIR PROCESS. 
A QUICK RUSH TO JUDGMENT FORCED 
THROUGH NOT ONE BUT TWO 
COMMITTEES IN SHORT ORDER WITH  
MINORITY RIGHTS TRAMPLED, 
WITNESSES LEFT UNQUESTIONED,  
AND DUE PROCESS IGNORED.
IT IS ALSO DISAPPOINTING THAT 
MEMBERS ARE NOT GIVEN MORE TIME 
TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE ON THE 
FLOOR.
LAST NIGHT AT RULES COMMITTEE,  
I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO 
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF FLOOR TIME 
DEBATE FROM SIX TO 12 HOURS.
THIS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR 
ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF  
DEBATE TIME USED IN THE CLINTON 
IMPEACHMENT, AND IT WOULD HAVE  
ENSURED THAT ALL MEMBERS COULD  
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK 
ON THE FLOOR. 
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT AMENDMENT 
WAS NOT ACCEPTED. 
WHILE I KNOW MY FRIEND, 
CHAIRMAN MCGOVERN, DID THE BEST 
HE COULD, I DO THINK IT'S 
IRONIC THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID  
AND DONE, THE 13 MEMBERS OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE SPENT MORE TIME 
DISCUSSING H.RES. 755 IN  
COMMITTEE YESTERDAY THAN WE 
WILL SPEND DEBATING IT ON THE 
HOUSE FLOOR FOR EVERY MEMBER  
TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO  
THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AND TO 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE DESERVE 
BETTER THAN A FLAWED PROCESS  
THAT LED TO THIS FLAWED 
OUTCOME.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT.
THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY 
DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT 
WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY. 
I OPPOSE PROCEEDING ANY 
FURTHER.
I OPPOSE THE RULE.
I OPPOSE THIS LIMITED AND 
UNFAIR PROCESS. 
I CERTAINLY OPPOSE IMPEACHING 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
WITH THAT I URGE OPPOSITION TO  
THE RULE AND I RESERVE THE  
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER,  
I'D LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT -- I WANT TO INSERT IN  
THE RECORD A STATEMENT -- A 
LETTER I SENT WITH REGARD TO  
THE MEMBERS DAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO 
CORRECT THE RECORD. 
THERE WERE ZERO POINTS OF ORDER 
FOR H.RES. 755. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. MCGOVERN: I YIELD MYSELF 30 
SECONDS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MCGOVERN: WE ARE HERE TO  
TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S  
BEHAVIOR AND THAT'S WHAT WE 
SHOULD FOCUS ON, NOT JUST ON  
PROCESS.
I WANT TO SAY I AM PROUD OF THE 
PROCESS.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAD 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO  
PARTICIPATE IN THE MONTHS' LONG 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.
MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE  
BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERY STAGE, 
SITTING IN CLOSED DOOR  
DEPOSITIONS TO QUESTION 
WITNESSES IN OPEN HEARINGS. 
THEY TOOK TESTIMONY FROM 17 
WITNESSES AND HELD SEVEN PUBLIC 
HEARINGS. 
THEY PRODUCED A 300-PAGE PUBLIC 
REPORT THAT LAID OUT THEIR  
FINDINGS AND EVIDENCE.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TOOK  
THAT REPORT AND CONDUCTED TWO 
PUBLIC HEARINGS, EVALUATING THE 
EVIDENCE AND THE LEGAL STANDARD 
FOR IMPEACHMENT BEFORE  
REPORTING OUT THE TWO ARTICLES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MR. MCGOVERN: I YIELD MYSELF AN 
ADDITIONAL 15 SECONDS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCGOVERN: PRESIDENT TRUMP 
WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO  
PARTICIPATE IN THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE'S REVIEW OF THE 
EVIDENCE PRESENTED AGAINST HIM. 
HE CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE,  
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP TO DATE HAS 
NOT PROVIDED ANY EXCULPATORY  
EVIDENCE BUT INSTEAD BLOCKED  
NUMEROUS WITNESSES FROM 
TESTIFYING ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. 
AT THIS POINT, MADAM SPEAKER, 
I'D LIKE TO YIELD THREE MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA, THE MAJORITY WHIP,  
MR. CLYBURN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. CLYBURN: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING ME TIME. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY 
FEELING THE FULL WEIGHT OF MY 
DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THIS AUGUST 
BODY, TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL  
ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
IT'S MY SINCERE BELIEF THAT 
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT  
BRING US HERE TODAY, THERE IS 
ONLY ONE PATH FOR US TO TAKE TO 
FULFILL THAT OATH.
THOMAS PAYNE IN THE FIRST OF A  
SERIES OF PAMPHLETS ENTITLED  
"THE AMERICAN CRISIS" PUBLISHED 
243 YEARS AGO TOMORROW, IN  
TONE, THAT THESE ARE THE TIMES  
THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS. 
SUNSHINE PAY YOTS WILL END THIS 
-- PATRIOTS WILL END THIS 
CRISIS, STRENGTH FROM THE 
SERVICE OF THIS COUNTRY.
BUT HE UNDERSTANDS IT NOW,  
DESERVES THE LOVE AND THANKS OF 
MAN AND WOMAN.
TYRANNY, LIKE HELL, IS NOT  
EASILY CONQUERED. 
THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN AT A 
TIME WHEN OUR FOUNDERS WERE 
REBELLING AGAINST THE 
TYRANNICAL RULE OF THE BRITISH  
MONARCHY. 
TODAY, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO  
SEEMS TO BELIEVE HE IS A KING 
OR ABOVE THE LAW. 
PAYNE WARNED US THAT SO A 
LIMITED A POWER CAN ONLY BELONG 
TO GOD ALMIGHTY.
MY FAITH LEADS ME TO TAKE VERY  
SERIOUSLY THE FOLLOWING WORDS 
OF OUR OATH TO FAITHFULLY 
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE 
OFFICE, SO HELP ME GOD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THREE DAYS AGO I 
JOINED WITH A BIPARTISAN  
DELEGATION OF OUR COLLEAGUES  
CELEBRATING THE 75TH  
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF  
THE BULGE.
WE LAID WREATHS AT THE  
MEMORIALS OF GENERALS GEORGE  
PATTON AND ANTHONY MCCULLOUGH.
WE VISITED FOXHOLES THAT WERE 
OCCUPIED BY SOME BRAVE SOLDIERS 
WHO FOUGHT IN SOME OF THE WORST 
WINTER WEATHER EVER VISITED 
UPON A BATTLEFIELD. 
AND WE VISITED THE LUXOMBERG  
AMERICAN CEMETERY, THE FINAL  
RESTING PLACE OF THOUSANDS OF 
THEM AND GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. 
THEY WERE NOT SUMMER SOLDIERS 
IN THEIR EFFORTS 75 YEARS AGO 
TO PRESERVE THE REPUBLIC AND WE 
MUST NOT BE SUNSHINE PATRIOTS 
TODAY IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT 
THE CONSTITUTION UPON WHICH 
THIS GREAT REPUBLIC STANDS. 
WHILE OUR FIGHT IS NOT IN THE 
TRENCHES OF BATTLEFIELDS BUT IN 
THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THIS  
CONGRESS, OUR DUTY IS NO LESS 
PATRIOTIC.
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
COLE HAGE THANK YOU, -- 
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF 15 SECONDS TO  
RESPOND TO MY FRIEND. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, FOR THE  
RECORD, WAS NOT PROVIDED THE  
OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE  
FACTS AND STILL HAS NOT 
RECEIVED THE MATERIALS FROM THE 
JUDICIARY'S REQUIRED BY H.RES.  
660.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY THIS IS NOT 
A FAIR PROCESS. 
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I'D 
LIKE TO YIELD TO THE GENTLELADY 
FROM WYOMING, THE DISTINGUISHED 
CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN  
CONFERENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF A 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.
MS. CHENEY: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO AMEND H.RES. 767, TO 
PROVIDE FOR VOTING FOR A MANUAL 
CALL OF THE ROLL SO THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SEE 
PRECISELY WHO IS -- MEMBERS 
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STAND AND 
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES OPENLY AND  
ON CAMERA ON THE QUESTION OF  
ADOPTION OF THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL  
TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED FOR 
PURPOSE OF DEBATE BY THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS YIELD FOR THIS  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST?
MR. MCGOVERN: I DO NOT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT CANNOT BE 
ENTERTAINED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD TO MY  
GOOD FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MISSOURI, THE DISTINGUISHED 
SECRETARY OF THE REPUBLICAN 
CONFERENCE, FOR PURPOSE OF A  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN SHALL STATE HIS 
REQUEST.
>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMAN.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK FOR  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO AMEND H.R. 
767, TO PROVIDE FOR 12 HOURS OF 
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED BY THE 
MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY WHICH 
WOULD ALLOW EACH MEMBER OF THE  
HOUSE AT LEAST ONE MINUTE AND 
40 SECONDS OF DEBATE AS OPPOSED 
TO CURRENTLY 50 SECONDS.
THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES  
DESERVE THE RIGHT -- RIGHT OF 
MORE THAN 50 SECONDS TO BE  
HEARD IN THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL  
TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED, AS I 
SAID, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE 
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS YIELD FOR THIS  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS DOES NOT YIELD. 
THEREFORE, THIS UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST CANNOT BE 
ENTERTAINED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
. 
MR. COLE: I YIELD FOUR MINUTES  
TO MY GOOD FRIEND THE 
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF BOTH  
THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE 
COMMITTEE AND HOUSE RULES 
COMMITTEE, DR. BURGESS OF THE 
GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
FOUR MINUTES. 
MR. BURGESS: I THANK THE  
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. 
MADAM SPEAKER, YESTERDAY THE  
RULES COMMITTEE SPENT EIGHT 
HOURS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO  
BRING H.RES. 755, THE ARTICLES  
OF IMPEACHMENT, TO THE HOUSE  
FLOOR.
GIVEN THE 4-9 RATIO OF  
REPUBLICANS TO DEMOCRATS ON THE 
COMMITTEE, IT IS NO SURPRISE  
THAT WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE 
ARTICLES BEFORE US. 
DESPITE ROBUST DEBATE ON THE  
SO-CALLED FACTS DERIVED FROM  
THE IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION,  
AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY 
WERE OBTAINED, DEMOCRATS AND  
REPUBLICANS REMAIN IN 
OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER ON OUR 
CONCLUSIONS.
AS OUTLINED YESTERDAY BY  
RANKING MEMBER COLLINS AND  
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE RULES  
COMMITTEE THROUGH DIRECT  
QUOTES, SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE 
BEEN SEEKING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S  
IMPEACHMENT SINCE HIS 
INAUGURATION. 
THE RUSH TO IMPEACH FIRST AND 
SOLIDIFY THE CASE SECOND  
THREATENS THE CREDIBILITY OF  
THE PROCESS AND THREATENS THE 
CREDIBILITY OF THE BODY ENGAGED 
THIS VERY HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
IN FACT, IT'S BEEN QUOTED 
BEFORE, IT WILL BE QUOTED AGAIN 
TODAY I SUSPECT, CHAIRMAN 
NADLER RECOGNIZED THE GRAMBIT 
OF -- GRAVITY OF IMPEACHMENT  
WHEN HE STATED IN DECEMBER OF 
1998, QUOTING HERE, THE EFFECT  
OF IMPEACHMENT IS TO OVERTURN 
THE POPULAR WILL OF THE VOTERS  
AS EXPRESSED IN A NATIONAL  
ELECTION. 
THERE MUST NEVER BE A NARROWLY  
VOTED IMPEACHMENT OR AN ITCH  
PEEPMENT SUBSTANTIALLY  
SUPPORTED BY ONE OF OUR MAJOR 
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LARGELY 
OPPOSED BY THE OTHER. 
SUCH AN IMPEACHMENT WOULD LACK  
LEGITIMACY AND PRODUCE  
DIVISIVENESS AND BITTERNESS IN  
OUR POLITICS FOR YEARS TO COME  
AND WILL CALL INTO QUESTION THE 
VERY LEGITIMACY OF OUR  
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, END 
QUOTE.
WELL, ON OCTOBER 31, THIS HOUSE 
VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICIAL 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION IN  
H.RES. 660. 
THE PROCESS OUTLINED IN H.RES.  
660 DID NOT INCLUDE THE ROBUST  
MINORITY PROTECTIONS AFFORDED 
THE MINORITY PARTY IN PREVIOUS  
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATIONS, 
EVEN MORE CONCERNING CHAIRMAN 
NADLER, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF REFUSED 
TO COMPLY WITH THE VERY RULES 
OF THE HOUSE IN GRANTING ACCESS 
TO COMMITTEE RECORDS FOR  
MEMBERS AND SCHEDULING A  
MINORITY HEARING IN A 
REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
THUS PREVENTING THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE FROM BEING EQUALLY 
REPRESENTED IN THE PROCESS. 
REFUSING TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO  
ACCESS THEIR OWN RECORDS, THESE 
ARE RECORDS OF MEMBERS OF THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND 
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ACCESS 
THESE RECORDS OF PAYING DOWN IN 
SECRET UNDER ARMED GUARD IN THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, BUT 
IT'S REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 2-E 
OF RULE 11. 
THEY HAVE DENIED MEMBERS THE  
ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DID NOT 
HEAR TESTIMONY FROM EVEN ONE  
FACT WITNESS, NOT EVEN WITHIN,  
AFTER THEY RECEIVED A DELUGE OF 
MATERIALS FROM THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE.
THIS REVERSAL OF RESPONSIBILITY 
IS UNPRECEDENTED. 
BUT TURNING TO THE CASE UPON  
WHICH THE ARGUMENT IS BASED, WE 
HAD A WHISTLEBLOWER.
NOT A FACT WITNESS, A 
WHISTLEBLOWER WHO NEVER 
APPEARED BEFORE ANY MEMBER OF 
CONGRESS THAT WE KNOW OF. 
A WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT 
CONCERNING A CONGRATULATORY 
CALL BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP  
AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF THE 
UKRAINE.
THE WHISTLEBLOWER IS KNOWN TO 
HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH CHAIRMAN  
SCHIFF'S STAFF WHILE  
REPUBLICANS WERE DENIED ANY 
CONTACT.
THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT IS  
NOT BASED ON FIRSTHAND  
KNOWLEDGE, AND THE CALL 
TRANSCRIPT THAT WAS TO SUPPORT  
IMPEACHMENT REVEALS NOTHING 
MORE THAN A CONGRATULATORY  
PHONE CALL. 
LOOK, A REQUEST FOR 
INVESTIGATION AS TO HOW 
AMERICAN FOREIGN AID WILL BE  
SPENT DOES NOT, DOES NOT EQUAL  
SOLICITING ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE. 
THE EVIDENCE BROUGHT BEFORE US  
DOES NOT AMOUNT TO A HIGH 
CRIME, INDEED IT DOES NOT 
AMOUNT TO ANY CRIME.
DEMOCRATS CLAIM THAT WE MUST  
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
ELECTION. 
LOOK, IF YOU REALLY CARED, THEN 
I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT ARE WE  
MISSING WHILE WE HAVE BEEN  
FOCUSED ON IMPEACHMENT? 
WE TIED UP THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE.
WE TIED UP THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE.
AND BY THE WAY THE WAYS AND 
MEANS COMMITTEE HAD TO GIVE UP  
THEIR ROOM. 
THEY COULDN'T EVEN MEET WHILE 
YOU WERE DOING ALL OF THIS. 
SO THIS IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION IS BEING PAINTED  
AS A PROTECTION AGAINST FUTURE  
INTERFERENCE WHEN IN REALITY  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REQUEST LOOKS 
BACK AT THE 2016 ELECTION.
RUSSIA, RUSSIA IS THE WINNER IN 
THIS EXCHANGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE 
DISRUPTED THE PROCESS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER,  
THE GENTLEMAN IS PASSIONATE 
ABOUT RECORDS.
I SHOULD REMIND HIM THAT WE 
HAVE GOTTEN NO RECORDS FROM 
THIS WHITE HOUSE, NOT A SINGLE  
DOCUMENT. 
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO  
YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA, A 
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, MS. SHALALA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1  
1/2 MINUTES.
MS. SHALALA: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
COME TO IMPEACHMENT WITH DEEP 
SADNESS.
THE FACTS OF THIS CASE ARE  
PAINFUL AND INDISPUTABLE. 
WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT  
ILLEGALLY HELD UP 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED  
AID TO THE UKRAINE. 
WE KNOW THAT HE CONDITIONED THE 
RELEASE OF THIS AID ON  
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S  
OPENING AN INVESTIGATION BASED  
ON A DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY 
ABOUT HIS POLITICAL RIVAL AND 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN THE 
2016 ELECTION.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT 
HAS ACTIVELY BLOCKED  
CONGRESSIONAL ATTEMPTS TO 
DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF HIS 
MISCONDUCT BY ORDERING  
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS TO 
DEFY SUBPOENAS AND WITHHOLD 
INFORMATION.
DESPITE THE UNPRECEDENTED 
OBSTRUCTION FROM THE PRESIDENT, 
THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE IS  
POWERFUL ENOUGH THAT TO DELAY 
THIS VOTE ANY FURTHER WOULD 
RISK INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020 
ELECTION. 
AND THE PERMANENT EROSION OF  
OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND  
BALANCES. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT  
MATTER OF POLITICS. 
THIS IS A MATTER OF PROTECTING  
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY  
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
AS WE LABOR TO PASS ON TO 
FUTURE GENERATIONS MANY OF THE  
GREAT HALLMARKS OF OUR SOCIETY, 
WE MUST ALSO WORK WITH ACTIVE 
STEWARDSHIP AND VIGILANCE TO  
PASS ON A VIBRANT AND 
FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY. 
IF WE DON'T DO OUR DUTY TO  
PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, THE 
REPUBLICAN THAT WE HAND TO OUR  
CHILDREN -- THE REPUBLIC WE 
HAND TO OUR CHILDREN WILL BE  
LESS VIBRANT. 
IF WE DO NOT DO OUR DUTY TO 
PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, THE 
REPUBLIC THAT WE HAND TO OUR  
CHILDREN WILL BE LESS RESILIENT 
AND LESS EFFECTIVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD FOUR 
MINUTES TO MY VERY GOOD FRIEND  
AND FELLOW MEMBER OF THE RULES  
COMMITTEE, AND OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, THE GENTLELADY FROM  
ARIZONA, MRS. LESKO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MRS. LESKO: THANK YOU, MR.  
COLE, FOR YIELDING ME THE TIME. 
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, GOD  
TAKES US ON JOURNEYS IN OUR 
LIFE, AND ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO I  
WAS MARRIED TO AN ABUSIVE 
EX-HUSBAND. 
AND WHEN I FINALLY LEFT HIM,  
THERE WERE TIMES IN MY LIFE I 
HAD NO MONEY, NO PLACE TO LIVE. 
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I NEVER  
DREAMED IN A MILLION YEARS THAT 
I WOULD BE STANDING HERE TODAY  
AS A CONGRESSWOMAN IN THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I NEVER  
WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THAT I  
WOULD BE STANDING HERE TALKING  
ABOUT IMPEACHMENT OF A  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
I SERVE ON THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE RULES 
COMMITTEE.
I HAVE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS  
AND HOURS READING TRANSCRIPTS,  
LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS, HEARING 
TESTIMONY, AND I CAN TELL YOU 
ONE THING I BELIEVE THIS IS THE 
MOST UNFAIR, POLITICALLY  
BIASED, RIGGED PROCESS THAT I 
HAVE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
HERE ARE THE FACTS. 
THERE IS NO PROOF, NONE, THAT 
THE PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED AN  
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
NOT ONE OF THE DEMOCRAT 
WITNESSES, NOT ONE, WAS ABLE TO 
ESTABLISH THAT THE PRESIDENT  
COMMITTED BRIBERY, TREASON, OR  
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS AS 
REQUIRED IN THE U.S.  
CONSTITUTION. 
AND AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE  
DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY  
UNDERMINING THEIR OWN, OWN  
ARGUMENT HERE BECAUSE 17 OUT OF 
THE 24 DEMOCRAT MEMBERS ON THE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED HERE  
ON THIS FLOOR TO PUT FORWARD, 
MOVE FORWARD ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT ON JULY 17 OF THIS  
YEAR, BEFORE THE PRESIDENT  
TRUMP'S CALL EVEN TOOK PLACE. 
FIVE OUT OF THE NINE RULES  
COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE  
DEMOCRATS DID THE SAME THING. 
SO IF YOUR ARGUMENT IS THAT 
THIS PHONE CALL IS THE MAIN 
REASON FOR THIS IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE, WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT, MOVING IMPEACHMENT 
FORWARD BEFORE THE CALL EVEN  
TOOK PLACE? 
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN RIGGED 
FROM THE START. 
MY MEMBERS -- OTHER MEMBERS 
HAVE TOLD YOU, I MINE, NEVER IN 
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED 
STATES HAVE WE HAD IMPEACHMENT  
THAT'S GONE THROUGH THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 
IN CLOSED DOOR HEARINGS, WHERE  
A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, MYSELF, WASN'T EVEN  
ABLE TO ASK ONE SINGLE QUESTION 
OF A FACT WITNESS.
THE WHOLE THING'S BEEN RIGGED.
BEEN UNFAIR.
IN THE PROCESS THAT YOU HAD SET 
FORTH, YOU MADE SURE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHT 
TO HAVE HIS COUNSEL THERE UNTIL 
JUDICIARY, BUT BY THEN IT WAS 
TOO LATE. 
IT WAS TOO LATE.
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FACT 
WITNESSES ALLOWED IN JUDICIARY. 
SO I COULDN'T EVEN ASK A  
QUESTION, NOR COULD THE 
PRESIDENT.
THIS IS THE MOST PARTISAN 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HISTORY OF 
THE UNITED STATES.
NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT 
IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. 
NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT 
IN RULES. 
AND NOT ONE REPUBLICAN, I DON'T 
THINK, WILL VOTE FOR IT HERE  
TODAY.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS A SAD  
DAY.
I BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS ARE 
TEARING THIS COUNTRY APART. 
THEY ARE TEARING FAMILIES 
APART.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS ALL 
OF YOU. 
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS 
OUR GREAT NATION. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO DIRECT  
THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, IF 
REPUBLICANS WANT TO DEFEND THE  
PRESIDENT'S INDEFENSIBLE  
BEHAVIOR, THEY CAN DO SO. 
I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO 
STAND UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION 
AND TO STAND UP FOR THIS  
COUNTRY AND DEMOCRATCY. 
AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO 
YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,  
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, MR.  
DESAULINER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. DESAULINER: I WANT TO TAKE  
A MINUTE TO THANK THE 
LEADERSHIP OF THE RULES 
COMMITTEE, MR. MCGOVERN, AND  
MR. COLE, FOR OUR CIVILITY LAST 
NIGHT, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A LONG 
HEARING AND WE ARE VERY MUCH IN 
DISAGREEMENT, I FELT PROUD TO 
BE PART OF THAT HEARING AND I 
REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOTH 
THE RANKING MEMBER AND THE  
CHAIR.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER IS PART OF 
THAT RULES COMMITTEE AND I  
WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE PASSION 
THAT SHE DEMONSTRATED IN HER  
COMMENTS, I CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH  
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH HER, 
WHICH IS A STATEMENT ON THE 
ENVIRONMENT WE FIND OURSELVES 
IN. 
AND I UNFORTUNATELY AGREE WITH  
SOME OF HER COMMENTS, BUT WHERE 
THE RESPONSIBILITY IS I WOULD 
PUT AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE  
PRESIDENT.
HE IS THE DIVISIVE ONE. 
HE IS NOT TRYING TO HEAL OUR  
WOUNDS. 
THE REALITY AND URGENCY OF THIS 
MOMENT CANNOT BE MORE 
CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE AMERICAN 
DEMOCRATCY. 
THIS IS NOT -- DEMOCRATCY.
THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP VIOLATED THE  
LAW AND SO HITSED FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR --  
SOLICITED FOREIGN INTERFERENCE  
IN OUR ELECTION.
AT THE SAME TIME OBJECTIVE  
EXPERTS HAVE OVERWHELMING 
EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA INTERFERED 
IN THE 2016 ELECTION AND IS 
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN UNDERMINING 
THE 2020 ELECTIONS. 
OUR VOTE TODAY AND THE SENATE'S 
ACTIONS ON IMPEACHMENT HAVE 
VERY REAL LONG-TERM 
CONSEQUENCES FOR AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE IF THE 
SENATE DOES NOT REMOVE HIM? 
THE PRESIDENT HAS A PATTERN OF  
ESCALATING BEHAVIOR.
THE DAY BEFORE THE SPECIAL  
COUNSEL TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS 
THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT 
INTERFERED IN OUR ELECTION IN 
SWEEPING AND SYSTEMIC FASHION,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE THIS CALL. 
TWO DAYS BEFORE THAT THE  
PRESIDENT SAYS THAT ARTICLE 2 
OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT 
HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.
AS WASHINGTON WARNED IN HIS 
FAREWELL ADDRESS, FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE TAMPERS WITH 
DOMESTIC FACTIONS AND MISLEADS  
PUBLIC OPINION. 
WE MUST HONOR THE NATION THAT 
OUR FOUNDERS ENVISIONED AND 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT FOR  
VIOLATING LAW AND BETRAYING THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY VERY  
GOOD FRIEND, DISTINGUISHED  
MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES  
COMMITTEE, FORM MEMBER OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, MR. BYRNE OF 
ALABAMA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. BYRNE: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO  
THE RULE AND THE UNDERLYING 
RESOLUTION TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
WHEN THE FRAMERS GRANTED THE  
HOUSE THE POWER TO IMPEACH, 
THEY FEARED THAT IT WOULD BE  
ABUSED. 
TODAY THOSE FEARS ARE REALIZED  
IN RECORD SPEED THIS MAJORITY 
HAS ASSEMBLED HEARSAY,  
SPECULATION, AND PRESUMPTIONS 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OVERTURNING  
THE 2016 ELECTION.
. 
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE  
DEMOCRAT MAJORITY BELIEVES  
GETTING IMPEACHMENT DONE NOW  
WILL PROVIDE THEIR MEMBERS TIME 
TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM 
THEIR VOTE. 
BUT I ASSURE YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE  
ARE WATCHING. 
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE FROM 
DAY ONE REJECTED THE PEOPLE'S 
CHOICE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT  
ANOTHER PRESIDENT WILL COME 
ALONG MORE TO THE MAJORITY'S  
LIKING. 
OUR ACTIONS HERE TODAY WILL BE  
REMEMBERED AND WILL SET THE 
STANDARD. 
THE SECOND ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT SEEKS TO REMOVE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR FAILURE TO  
PRODUCE CERTAIN REQUESTED 
WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS.
BUT AS THE MAJORITY KNOWS,  
EVERY PRESIDENT IN HISTORY HAS  
ASSERTED EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE. 
THE HOUSE HAS A LEGAL AVENUE TO 
CHALLENGE THE PRESIDENT, THE  
COURTS, BUT THE MAJORITY HAS  
SKIPPED THIS STEP, SHOWING THIS 
IS ABOUT IMPEACHMENT AS FAST AS 
POSSIBLE HOWEVER POSSIBLE.
MOST OF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE AISLE HAD NO  
PROBLEM BACKING PRESIDENT OBAMA 
WHEN HE STONEWALLED THE HOUSE 
FOR YEARS TO BLOCK OUR QUEST TO 
FIND OUT THE TRUTH IN THE FAST  
AND FURIOUS INVESTIGATION.
THAT IS WHY I FILED AN  
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION 
REJECTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
SAYING, BASED UPON THE  
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY'S STANDARD, 
THEY SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ERIC  
HOLDER. 
I WISH MY COLLEAGUES WOULD  
THINK ABOUT THE STANDARD BEING  
SET.
I PREDICT THEY WILL VERY SOON 
REGRET IT, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELD IT'S BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,  
OUR DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, MRS. TORRES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MRS. TORRES: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
FACTS ARE CLEAR.
TO QUOTE THE "USA TODAY"  
EDITORIAL BOARD, TRUMP USED 
YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO SHAKEDOWN A 
VULNERABLE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT 
TO INTERFERE IN A U.S. ELECTION 
FOR HIS PERSONAL BENEFIT. 
THE RULE OF LAW IS WHAT GIVES 
OUR GREAT COUNTRY ITS STRENGTH. 
THE RULE OF LAW IS WHAT 
SEPARATES US FROM THIRD WORLD 
COUNTRIES WHERE DICTATORS REIGN 
FOR DECADES ON END. 
THE RULE OF LAW IS WHAT MAKES 
US THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. 
THE PLACE THAT OTHER COUNTRIES  
LOOK TO AS THEY GROW THEIR OWN  
DEMOCRACIES.
AND IT IS THE RULE OF LAW THAT  
BRINGS US HERE TODAY. 
WE NEVER WANT TO SEE THE RULE 
OF LAW DETERIORATE OR RAMPANT 
CRUX TAKE HOLD. 
WE NEVER WANT -- CORRUPTION 
TAKE HOLD.
WE NEVER WANT TO SEE THE DAY  
WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS FLEE 
FOR REFUGE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
THE WAY THAT OTHERS ARE SEEKING 
REFUGE IN OUR SOUTHERN BORDER 
RIGHT NOW.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE  
YES.
AMERICAN VALUES AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION ARE WORTH FIGHTING 
FOR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY VERY  
GOOD FRIEND, DISTINGUISHED LADY 
FROM INDIANA, MRS. WALORSKI,  
ALSO DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF  
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MRS. WALORSKI: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN DIRECT  
OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE AND IN  
OPPOSITION TO THE DIVISIVE  
BIPARTISANSHIP THAT'S ON  
DISPLAY IN THIS HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT DEMOCRATS 
HAVE WANTED TO IMPEACH  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE DAY ONE,  
REGARDLESS OF ANY FACT. 
THEY KNEW THE RESULT THEY 
WANTED. 
THEY JUST NEEDED TIME TO FIGURE 
OUT HOW TO GET THERE. 
SO THEY BEGAN THEIR IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,  
SELECTIVE LEAKS, INSTEAD OF 
TRANSPARENCY. 
NO DUE PROCESS. 
ONCE THEY CRAFTED THEIR PERFECT 
NARRATIVE, THEY MOVED ON TO 
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THEY HOPED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE  
WOULDN'T NOTICE THAT THEY 
FAILED TO UNCOVER ONE PIECE OF  
EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY 
IMPEACHMENT.
THEY FAILED TO MAKE THE CASE  
FOR THIS DRASTIC ACTION, AND, 
YET, HERE WE ARE. 
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY A 
PRESIDENT IS ON THE BRINK OF  
BEING IMPEACHED WITH THE VOTES  
OF ONE SINGLE PARTY.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE  
THING.
THIS IMPEACHMENT OBSESSION IS 
NOT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. 
IT'S NOT ABOUT JUSTICE. 
IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT'S ABOUT PURE PARTISAN  
POLITICS AT ITS WORSE, AND  
YOU'RE WATCHING IT RIGHT HERE 
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE 
RIGHT THROUGH THIS TODAY. 
THEY'VE SEEN THE RIGGED 
PROCESS.
THEY'VE SEEN THE LACK OF  
TRANSPARENCY AND THE COMPLETE 
ABSENCE OF ANY SUPPORTING 
EVIDENCE. 
THEY KNOW THAT WASHINGTON'S 
BROKEN. 
THAT'S WHY THEY SENT US HERE TO 
FIX IT. 
BUT INSTEAD, HOUSE DEMOCRATS  
ARE DIVIDING THE COUNTRY AND  
FURTHER SHAKING THE PEOPLE'S  
TRUST IN THIS CONGRESS. 
IT'S A SHAM IMPEACHMENT.
IT'S BEEN CARRIED OUT AT THE  
EXPENSE OF HARDWORKING  
AMERICANS WHO JUST WANT US TO 
MOVE FORWARD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS CHARADE 
SHOULD GO NO FURTHER. 
WE SHOULD STOP WASTING TIME.
FOCUS ON WHAT KEEPS ON OUR  
NATION MOVING FORWARD.
HELPING WORKERS AND FAMILIES  
STRIVE. 
PROTECTING THE SAFETY AND 
SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE  
AGAINST THE RULE SO WE CAN GET  
BACK TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE, AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO, THE  
ASSISTANT SPEAKER, MR. LUJAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. LUJAN: MADAM SPEAKER, NO  
ONE CAME TO CONGRESS TO IMPEACH 
A PRESIDENT.
WE CAME HERE TO SOLVE THE LIVES 
OF THE CONSTITUENTS WE PLEDGED  
TO SERVE. 
I'M HERE BECAUSE TOO MANY 
FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT STILL 
RELY ON WATER TRUCKED IN FROM 
TOO MANY MILES AWAY.
I'M HERE BECAUSE TOO MANY NEW 
MEXICAN CHILDREN GO HUNGRY. 
I'M HERE BECAUSE WOMEN CAN'T  
FIND A DOCTOR TO CARE FOR THEM. 
BUT THIS MOMENT HAS FOUND US. 
WE HAVE REACHED A POINT IN TIME 
WHERE OUR LOVE OF COUNTRY 
COMPELS ACTION. 
WHERE OUR DOUGHTY TO THIS --  
DUTY TO THIS PUBLIC MANDATES WE 
DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
IGNORING THE PRESIDENT'S ABUSES 
OF POWER WOULD BE ABDICATING  
THE OATH WE MADE TO PROTECT 
THIS COUNTRY AND UPHOLD OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF 
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION, I WILL OFFER AN 
AMENDMENT ON THE RULE, THE  
HOUSE SHALL NOT PROCEED TO  
CONSIDERATION OF THE UNDERLYING 
RESOLUTION UNTIL SIX CONDITIONS 
ARE MET.
ALL EVIDENCE IN POSSESSION OF 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF HAS BEEN MADE 
AVAILABLE TO THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE.
THAT CHAIRMAN SCHIFF APPEAR 
BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE  
TO TESTIFY TO THE REPORT THAT 
HE AUTHORED.
THAT ALL UNDERLYING 
UNCLASSIFIED EVIDENCE HAS BEEN  
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. 
MINORITY MEMBERS OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAVE  
RECEIVED THEIR RIGHT TO 
MINORITY HEARING DAY. 
MINORITY WITNESSES REQUESTED BY 
THE -- BY RANKING MEMBER NUNES  
AND RANKING MEMBER COLLINS ARE  
CALLED AND ALLOWED TO BE HEARD  
IN ACCORDANCE WITH H.RES. 660.
AND SUBPOENAS REQUESTED BY THE  
-- BY RANKING MEMBER NUNES AND  
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ARE  
ISSUED ENFORCED.
MADAM SPEAKER, TO BE CLEAR, MY  
AMENDMENT ENSURES THAT THE  
MAJORITY DOES NOT PROCEED 
WITHOUT PROSIDING A FAIR AND  
EQUITABLE AN -- PROVIDING A 
FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND  
TRANSPARENT PROCESS, ONE THAT 
OPENS UP ALL MEMBERS OF THE 
HOUSE AND ONE THAT ALLOWS THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE  
THE MOST RELEVANT WITNESSES.
PERHAPS MOST CRUCIALLY, IT WILL 
ALLOW ALL MEMBERS TO FULLY  
CONSIDER THE INFORMATION  
AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE THAT 
ACTUALLY CONDUCTED THE  
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION, THE  
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE. 
THE PROCESS OF THE HOUSE AS 
FOLLOWED HAS BEEN ABYSMAL.
IT WAS A CLOSED AND UNFAIR  
PROCESS AND DID NOT RESPECT 
MINORITY RIGHTS AND DID NOT 
GIVE THE PRESIDENT DUE PROCESS, 
BUT WE CAN CHANGE THAT TODAY. 
IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION, THE HOUSE WILL ONLY 
MOVE FORWARD WITH A REAL  
THOROUGH AND ULTIMATELY FAIR  
PROCESS THAT ALL MEMBERS CAN BE 
PROUD.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT TO INSERT THE TEXT OF 
MY AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD  
ALONG WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL  
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE 
ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. 
WITH THAT I URGE -- 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. COLE: WITH THAT I URGE A NO 
VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO MY GOOD 
FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
GEORGIA, MR. HICE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. HICE: I THANK MY GOOD 
FRIEND. 
THE MAJORITY HAS THROWN ALMOST  
EVERY ALLEGATION IMAGINABLE 
AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT AND, 
YET, THESE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT THAT HAVE BEEN  
SUBMITTED CANNOT NAME A SINGLE  
ACTUAL CRIME. 
AFTER ALL THE DRAMA, THE  
MAJORITY HAS NOT FOUND A SINGLE 
SHRED OF EVIDENCE.
ONLY SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH-HAND 
INFORMATION, BUT THE FACTS HAVE 
REMAINED THE SAME.
THE TRANSCRIPTS SPEAK FOR 
THEMSELVES, THERE WAS NO QUID 
PRO  QUO. 
THE AID ULTIMATELY CAME AND 
EVEN SPEAKER PELOSI SAID THAT 
THIS WHOLE THING WOULD HAVE 
COMPELLING, OVERWHELMING, 
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
NONE OF THOSE THINGS EXIST. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND 
AGAINST THE RULE AND THE  
FORTHCOMING ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THIS IS A DISGRACE AND  
DANGEROUS TO AMERICA. 
I URGE NO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 
MS. CLARK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. CLARK: MADAM SPEAKER, TO  
PARAPHRASE ONE OF OUR FOUNDING  
MOTHERS, ABIGAIL ADAMS, A 
PRESIDENT MAY LET A PRESIDENT 
FALL, YET STILL REMAIN A  
PEOPLE, BUT IF A PRESIDENT LETS 
HIS PEOPLE SLIP FROM HIM, HE IS 
NO LONGER A PRESIDENT.
JUST AS ABIGAIL ADAMS WARNED, 
DONALD TRUMP HAS LET THE PEOPLE 
SLIP FROM HIM.
HE WORKS FOR HIMSELF, NOT US. 
HE TRIED TO EXTORT A FOREIGN  
GOVERNMENT INTO INVESTIGATING A 
POLITICAL RIVAL, AND HE'S 
UNLAWFULLY WITHHELD WITNESSES 
AND EVIDENCE. 
IF WE WANT A DEMOCRACY, TODAY 
WE MUST STAND FOR THE RULE OF 
LAW.
A VOTE TO IMPEACH IS A VOTE TO  
REMAIN A GOVERNMENT THAT IS OF, 
FOR, AND BY THE PEOPLE. 
IT IS A VOTE BORNE OF GREAT 
FEAR FOR OUR FUTURE, BUT ALSO 
ROOTED IN OPTIMISM. 
THAT IF WE STAND FOR THE TRUTH, 
FOR OUR CONSTITUTION, WE CAN  
CONTINUE TO CREATE A COUNTRY OF 
LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY  
FOR ALL.
I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY 
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: MIGHT I INQUIRE,  
MADAM SPEAKER, HOW MUCH TIME WE 
HAVE REMAINING? 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA HAS 5   
1/4 MINUTES REMAINING.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS  
HAS 13  1/4 MINUTES REMAINING.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD 90 SECONDS TO MY  
DISTINGUISHED FRIEND FROM NEW 
YORK, MR. ZELDIN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. ZELDIN: THANK YOU.
ALLIES IN THE MEDIA, THEY LIKE  
TO SAY THAT REPUBLICANS ONLY  
WANT TO TALK ABOUT PROCESS, NOT 
SUBSTANCE, EVEN THOUGH WE 
CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT  
SUBSTANCE AS WELL.
THEY DECLARE THEIR FACTS ARE  
UNCONTESTED.
THEY JUST DID IT AGAIN. 
SO JUST TO MAYBE RECAP A FEW  
FOR EVERYONE WATCHING AT HOME 
AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE,  
HOPEFULLY THEY'LL LISTEN. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THERE 
WAS NO DEMAND, NO PRESSURE, NO  
QUID PRO QUO. 
ANDRE SAID THEIR WHOLE STORY  
WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IS 
COMPLETELY REFUTED. 
WE HEARD FROM THE AMBASSADOR  
HIMSELF WHO ADMITTED THAT HE  
HEARD FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT 
HE DIDN'T WANT ANY QUID PRO QUO 
AND THAT HE WAS GUESSING WHEN 
HE STATED OTHERWISE.
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, THAT IS, 
SAID HE WAS GUESSING AND THAT 
NO ONE ON THE PLANET TOLD HIM 
O'S.
AMBASSADOR VOLUME CONSIDER SAID 
HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT AID 
WITHHELD. 
THE AID GOT RELEASED SHORTLY  
THEREAFTER AND UKRAINE DIDN'T 
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING IN ORDER TO 
GET THE HOLD RELEASED.
THE JULY 25 SAID DO ME A FAVOR, 
WE HAVE TO CORRECT IT.
IT'S DO US A FAVOR. 
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO IGNORE THE  
OP-ED, CHLUPA, DIGGING UP DIRT. 
BRINGING DOWN THE TRUMP 
CAMPAIGN. 
WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER STATEMENT  
OR ORIGINS OF THE STEELE  
DOSSIER, THESE ARE ALL  
EXAMPLES. 
LOOK AT KEN VOGEL'S REPORT. 
THESE ARE ALL SUBSTANCE.
STOP SAYING THE FACTS ARE 
UNCONTESTED.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INSERT 
INTO THE RECORD PAGE 69 OF THE  
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE'S NOVEMBER 20 OPEN 
HEARING WHERE DEPUTY ASSISTANT  
SECRETARY DEFENSE LAURA COOPER  
TESTIFIED THAT THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE WAS NOT ABLE TO  
DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THE AID WITH  
$35 MILLION NOT PROVIDED SINCE  
IT WAS RELEASED SO LATE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. MCGOVERN: AND I ALSO ASK  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INSERT 
INTO THE RECORD A NOVEMBER 18 
A.P. ARTICLE ENTITLED "U.S. 
OFFICIALS KNEW OF UKRAINE'S 
TRUMP ANXIETY." 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. MCGOVERN: AT THIS POINT,  
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO 
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. KENNEDY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. KENNEDY: DEAR LEAGES, THIS  
IS A MOMENT YOU WILL REARD  
ABOUT IN YOUR HISTORY BOOKS.
TODAY, I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW  
WHY.
HE BROKE OUR LAWS.
HE THREATENED OUR SECURITY. 
HE ABUSED THE HIGHEST, MOST 
SACRED OFFICE IN OUR LAND.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT DOES 
NOT FEEL GOOD.
I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE 
COST TO OUR COUNTRY.
NOT JUST THE IMPEACHABLE  
OFFENSES BUT THE COLLATERAL 
DAMAGE OF A PRESIDENT WHO USES  
POWER LIKE A WEAPON AGAINST HIS 
OWN PEOPLE. 
IT ERODES OUR DECENCY, DEGRADES 
OUR DIGNITY.
I DON'T YET KNOW HOW THEY WILL  
TELL THE STORY OF THIS ERA, BUT 
I WANT TO TELL YOU THE STORY OF 
THIS DAY. 
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT TODAY  
JUSTICE WON, THAT WE DID OUR  
JOB, THAT WE KEPT OUR WORD, 
THAT WE STOOD OUR SACRED  
GROUND. 
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT WE DID 
NOT LET YOU DOWN. 
I LOVE YOU. 
LISTEN TO MOM.
I'LL BE HOME SOON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: I'M GOING TO RESERVE  
MY TIME FOR THE MOMENT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: I'M PROUD TO  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,  
MS. LEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. LEE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
MADAM SPEAKER, FIRST OF ALL LET 
ME JUST SAY I TAUGHT MY 
CHILDREN THAT THERE ARE 
CONSEQUENCES IF THEY BROKE THE  
LAW.
I'M SADDENED BUT I'M NOT  
SHOCKED THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY  
CONSIDERING ARTSICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
I'M SADDENED BUT I'M NOT  
SHOCKED BECAUSE OF THE PATTERN  
OF CORRUPTION WE HAVE SEEN FROM 
THIS PRESIDENT. 
YES, I AM SADDENED BUT I'M NOT  
SHOCKED BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT  
HAS ROUTINELY SHOWN HIS 
DISREGARD OF CONGRESS AND THE 
RULE OF LAW.
THE FACTS ARE NOT IN DISPUTE. 
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER, 
DEFIED THE PUBLIC'S TRUST, AND  
BETRAYED HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
HE UNDERMINED OUR ELECTIONS BY  
CORRUPTLY ELICITING FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
TO BEEN FIT HIS OWN FUTURE  
RE-ELECTION EFFORTS, THEN HE  
OBSTRUCTED CONGRESS EVERY STEP  
OF THE WAY IN AN EFFORT TO  
COVER IT ALL UP.
DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN AND 
REMAINS A THREAT TO OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY, A CLEAR  
DANGER TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND  
HOLY UNFIT TO SERVE AS  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ACT  
TODAY TO UPHOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION, BUT ALSO TO SHOW  
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN  
THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
THAT INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT OF  
THE UNITED STATES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: I'M HAPPY TO  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 
MRS. TRAHAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MRS. TRAHAN: THANK YOU, MR. 
CHAIRMAN. 
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I RISE TO  
DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. 
IN THIS CHAMBER WE DEBATE THE 
NATION'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES.
AND OFTEN REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN 
DRAW DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. 
BUT NOT TODAY.
THE FACTS ARE BLACK AND WHITE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE  
POWER OF HIS OFFICE FOR 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN AND 
THEN HE ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP.
IT IS UP TO US TO CONFRONT  
THOSE FACTS AND VOTE TO 
PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR  
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
THIS IS NOT A FIGHT I OR MY 
COLLEAGUES SOUGHT OUT WHEN WE 
RAN FOR CONGRESS. 
BUT IT IS ONE WE PLEDGED WHEN 
WE RAISED OUR RIGHT HAND AND  
SWORE AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VOTE TO 
IMPEACH WILL BE READ AS A VOTE  
ENDORSING A FUTURE PRESIDENT  
WITHOUT RULES OR CONSEQUENCES.
AND ANYTHING GOES, NO HOLDS 
BAR, BRAND OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH  
AUTHORITY THAT WILL LEAVE US  
WEAKER AND SURELY UNDERMINE 
WHAT THE FRAMERS PASSED DOWN. 
WE OWE IT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS 
TO TRANSCEND PERSONAL INTERESTS 
AND PARTY LOYALTY AND VOTE OUR  
CONSCIENCE FOR WHAT'S REALLY AT 
STAKE HERE TODAY. 
THE SANCTITY OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THE SANCTITY 
OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER, I CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER,  
I'D LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO INSERT INTO THE  
RECORD AN OCTOBER 23 "NEW YORK  
TIMES" ARTICLE ENTITLED UKRAINE 
KNEW OF AID FREEZEP BY EARLY  
AUGUST UNDERMINING TRUMP  
DEFENSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MARYLAND, MR. SARBANES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. SARBANES: I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN  
SUPPORT OF THE TWO ARTICLES OF  
ITCH PEACHMENT AGAINST  
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR ABUSE OF  
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF  
CONGRESS. 
VOTING TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
IS A WEIGHTY DECISION.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU REACH 
FOR.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE BROUGHT  
TO. 
RELUCTANTLY, WHEN THE EVIDENCE  
PRESENTED CAN NO LONGER BE  
DENIED. 
IN THIS SOBER AND HISTORIC  
MOMENT, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE 
CALLED UPON TO UPHOLD OUR OATH  
OF OFFICE AND OUR DUTY TO THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
TODAY WE ANSWER THAT CALL.
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS 
COMPROMISED THE NATIONAL  
SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES,  
UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND 
BETRAYED THE TRUST OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IN SO HITSING FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
TOOK DIRECT AIM AT THE HEART OF 
OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD  
DECIDE OUR ELECTIONS, NOT A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY.
AS LONG AS THE PRESIDENT  
CONTINUES TO INVITE FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE INTO OUR 
DEMOCRACY, THE INTEGRITY OF THE 
2020 ELECTION REMAINS AT RISK.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL CONGRESS  
ALLOW THE PRESIDENT TO PLACE  
HIS PERSONAL INTERESTS ABOVE  
THOSE OF HIS COUNTRY. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE 
HOUSE TO JOIN ME IN ANSWERING 
THAT QUESTION WITH A RESOUNDING 
NO BECAUSE NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN:00 MADAM SPEAKER,  
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO  
INSERT INTO THE RECORD AN 
OCTOBER 9 POLITICAL MAGAZINE  
ARTICLE ENTITLED THIS IS WHAT A 
LEGITIMATE ANTI-CORRUPTION  
EFFORT IN UKRAINE WOULD LOOK  
LIKE, WHICH EXPLAINS THAT 
LEGITIMATE REQUESTS ARE MADE  
THROUGH THE D.O.J.'S OFFICE OF  
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND 
PURSUANT TO THE UNITED STATES 
MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TREATY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. MCGOVERN: I WOULD LIKE TO 
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA, MS. 
CASTOR. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. CASTOR: THE PRESIDENT 
ABUSED HIS POWER. 
HE VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE. 
HE SOUGHT TO ELEVATE HIMSELF AS 
A DICTATOR, A KING. 
BUT WE ARE NOT A MONARCHY.
WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA.
WE ARE A REPUBLIC, A DEMOCRACY, 
WE ARE WHERE THE EXECUTIVE DOES 
NOT HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER.
AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON A SYSTEM 
OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD 
MILITARY AID TO VULNERABLE  
UKRAINE AND PRESSED FOR A 
PERSONAL FAVOR TO MANUFACTURE 
DIRT AGAINST A POLITICAL  
OPPONENT, HE WENT TOO FAR.
HE UNDERMINED AMERICA'S 
NATIONAL SECURITY.
HE SOUGHT TO SABOTAGE OUR 
ELECTIONS.
HE ELEVATED HIS PERSONAL  
INTERESTS OVER THE INTERESTS OF 
AMERICA.
THEN HE TRIED TO COVER UP HIS 
SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR, AND HE 
OBSTRUCTED THE INVESTIGATION. 
HE VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE, 
BUT I INTEND TO UPHOLD MINE TO  
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES OF AMERICA.
THE PRESIDENT MUST BE IMPEACHED 
TODAY.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO INSERT INTO THE  
RECORD A DECEMBER 5 "BOSTON 
GLOBE" EDITORIAL ENTITLED 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MCGOVERN: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO INSERT INTO THE  
RECORD A DECEMBER 11 "USA 
TODAY" EDITORIAL ENTITLED 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE  
PRESIDENT'S UKRAINE SHAKEDOWN 
AND STONEWALLING ARE TOO  
SERIOUS FOR THE HOUSE TO  
IGNORE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MCGOVERN: AT THIS POINT I 
WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM 
FLORIDA, MS. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: THANK  
YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THROUGHOUT THIS  
PROCESS I LISTENED AS A MEMBER  
OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT  
COMMITTEE TO CAREER DIPLOMATS 
TESTIFY IN DEPOSITIONINGS AND 
FOUND MYSELF CONTEMPLATING THE  
GRAVITY OF THIS DECISION. 
ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS ASKED THEN  
HOW I'D MAKE MY DECISION ABOUT  
IMPEACHMENT.
I TOLD HER WHEN HER FUTURE  
CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT PRESIDENT  
TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT, THEY MAY 
ASK, MOMMY, WHAT DID GRANDMA  
DO? 
I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO TELL HER  
CHILDREN, GRANDMA DID THE RIGHT 
THING BECAUSE IN AMERICA NO ONE 
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
WITH HIS CONDUCT AROUND UKRAINE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP CORRUPTLY 
ABUSED HIS POWER FOR HIS OWN  
INTERESTS, DIRECT ODDS WITH OUR 
NATIONAL WELFARE AND OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
THIS PRESIDENT PUT HIS  
INTERESTS BEFORE THOSE OF THIS  
NATION. 
LEFT UNCHECKED HEED DO IT AGAIN 
AND HAS SAID SO.
THE ACTIONS AND ONGOING SCHEMES 
THAT LED US TO THIS MOMENT ARE  
SEVERE THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY THAT WE  
CANNOT DEFEND OUR DISMISS.
WITH HISTORY WATCHING, I MUST 
FULFILL MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY  
AND VOTE TO IMPEACH THIS  
PRESIDENT.
HIS CORRUPT CONDUCT AND ASSAULT 
ON OUR CONSTITUTION LEAVE NO  
OTHER CHOICE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
KHANNA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. KHANNA: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
TODAY THE HOUSE IS VOTING TO  
AFFIRM A CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLE 
. 
WHAT MAKES AMERICA THE  
STRONGEST AND MOST PROSPEROUS 
NATION IN THE WORLD IS OUR  
REVERENCE FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
IT IS OUR LOVE OF THE LAW THAT  
PROTECTS OUR FREEDOMS, OUR  
PRIVATE PROPERTY, OUR FAMILIES  
FROM THE EXERCISE OF OUR  
ARBITRARY POWER.
THE REAL THREAT TO AMERICAN 
LEADERSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY  
IS INTERNAL DECLINE.
WE CHOOSE NOT TO STAND IDLY BY  
WHILE WE SEE THE CORRUPTING OF  
OUR BODY FLICK WITH AN ATTITUDE 
THAT MIGHT MAKES RIGHT, WINNERS 
DON'T HAVE TO FOLT RULES. 
IN VOTING TO IMPEACH, WE  
REMEMBER LINKON'S ADDRESS, LET  
EVERY AMERICAN, EVERY LOVER OF  
LIBERTY, EVER WELL-WISHER TO  
ITS POSTERITY SWEAR BY THE  
BLOOD OF THE REVOLUTION NEVER 
TO VIOLATE IN THE LEAST 
PARTICULAR THE LAWS OF THIS 
COUNTRY AND NEVER TO TOLERATE 
THEIR VIOLATION BY OTHER. 
LET IT BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND 
SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES, LET IT 
BE WRITTEN IN PRIMERS, SPELLING 
BOOKS, AND ALMA MAXIMUM, LET IT 
BE BREACHED FROM THE PULPIT,  
PROCLAIMED IN LEGISLATIVE 
HALLS, AND ENFORCED IN THE  
COURTS OF JUSTICE AND IN SORT 
LET IT BEING THE POLITICAL  
RELIGION OF THE NATION. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
JUST TO ADVISE THROUGH THE  
CHAIR, MY FRIEND, I AM WAITING  
FOR AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER, BUT  
WE RESERVE OUR TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO INSERT INTO THE  
RECORD A DECEMBER 17, CRN GUN 
ARTICLE ENTITLED FACT TRUCK,  
TRUMP'S WILD LETTER TO PELOSI 
IS FILLED WITH FALSE AND  
MISLEADING CLAIMS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MCGLOVEPB I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
NORTH CAROLINA, MR. 
BUTTERFIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BUTTERFIELD: I RISE ON THIS 
SOLEMN OCCASION AS WE THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES EXERCISE THE 
POWER GIVEN TO US BY THE UNITED 
STATES CONSTITUTION.
THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION WAS 
FLAWED IN SOME RESPECTS, BUT  
WITH RESPECT TO PRESIDENTIAL  
MISCONDUCT, IT WAS  
UNMISTAKABLE. 
THE FRAMERS KNEW THAT 
PRESIDENTS COULD BE CORRUPT OR  
ABUSIVE WITH THEIR POWER AND SO 
IMPEACHMENT WAS WRITTEN INTO  
OUR ORGANIC LAWS. 
SINCE TAKING OFFICE NEARLY  
THREE YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT  
TRUMP HAS CONSISTENTLY AND  
INTENTIONALLY DIVIDED THIS  
COUNTRY.
HE'S CONSISTENTLY ENCOURAGED  
FOREIGN ACTORS TO INTERFERE IN  
OUR ELECTIONS.
HE HAS THUMBED HIS NOSE, MADAM  
SPEAKER, AT THE LEGISLATIVE 
BRANCH. 
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 
WE MUST PROTECT OUR 
CONSTITUTION, OUR DEMOCRACY,  
OUR VOTE TODAY TO PREFER  
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DELIVER THE 
CHARGES TO THE SENATE FOR 
TRIAL.
A PLACE WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CAN DEFEND HIMSELF AND ATTEMPT, 
IF HE CHOOSES, TO CONVINCE THE  
SENATE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE  
THAT HIS CONDUCT DOES NOT 
VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION. 
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO MY GOOD 
FRIEND, DISTINGUISHED COMBAT  
VETERAN FOR OUR COUNTRY, MR.  
BAIRD OF INDIANA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BAIRD: MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY 
MARKS A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA.
INSTEAD OF GETTING WORK TO  
SOLVE THE ISSUES OF OUR TIME, 
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE  
DECIDED TO TRY TO DISCREDIT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND UNDO THE RESULTS OF THE 
2016 ELECTION.
THE FACTS HERE ARE CLEAR, THE 
PRESIDENT DID NOT COMMIT ANY  
CRIMES. 
DID HE NOT BREAK ANY LAWS.
AND THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO.
THIS HAS BEEN A SECRETIVE 
MISDIRECTED PROCESS FROM THE  
VERY QUING. 
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE --  
BEGINNING.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE 
RIGHT THROUGH IT. 
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING  
AGAINST THIS IMPEACHMENT  
CHARADE AND GETTING BACK TO 
WORK TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF  
PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO CONTINUE  
GROWING OUR ECONOMY, CREATING 
JOBS, AND IMPROVING THE LIVES 
OF ALL AMERICANS. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,  
MR. BOYLE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BOYLE: THANK YOU. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS THE  
FOURTH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING 
AGAINST AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT 
AND THE MOST SERIOUS. 
THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED 
NUMEROUS CRIMES, THREATENING  
THE NATIONAL SECURITY.
ULTIMATELY THE MANNER BEFORE -- 
MATTER BEFORE US TODAY IS NOT A 
QUESTION OF FACT FOR THE  
EVIDENCE IS UNDISPUTED. 
NOR IS IT A QUESTION OF LAW AS  
THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS  
THIS, WILL MEMBERS OF THIS  
HOUSE HAVE THE COURAGE TO 
CHOOSE FIDELITY TO THE  
CONSTITUTION OVER LOYALTY TO  
THEIR POLITICAL PARTY.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR COUNTRY, 
FOR AMERICANS TODAY AND 
TOMORROW, I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO 
SUMMON THE COURAGE TO UPHOLD  
THE RULE OF LAW AND VOTE YES. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. MCGOVERN: I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR.  
CLAY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. CLAY: MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE 
TODAY TO HOLD DONALD JOHN TRUMP 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS REPEATED  
ABUSE OF POWER, HIS DELIBERATE  
OBSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE'S  
ACTUALLY MANDATED OVERSIGHT 
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HIS 
UNPRECEDENTED MISUSE OF THE 
PRESIDENCY TO WEAKEN THE  
SEPARATION OF POWERS. 
AND SUBVERT OUR CONSTITUTION BY 
DANGLING $391 MILLION IN  
CONGRESSLY -- CONGRESSIONALLY 
APPROPRIATED TAX DOLLARS OVER 
THE HEAD OF AN IMBATTLED ALLY 
-- EMBATTLED ALLY IN ORDER TO 
COERCE A FRAUDULENT 
INVESTIGATION INTO A POTENTIAL  
POLITICAL OPPONENT. 
OUR FOUNDERS FEAR ADD LAWLESS,  
AMORAL PRESIDENT WOULD  
WILLFULLY PUT NATIONAL SECURITY 
AT RISK FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL  
GAIN. 
IN 1974, REPUBLICANS MADE IT  
CLEAR THAT THEIR ULTIMATE 
LOYALTY WAS NOT TO ONE MAN BUT  
TO UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION.
TODAY THE UNCONTESTED EVIDENCE  
SHOWS DONALD TRUMP VIOLATED HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE. 
MY FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 
AISLE CAN EITHER DEFEND HIM OR  
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MR. CLAY: HISTORY WILL NOT  
PERMIT TO YOU DO BOTH.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA 
CONTINUES TO RESERVE. 
MR. COLE: I DO. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: HOW MANY MORE 
SPEAKERS DO YOU HAVE? 
MR. COLE: I'M PREPARED TO 
CLOSE.
.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA IS  
RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLE: MADAM SPEAKER, BEFORE 
I BEGIN MY FORMAL REMARKS IN  
CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY ONE THING
FOR THE RECORD. 
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL MY 
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
I AM SURE THEY'RE VOTING THEIR  
CONVICTIONS.
SO WHEN I VOTE MINE, PLEASE 
DON'T IMPLY I'M DOING IT FOR MY 
POLITICAL PARTY.
I'M DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I
BELIEVE IS RIGHT. 
I DO BELIEVE I CAN DEFEND BOTH  
THE PRESIDENT AND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES AND I THINK THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT I AM DOING.
MADAM SPEAKER, I CANNOT OPPOSE  
THIS RULE STRONGLY ENOUGH.
THE PROCESS WE SAW LEADING UP TO
IT TODAY WAS A COMPLETE CHARADE.
IT WAS A CLOSED PROCESS, AN 
UNFAIR PROCESS AND A RUSHED 
PROCESS.
AND IT COULD ONLY HAVE EVER HAD 
ONE LOGICAL PREDETERMINED 
ENDING. 
THROUGHOUT IT ALL, THE MAJORITY 
TRAMPLED ON MINORITY RIGHTS,  
THEY REFUSED TO CALL WITNESSES  
WITH RELEVANT FIRSTHAND 
KNOWLEDGE, THEY RELIED ON 
HEARSAY NEWS REPORTS TO MAKE  
THEIR CASE, THEY DENIED 
REPUBLICANS THE RIGHT TO HOLD 
THE MINORITY HEARING DAY, AND 
THEY REFUSED THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES HIS DUE 
PROCESS RIGHTS IN THE COMMITTEE 
THAT WAS ACTUALLY CONDUCTING AN 
INVESTIGATION -- THE IMPEACHMENT
PROCESS AND INVESTIGATING HIM.
AND IN THE END, WHAT WAS THE  
RESULT? 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BASED ON
AN EVENT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. 
A PURPORTED QUID PRO QUO THAT 
DID NOT EXIST.
AID THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY WITH HELD
THAT IN REALITY WAS NEVER --  
WITHHELD THAT IN REALITY WAS  
NEVER WITHHELD AT ALL.
AN AND -- AND A NARRATIVE OF  
INTENT BASED ON NOTHING MORE  
THAN FANTASY. 
MADAM SPEAKER, WE DESERVE BETTER
THAN THIS.
IMPEACHMENT IS THE MOST 
CONSEQUENTIAL ACT THE HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES CAN UNDERTAKE.
IT MUST NOT AND CANNOT BE BASED 
ON A FLAWED PROCESS.
IT CANNOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF
MINORITY RIGHTS OR DUE PROCESS  
TO THE ACCUSED. 
IT CANNOT BE BASED ON A VENDETTA
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT THAT THE  
MAJORITY HAS PURSUED SINCE THE  
DAY IT WAS ELECTED. 
AND IT CANNOT BE BASED ON 
NOTHING MORE THAN SPIN AND  
HEARSAY.
I OPPOSE THIS RULE AND I OPPOSE 
THE FLAWED AND UNFAIR PROCESS.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S A VERY  
SOLEMN VOTE THAT ALL OF US WILL 
CAST. 
I WANT TO END BY, NUMBER ONE, 
THANKING MY GOOD FRIEND, THE  
CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE,
FOR CONDUCTING THE KIND OF  
HEARING HE CONDUCTED YESTERDAY. 
BUT I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSCORE,  
AGAIN, WE ARE VERY VIOLENTLY  
OPPOSED TO THE PROCESS, VERY  
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE RULE, 
THINK THIS IS A CHARADE AND BEEN
VERY UNFAIR.
SO, MADAM SPEAKER, I URGE MY  
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THE  
PREVIOUS QUESTION, NO ON THE  
RULE, NO ON THE UNDERLYING  
MEASURE, AND I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
MR. MCGOVERN: I YIELD MYSELF THE
REMAINING TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCGOVERN: MADAM SPEAKER, LET
ME THANK MY FRIEND, MR. COLE, 
FOR HIS KIND WORDS AND I  
APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE
RULES COMMITTEE AND THE FACT  
THAT HE RESPECTS THIS 
INSTITUTION.
BUT, MADAM SPEAKER, LET ME SAY  
AGAIN WHAT HAPPENED HERE. 
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD  
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED  
MILITARY AID TO A COUNTRY 
UNDERSIEGE TO EXTRACT A PERSONAL
POLITICAL FAVOR.
THAT'S A COLD HARD FACT.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US COMES  
DOWN TO THIS, SHOULD A PRESIDENT
BE ALLOWED TO ASK A FOREIGN 
NATION TO INTERFERE IN AN 
AMERICAN ELECTION?
I REMEMBER MY FIRST POLITICAL 
EXPERIENCE AS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER 
IN 1972, LEAVING LEAFLETS AT THE
HOMES OF POTENTIAL VOTERS,  
URGING THEM TO SUPPORT GEORGE 
MCGOVERN FOR PRESIDENT. 
NO RELATION, BY THE WAY.
I REMEMBER WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS 
TO ASK PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HIM, 
EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOO YOUNG TO  
VOTE MYSELF.
AND WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WAS 
LATER IN LIFE TO ASK VOTERS FOR 
THEIR SUPPORT IN MY OWN 
CAMPAIGNS.
I'VE BEEN PART OF WINNING 
CAMPAIGNS AND I'VE BEEN PART OF 
LOSING ONES TOO.
PEOPLE I THOUGHT WOULD BE GREAT 
PRESIDENTS LIKE SENATOR MCGOVERN
WERE NEVER GIVEN THAT CHANCE. 
MAKE NO MISTAKE, I WAS  
DISAPPOINTED, BUT I ACCEPTED IT.
I WOULD TAKE LOSING AN ELECTION 
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK WHEN THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE RENDER THAT 
VERDICT.
BUT I WILL NEVER BE OK IF OTHER 
NATIONS DECIDE OUR LEADERS FOR  
US. 
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES IS ROLLING OUT THE 
WELCOME MAT FOR THAT KIND OF  
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. 
TO MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, 
IMAGINE ANY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT
SITTING IN THE OVAL OFFICE, 
PRESIDENT OBAMA, PRESIDENT  
CLINTON, ANY OF THEM, WOULD YOUR
ANSWER HERE STILL BE THE SAME?
NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE 
THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY TO 
UNDERMINE OUR ELECTIONS.
PERIOD. 
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SIDING WITH  
YOUR TEAM.
I DIDN'T SWEAR AN OATH TO DEFEND
A POLITICAL PARTY.
I TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES OF AMERICA.
AND WHEN I VOTE YES ON THIS RULE
AND THE UNDERLYING ARTICLES, MY 
CONSCIENCE WILL BE CLEAR. 
I ASK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO 
SEARCH THEIR SOULS BEFORE 
CASTING THEIR VOTES.
I ASK THEM ALL TO STAND UP FOR  
OUR DEMOCRACY, TO STAND UP FOR  
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I URGE A YES VOTE
ON THE RULE AND THE PREVIOUS  
QUESTION. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
AND I MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
ON THE RESOLUTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE 
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE  
RESOLUTION. 
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT. 
MR. COLE: MADAM SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COLE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
ON THAT I WOULD REQUEST THE YEAS
AND NAYS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING  
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS  
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING 
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING  
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE 
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO FIVE 
MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ANY
ELECTRONIC VOTE ON THE QUESTION 
OF ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL  
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2019]
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,  
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 229 RGES THE  
-- 229, THE NAYS ARE 197. 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS  
ORDERED.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF  
THE RESOLUTION. 
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- THE 
GENTLEMAN REQUESTS A RECORDED 
VOTE. 
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE  
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING  
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS  
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,  
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 228, THE YEAS 
ARE 197.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR 
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION  
767, THE HOUSE WILL PROCEED TO  
THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF  
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755. 
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE 
RESOLUTION. 
THE CLERK: HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER
61. 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755. 
IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF  
AMERICA AGAINST DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED  
STATES OF AMERICA IN MAINTENANCE
AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT  
AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISS DEMEANERS. 
ARTICLE 1, ABUSE OF POWER.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
SHOULD HAVE THE SOUL POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
IN HIS CONDUCT OF THE OFFICE OF 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS 
CONSTITUTIONAL OATH FAITHFULLY  
TO EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
AND TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY, 
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS  
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO TAKE CARE
THAT THE LAWS BE FAITHFULLY 
EXECUTED, DONALD J. TRUMP HAS 
ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE  
PRESIDENCY IN THAT USING THE  
POWERS OF HIS HIGH OFFICE,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SOLICITED THE 
INTERFERENCE OF A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT, UKRAINE, IN THE 2020
UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL  
ELECTION. 
HE DID SO THROUGH A SCHEME OR A 
COURSE OF CONDUCT THAT INCLUDED 
SOLICITING THE GOVERNMENT OF  
UKRAINE TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE  
INVESTIGATIONS THAT WOULD 
BENEFIT HIS RE-ELECTION, HARM 
THE ELECTION PROSPECTS OF A 
POLITICAL OPPONENT, AND 
INFLUENCE THE 2020 UNITED STATES
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO HIS  
ADVANTAGE.
.PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO 
SOUGHT TO 
PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT OF
UKRAINE TO TAKE THESE STEPS BY
CONDITIONING OFFICIAL UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT ACTS OF 
SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO UKRAINE ON 
ITS PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
INVESTIGATIONS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN THIS 
SCHEME OR COURSE OF CONDUCT FOR 
CORRUPT PURPOSES IN PURSUIT OF
PERSONAL POLITICAL BENEFIT. 
IN SO DOING, PRESIDENT TRUMP
USED THE POWERS OF THE
PRESIDENCY IN A MANNER THAT 
COMPROMISED THE NATIONAL
SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES 
AND UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF 
THE UNITED STATES DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS.
HE THUS IGNORED AND INJURED THE 
INTERESTS OF THE NATION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN THIS 
SCHEME OR COURSE OF CONDUCT 
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MEANS,
ONE, PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACTING
BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH HIS 
AGENTS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, 
CORRUPTLY SOLICITED THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO
PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO, A, A 
POLITICAL OPPONENT, FORMER VICE 
PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. 
BIDEN JR. AND, B, A DISCREDITED 
THEORY THAT UKRAINE, RATHER 
THAN
RUSSIA, INTERFERED IN THE 2016
UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. 
TWO, WITH THE SAME CORRUPT
MOTIVES, PRESIDENT TRUMP, 
ACTING BOTH DIRECTLY AND
THROUGH HIS AGENTS WITHIN AND 
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT, CONDITIONED TWO 
OFFICIAL ACTS ON THE PUBLIC 
ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT HE HAD 
REQUESTED, A, THE RELEASE OF
$391 MILLION OF UNITED STATES 
TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT CONGRESS
HAD APPROPRIATED ON A 
BIPARTISAN BASIS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING VITAL
MILITARY AND SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE TO OPPOSE 
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AND WHICH
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD ORDERED 
SUSPENDED, AND B, A HEAD OF 
STATE MEETING AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, WHICH THE PRESIDENT OF 
UKRAINE SOUGHT TO DEMONSTRATE 
CONTINUED UNITED STATES SUPPORT 
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE 
IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN
AGGRESSION. 
THREE, FACED WITH THE PUBLIC
REVELATION OF HIS ACTIONS,
PRESIDENT TRUMP ULTIMATELY
RELEASED THE MILITARY AND 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE, BUT HAS
PERSISTED IN OPENLY AND 
CORRUPTLY URGING AND SOLICITING 
UKRAINE TO UNDERTAKE
INVESTIGATIONS FOR HIS PERSONAL 
POLITICAL BENEFIT.
THESE ACTIONS WERE CONSISTENT 
WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PREVIOUS 
INVITATIONS OF FOREIGN
INTERFERENCE IN UNITED STATES 
ELECTIONS.
IN ALL OF THIS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE
PRESIDENCY BY IGNORING AND
INJURING NATIONAL SECURITY AND
OTHER VITAL NATIONAL INTERESTS
TO OBTAIN AN IMPROPER PERSONAL
POLITICAL BENEFIT.
HE HAS ALSO BETRAYED THE NATION 
BY ABUSING HIS HIGH OFFICE TO 
ENLIST A FOREIGN POWER IN 
CORRUPTING DEMOCRATIC 
ELECTIONS.
WHEREFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP, BY 
SUCH CONDUCT, HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT HE WILL REMAIN A THREAT TO 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE 
CONSTITUTION IF ALLOWED TO
REMAIN IN OFFICE, AND HAS ACTED 
IN A MANNER GROSSLY 
INCOMPATIBLE WITH 
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF 
LAW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP THUS WARRANTS 
IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL, REMOVAL
FROM OFFICE, AND
DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD AND
ENJOY ANY OFFICE OF HONOR,
TRUST, OR PROFIT UNDER THE
UNITED STATES.
ARTICLE 2, OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
"SHALL HAVE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT" AND THAT THE 
PRESIDENT SHALL BE REMOVED FROM 
OFFICE ON IMPEACHMENT FOR,
AND CONVICTION OF, TREASON, 
BRIBERY, OR OTHER HIGH CRIMES 
AND MISDEMEANORS."
IN HIS CONDUCT OF THE OFFICE OF 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS 
CONSTITUTIONAL OATH FAITHFULLY
TO EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND, TO THE BEST OF HIS 
ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND IN VIOLATION 
OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO 
TAKE CARE THAT THE LAWS BE
FAITHFULLY EXECUTED, DONALD J.
TRUMP HAS DIRECTED THE
UNPRECEDENTED, CATEGORICAL, AND 
INDISCRIMINATE DEFIANCE OF
SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES PURSUANT TO
ITS "SOLE POWER OF
IMPEACHMENT." 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED THE
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY IN A 
MANNER OFFENSIVE TO, AND
SUBVERSIVE OF, THE
CONSTITUTION, IN THAT THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS ENGAGED
IN AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 
FOCUSED ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
CORRUPT SOLICITATION OF THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO
INTERFERE IN THE 2020 UNITED
STATES PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION. 
AS PART OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY, THE COMMITTEES 
UNDERTAKING THE INVESTIGATION 
SERVED SUBPOENAS SEEKING
DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONY DEEMED
VITAL TO THE INQUIRY FROM 
VARIOUS EXECUTIVE BRANCH
AGENCIES AND OFFICES, AND 
CURRENT AND FORMER
OFFICIALS.
IN RESPONSE, WITHOUT LAWFUL 
CAUSE OR EXCUSE, PRESIDENT
TRUMP DIRECTED EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
AGENCIES, OFFICES, AND
OFFICIALS NOT TO COMPLY WITH
THOSE SUBPOENAS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP THUS INTERPOSED 
THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY
AGAINST THE LAWFUL SUBPOENAS OF 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND ASSUMED TO HIMSELF
FUNCTIONS AND JUDGMENTS 
NECESSARY TO THE EXERCISE OF
THE "SOLE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT" 
VESTED BY THE CONSTITUTION IN 
THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE
POWERS OF HIS HIGH OFFICE 
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MEANS,
ONE, DIRECTING THE WHITE HOUSE
TO DEFY A LAWFUL SUBPOENA BY
WITHHOLDING THE PRODUCTION OF 
DOCUMENTS SOUGHT THEREIN BY THE 
COMMITTEES. 
TWO, DIRECTING OTHER EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AGENCIES AND OFFICES TO
DEFY LAWFUL SUBPOENAS AND 
WITHHOLD THE PRODUCTION OF
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS FROM THE
COMMITTEES, IN RESPONSE TO
WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, 
AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
REFUSED TO PRODUCE A SINGLE 
DOCUMENT OR RECORD. 
THREE, DIRECTING CURRENT AND
FORMER EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
OFFICIALS NOT TO COOPERATE WITH 
THE COMMITTEES IN RESPONSE TO 
WHICH NINE ADMINISTRATION 
OFFICIALS DEFIED SUBPOENAS FOR
TESTIMONY, NAMELY JOHN MICHAEL
"MICK" MULVANEY, ROBERT B.
BLAIR, JOHN A. EISENBERG, 
MICHAEL ELLIS, PRESTON WELLS
GRIFFITH, RUSSELL T. VOUGHT,
MICHAEL DUFFEY, BRIAN 
MCCORMACK, AND T. ULRICH
BRECHBUHL.
THESE ACTIONS WERE CONSISTENT 
WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PREVIOUS 
EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN UNITED STATES 
ELECTIONS.
THROUGH THESE ACTIONS,
PRESIDENT TRUMP SOUGHT TO 
ARROGATE TO HIMSELF THE RIGHT 
TO DETERMINE THE PROPRIETY, 
SCOPE, AND NATURE OF AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO HIS
OWN CONDUCT, AS WELL AS THE 
UNILATERAL PREROGATIVE TO DENY
ANY AND ALL INFORMATION TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE 
EXERCISE OF ITS "SOLE POWER OF
IMPEACHMENT." 
IN THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC, 
NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER ORDERED 
THE COMPLETE DEFIANCE OF AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY OR SOUGHT 
TO OBSTRUCT AND IMPEDE SO 
COMPREHENSIVELY THE ABILITY OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO 
INVESTIGATE "HIGH CRIMES AND
MISDEMEANORS."
THIS ABUSE OF OFFICE SERVED TO
COVER UP THE PRESIDENT'S OWN
REPEATED MISCONDUCT AND TO
SEIZE AND CONTROL THE POWER OF
IMPEACHMENT, AND THUS TO
NULLIFY A VITAL CONSTITUTIONAL
SAFEGUARD VESTED SOLELY IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
IN ALL OF THIS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HAS ACTED IN A MANNER CONTRARY
TO HIS TRUST AS PRESIDENT AND 
SUBVERSIVE OF CONSTITUTIONAL
GOVERNMENT, TO THE GREAT
PREJUDICE OF THE CAUSE OF LAW 
AND JUSTICE, AND TO THE 
MANIFEST INJURY OF THE PEOPLE 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
WHEREFORE, PRESIDENT TRUMP, BY
SUCH CONDUCT, HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT HE WILL REMAIN A THREAT TO 
THE CONSTITUTION IF ALLOWED TO
REMAIN IN OFFICE, AND HAS ACTED 
IN A MANNER GROSSLY 
INCOMPATIBLE WITH 
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF 
LAW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP THUS WARRANTS 
IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL, REMOVAL
FROM OFFICE, AND
DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD AND
ENJOY ANY OFFICE OF HONOR,
TRUST, OR PROFIT UNDER THE
UNITED STATES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION  
767, THE AMENDMENT IN THE 
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE  
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON 
JUDICIARY IS ADOPTED. 
THE RESOLUTION SHALL BE 
DEBATABLE FOR SIX HOURS EQUALLY 
QUIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE  
CHAIR AND -- DIVIDED AND  
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND 
RANKING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON OJUDICIARY OR THEIR  
RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,  
MR. NADLER, AND THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM GEORGIA, MR. COLLINS, EACH 
WILL CONTROL THREE HOURS. 
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.  
NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL  
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE 
LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO  
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS 
AND INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL  
ON H.RES. 755.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER OF THE  
HOUSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY, THE DISTINGUISHED 
SPEAKER, IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE  
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING, FOR HIS TREMENDOUS  
LEADERSHIP IN HELPING US HONOR  
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
I ALSO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF, WHO WILL BE  
PRESIDING LATER IN THE DAY. 
MY COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING AND 
EVERY MORNING WHEN WE COME  
TOGETHER, MEMBERS RISE AND  
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
EVERY DAY, ALL ACROSS AMERICA,  
CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, MEMBERS OF 
THE MILITARY, OFFICIALS AND 
THOSE CIVICALLY ENGAGED ALSO  
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
LET US RECALL WHAT THAT PLEDGE  
SAYS. 
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
AND TO THE REPUBLICAN -- AND TO 
THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT 
STANDS INDIVISIBLE, WITH  
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT 
STANDS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO 
TALK ABOUT TODAY. 
A REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN KEEP IT.
WE GATHER TODAY UNDER THE DOME  
OF THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY TO  
EXERCISE ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN 
POWERS THAT THIS BODY CAN TAKE  
-- THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NO MEMBER, REGARDLESS OF PARTY  
OR POLITICS, COMES TO CONGRESS  
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT, BUT 
EVERY ONE OF US, AS OUR FIRST 
ACT AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS,  
STOOD ON THIS HISTORIC HOUSE  
FLOOR BEFORE OUR BEAUTIFUL  
AMERICAN FLAG AND RAISED OUR  
HANDS IN THIS SACRED OATH, I DO 
SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL  
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, SO HELP 
ME GOD. 
FOR 230 YEARS, MEMBERS HAVE 
TAKEN THAT SACRED OATH WHICH  
MAKES US CUSTODIANS OF THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
WHEN OUR FOUNDERS DECLARED  
INDEPENDENCE, ESTABLISHED OUR 
NEW NATION, THEY CRAFTED A  
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNLIKE 
ANYONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE.
A REPUBLIC, STARTING WITH THE 
SACRED WORDS, WE THE PEOPLE.
FOR CENTURIES, AMERICANS HAVE 
FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEND 
DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE. 
BUT VERY SADLY NOW, OUR 
FOUNDERS' VISION OF A REPUBLIC  
IS UNDER THREAT FROM ACTIONS  
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. 
THAT IS WHY TODAY, AS SPEAKER 
OF THE HOUSE, I SOLEMNLY AND  
SADLY OPEN THE DEBATE ON THE  
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES.
IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW, WE WOULD  
BE DERELICT IN OUR DUTY.
IT IS TRAGIC THAT THE 
PRESIDENT'S RECKLESS ACTIONS  
MAKE IMPEACHMENT NECESSARY. 
HE GAVE US NO CHOICE. 
WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS 
THE ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS AN ONGOING THREAT  
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND  
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, 
THE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
HUNDREDS OF HISTORIANS, LEGAL 
SCHOLARS, AND FORMAL  
PROSECUTORS, REGARDLESS OF  
PARTY, HAVE STATED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSES. 
SINCE TODAY IS A NATIONAL 
CIVICS LESSON, THOUGH A SAD 
ONE, I SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS 
FOR THE RECORD AND COMMEND THEM 
FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY IS 
ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT, AGAIN, VIOLATED THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS, AGAIN, AN ONGOING 
THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY. 
AND THE TESTIMONY OF DECORATED  
WAR HEROES, DISTINGUISHED 
DIPLOMATS AND PATRIOTIC CAREER  
PEOPLE OVER THE PAST WEEKS HAVE 
TOLD US THIS. 
THE PRESIDENT USED THE POWER OF 
HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO OBTAIN AN  
IMPROPER PERSONAL POLITICAL 
BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF 
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT WEAKENS A  
DEMOCRATIC ALLY THAT IS 
ADVANCING AMERICAN SECURITY 
INTERESTS BY FIGHTING AN  
AMERICAN ADVERSARY, THE 
PRESIDENT WEAKENS AMERICA.
THIS ABUSE OF POWER ALSO  
JEOPARDIZES THE INTEGRITY OF  
OUR ELECTIONS.
ALL AMERICANS AGREE THAT  
AMERICAN VOTERS SHOULD CHOOSE 
OUR PRESIDENT, NOT SOME FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT. 
THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT 
IS PROFOUNDLY CORROSIVE FOR OUR 
DEMOCRACY FOR A PRESIDENT TO  
INVITE INTERFERENCE IN OUR  
ELECTIONS.
AS GEORGE WASHINGTON, OUR 
NATION'S PATRIOT UNDER WHOSE  
GAZE WE STAND TODAY WARNED, 
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE PROVES 
THAT FOREIGN INFLUENCE IS ONE 
OF THE MOST BANEFUL FOES OF 
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
SADLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE 
WITNESSED FURTHER WRONGS OF THE 
PRESIDENT WHICH NECESSITATE THE 
SECOND ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT,  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S WRONGDOING 
WAS REVEALED, HE LAUNCHED AN  
UNPRECEDENTED, INDISCRIMINATE 
AND CATEGORYCAL CAMPAIGN OF 
DEFIANCE AND OBSTRUCTION. 
NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF  
OUR NATION HAVE WE SEEN A 
PRESIDENT DECLARE AND ACT AS IF 
HE'S ABOVE THE LAW. 
THE PRESIDENT GOES EVEN SO FAR  
AS TO SAY AND ACT OF THIS 
ABSURDITY WHEN HE SAYS ARTICLE  
2 SAYS I CAN DO WHATEVER I  
WANT. 
NO, IT DOESN'T. 
THAT RECKLESSNESS IS A PROFOUND 
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION 
AND OUR REPUBLIC, WHICH ENDURED 
BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEM OF  
SEPARATION OF POWER, THREE  
CO-EQUAL BRANCHES, EACH A CHECK 
AND BALANCE ON THE OTHER, A 
REPUBLIC, AGAIN, IF WE CAN KEEP 
IT. 
THE FOUNDERS' GREAT FEAR OF A 
ROGUE OR CORRUPT PRESIDENT IS 
THE VERY REASON WHY THEY  
ENSHRINED IMPEACHMENT IN THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
AS ONE FOUNDER, WILLIAM DAVEY 
OF NORTH CAROLINA, WARNED,  
UNLESS THE CONSTITUTION 
CONTAINED AN IMPEACHMENT  
PROVISION, A PRESIDENT MIGHT  
SPARE NO EFFORTS OR MEANS,  
WHATEVER, TO GET HIMSELF  
RE-ELECTED. 
ANOTHER FOUNDER, GEORGE MASON,  
INSISTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WHO 
PROCURED HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE 
FIRST INSTANCE THROUGH IMPROPER 
AND CORRUPT ACTS MIGHT REPEAT 
HIS GUILT AND RETURN TO POWER.
. 
WE IN CONGRESS MUST STAND UP AND
MAKE CLEAR TO THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE AND TO ALL PEOPLE THAT 
THIS BODY STILL STANDS BY THE 
PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE 
CONSTITUTION AND DEFENDED BY  
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS. 
LAST WEEK IN OBSERVANCE OF THE  
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE  
OF THE BULGE, MEMBERS TRAVELED  
TO THAT HALLOWED GROUND TO  
EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE  
HEROES OF FREEDOM WHO SACRIFICED
EVERYTHING TO SECURE VICTORY OF 
FREEDOM OVER TYRANNY, NOT JUST  
FOR AMERICA, BUT FOR THE WORLD. 
THE VETERANS OF THAT BATTLE WHO 
WERE THERE, IN THEIR 90'S, TOLD 
US HOW AFTER THE WAR WAS WON, 
THE EUROPEANS TO WHOM THEY  
LIBERATED WOULD ASK, WHY DID YOU
RISK US?
YOU DON'T KNOW US?
AND GIVE YOUR LIVES -- LIVES TO 
SAVE US, WE'RE NOT AMERICANS. 
AND OUR MEN WOULD SAY, WE CAME  
HERE TO FIGHT FOR YOU, NOT  
BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICANS, BUT  
BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICANS. 
AS OUR BELOVED CHAIRMAN, ELIJAH 
CUMMINGS, AND OVERSIGHT 
COMMITTEE CHAIR, SAID WHEN  
ANNOYANCING SUPPORT FOR THIS  
ACTION, QUOTE, WHEN THE HISTORY 
BOOKS ARE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS  
TUMULTUOUS ERA, I WANT THEM TO  
SHOW THAT I WAS AMONG THOSE IN  
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO
STOOD UP TO LAWLESSNESS AND 
TYRANNY.
HE ALSO SAID, ALMOST  
PROPHETICALLY, WHEN WE ARE  
DANCING WITH THE ANGELS, THE  
QUESTION WILL BE, DID WE -- WHAT
DID WE DO TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT  
OUR DEMOCRACY IN TACT?
ELIJAH, AS YOU KNOW, HAS SINCE  
PASSED ON.
NOW HE'S DANCING WITH THE 
ANGELS. 
AND I KNOW THAT HE AND ALL OF US
HERE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE MORAL
COURAGE OF MEMBERS, WANT TO 
HONOR THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS
FOR A REPUBLIC, THE SACRIFICE OF
OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM TO 
DEFEND IT, AND THE ASPIRATIONS  
OF OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE FREELY  
WITHIN IT.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND 
DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE. 
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE  
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ENTER  
INTO A DEBATE, THIS SHOULD  
SURPRISE NO ONE.
THIS IS NOT -- THIS HAS NOT BEEN
A SURPRISE AND IT'S NOT EVEN  
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT.
FROM THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE 
MAJORITY PARTY IN THIS HOUSE WON
THE, THE INEVITABILITY THAT WE  
WOULD BE HERE TODAY WAS ONLY A  
MATTER OF WHAT DATE THEY WOULD  
SCHEDULE IT.
NOTHING ELSE. 
IN FACT, HOW IT EVEN BEGAN TO 
LOOK EVEN FURTHER WAS ON  
SEPTEMBER 24, THE SPEAKER 
ANNOUNCED AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
BEFORE EVEN SEEING THE CALL 
TRANSCRIPT THAT WE'RE GOING TO  
HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT TODAY. 
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT 
THIS BODY CAN DO IN ITS 
CONSTITUTIONAL OATH.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF 
CONSTITUTIONAL AND FOUNDERS 
THROWN AROUND AND WILL BE ALL 
DAY TODAY.
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT I  
WILL MENTION ALL ALONG AND THAT 
IS ALSO THE FOUNDERS WERE VERY  
CONCERNED ABOUT A PARTISAN  
IMPEACHMENT IN WHICH POLITICS OR
THE MAJORITY WHO HAVE THEIR 
STRENGTH CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT  
TO DO IRREGARDLESS OF ANY FACTS.
IN FACT, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND
I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.
I DO NOT BELIEVE, NO MATTER WHAT
WAS SAID TODAY AND WHAT HAS BEEN
SAID, THIS IS NOT A SOLEMN  
OCCASION. 
WHEN YOU GO LOOKING FOR 
SOMETHING FOR THREE YEARS, AND  
ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR SINCE  
JANUARY, YOU OUGHT TO BE EXCITED
WHEN YOU FOUND IT.
BUT THEY CAN'T. 
BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT HAS NOW 
HAPPENED. 
IT TOOK ME LAST NIGHT BUT I WAS 
THINKING ABOUT IT.
WHY DO WE KEEP CALLING THIS A 
SOLEMN OCCASION WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
WANTING TO DO THIS EVER SINCE 
THE GENTLEMAN WAS ELECTED?
MR. PRESIDENT CAME FORWARD AND  
DID WHAT HE SAW FIT FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT YET THEY 
WANTED TO IMPEACH HIM.
NOW I KNOW. 
THE REASON THEY WANTED TO IS NOW
THEY REALIZE, WHEN I TOLD THEM  
AND HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM FOR  
THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT THE 
CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR ARE  
TERRIBLE MASTERS. 
THE CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR ARE  
TERRIBLE MASTERS. 
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING 
EXCEPT GETTING THE TIME DONE AND
THE CALENDAR FIXED. 
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT FACTS. 
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT TIME.
AND ONE DAY THE CLOCK AND THE 
CALENDAR WILL HANG ALONG THIS 
BODY IN A VERY DETRIMENTAL WAY. 
HOW DO I KNOW THIS? 
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS SAID 
ON THE NIGHT SHE WAS WORN IN, 
WE'RE GOING TO IMPEACH. 
WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST.
IN MAY OF 2019, AL GREEN SAID,  
I'M CONCERNED IF WE DON'T 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT, HE WILL 
GET RE-ELECTED. 
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST  
PRESCIENT THING SAID BY THE 
MAJORITY IN THE LAST YEAR.
THEY SAID, WE CAN'T BEAT HIM IF 
WE DON'T IMPEACH HIM. 
THERE'S A REASON BEHIND THIS  
IMPEACHMENT.
EVEN SPEAKER PELOSI SAID IT 
WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT  
TO VOTERS TO DETERMINE WHETHER  
PRESIDENT TRUMP STAYS IN OFFICE.
REALLY? 
AFTER WE JUST SAID THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE, WE GO BACK TO THE 
SPEAKER'S OWN WORDS AND SAID IT 
WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT  
TO THE VOTERS?
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, MADAM
SPEAKER, WE ON THE REPUBLICAN 
SIDE HAVE NO PROBLEM TAKING OUR 
CASE TO THE MAJORITY AND TO THE 
PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE 
THEY ELECTED DONALD TRUMP AND IT
IS A MATTER -- MATTER FOR THE 
VOTE RTS, NOT THIS HOUSE, NOT IN
-- VOTERS, NOT THIS HOUSE, NOT  
IN THIS WAY AND NOT IN THE WAY  
THIS IS BEING DONE. 
IT HAS TRAMPLED EVERYTHING THIS 
HOUSE BELIEVES IN.
I SAID IT YESTERDAY AND I 
BELIEVE IT TO BE THIS TRUE  
TODAY.
I WILL FIGHT THIS ON PROCESS  
WHICH HAS BEEN DEPLORABLE, TO 
USE A WORD OF THE MAJORITY. 
IT HAS BEEN AWFUL.
THE CALENDAR AND THE CLOCK MAKE 
IT IMPRESS THAVE WE ACTUALLY DO 
IT QUICKLY -- IMPRESSIVE THAT WE
ACTUALLY DO IT QUICKLY. 
WE DON'T CARE ABOUT RULES AND 
MINORITY DAYS, WE DON'T CARE  
ABOUT GIVING OPPORTUNITY FOR  
WITNESSES TO CALL, BECAUSE THE  
CHAIRMAN GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT 
IS RELEVANT.
WOW, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
LET THE ACCUSER DETERMINE WHAT  
IS RELEVANT TO THE ONE BEING  
ACCUSED.
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA SEE 
THROUGH THIS. 
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA UNDERSTAND
DUE PROCESS AND THEY UNDERSTAND 
WHEN IT IS BEING TRAMPLED IN THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
YOU SEE, IT'S ALSO NOT A MATTER 
OF PROCESS WHICH WILL BE  
DISCUSSED TODAY, IT'S A MATTER  
OF ACTUAL FACTS.
I WILL FIGHT THE FACTS ALL DAY  
LONG. 
BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND HERE TODAY
IS A  AT -- IS A PRESIDENT WHO  
DID NOT DO AS BEING CHARGED.
THEY HAD TO GO TO ABUSE OF  
POWER, THIS AMORPHOUS TERM THAT 
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MANY 
ARGUMENTS ABOUT HOW THAT ABUSE  
OF POWER -- EXCEPT FOR ONE  
THING, THE CALL ITSELF, THE TWO 
PARTIES SAY NO PRESSURE.
NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO GET THE
MONEY.
IN FACT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW  
THE MONEY WAS HELD. 
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT VERY
MUCH BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE FACTS.
THERE WERE FIVE MEETINGS, WE'LL 
HEAR ABOUT THOSE TODAY. 
IN WHICH IT WAS NEVER A LINKAGE 
-- THERE WAS NEVER A LINKAGE  
MADE. 
THERE WAS ONE WITNESS THAT IS 
DEPENDED ON OVER 600 TIMES IN 
THE MAJORITY'S REPORT.
THAT IN THE END, AFTER  
QUESTIONS, HAD TO SAY, THAT WAS 
NOT PRESUMPTION OF WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING.
YOU SEE, THIS IS AN IMPEACHMENT 
BASED ON PRESUMPTION. 
THIS IS AN IMPEACHMENT BASICALLY
A POLL-TESTED IMPEACHMENT ON  
WHAT SELLS TO THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE. 
TODAY'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF  
THINGS. 
WHAT IT IS NOT IS FAIR. 
WHAT IT IS NOT IS ABOUT THE 
TRUTH.
WHAT IS TRUE TODAY, AND I JUST  
HEARD IT JUST A MOMENT AGO IN 
THE ARTICLES THEMSELVES WHERE IT
SAID, AND THE SPEAKER I BELIEVE 
TALKED ABOUT THIS, IS, WELL, IF 
THE PRESIDENT WEAKENED A FOREIGN
LEADER. 
YOU KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH OF THE  
MATTER IS, MADAM SPEAKER? 
THE MOST INTERESTING AND  
DEPLORABLE THING THAT I'VE HEARD
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS?
IS THE ACTUAL ATTACK BY THE 
MAJORITY ON PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. 
BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THE WHOLE  
CRUX OF THEIR CASE IS IF HE WAS 
NOT PRESSURED, THEIR HOUSE OF 
CARDS FALLS AND BY THE WAY IT'S 
ALREADY FELL. 
BUT IF WE CAN'T PRESSURE, SHOW  
PRESSURE, THEN WE EITHER HAVE TO
CALL HIM A LIAR, A WORLD LEADER,
OR WE HAVE TO MAKE UP NAMES TO  
CALL HIM. 
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED
IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHEN A 
MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY ACTUALLY 
SAID, HE'S ACTING OR THEY 
COMPARED HIM TO A BATTERED WIFE.
THAT'S BELOW THE DIGNITY OF THIS
BODY. 
TO TAKE A WORLD LEADER AND WHEN 
HE DOESN'T MAKE THE CASE FOR  
YOU, TO BELITTLE HIM. 
AS WILL BE OFTEN SAID BY THE  
MAJORITY, THAT THEY'RE IN THE 
MIDDLE OF A HOT WAR WITH RUSSIA.
YOU SEE, PRESIDENT TRUMP  
ACTUALLY DID GIVE THEM OFFENSIVE
WEAPONS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT DID 
NOTHING WRONG.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT  
ALL DAY LONG TODAY. 
WE WENT ON PROCESS AND WE WENT  
ON FACTS. 
WHY?
BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL
SEE THROUGH THIS. 
BEFORE I CLOSE THIS FIRST PART, 
I WILL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT 
EVEN THE SENATE, THE MINORITY 
LEADER IN THE SENATE, RECOGNIZES
THAT THE HOUSE DID NOT DO THEIR 
JOB.
BECAUSE HE CAN'T MAKE THE CASE  
TO HIS OWN MEMBERS, SO HE'S 
HAVING TO ASK FOR WITNESSES.
ASK FOR MORE TIME.
YOU SEE, EVEN YESTERDAY, IT WAS 
SORT OF FUNNY, I FOUND IT 
HILARIOUS THAT THE MINORITY 
LEADER IN THE SENATE WENT OUT 
AND DID A PRESS CONFERENCE AND  
SAID, THEY DID NOT -- MY  
WITNESSES, THEY -- THEY DENIED  
MY WITNESSES, THEYDY INSIDE MY  
PRO-- THEY DENIED MY PROCESS. 
WELCOME TO THE CLUB.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE FOR 
THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT AND THE PRESIDENT 
AND TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
TODAY.
ABUSE OF POWER, BECAUSE THEY  
CAN'T ACTUALLY PIN ANYTHING OF  
FACTUAL BASIS ON HIM. 
THE PRESIDENT DID NOTHING WRONG 
IN THIS ISSUE.
AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TALK  
ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
YOU KNOW, OBSTRUCTION OF  
CONGRESS, AS I'VE BEFORE, IS  
LIKE PET LENT CHILDREN SAYING,  
WE DIDN'T GET OUR WAY WHEN WE 
DIDN'T ASK THE RIGHT WAY AND WE 
DIDN'T TRY TO GO AFTER AND MAKE 
A CASE. 
YOU KNOW WHY, MADAM SPEAKER, THE
CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR ARE  
TERRIBLE MASTERS AND THE  
MAJORITY WILL OWN THAT PROBLEM  
TODAY.
BECAUSE TO THE CLOCK AND THE  
CALENDAR, FACTS DON'T MATTER. 
THE PROMISES TO THE BASE MATTER.
AND TODAY IS A PROMISE KEPT FOR 
THE MAJORITY. 
NOT A SURPRISE. 
WITH THAT, I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY 
CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, THE  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MUST 
NOW CONSIDER TWO ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
THE FIRST ARTICLE CHARGES THAT  
THE PRESIDENT USED HIS PUBLIC 
OFFICE TO COERCE A FOREIGN  
GOVERNMENT INTO ATTACKING HIS 
POLITICAL RIVAL.
THE SECOND ARTICLE CHARGES THAT 
THE PRESIDENT TOOK EXTREME AND  
UNPRECEDENTED STEPS TO OBSTRUCT 
OUR INVESTIGATION INTO HIS  
CONDUCT.
TAKEN TOGETHER, THE TWO ARTICLES
CHARGE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
PLACED HIS PRIVATE POLITICAL  
INTERESTS ABOVE OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY, ABOVE OUR ELECTIONS 
AND ABOVE OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS  
AND BALANCES. 
AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION,  
THERE CAN BE NO SERIOUS DEBATE  
ABOUT THE EVIDENCE AT HAND. 
ON JULY 25, WHEN HE SPOKE TO  
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF UKRAINE,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD THE 
UPPERHAND.
THE PRESIDENT, THROUGH HIS  
AGENTS, HAD ALREADY DEMANDED  
THAT UKRAINE ANNOUNCE AN  
INVESTIGATION OF HIS POLITICAL  
OPPONENTS.
UKRAINE NEEDED OUR HELP, BOTH 
MILITARY AID, WHICH HAD BEEN  
APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS BECAUSE
OF OUR SECURITY INTERESTS, AND  
THE NOBLE OFFICE MEETING, TO  
SHOW THE WORLD THAT -- OVAL 
OFFICE MEETING, TO SHOW THE 
WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES  
CONTINUES TO STAND WITH UKRAINE 
AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD HAVE BEEN
FOCUSED ON THE INTERESTS OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE ON THAT CALL. 
INSTEAD HE PRIORITIZED HIS  
PRIVATE POLITICAL INTERESTS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY FOR A FAVOR. 
HE WANTED UKRAINE TO ANNOUNCE 
TWO BOGUS INVESTIGATIONS. 
ONE INTO FORMER VICE PRESIDENT  
BIDEN, THEN HIS LEADING OPPONENT
IN THE 2020 ELECTION, AND 
ANOTHER, TO ADVANCE A CONSPIRACY
THEORY THAT UKRAINE, NOT RUSSIA,
ATTACKED OUR ELECTIONS IN 2016. 
NEITHER REQUEST WAS PREMISED ON 
ANY LEGITIMATE NATIONAL SECURITY
OR FOREIGN POLICY INTERESTS.
ONE WAS INTENDED TO HELP  
PRESIDENT TRUMP CONCEAL THE 
TRUTH ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTION.
THE OTHER WAS INTENDED TO HELP  
HIM GAIN AN ADVANTAGE IN THE  
2020 ELECTION.
AFTER THE CALL, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
RATCHETED UP THE PRESSURE.
HE DEPLOYED HIS PRIVATE ATTORNEY
AND OTHER AGENCY -- AGENTS, SOME
ACTING FAR OUTSIDE THE REGULAR  
CHANNELS OF DIPLOMACY, TO MAKE  
HIS DESIRES CLEAR.
THERE WOULD BE NO AID AND NO  
MEETING UNTIL UKRAINE ANNOUNCED 
THE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS.
TO OUR FOUNDING GENERATION, 
ABUSE OF POWER WAS A SPECIFIC 
WELL-DEFINED OFFENSE. 
A PRESIDENT MAY NOT MISUSE THE  
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY TO 
OBTAIN AN IMPROPER PERSONAL 
BENEFIT.
THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID EXACTLY 
THAT. 
FOR THIS ALONE HE SHOULD BE 
IMPEACHED.
BUT THE FIRST ARTICLE ALSO  
IDENTIFIES TWO AGGRAVATING  
FACTORS.
WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP CONDITIONED
MILITARY AID ON A PERSONAL  
FAVOR, HE HARMED AMERICA'S  
NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND WHEN HE DEMANDED THAT A 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TARGET HIS 
DOMESTIC POLITICAL RIVAL, HE  
TOOK STEPS TO CORRUPT OUR NEXT  
ELECTION. 
TO THE FOUNDERS, THESE OFFENSES 
CLEARLY MERITED REMOVAL FROM  
OFFICE. 
THE PRESIDENT FACES A SECOND  
ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT FOR HIS  
EFFORTS TO OBSTRUCT OUR 
INVESTIGATION OF HIS MISCONDUCT.
THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THE SOLE
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
WITHIN OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND 
BALANCES, THE PRESIDENT MAY NOT 
DECIDE FOR HIMSELF WHAT 
CONSTITUTES A VALID IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY.
NOR MAY HE IGNORE LAWFUL  
SUBPOENAS OR DIRECT OTHERS TO DO
SO. 
MANY PRESIDENTS, INCLUDING  
PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE ASSERTED  
PRIVILEGES AND OTHER  
OBSERVATIONS TO SPECIFIC  
SUBPOENAS.
BUT -- OBJECTIONS TO SPECIFIC 
SUBPOENAS.
BUT ONLY PRESIDENT TRUMP HATS 
ORDERED THE CATEGORICAL DEFINES 
-- HAS ORDERED THE CATEGORICAL  
DEFYANCE OF A CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE THE  
LAW AND HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED  
FOR THEM AS -- FOR THIS AS WELL.
CONGRESS CANNOT WAIT FOR THE  
NEXT ELECTION TO ADDRESS THIS 
MISCONDUCT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS -- THIS IS  
NOT THE FIRST TIME HE'S 
SOLICITED A FOREIGN INTERFERENCE
IN AN ELECTION, HAS BEEN EXPOSED
AND HAS ATTEMPTED TO OBSTRUCT 
THE RESULTING INVESTIGATION.
WE CANNOT RELY ON THE NEXT  
ELECTION AS A REMEDY FOR  
PRESIDENTIAL MISCONDUCT, WHEN 
THE PRESIDENT THREATENS THE VERY
INTEGRITY OF THAT ELECTION. 
HE HAS SHOWN US HE WILL CONTINUE
TO PUT HIS SELFISH INTERESTS  
ABOVE THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.
WE MUST ACT WITHOUT DELAY.
BY HIS ACTIONS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HAS BROKEN HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
HIS CONDUCT CONTINUES TO  
UNDERMINE OUR CONSTITUTION AND  
THREATEN OUR NEXT ELECTION. 
HIS ACTIONS WARRANT HIS 
IMPEACHMENT AND DEMAND HIS  
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT 
THESE ARTICLES AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT IS MY PLEASURE AT THIS TIME  
TO YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MR. 
SENSENBRENNER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. SENSENBRENNER: MADAM  
SPEAKER, I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT. 
THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT ANY  
CIVIL OFFICER, INCLUDING THE  
PRESIDENT, MAY BE IMPEACHED FOR 
TREASON, BRIBERY OR OTHER HIGH  
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
UNLIKE THE NIXON AND CLINTON  
CASES, THERE ARE NO ALLEGATIONS 
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED
A CRIME.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST THREE YEARS OF 
NONSTOP INVESTIGATIONS. 
WE'VE HAD THE MUELLER REPORT, 
WE'VE HAD THE SCHIFF  
INVESTIGATION, WE'VE HAD THE  
NADLER INVESTIGATION AND AT NO  
TIME IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT 
INDICATES THAT DONALD J. TRUMP  
VIOLATED ANY CRIMINAL STATUTE OF
THE UNITED STATES.
.
SO WHY ARE WE HERE? 
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY 
CAUCUS, THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS,  
HAS BEEN HIJACKED BY THE  
RADICAL LEFT. 
THEY HAVE WANTED TO REVERSE THE 
COURSE OF THE 2016 ELECTION 
EVER SINCE DONALD J. TRUMP WON  
THAT ELECTION.
SO LET'S LOOK AT THESE TWO  
PHONY ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, ABUSE OF POWER. 
THE PHONE CALL IN QUESTION HAD  
THE PRESIDENT SAY, OUR COUNTRY  
HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT. 
I WANT YOU TO DO US A FAVOR.
NOT ME A FAVOR. 
US A FAVOR. 
AND THERE HE WAS REFERRING TO 
OUR COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES  
OF AMERICA, NOT A PERSONAL  
POLITICAL GAIN. 
HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO LET THIS 
TRANSCRIPT GO PUBLIC, AND HE  
RELEASED THE TRANSCRIPT ALMOST  
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CALL. 
NOW, THE SECOND ARTICLE OF  
IMPEACHMENT, OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT UNLESS 
THE PRESIDENT GIVES US  
EVERYTHING WE WANT AND WHEN WE  
WANT IT, THAT HE'S COMMITTED AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
THAT'S A BUNCH OF BUNK. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS CERTAIN 
INDIVIDUAL AND PRIVILEGES BY  
VIRTUE OF HIS OFFICE. 
WHENEVER THERE'S BEEN A DISPUTE 
BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND 
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES  
HERETOFORE, THEY'VE GONE TO 
COURT.
AND THE SUPREME COURT A COUPLE  
WEEKS AGO SAID THEY WOULD TAKE  
JURISDICTION OVER DECIDING  
WHETHER THE PRESIDENT HAS TO  
COMPLY WITH ONE SUBPOENA  
RELATING TO HIS TAX RETURNS.
NOW, HERE, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
BEEN BENT TO IMPEACH THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
BEFORE THE COURT DECIDES THIS.
AND THIS MEANS THAT THERE'S A 
RUSH JOB TO DO THIS.
AND WHY IS THERE? 
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO INFLUENCE  
THE 2020 ELECTIONS. 
AND THEY SPENT THREE YEARS  
DOING IT. 
THEY SPENT MILLIONS OF  
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, INCLUDING 
THE MUELLER REPORT, PUTTING 
TOGETHER THIS IMPEACHMENT, AND  
THEY ALSO HAVE HAD THIS 
CONGRESS WRAPPED AROUND 
IMPEACHMENT AND NOT DOING THEIR 
JOBS UNTIL THE DAM BROKE THIS 
WEEK. 
STOP THIS CHARADE.
VOTE NO, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN KNOWS  
FULL WELL THE PRESIDENT 
ASSERTED NO PRIVILEGES HERE.
HE SIMPLY ORDERED COMPLETE  
DEFIANCE OF THE IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLELADY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, 
MS. SCANLON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. SCANLON: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NADLER, FOR 
YOUR LEADERSHIP, AS WE NAVIGATE 
THIS CHALLENGING TIME, NOT JUST 
FOR OUR COMMITTEE AND CONGRESS, 
BUT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S WITH PROFOUND SADNESS THAT 
I STAND HERE TODAY AND SUPPORT  
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR IS 
EXACTLY WHAT OUR FOUNDERS 
FEARED MOST.
THEY KNEW THAT WITH THE AWESOME 
POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY CAME  
THE RISK OF A PRESIDENT ABUSING 
THAT POWER FOR PERSONAL GAIN. 
THEY WERE PARTICULARLY  
CONCERNED ABOUT AN EXECUTIVE  
WHO BECAME ENTANGLED WITH 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, CORRUPTED  
OUR ELECTIONS, OR SOUGHT TO 
AVOID CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS OWN  
MISCONDUCTS IN OFFICE.
THAT IS -- CONDUCT IN OFFICE. 
THAT'S WHY THEY INCLUDED  
IMPEACHMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION 
TO PROTECT OUR REPUBLIC.
OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE 
HAVE CLAIMED WE'RE IMPEACHING 
THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE WE DON'T  
LIKE HIM, BECAUSE -- BUT THIS 
MOMENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN 
DISAGREEMENT WITH THE 
PRESIDENT'S POLICIES OR 
PERSONALITY.
THOSE ISSUES BELONG IN THE  
VOTING BOOTH. 
OUR TASK HERE IS NOT TO JUDGE 
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF.
INSTEAD, WE MUST JUDGE HIS  
CONDUCT AND WHETHER HIS ACTIONS 
HAVE UNDERMINED OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED THE 
HIGHEST OF HIGH CRIMES UNDER  
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
HE USED THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN 
OUR GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYER 
DOLLARS TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
LKSES.
HE UNDERMINED OUR NATIONAL -- 
OUR ELECTIONS.
HE UNDERMINED OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND WHEN HE GOT  
CAUGHT, HE TRIED TO COVER IT  
UP, OBSTRUCTING OUR 
INVESTIGATION AND REFUSING TO 
GIVE WITNESSES. 
THIS IS NOT OF THE PEOPLE.
A GOVERNMENT WHERE THE  
PRESIDENT PRESSURES A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO UNDERMINE OUR  
ELECTIONS IS NOT BY THE PEOPLE. 
AND A GOVERNMENT WHERE THE  
PRESIDENT PUTS HIS OWN  
INTERESTS BEFORE THE COUNTRY IS 
NOT FOR THE PEOPLE. 
THIS ISN'T COMPLICATED. 
YOU KNOW IT.
I KNOW IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WRONGDOING  
AND THE URGENT THREAT THAT HIS  
ACTIONS PRESENT TO OUR NEXT 
ELECTION AND OUR DEMOCRACY  
LEAVES US NO PRINCIPLED 
ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SUPPORT  
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR COUNTRY,  
AND OUR CHILDREN DEPEND UPON  
IT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I WISH, AS THE GENTLELADY JUST  
SAID, I WISH THEY WOULD EXAMINE 
THE FACTUAL CONDUCT BUT I GUESS 
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. 
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
LOUISIANA, MR. JOHNSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. JOHNSON: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
THE FOUNDERS OF THIS COUNTRY  
WARNED US AGAINST A SINGLE  
PARTY IMPEACHMENT, BECAUSE THEY 
FEAR IT HAD WOULD BITTERLY AND  
IRREPARABLELY AFFECT OUR  
NATION. 
IN THE YEARS OF THIS REPUBLIC,  
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SINGLE 
IMPEACHMENT THAN THE ONE BEING  
USED TODAY. 
OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE WEAPONIZED  
TO NULLIFY THE VOTES OF 63  
MILLION AMERICANS WHO ELECTED 
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP THIS  
IS NOT ABOUT A PHONE CALL OR  
UKRAINE OR USE OF EXECUTIVE 
PRIVILEGE.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT 95 OF 
THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS FLOOR 
TODAY VOTED TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP BEFORE THE JULY 25 PHONE  
CALL EVER HAPPENED BETWEEN  
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY AND NOT ONLY IS THIS A 
SINGLE PARTY IMPEACHMENT, IT'S  
ALSO EVIDENCE-FREE. 
AFTER ALL THEIR HERCULEAN 
EFFORTS, THEY COULD ONLY COME 
UP WITH TWO SHORT ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE DEMOCRATS KNOW THERE IS 
ZERO DIRECT EVIDENCE IN THESE 
PROCEEDINGS TO SHOW THAT  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN ANY  
ABUSE OF POWER. 
AS YOU HEAR TODAY, THEIR ENTIRE 
CASE IS BASED ON HEARSAY, 
SPECULATION, CONJECTURE, AND  
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE FACT  
WITNESS TO SUPPORT THEIR  
BASELESS ALLEGATIONS. 
THE DEMOCRATS' SECOND CLAIM IS  
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS BY SIMPLY DOING WHAT 
VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT 
IN THE MODERN ERA HAS DONE AND  
THAT IS TO ASSERT, MR.  
CHAIRMAN, A LEGITIMATE  
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, WHICH  
PROTECTS THE SEPARATION OF  
POWERS. 
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THEY  
DISAGREED WITH THAT, THE  
DEMOCRATS COULD AND SHOULD HAVE 
SIMPLY GONE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY 
TO A FEDERAL COURT TO GET AN  
EXPEDITED COURT ORDER 
COMPELLING THE EXTRA DOCUMENTS  
AND INFORMATION THEY REQUESTED. 
THAT'S WHAT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE  
IN THE PAST, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO 
THAT HERE BECAUSE THESE 
DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE TIME FOR 
IT. 
THEY ARE TRYING TO MEET THEIR 
OWN ARBITRARY, COMPLETELY 
RECKLESS TIMELINE TO TAKE DOWN  
A PRESIDENT THAT THEY LOATHE. 
THE REAL ABUSE OF POWER IS ON 
THE PART OF THE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS.
THEY HAVE FEVERISHLY PRODUCED 
AND PURSUED THIS IMPEACHMENT 20 
TIMES FASTER THAN THE 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION OF  
BILL CLINTON. 
THEY ARE TRYING TO REACH THEIR  
PREDETERMINED POLITICAL OUTCOME 
AND ALONG THE WAY THEY HAVE 
STEAMROLLED OVER A  
CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED DUE 
PROCESS AND THE FEDERAL RULES 
OF CIVIL PROCEDURE. 
THIS SHOULD FAIL. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS  
RECOGNIZED. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, THE  
GENTLEMAN KNOWS THAT  
IMPEACHMENT WAS PUT INTO THE  
CONSTITUTION AS A DEFENSE OF  
THE REPUBLIC IN BETWEEN 
ELECTIONS.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM 
WASHINGTON, MS. JAYAPAL.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. JAYAPAL: MR. SPEAKER, THIS  
IS A DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND  
DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE FACTS IN FRONT OF US ARE  
CLEAR.
THIS PRESIDENT, DONALD J. 
TRUMP, COERCED A FRAGILE  
FOREIGN ALLY TO INVESTIGATE HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENT AND  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS AND  
HE LEVERAGED CRITICALLY NEEDED  
CONNELLY APPROVED MILITARY AID  
TO UKRAINE. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ALLIES WANT TO  
CLAIM HE DID THIS BECAUSE HE  
CARED ABOUT CORRUPTION. 
BUT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP TRULY  
CARED ABOUT CORRUPTION, THEN HE 
WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE  
TALKING POINTS THAT WERE  
PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL  
SECURITY COUNCIL ON 
ANTI-CORRUPTION.
HE DID NOT. 
IN FACT, ON THOSE TWO CALLS 
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HE  
NEVER MENTIONED THE WORD  
CORRUPTION. 
HE DID NOT ABIDE BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S OWN 
RECOMMENDATION THAT UKRAINE HAD 
PASSED ALL THE ANTI-CORRUPTION  
BENCHMARKS AND HE DIDN'T LISTEN 
TO THE UNANIMOUS CONCLUSION OF  
ALL OF HIS TOP ADVISORS THAT HE 
MUST RELEASE THAT AID TO  
UKRAINE.
HE DID RELEASE THE AID IN 2017  
AND 2018, BUT NOT IN 2019.
WHY?
BECAUSE IN 2019, VICE PRESIDENT 
JOE BIDEN WAS RUNNING FOR 
PRESIDENT.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT HEARSAY.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. 
THE PRESIDENT TOLD US HIMSELF 
ON NATIONAL TELEVISION EXACTLY  
WHAT HE WANTED FROM THE PHONE 
CALL WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. 
HE CAME ONTO THE WHITE HOUSE  
LAWN AND HE SAID, I WANTED  
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO OPEN AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIDENS.
HE SOLICITED FOREIGN  
INTERFERENCE BEFORE.
HE IS DOING IT NOW, AND HE WILL 
DO IT AGAIN.
THE PRESIDENT IS THE SMOKING  
GUN.
OUR FOUNDERS, MR. CHAIRMAN -- 
MR. SPEAKER, ENTRUSTED US WITH  
THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY OF 
PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY WHICH  
GETS ITS POWER, NOT FROM THE  
BLOODLINES OF MONARCHS, BUT 
FROM THE VOTES OF WE THE  
PEOPLE. 
WITHOUT THAT WE ARE NO LONGER A 
DEMOCRACY.
WE ARE A MONARCHY OR A  
DICTATORSHIP. 
AND SO TODAY, TO UPHOLD MY OATH 
TO CONSTITUTION AND COUNTRY, I  
WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD J.  
TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I ALSO REMIND MY CHAIRMAN 
IMPEACHABLE WAS NEVER A WEAPON  
IN BETWEEN ELECTIONS THAT YOU 
COULD NEVER WIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MR.  
CONAWAY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CONAWAY: IMPEACHMENT IS THE 
GREATEST ITEM THAT WE IN  
CONGRESS COULD CONSIDER.
THE DECISION TO MOVE  
IMPEACHMENT IS SO CONSEQUENTIAL 
IT'S ONLY BEEN DONE THREE TIMES 
PREVIOUSLY IN OUR NATION'S  
HISTORY, ALL BASED ON 
LEGITIMATE EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL 
BEHAVIOR. 
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF MY 
COLLEAGUES DIMINISHED WHICH 
SHOULD BE A SOLEMN AND GRAVE  
PROCEEDING AND MADE IT INTO A 
CIRCUS. 
THEY HAVE BEEN INTENDED ON  
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT SINCE  
THEY TOOK OFFICE. 
THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY HATRED BY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THE IMPEACHMENT TODAY IS THE  
NEXT STEP TO REMOVE THEM FROM 
OFFICE. 
THE INVESTIGATION WAS 
UNNECESSARILY HELD BEHIND 
CLOSED DOORS IN A ROOM DESIGNED 
TO BE -- AS A ROOM TO SHARE 
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. 
NOTHING CLASSIFIED WAS SHARED 
DURING THESE MEETINGS, BUT THE  
RESULT OF THIS DECISION WAS 
THAT MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
AND ALL AMERICANS WERE BLOCKED  
FROM HEARING THE FACTS FOR  
THEMSELVES. 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF REPEATEDLY  
WITHHELD CRUCIAL INFORMATION  
FROM THE REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING 
THE ABILITY FOR ANYONE TO SPEAK 
WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
HE WAS EVEN CALLED OUT BY 
LIBERAL MEDIA OUTLETS BY  
TELLING FALSEHOODS. 
REPUBLICANS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO 
CALL WITNESSES OR MAKE BASIC  
PAR ELEMENTARY MOTIONS. 
-- BASIC PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS. 
WE HAVE NOT PROVED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS GUILTY OF HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
IF THERE WERE CRIMINAL  
ACTIVITY, AS MANY OF MY 
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES CLAIM, THEN 
WHY ARE THERE NO CLAIMS LISTED  
IN THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT? 
WE ARE TURNING IMPEACHMENT INTO 
PLATECAL WEAPON.
THIS IMPEACHMENT SCHEME IS  
NOTHING MORE THAN AN ATTEMPT TO 
CONDUCT A TAXPAYER FUNDED 
OPPOSITION RESEARCH AND DAMAGE  
A PRESIDENT'S ELECTABILITY  
HEADING INTO 2020.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE RIGHT 
THROUGH THIS CHARADE AND ARE  
FED UP. 
IT'S TIME FOR THIS MADNESS TO 
STOP AND FOR US TO GET BACK TO  
THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT US HERE TO 
DO. 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I NOW  
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA, MR. LIEU. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. LIEU: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN 
NADLER, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
LET'S START BY MAKING THIS VERY 
SIMPLE. 
NO ONE IN AMERICA CAN DO WHAT 
DONALD TRUMP DID AND GET AWAY 
WITH IT.
NO AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIAL  
CAN CALL UP A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT AND ASK FOR AN 
INVESTIGATION OF A POLITICAL  
OPPONENT. 
NO MEMBER OF CONGRESS CAN CALL  
UP A FOREIGN OFFICIAL AND ASK 
FOR HELP IN OUR RE-ELECTION 
COMPLAIN. 
IF WE DID THAT, WE'RE LIKELY TO 
GET INDICTED. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, AND  
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME 
LAW OF THE LAND.
I FIRST SWORE AN OATH TO THE  
CONSTITUTION WHEN I JOINED THE  
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON  
ACTIVE DUTY.
AN OATH I TOOK WAS NOT TO A 
POLITICAL PARTY OR TO A 
PRESIDENT OR TO A KING. 
IT WAS A DOCUMENT THAT HAS MADE 
AMERICA THE GREATEST NATION ON  
EARTH AND THAT DOCUMENT 
CONTAINS A SAFEGUARD FOR WHEN 
THE PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER  
IS SO EXTREME THAT WARRANTS 
IMPEACHMENT.
WE ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE OF  
POLICY DISPUTES.
WHY DISAGREE -- WHILE I 
DISAGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT, I  
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS A RIGHT 
TO RESTRICT A NUMBER OF 
REFUGEES INTO OUR COUNTRY.
HE HAS THE RIGHT TO ELIMINATE A 
NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
EXECUTIVE ORDERS. 
HE HAS A RIGHT TO SIGN A BILL 
THAT GIVES TAX BREAKS.
BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO 
INTERFERE INTO ELECTIONS. 
IT'S ILLEGAL. 
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE VOTERS  
ELECTED HIM TO DO.
WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS IN THIS 
CASE WERE PARTICULARLY  
INSIDIOUS BECAUSE HE ALSO USED  
OUR GOVERNMENT FOR HIS PRIVATE  
GAIN. 
HE CONDITIONED TAXPAYER FUNDED  
MILITARY AID IN A CRITICAL  
WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH THE  
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT UNDER THE 
REQUIREMENT THAT THEY PUBLICLY  
ANNOUNCE A INVESTIGATION INTO 
HIS OPPONENT AND BY HARMING 
UKRAINIAN NATIONAL SECURITY,  
THE PRESIDENT ALSO HARMED U.S.  
NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND THEN THE PRESIDENT  
SOLICITED FOREIGN INTERFERENCE  
AGAIN ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE  
WHITE HOUSE WHEN HE AGAIN ASKED 
UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE HIS  
POLITICAL OPPONENT AND THEN HE  
ASKED CHINA, OUR PIER 
COMPETITOR, TO DO THE SAME -- 
OUR PEER COMPETITOR, TO DO THE  
SAME. 
THAT ABUSE OF POWER IS NOT  
ACCEPTABLE. 
WHETHER OR NOT THE SENATE 
CONVICTS, THE HOUSE HAS AN  
INDEPENDENT DUTY TO DO THE  
RIGHT THING.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PASSED OVER  
275 BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT ARE 
STUCK IN THE SENATE.
WHETHER IMPEACHING OR 
LEGISLATING, WE'LL CONTINUE TO  
BE FAITHFUL TO THE  
CONSTITUTION, REGARDLESS WHAT 
THE SENATE MAY OR MAY NOT DO. 
IMPEACHMENT IS A FORM OF  
DETERRENCE. 
OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.
NO PRESIDENT EVER WANTS TO BE 
IMPEACHED.
AND WHETHER DONALD TRUMP LEAVES 
IN ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR, OR FIVE 
YEARS, THIS IMPEACHMENT IS  
PERMANENT.
IT WILL FOLLOW HIM AROUND FOR 
THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND  
HISTORY BOOKS WILL RECORD IT. 
PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHY WE 
IMPEACHED.
IT'S ALL VERY SIMPLE. 
IT IS VERY SIMPLE.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
NOT OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF. 
NOT OUR PRESIDENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,  
MR. MCHENRY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCHENRY: I THANK MY 
COLLEAGUE.
IN 2016, 63 MILLION AMERICANS 
WENT TO THE POLLS AND ELECTED 
DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION EVER 
SINCE.
IN FACT, THEY'VE TRIED FIVE 
ADDITIONAL TIMES BEFORE THE ONE 
BEFORE US, INCLUDING THE VOTE IN
MAY OF 2017.
JUST FIVE MONTHS INTO HIS TERM. 
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, HOUSE  
DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL OF THIS  
CHAMBER AND THEY WERE FACED WITH
A CHOICE. 
THEY COULD USE THE TOOLS OF THE 
MAJORITY TO PURSUE LEGITIMATE 
PRIORITIES OF THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE, POLICIES THAT KIM PACT  
THEIR LIVES, OR -- THAT CAN 
IMPACT THEIR LIVES, OR THEY CAN 
USE THEIR TOOLS TOWN DUE THE -- 
UNDO THE 2016 ELECTION. 
THEY MADE THEIR CHOICE. 
THEY'VE ISSUED MORE SUBPOENAS 
THAN BILLS HAVE BEEN SIGNED INTO
LAW.
THAT TELLS US ALL WE NEED TO  
KNOW ABOUT THIS CONGRESS. 
AND THAT PARTY. 
RATHER THAN LAUNCH A LEGITIMATE 
INVESTIGATION, DEMOCRATS TURN TO
FOCUS GROUPS TO WORKSHOP THEIR  
LANGUAGE, TO SEE IF THEY COULD  
SELL THIS TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE  
REJECTED IT.
INSTEAD OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, FOR INSTANCE, 
AND ALLOWING THE COURTS TO  
RESOLVE ANY LEGITIMATE DISPUTES,
HOUSE DEMOCRATS RUSHED AN 
IMPEACHMENT VOTE. 
SO HERE WE ARE, 12 WEEKS LATER. 
VOTING WHETHER TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT BASED OFF THE THINNEST
RECORD IN MODERN HISTORY. 
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE SENATE
IS ALREADY ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES AND MORE DOCUMENTS AND
REAL EVIDENCE.
THE BODY OF EVIDENCE IS WEAK AND
WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT FOR 
IMPEACHMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK ON  
THIS SAD DAY FOR THIS 
INSTITUTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I NOW  
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.  
RASKIN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.  
RASKIN IS RECOGNIZED. 
MR. RASKIN: THANK YOU, MR.  
SPEAKER.
AMERICAN ELECTIONS BELONG TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NOT THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND  
NOT FOREIGN POWERS. 
NO PRESIDENT MAY CHEAT THE  
PEOPLE BY WORKING WITH FOREIGN  
GOVERNMENTS TO STEAL FROM US, A 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTION -- FROM  
US A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.
AND NO PRESIDENT WHO ATTEMPTS IT
MAY COVER UP THAT CHEATING BY 
SYSTEMATICALLY OBSTRUCTING  
CONGRESS IN OUR WORK. 
ARTICLE 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION 
DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT
TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.
THE REASON WE HAVE A  
CONSTITUTION IS TO KEEP 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM DOING 
WHATEVER THEY WANT. 
IF WE THE PEOPLE LOSE THE 
CERTAINTY OF FREE AND FAIR  
ELECTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL 
CORRUPTION AND FOREIGN  
MANIPULATION, THEN WE LOSE OUR  
DEMOCRACY ITSELF. 
THE MOST PRECIOUS INHERITANCE WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM PRIOR  
GENERATIONS THAT PLEDGE THEIR 
SACRED HONOR AND GAVE EVERYTHING
THEY HAD TO DEFEND IT.
THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IS 
THE MEANING OF AMERICA. 
THAT IS WHY WE REMAIN THE LAST  
BEST HOPE OF A WORLD RAVAGED BY 
AUTHORITARIANISM, VIOLENCE AND  
CORRUPTION. 
WE MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR  
ELECTIONS AND SAFEGUARD 
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY FOR THE
ENORMOUS AND UNPRECEDENTED  
CHALLENGES THAT STILL LIE AHEAD 
OF US.
I YIELD BACK, MR. CHAIRMAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA. 
MRS. MILLER: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION OF H.R.  
755.
TODAY IS A DISAPPOINTING DAY. 
IT IS THE DAY MY COLLEAGUES FROM
ACROSS THE AISLE CAST THE VOTE  
THAT THEY HAVE PENALTY IS THE 
LAST THREE YEARS OBSESSING OVER.
THE VOTE TO IMPEACH OUR DULY  
ELECTED PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE TWO CHARGES CLAIMED BY
HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND THERE IS  
ZERO CAUSE FOR EITHER.
WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS LED,  
OUR COUNTRY HAS THRIVED.
AND WASHINGTON LIBERALS HAVE  
FAILED. 
DESPITE THE COMMITMENT OF MANY  
OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO OBSTRUCT 
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S  
AGENDA AT EVERY TURN, OUR 
COUNTRY CONTINUES TO SUCCEED. 
IN THIS BODY, HOWEVER, WE HAVE  
NOT BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER ON WHAT
AMERICANS WANT AND NEED.
WE STILL HAVE NOT FINISHED  
SECURING OUR BORDER.
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC STILL RAGES 
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS STILL IN  
DIRE NEED OF AN OVERHAUL. 
AND WE STILL HAVE NOT REACHED A 
BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION ON DRUG 
PRICING.
IF CONGRESS HADN'T SPENT THE  
LAST YEAR STUCK IN A DIVISIVE,  
UGLY, PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT  
DEBACLE, THINK OF WHAT WE COULD 
HAVE DONE.
THE LIVES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN  
SAVED, THE COMMUNITIES THAT 
COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED, THE 
CRISIS ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER 
ENDED, AND THE POSITIVE WORK  
THAT WE SHOULD DO FOR OUR 
COUNTRY.
BUT WE DIDN'T.
ALL BECAUSE OF DIVISIVE 
POLITICAL THEATRICS.
CONGRESS CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS
AND AMERICA DESERVES BETTER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY RESERVES THE BALANCE 
OF HER TIME AND -- THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE  
BALANCE OF HER TIME AND THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I NOW  
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
RHODE ISLAND, MR. CICILLINE.
MR. CICILLINE: MR. SPEAKER, I 
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DONALD J.
TRUMP, THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
MR. SPEAKER, NO ONE RUNS FOR  
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
BUT THIS PRESIDENT HAS LEFT US  
NO CHOICE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE  
ENORMOUS POWERS OF HIS OFFICE 
WHEN HE SOLICITED FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
HELPING HIM IN HIS RE-ELECTION  
CAMPAIGN IN 2020. 
THE PRESIDENT BETRAYED OUR  
NATIONAL SECURITY AND UNDERMINED
THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS 
WHEN HE PUT HIS OWN PERSONAL  
POLITICAL INTERESTS AHEAD OF THE
INTERESTS OF OUR COUNTRY. 
HE TRIED TO CHEAT TO WIN  
RE-ELECTION.
AND THIS WASN'T AN ATTACK ON  
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN. 
THIS WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
AND IF WE DO NOT HOLD THE 
PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE TODAY, WE 
WILL NO LONGER LIVE IN A  
DEMOCRACY.
WE WILL LIVE IN A DICTATORSHIP  
WHERE ANY FUTURE PRESIDENT WILL 
BE FREE TO ABUSE THEIR OFFICE IN
ORDER TO GET RE-ELECTIONED. 
TODAY EVERY MEMBER OF THIS  
CHAMBER FACES A CHOICE. 
WHETHER TO DO WHAT THE  
CONSTITUTION DEMANDS AND THE  
EVIDENCE REQUIRES, OR TO TURN A 
BLIND EYE TO THE PRESIDENT'S  
GRAVE MISCONDUCT. 
A BLIND EYE TO THE OVERWHELMING 
EVIDENCE OF HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS. 
TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE AISLE I SAY THIS, THIS IS
NOT ABOUT MAKING HISTORY. 
THIS IS ABOUT HOLDING A LAWLESS 
PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE AND THE 
WAY OUR FRAMERS INTENDED -- IN  
THE WAY OUR FRAMERS SBEBLEDED.
THIS IS A TIME TO PUT OUR --  
INTENDED. 
THIS IS A TIME PUT OUR COUNTRY  
OVER YOUR POLITICAL PARTY.
DO NOT SEEK SAFETY IN THE HIGH  
GRASS OF THE VOTE AGAINST THESE 
ARTICLES. 
WE ARE ALL AMERICANS. 
SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE  
DEVOTION TO YOUR COUNTRY IS MORE
POWERFUL TO YOUR LOYALTY TO YOUR
POLITICAL PARTY.
YOU AUTO -- UNITED WE CAN DEFEND
OUR DEMOCRACY FROM ALL ENEMIES, 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
DIVIDED, WE RISK LOSING OUR 
DEMOCRAT SIFMENT ALL YOU HAVE TO
DO IS LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE -- 
DEMOCRACY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT 
THE EVIDENCE. 
IT WILL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE  
ANSWER. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES MUST BE IMPEACHED. 
REMEMBER THESE FACTS. 
HE TRIED TO CHEAT, HE GOT 
CAUGHT, HE CONFESSED AND HE 
OBSTRUCTED THE INVESTIGATION  
INTO HIS MISCONDUCT.
FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, FOR OUR  
CONSTITUTION, FOR THE PEOPLE YOU
REPRESENT AND FOR ALL WHO WILL  
INHERIT OUR COUNTRY FROM US, I  
PRAY YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT  
THING.
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS POINT IT GIVES ME 
PLEASURE TO YIELD A MINUTE AND A
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
ALABAMA, MR. ROGERS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED, MR.  
ROGERS. 
MR. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR.  
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN COMPLETE AND  
TOTAL SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT  
TRUMP.
THE MATTER BEFORE THE HOUSE 
TODAY IS BASED SOLELY ON A  
FUNDAMENTAL HATRED OF OUR 
PRESIDENT.
IT'S A SHAM, A WITCH HUNT AND 
IT'S TANTAMOUNT TO A COUP 
AGAINST THE DUAL ELECTED  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
-- DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR OUR NATION
WHEN ONE POLITICAL PARTY, ALONG 
WITH THEIR COHORTS AND THE DEEP 
STATE IN THE MAIN STREET MEDIA, 
TRY TO HIJACK OUR CONSTITUTION. 
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HAS 
IRRESPONSIBLY TURNED THE  
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS NO A  
POLITICAL WEAPON. 
SOMETHING THAT -- INTO A  
POLITICAL WEAPON. 
SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS  
REFUSED TO DO WHEN OUR BASE WAS 
CALLING FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF  
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
IT IS WELL PAST TIME FOR THE  
HOUSE TO MOVE BEYOND THIS HOAX  
AND PUT OUR NATION FIRST. 
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP IS DOING. 
THE UNITED STATES HAS RECORD LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT, HISTORIC  
PERFORMANCE IN THE STOCK MARKET,
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS REWRITING  
FAILED TRADE DEALS OF THE PAST  
TO PUT AMERICA FIRST. 
HE'S REBUILDING OUR MILITARY. 
HE HELPED CREATE THE SPACE FORCE
AND THE LIST GOES ON. 
I IMPLORE MY COLLEAGUES TO END  
THIS SPECTACLE NOW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I'M  
HEARING A LOT FROM MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE  
COMBEPT A DEFENSE OF PRESIDENT  
TRUMP'S -- EXCEPT A DEFENSE OF  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CONDUCT WHICH 
IS INDEFENSIBLE.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
DEUTCH. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
MR. DEUTCH: SOME SAY THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IS ABOUT EIGHT LINES
IN A CALL TRANSCRIPT. 
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.
THIS IS ABOUT A SCHEME THAT 
LASTED MONTHS AND INVOLVED  
DOZENS OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION  
OFFICIALS.
LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. 
LOOK AT THE DIRECT EVIDENCE.
TEXT MESSAGES, EMAILS, CALLS AND
MEETINGS, WAY BACK IN MAY.
THE PRESIDENT TOLD HIS TEAM,  
TALK TO RUDY GIULIANI.
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE -- NO 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING UNLESS  
UKRAINE HELPED HIM IN THE 2020  
ELECTION. 
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID THERE  
WAS A PRERECK WE IS --  
PREREQUISITE OF INVESTIGATION 
INTO THE BIDENS AND ANNOUNCEMENT
OF INVESTIGATIONS WASN'T  
DELIVERABLE.
AMBASSADOR VOLCKER SAID THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING FOR THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO DO WAS TO
COMMIT TOON INVESTIGATION OF THE
BIDENS -- COMMIT TO AN  
INVESTIGATION OF THE BIDENS.
JUST BEFORE THE JULY 25 CALL, 
VOLCKER TOLD THE UKRAINIANS,  
ASSUMING PRESIDENT Z CONVINCE 
TRUMP HE WILL INVESTIGATE, WE 
WILL NAIL DOWN A DATE FOR A 
VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
THE DIRECT EVIDENCE KEPT COMING 
AFTER THE CALL. 
MORE TEXTS, MORE EMAILS, MORE 
CALLS.
ALL WITH THE SAME MESSAGE.
IF UKRAINE DIDN'T ANNOUNCE AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE  
PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL RIVAL,  
THEN THEY WOULDN'T GET THE WHITE
HOUSE MEETING THAT THEY HAD BEEN
PROMISED AND THEY WOULDN'T GET  
THE AID THAT THEY NEEDED IN 
THEIR WAR AGAINST RUSSIA. 
AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL POWER 
COMES FROM THE PEOPLE.
THROUGH ELECTIONS.
AND THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES 
THAT WE PROTECT THOSE ELECTIONS.
BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ABUSED 
HIS POWER TO SOLICIT FOREIGN  
INTERFERENCE, HE WAS CHEATING 
AMERICAN VOTERS BEFORE THEY EVEN
HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS FORCE 
US TO PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS AND 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DEFEND  
THE CONSTITUTION, SUPPORT THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, AND  
REMIND THE WORLD THAT IN AMERICA
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I WOULD REMIND THIS WHOLE BODY  
THAT IT IS MORE THAN EIGHT  
LINES.
IN FACT, THERE'S FOUR FACTS.
NO PRESSURE, NO CONDITIONALITY, 
THEY DID NOTHING TO GET IT AND  
THEY GOT THE MONEY. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD A MINUTE AND 
A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
FLORIDA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPANO: I RISE IN OPPOSITION 
TO THIS POLITICAL EFFORT TO 
REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM 
OFFICE. 
I'M NOT SURPRISED THIS DAY HAS  
COME, BUT I AM DISAPPOINTED.
DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IMPEACHMENT
IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL
DECISIONS THAT WE CAN MAKE IN 
THIS BODY.
AND THIS IMPEACHMENT IS BASED 
PURELY ON PARTISAN MOTIVES. 
SPEAKER PELOSI SAID WE SHOULDN'T
GO DOWN THIS PATH UNLESS THERE  
WAS SOMETHING COMPELLING, 
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN.
BECAUSE OF HOW DIVISIVE IT WOULD
BE. 
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S CLEAR THE  
MAJORITY HAS HAD LASER FOCUS ON 
ONE THING FOR THREE YEARS --  
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT. 
THE MAJORITY'S FAILED TO DELIVER
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET ON 
TIME. 
FAILED TO PASS THE SPENDING 
BILLS ON TIME.
AND FAILED TO DELIVER BIPARTISAN
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL ACTUALLY  
HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF 
AMERICANS.
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE 
THROUGH THIS SAD CHARADE FOR  
WHAT IT IS. 
AN ATTEMPT TOWN DO THE 2016 
ELECTION BASED ON HEARSAY AND 
OPINION, NOT FACT.
THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL  
SHOWED NO CONDITIONS WERE PLACED
ON THE AID. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ZELENSKY  
HAVE SAID THERE WAS NO PRESSURE.
AND UKRAINE RECEIVED THE AID  
WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACTIONS. 
THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT MAY ONLY BE 
IMPEACHED FOR COMMITTING  
TREASON, BRIBERY OR OTHER HIGH  
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
NO WHERE IN THE TWO ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY DOES IT ARLING
THAT -- ARGUE THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS COMMITTED ANY CRIME UNDER 
THE LAW.
THIS IS NOT OVERWHELMING. 
IT IS NOT COMPELLING. 
IT IS NOT BIPARTISAN. 
BUT THE SPEAKER HAS -- SHE WAS  
RIGHT IN ONE WAY. 
THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIVISIVE AND 
HAS LOWERED THE BAR FOR WHAT  
FUTURE PRESIDENTS WILL FACE.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE ARTICLES  
BEFORE US TODAY AND HOPE THAT WE
WILL FINALLY MOVE PAST THIS 
NIGHTMARE AND GET TO WORK TO  
DELIVER RESULTS FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS  
RECOGNIZED. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, THE  
EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP TOOK ADVANTAGE OF 
UKRAINE'S VULNERABILITY AND 
ABUSED THE POWERS OF HIS OFFICE 
TO PRESSURE UKRAINE TO HELP HIS 
RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. 
THIS IS THE HIGHEST OF HIGH 
CRIMES AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MUST 
BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA, MR. CORREA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CORREA: I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. 
AS A MEMBER OF HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMITTEE, I KNOW -- THE  
HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, I  
KNOW FIRST-HAND THE DANGERS THAT
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN OUR 
ELECTIONS PRESENT TO OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, IT IS  
MY SWORN DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OUR
NATION IS SECURE FROM ALL 
THREATS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
AND CONGRESS HAS A  
CONSTITUTIONAL JOB TO 
INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF  
MISCONDUCT BY THE EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH, INCLUDING THE UNITED  
STATES PRESIDENT. 
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE HIGHEST 
LAW OF THE LAND, CREATED A  
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO
PREVENT THE CREATION OF A KING. 
CONGRESS IS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF
OUR NATION'S GOVERNMENT, EQUAL  
WITH THE PRESIDENCY, WITH DUTIES
THAT ARE GIVEN TO US BY THE 
FRAMERS.
THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY AND I DO 
NOT TAKE IMPEACHMENT LIGHTLY. 
YET I'M HERE TO DO MY JOB AS A  
MEMBER OF CONGRESS. 
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
 
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
AND TODAY, I PRAY FOR GOD FOR 
HIS GUIDANCE IN UNITING OUR 
GREAT NATION. 
AND WITH THAT, THE GENTLEMAN  
FROM NEW YORK, I YIELD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN WILL BE REQUIRED TO 
PROVIDE A TRANSLATION OF YOUR 
REMARKS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
DO YOU RESERVE, MR. NADLER? 
MR. NADLER: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. COLLINS IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I'D JUST HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH  
MY CHAIRMAN.
FACTS ARE NOT DISPUTED. 
THEY ARE DISPUTED NOT BY THE  
MINORITY BUT BY THE WITNESSES 
WHO TESTIFIED.
WITH THAT I YIELD A MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
CARTER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CARTER: I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. 
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN  
OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOCRATS'  
SHAM PROCESS, WHICH MAKES A 
MOCKERY OF THE RULES OF THE 
HOUSE AND IS FRANKLY DANGEROUS  
TO THIS COUNTRY.
SINCE DAY ONE, THE DEMOCRATS  
HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY  
WANTED TO MOVE TOWARDS  
IMPEACHMENT WELL BEFORE ANY OF  
THE ACCUSATIONS TOOK PLACE. 
WHAT DEMOCRATS, UNFORTUNATELY,  
DON'T RECOGNIZE IS THE DAMAGE 
THAT THIS WILL CAUSE FOR OUR  
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND  
AMERICA'S TRUST FOR YEARS TO  
COME. 
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE  
CONCERNED THAT SPEAKER PELOSI 
DOESN'T TRUST OUR CITIZENS TO 
LET THEM DECIDE WHO SHOULD LEAD 
OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS ISN'T  
FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING AND  
PROTECTING OUR POLITICAL  
FOUNDATIONS BUT RATHER SHAPING  
PUBLIC OPINION. 
I ASK YOU, IS IT WORTH THAT?
NOT ONLY IS THE PROCESS 
ALARMING, BUT IT'S WASTING  
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS AND VALUABLE 
TIME THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS 
COULD BE USING TO MOVE OUR  
COUNTRY FORWARD.
THAT INCLUDES SECURING OUR  
BORDERS, ADDRESSING STUDENT 
LOAN DEBT, BRINGING DOWN THE  
COST OF HEALTH CARE AND 
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES,  
WHILE CONSIDERING THESE 
ARTICLES, ASK THEMSELVES  
WHETHER THIS IS TRULY BEING 
DONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE  
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, MADAM -- MR. 
SPEAKER, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,  
MR. NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: I'D REMIND THE  
GENTLEMAN THAT AFTER RECOVERING 
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN  
ILL-GOTTEN GAINS, THE MUELLER 
REPORT WAS ACTUALLY A NET PLUS  
FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
COLORADO, MR. NEGUSE, FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS  
RECOGNIZED. 
MR. NEGUSE: THANK YOU, MR.  
SPEAKER, AND I WANT TO THANK  
CHAIRMAN NADLER AND SPEAKER 
PELOSI FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND 
THEIR MORAL COURAGE.
TODAY, THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES IS DEBATING 
WHETHER TO TAKE THE RARE STEP 
OF VOTING TO IMPEACH A  
PRESIDENT FOR ONLY THE THIRD  
TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
UNFORTUNATELY, PRESIDENT TRUMP  
HAS LEFT US NO CHOICE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT  
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED THE POWER  
OF HIS OFFICE AND INVITED A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY TO INTERFERE IN 
OUR ELECTIONS.
IN SO DOING, HE UNDERMINED THE  
SANCTITY OF THE FREE AND FAIR 
ELECTIONS UPON WHICH OUR  
REPUBLIC RESTS. 
MAKING MATTERS WORSE, OVER THE  
PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PRESIDENT  
TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION  
HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN 
TO PREVENT CONGRESS FROM  
UNCOVERING THE TRUTH. 
LET US BE CLEAR, IN THE HISTORY 
OF OUR REPUBLIC, NO PRESIDENT 
HAS EVER OBSTRUCTED CONGRESS  
LIKE THIS BEFORE. 
DURING THE WATERGATE  
INVESTIGATION, AS MY COLLEAGUES 
WELL KNOW, PRESIDENT NIXON'S  
CHIEF OF STAFF TESTIFIED BEFORE 
CONGRESS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CHIEF OF  
STAFF REFUSED.
PRESIDENT NIXON'S COUNSEL 
TESTIFIED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REFUSED.
WHITE HOUSE AIDES CLOSE TO  
PRESIDENT NIXON TESTIFIED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO  
ALLOW ANY AIDE WHO MAY HAVE 
KNOWLEDGE RELEVANT TO THIS  
INVESTIGATION TO TESTIFY. 
SIMPLY PUT, HIS ADMINISTRATION  
HAS ENGAGED IN A WHOLESALE  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS, AND  
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY WE'RE 
CONSIDERING, NOT JUST ONE, BUT  
TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BEFORE THE HOUSE TODAY. 
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY HAS A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD OUR  
CONSTITUTION, TO DEFEND OUR 
REPUBLIC, AND WHEN NECESSARY, 
TO HOLD THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH  
ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE ARE EXERCISING THAT  
RESPONSIBILITY TODAY. 
SO WITH THAT AND, THEREFORE, I  
WILL VOTE YES ON BOTH ARTICLES. 
THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION  
REQUIRES AND WHAT MY CONSCIENCE 
DEMANDS.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I NEVER THOUGHT A  
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 
INVESTIGATION WAS USED AS A 
MONEY REVENUE PLOT. 
I GUESS ONE THING IT'S TRUE, IT 
WAS A LOSER FOR A NET PROFIT  
PROPOSITION.
I YIELD TO MR. NEWHOUSE A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. NEWHOUSE: MR. SPEAKER, THE  
PEOPLE'S HOUSE SHOULD BE BETTER 
THAN THIS.
DURING MEMBERS' REMARKS IN THE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE  
COMMITTEE'S IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS, HE STATED, AND I 
QUOTE, TO MY REPUBLICAN 
COLLEAGUES, HOW DO YOU WANT TO  
BE RAILROAD DURING THIS --  
REMEMBERED DURING THIS  
WATERSHED MOMENT? 
WELL, MR. SPEAKER, IT WON'T BE  
WATCHING SPORTS ON A LAPTOP 
DURING PROCEEDINGS TO IMPEACH 
SAY THING PRESIDENT.
IT WON'T BE USING EXPOLICE  
TIFFS TO REFER TO OUR PRESIDENT 
-- EXPLETIVES TO REFER TO OUR 
PRESIDENT.
IT WON'T BE USING TO DISTORT  
THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS IN ORDER  
TO MISLEAD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
AND IT CERTAINLY WON'T BE USING 
THE MOST SERIOUS AND SOLEMN 
POWERS OF CONGRESS TO OVERTURN  
A LEGITIMATE NATIONAL ELECTION  
FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY. 
NO, MR. SPEAKER, MY FELLOW  
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND I 
WON'T BE REMEMBERED IN HISTORY  
FOR DOING ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS FAR TOO 
GRAVE A MATTER FOR SUBVERSIONS  
SUCH AS THESE OF OUR DEMOCRATIC 
REPUBLIC. 
WE SHOULD ALL BE BETTER THAN  
THIS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, MAY I  
INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS 
ON BOTH SIDES?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.  
NADLER, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT  
YOU HAVE 156 3/4 MINUTES  
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS  
157 MINUTES REMAINING.
DIVIDE THAT BY 60.
MR. NADLER: THANK YOU, MR.  
SPEAKER.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM 
TEXAS, MS. ESCOBAR. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. ESCOBAR: OUR COUNTRY FACES  
A GREAT TRAGEDY AND MOMENT OF 
TRUTH.
WE HAVE WITNESSED THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES ABUSE HIS  
PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PERSONAL  
POLITICAL GAIN AND INVITE 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTION,  
PUTTING THE INTEGRITY OF A  
GOVERNMENT OF, FOR, AND BY THE  
PEOPLE AT GREAT RISK. 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING  
AND CLEARLY SHOWS THAT  
PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL CONTINUE 
TO ABUSE HIS OFFICE AND 
OBSTRUCT CONGRESS IF LEFT 
UNCHECKED.
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE  
CONDUCTED A ROBUST  
INVESTIGATION INTO THE  
PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT. 
MEMBERS INTERVIEWED 12  
WITNESSES IN PUBLIC HEARINGS, 
TOTALING OVER 30 HOURS, 
CONDUCTED 17 DEPOSITIONS  
TOTALING OVER 100 HOURS,  
EXAMINED TEXT MESSAGES AND  
EMAILS, REVIEWED THE  
PRESIDENT'S OWN WORDS AND 
ACTIONS AND PUBLISHED A 
300-PAGE REPORT DEALING THEIR 
FINDINGS. 
ALL OF THIS, DESPITE THE FACT 
THAT UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S  
DIRECTION, 12 CURRENT AND 
FORMER ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS 
REFUSED TO TESTIFY, EVEN  
IGNORING SUBPOENAS AND 71 
DOCUMENT REQUESTS WERE DENIED.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THEN  
REVIEWED THE EVIDENCE AND 
CONCLUDED THAT TWO ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT, WHICH I SUPPORT, 
WERE WARRANTED. 
THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A CLEAR AND  
PRESENT DANGER TO OUR FREE AND  
FAIR ELECTIONS AND OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
THE MOST POWERFUL EVIDENCE OF 
THIS PATTERN HAS COME FROM THE  
PRESIDENT HIMSELF.
IN 2016, WE HEARD HIM WHEN HE 
CALLED ON RUSSIA TO INTERFERE 
IN OUR ELECTIONS. 
HE SAID, RUSSIA, IF YOU'RE  
LISTENING.
HE THEN REPEATED THIS CALL FOR  
ELECTION INTERFERENCE ON THE  
JULY 25 CALL WITH THE UKRAINIAN 
PRESIDENT, AND WE HEARD HIM 
AGAIN ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN 
FURTHER ADDING CHINA TO THAT  
MIX.
I STAND READY TO PROTECT OUR  
SACRED REPUBLIC, SUPPORT THESE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, AND I  
PRAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE  
THE COURAGE TO DO THE SAME. 
WE MUST UPHOLD OUR OATH OF  
OFFICE, DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION 
AND OUR FRAGILE DEMOCRACY 
BECAUSE NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
YOU YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- I  
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> VLADIMIR PUTIN AND HIS 
CRONIES WAGED A WAR ON OUR  
ELECTIONS WITH THE GOAL OF  
SEWING DISCORD AND DIVISION IN  
AMERICA.
DO YOU THINK HE'S BEEN  
SUCCESSFUL? 
SOMEWHERE IN RUSSIA RIGHT NOW,  
PUTIN IS LAUGHING AT US TODAY.
THE MAJORITY HAS GIVEN HIM  
EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS, A  
DIVIDED AMERICA WITH A PURE 
PARTISAN POLITICS WITH MASSIVE  
POLITICAL RHETORIC AND AN 
ALL-TIME -- AT AN ALL-TIME  
HIGH. 
MR. RUTHERFORD: MANY ARE  
DISCREDITING THE RESULTS OF 
FUTURE ELECTIONS, ALREADY.
IT SEEMS MANY AMERICANS, FOR  
THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE HOUSE 
MAJORITY HAS BEEN CARRYING OUT  
THE WISHES OF THE KREMLIN.
AND THE SAD PART IS THAT  
DEMOCRATS HAVE VOWED TO 
CONTINUE THEIR SHAM 
INVESTIGATIONS EVEN AFTER 
TODAY'S VOTE. 
IMPEACHING A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT IN A PURELY PARTISAN  
MANNER WITH NO CRIMES TO SHOW 
FOR IT, NOT ONE ELEMENT OF A  
CRIME DEFINED, DISGRACES THE  
INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
NOW IS THE TIME TO END THE  
PARTISAN POLITICS, COME 
TOGETHER AND PUT AMERICA FIRST. 
I URGE THIS BODY TO VOTE NO TO  
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I NOW  
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
NEW YORK, MR. JEFFRIES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.  
JEFFRIES IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO  
MINUTES.
MR. JEFFRIES: GEORGE WASHINGTON 
IN HIS FARE WELL ADDRESS TO THE 
NATION COUNSELED -- FARE WE 
WILL ADDRESS TO THE NATION  
COUNSELED AMERICA THAT IT IS IN 
THAT SPIRIT WE PROCEED TODAY. 
DONALD TRUMP PRESSURED A  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO TARGET AN 
AMERICAN CITIZEN FOR POLITICAL  
GAIN AND AT THE SAME TIME 
WITHHELD WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION  
$391 MILLION IN MILITARY AID TO 
A VULNERABLE UKRAINE AS PART OF 
A SCHEME TO SOLICIT FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN AN AMERICAN 
ELECTION. 
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. 
THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. 
THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
THERE ARE SOME WHO CYNICALLY  
ARGUE THAT THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
THIS PRESIDENT WILL FURTHER 
DIVIDE AN ALREADY FRACTURED 
UNION, BUT THERE IS A 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIVISION AND 
CLARIFICATION.
SLAVERY ONCE DIVIDED THE  
NATION, BUT EMANCIPATORS ROSE 
UP TO CLARIFY THAT ALL MEN ARE  
CREATED EQUALLY.
SUFFRAGE ONCE DIVIDED THE 
NATION, BUT WOMEN ROSE UP TO  
CLARIFY THAT ALL VOICES MUST BE 
HEARD IN OUR DEMOCRACY. 
JIM CROW ONCE DIVIDED THE 
NATION, BUT CIVIL RIGHTS  
CHAMPIONS ROSE UP TO CLARIFY  
THAT ALL ARE ENTITLED TO EQUAL  
PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. 
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 
DIVISION AND CLARIFICATION. 
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS STUNNING  
ABUSE OF POWER. 
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNDERMINING OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY.
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR CORRUPTING OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
WE WILL IMPEACH DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP.
WE WILL CLARIFY THAT IN 
AMERICA, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE  
LAW.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
MCCLINTOCK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCCLINTOCK: MR. SPEAKER,  
NULLIFYING A NATIONAL ELECTION  
REQUIRES AN OVERWHELMING CASE 
OF HIGH CRIMES SUPPORTED BY 
INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE  
VAST MAJORITY OF THE NATION 
FINDS COMPELLING. 
NOW, ARTICLE 1 IS A MADE UP 
CRIME CALLED ABUSE OF OFFICE. 
IT DOES NOT CHARGE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT BROKE ANY LAW, BUT  
CONGRESS DOESN'T LIKE THE WAY 
HE LAWFULLY DISCHARGED HIS  
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES.
THIS WOULD REDUCE THE 
PRESIDENCY TO THAT OF A 
MINISTER SERVING AT THE 
PLEASURE OF CONGRESS, 
DESTROYING THE SEPARATION OF  
POWERS AT THE HEART OF OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
ARTICLE 2 IS ANOTHER MADE UP  
CRIME CALLED OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
IT MEANS THAT PRESIDENT SOUGHT  
TO DEFEND HIS CONSTITUTIONAL  
RIGHTS AND THOSE OF HIS OFFICE. 
IT REMOVES THE JUDICIARY FROM 
OUR CONSTITUTION AND PLACES 
CONGRESS ALONE IN THE POSITION  
OF DEFINING THE LIMITS OF ITS 
OWN POWERS RELATIVE TO THE  
PRESIDENT.
OUR BILL OF RIGHTS GUARANTEES 
EVERY AMERICAN THE RIGHT TO 
CONFRONT THEIR ACCUSER, TO CALL 
WITNESSES IN THEIR DEFENSE, TO  
BE PROTECTED FROM HEARSAY, AND  
TO DEFEND THESE RIGHTS IN 
COURT.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TRAMPLED 
THEM ALL IN THEIR STAMPEDE TO 
IMPEACH.
EVEN IF THIS KANGAROO COURT,  
THE DEMOCRATS HAND PICKED 
WITNESSES, PROVIDED NO  
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE THE 
PRESIDENT LEAKED AID TO ACTION. 
IN FACT, TWO WITNESSES PROVIDED 
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE THAT HE 
SPECIFICALLY ORDERED NO QUID  
PRO QUO.
.
ANY CASE THAT CHARGED NO ACTUAL 
CRIME AND OFFERED NO LEGALLY  
ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE WOULD BE  
LAUGHED OUT OF COURT IN A 
HEARTBEAT.
THAT'S THE CASE BEFORE US TODAY 
T WOULD REDEFINE THE GROUNDS  
FOR IMPEACHMENT IN SUCH A WAY 
THAT ASSURES IT WILL BECOME A 
CONSTANT PRESENCE IN OUR  
NATIONAL LIFE.
NOW WE KNOW JUST HOW RECKLESS 
AS THE DEMOCRATS CHANT OF 
RESIST BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
THIS IS A STUNNING ABUSE OF 
POWER AND A SHAMELESS TRAVESTY  
OF JUSTICE THAT WILL STAIN THE  
REPUTATIONS OF THOSE  
RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATIONS TO  
COME. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.  
NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: ABUSE OF POWER WAS  
NO VAGUE OR WEAK NOTION TO THE  
FRAMERS.
IT HAD A VERY SPECIFIC MEANING. 
THE USE OF OFFICIAL POWER TO  
OBTAIN IMPROPER PERSONAL  
BENEFIT WHILE IGNORING OR 
INJURING THE NATIONAL INTEREST. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED HIS  
OFFICE AND MUST BE REMOVED. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
TENNESSEE, MR. COHEN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. COHEN: THANK YOU. 
MR. SPEAKER, FROM OUR FOUNDING  
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A  
SPECIAL NATION. 
A CITY UPON A HILL. 
OUR VALUES ARE ENSHRINED IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND  
OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE SELF-GOVERNING PEOPLE  
WHERE EVERY PERSON IS EQUAL 
BEFORE THE LAW. 
IN THE UNITED STATES, WE DON'T  
HAVE A KING, WE CHOOSE OUR  
LEADERS.
WE VOTE.
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE 
FOUGHT AND SOME HAVE DIED TO  
SECURE THESE UNALIENABLE  
RIGHTS. 
THE CONSTITUTION BEGINS, WE THE 
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S US.
IT'S NOT WE THE LEADERS OF  
RUSSIA, UKRAINE, OR CHINA, OR 
WE THE DEMOCRATS OR WE THE  
REPUBLICANS.
IT'S WE THE PEOPLE OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
AND ALL AMERICANS.
AND ONLY AMERICANS GET TO HAVE  
A SAY IN OUR ELECTIONS. 
DONALD TRUMP USED THE HIGH  
POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY TO  
PRESSURE A FOREIGN NATION TO  
BESMIRCHED HIS PERCEIVED  
PRIMARY POLITICAL OPPONENT. 
HE CORRUPTED OUR ELECTIONS AND  
COMPROMISED OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY SO HE COULD KEEP 
POWER, NOT POWER FOR THE  
PEOPLE, POWER FOR HIM SEFMENT 
-- FOR HIMSELF. 
IN 2016 PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED  
FOR FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, 
RUSSIA, IF YOU ARE LISTENING. 
IN 2019 PRESIDENT TRUMP SOUGHT  
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE WHEN HE  
NEED ADD FAVOR FROM UKRAINE TO  
INTERVENE IN THE 2020 
ELECTIONS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ATTACKED AND  
CONTINUING THREAT TO OUR SYSTEM 
OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. 
LIKE ALL OF YOU, I TOOK AN OATH 
TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ABIDE 
BY THAT OATH AND STAND UP TO  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ABUSE OF  
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF  
CONGRESS. 
TO MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES  
OF THE AISLE, I APPEAL TO YOUR  
PATRIOTISM AND IMPLORE YOU TO 
DEFEND FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS  
AND PRESERVE THE CONSTITUTION.
GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME CAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN AND ALL MEMBERS 
ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I DO BELIEVE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT 
OUR ELECTIONS SHOULD BE FREE  
AND FAIR. 
DO I BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL MY 
HEART EXCEPT IT SEEMS LIKE IN 
THIS CHASE THIS IMPEACHMENT IS  
BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE  
SPEAKER WHO SAID LAST MONTH IT  
WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT  
TO THE VOTERS TO DETERMINE  
WHETHER MR. TRUMP STAYS IN  
OFFICE W THAT I YIELD A MINUTE  
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM LOUISIANA, MR. HIGGINS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HIGGINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I HAVE DESENDED INTO THE BELLY  
OF THE BEAST. 
I HAVE WITNESSED THE TERROR 
WITHIN. 
AND I RISE COMMITTED TO OPPOSE  
THE INSIDIOUS FORCES WHICH  
THREATEN OUR REPUBLIC.
AMERICA'S BEING SEVERELY  
INJURED BY THIS BETRAYAL, BY  
THIS UNJUST AND WEAPONIZED  
IMPEACHMENT, BROUGHT UPON US BY 
THE SAME SOCIALISTS WHO 
THREATEN UNBORN LIFE IN THE 
WOMB, WHO THREATEN FIRST  
AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF 
CONSERVATIVES, WHO THREATEN 
SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS OF 
EVERY AMERICAN PATRIOT, AND WHO 
HAVE LONG AGO DETERMINED THAT 
THEY WOULD ORGANIZE AND 
CONSPIRE TO OVERTHROW PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
WE DON'T FACE THIS HORROR 
BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALL  
OF A SUDDEN BECOME  
CONSTITUTIONALISTS, WE ARE NOT  
BEING DEVOURED FROM WITHIN  
BECAUSE OF SOME SURREAL 
ASSERTION OF THE SOCIALIST  
NEWFOUND LOVE FOR THE VERY FLAG 
THAT THEY TRY TROD UPON.
WE FACE THIS HORROR BECAUSE OF  
THIS MAP, THIS IS WHAT THE  
DEMOCRATS FEAR. 
THEY FEAR THE TRUE WILL OF WE 
THE PEOPLE. 
THEY ARE DEEP ESTABLISHED D.C.
THEY FEAR, THEY CALL THIS 
REPUBLICAN MAP FLYOVER COUNTRY. 
THEY CALL US DEPLORABLES. 
THEY FEAR OUR FAITH, THEY FEAR  
OUR STRENGTH, THEY FEAR OUR 
UNITY, THEY FEAR OUR VOTE, AND  
THEY FEAR OUR PRESIDENT.
WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR 
NATION TO CAREER ESTABLISHMENT  
D.C. POLITICIANS AND  
BUREAUCRATS.
OUR REPUBLIC SHALL SURVIVE THIS 
THREAT FROM WITHIN. 
AMERICAN PATRIOTS SHALL 
PREVAIL.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.  
NADLEMPLET MR. NADLER: MR.  
SPEAKER, I -- 
MR. NADLER. 
MR. NADLER: MR. SPEAKER, I  
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA, MR. JOHNSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
JOHNSON, IS RECOGNIZED. 
MR. JOHNSON: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I WAS NOT AMONG THOSE WHO 
SUPPORTED IMPEACHMENT BEFORE  
UKRAINE, BUT I CALLED FOR 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY BECAUSE OUR 
PRESIDENT IS, AS WE SPEAK,  
ABUSING HIS POWER AND PLACING 
HIMSELF ABOVE THE LAW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO  
SABOTAGE THE 2020 ELECTION IS A 
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER ON OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
WE THE PEOPLE KNOW THIS AND 
MORE AMERICANS SUPPORT  
IMPEACHMENT TODAY THAN AT ANY 
TIME SINCE RICHARD NIXON'S  
FINAL WEEKS IN OFFICE.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S WRONG TO  
ENLIST THE HELP OF FOREIGNERS 
IN INTERFERING IN OUR 
ELECTIONS.
WE KNOW IT'S WRONG TO CHEAT.
AND WE KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT OUR  
ELECTIONS WERE ATTACKED, OUR  
ELECTIONS ARE UNDER ATTACK  
RIGHT NOW.
THE VERY DAY THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE VOTED OUT ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP  
WELCOME RUDY GIULIANI BACK TO 
THE WHITE HOUSE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS STILL AT IT. 
HE'S DOUBLING DOWN. 
HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN WIN AN  
ELECTION FAIR AND SQUARE SO 
HE'S TRYING TO CHEAT. 
TO IGNORE THESE CRIMES IT'S NOT 
JUST GIVING THE PRESIDENT A 
PASS, IT'S GIVING HIM A GREEN 
LIGHT.
THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST ITCH 
PEACHMENT ARE NOT JUST EN-- 
IMPEACHMENT ARE NOT JUST  
ENDORSING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
PAST ACTIONS BUT FUTURE ONES AS 
WELL. 
IF YOU THINK I EXAGGERATE IN  
WARNING OUR ELECTIONS CAN BE  
UNDERMINED, I URGE YOU TO COME  
DOWN TO GEORGIA, FIND A BLACK 
MAN OR WOMAN OF A CERTAIN AGE,  
AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THE DANGER 
IS REAL.
AND THEY'LL TELL YOU OF BRAVE 
AMERICANS, PATRIOTS WILLING TO  
RISK FAR MORE THAN A POLITICAL  
CAREER WHO MARCHED AND  
STRUGGLED AND SOMETIMES DIED SO 
THAT WE COULD HAVE FAIR AND 
FREE ELECTIONS. 
WE ARE NOT ASKED TO POSSESS 
EVEN A FRACTION OF THEIR  
COURAGE.
WE ARE SIMPLY CALLED UPON TODAY 
TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. 
AND I'M PROUD TO VOTE YES ON  
IMPEACHMENT.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I'M GLAD THAT MY COLLEAGUE, 
MADAM SPEAKER, JUST MENTIONED 
GEORGIA, BECAUSE SINCE 2014 THE 
ACTUAL VOTER PARTICIPATION  
AMONG MINORITIES, FEMALE  
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, MALE, 
HISPANIC MALE AND FEMALE, HAVE  
RISEN DOUBLE DIGITS.
I'M PROUD WHAT GEORGIA IS DOING 
TO GET EVERYBODY TO THE POLL. 
I'M GLAD HE CHOSE TO HIGHLIGHT  
IT, HE HIGHLIGHTED IT IN THE  
WRONG WAY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO GENTLEMAN FROM  
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. MEUSER. 
MR. MEUSER: MADAM SPEAKER, BACK 
HOME PEOPLE REFER TO CAPITOL  
HILL AS A BUBBLE. 
THEY ARE RIGHT. 
IT'S AS IF WE ARE COMPLETELY  
DETACHED FROM WHAT'S GOING ON 
IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
MANY HERE DON'T HEAR OR LISTEN  
TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
AND MANY HERE AS WELL THINK 
THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THE 
PEOPLE WE SERVE.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BENEFITING  
GREATLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S  
AGENDA. 
BOOMING ECONOMY, SECURE BORDER, 
BETTER TRADE DEALS, STRONGER  
MILL TEAMPLET UNFORTUNATELY 
INSIDE THE HALLS OF CONGRESS  
DEMOCRATS OBSESSION WITH  
IMPEACHMENT IS ALL CONSUMING. 
IS THIS HOW DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP 
CHOOSES TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE 
OF AMERICA? 
BY NULLIFYING THE RESULTS OF  
THE 2016 ELECTION?
DISREGARDING THE WILL OF THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND DOING 
EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO  
PREVENT THE PRESIDENT AND THIS  
CONGRESS FROM DOING THE JOB WE  
ARE ELECTED TO DO?
AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING 
MONTHS OF UNFAIR POLITICALLY  
MOTIVATED IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS, DEMOCRATS HAVE 
DELIVERED TWO WEAK ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
ABUSE OF POWER? 
NOT ACCORDING TO THE UKRAINE. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY CONFIRMED  
MANY TIMES THERE WAS NO QUID  
PRO QUO, NO ACTION TAKEN, AND 
SIGNIFICANT MILITARY AID WAS  
DELIVERED WITHOUT ANYTHING IN 
RETURN. 
OF COURSE HIS WORDS HAVE BEEN 
CONVENIENTLY DISMISSED. 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS?
IS THIS THE NEW STANDARD? 
IF THIS IS THE NEW STANDARD,  
THEN EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE  
JIMMY CARTER AND EVERY  
PRESIDENT MOVING FORWARD WOULD  
AND WILL BE IMPEACHED.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE IN THE  
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES, BUT TODAY I AM 
DISTRAUGHT. 
TODAY DEMOCRATS WILL DISREGARD  
THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
AND VOTE TO IMPEACH THE DULY  
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WHICH WOULD BE EQUALLY 
TROUBLING IF THIS HAS ERODED IF 
NOT WIPED OUT THE TRUST THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE IN THE 
116TH CONGRESS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
MR. NADLER: PRESIDENT TRUMP 
SAID NO QUID PRO QUO ONLY AFTER 
THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNED OF THE  
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT AND 
AFTER THE "WASHINGTON POST" 
PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE  
PRESIDENT'S PRESSURE CAMPAIGN 
ON UKRAINE. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MS. BASS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MS. BASS: MADAM SPEAKER, THIS 
IS A SAD DAY IN U.S. HISTORY. 
WHEN WE HAVE TO VOTE ON 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE 
DONALD TRUMP HAS ABUSED THE 
POWER OF THE OFFICE OF THE  
PRESIDENCY IN HIS ATTEMPT TO  
CHEAT HIS WAY TO RE-ELECTION. 
THE FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED.
FACT ONE, THE PRESIDENT ABUSED  
THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE BY  
ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE DOWN THE  
PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY THAT HAS 
BEEN OUR ALLY.
TRUMP WANTED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY 
OF THE UKRAINE TO DIG UP, MAKE  
UP DIRT ON VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN 
BECAUSE HE SEES HIM AS THE  
BIGGEST THREAT TO HIS 
RE-ELECTION.
FACT TWO, TRUMP WANTED ZELENSKY 
TO GO BEFORE THE PRESS AND  
ANNOUNCE AN INVESTIGATION OF  
BIDEN.
HOPING THE MERE ANNOUNCEMENT  
WOULD CREATE DOUBT ABOUT BIDEN  
AND STRENGTHEN TRUMP'S HAND IN  
THE 2020 ELECTION.
FACT THREE, TRUMP OBSTRUCTED  
CONGRESS BY ENGAGING IN A 
COVER-UP. 
TRUMP HAS REFUSED TO COMPLY 
WITH CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS  
AND BLOCKED CURRENT AND PAST  
EMPLOYEES FROM TESTIFYING 
BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL  
COMMITTEES. 
CONGRESS IS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH 
OF GOVERNMENT AND ONE OF OUR  
CENTRAL RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO  
PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND 
INVESTIGATION OF THE  
ADMINISTRATION. 
THE VERY CHECKS AND BALANCES  
THE FRAMERS BUILT INTO THE  
CONSTITUTION SO NO ONE BRANCH 
WOULD HAVE UNCHECKED POWER. 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  
HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO VOTE AND 
PASS ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT  
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
ABUSED HIS POWER AND OBSTRUCTED 
THE ABILITY OF CONGRESS FROM  
PERFORMING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL 
DUTY. 
THE URGENCY TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IS 
BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON TO 
BELIEVE PRESIDENT TRUMP WON'T 
CONTINUE TO ABUSE THE POWER OF  
HIS OFFICE. 
NO REASON TO BELIEVE HE WON'T 
CONTINUE TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE 
SCALE OF HIS RE-ELECTION. 
IN FACT, HIS ATTORNEY JUST  
RETURNED FROM THE UKRAINE AND 
IN AN ARTICLE JUST RELEASED IN  
"THE NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE 
CONFESSES TO CONTINUING THE 
EFFORT TO INTERFERE IN THE  
ELECTION. 
IN MANY OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL  
DISTRICTS, WE WORRY ABOUT VOTER 
SUPPRESSION AND SCHEMES THAT  
PURGE LEGITIMATE VOTERS FROM  
PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION.
OR WE WORRY ABOUT RUSSIAN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTION. 
IT IS A SAD DAY IN AMERICA WHEN 
WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE  
COMMANDER IN CHIEF INTERFERING  
IN THE ELECTION IN ORDER TO BE  
RE-ELECTED. 
ELECTIONS SHOULD BE DECIDED BY  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I WILL VOTE FOR BOTH ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY  
THAT FULFILL MY OATH OF OFFICE. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THEA.
UTAH. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. STEWART: I DISCOVERED 
RECENTLY THAT'S SHOCKING, I 
KNOW. 
BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SOME  
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
THEY THINK HE'S LOUD. 
THEY THINK HE CAN BE ARROGANT.
THEY THINK SOMETIMES HE SAYS  
BAD WORDS.
AND SOMETIMES HE'S RUDE TO  
PEOPLE. 
TO THEIR SENSITIVE NATURES, 
THEY HAVE BEEN OFFENDED.
I GET THAT. 
I REALLY DO.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS VOTE,  
THIS DAY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 
UKRAINE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ABUSE 
OF POWER. 
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
IF VOTE, THIS DAY IS ABOUT ONE  
THING AND ONE THING ONLY. 
THEY HATE THIS PRESIDENT. 
THEY HATE THOSE OF US WHO VOTED 
FOR HIM.
THEY THINK WE ARE STUPID. 
THEY THINK WE MADE A MISTAKE. 
THEY THINK HILLARY CLINTON  
SHOULD BE THE PRESIDENT AND 
THEY WANT TO FIX THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS VOTE IS ABOUT. 
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY VOTE  
AND THROW IT IN THE TRASH.
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY 
PRESIDENT AND DELEGITIMATIZE  
HIM SO CAN HE NOT BE  
RE-ELECTED. 
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
FOR THOSE WHO THINK THIS  
STARTED WITH THIS 
INVESTIGATION, WHAT NONSENSE. 
IS YOU HAVE -- YOU HAVE BEEN  
TRYING TO IMPEACH THIS  
PRESIDENT SINCE BEFORE HE WAS 
SWORN INTO OFFICE.
SOME OF YOU INTRODUCED ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT BEFORE HE WAS  
SWORN INTO OFFICE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU ARE  
APPROACHING PRAYERFULLY AND 
MOURNFULLY AND SADLY. 
OH, THE CHAOS, THE SADNESS. 
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE 
GLEEFUL ABOUT.
YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT 
FOR THREE YEARS.
AND IT'S VERY CLEAR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND 
GOOGLE VERY MUCH TO FIND OUT  
THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. 
I COULD GIVE YOU PAGES OF 
EXAMPLES OF THINGS YOU HAVE 
SAID FOR THREE YEARS ABOUT THIS 
PRESIDENT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IF YOU THINK -- IF THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IS SUCCESSFUL, THE  
NEXT PRESIDENT, I PROMISE YOU 
WILL BE IMPEACHED.
AND THE NEXT PRESIDENT AFTER  
THAT. 
IF YOU SET THIS BAR AS BEING  
IMPEACHABLE, EVERY PRESIDENT IN 
OUR FUTURE WILL BE IMPEACHED. 
IT ERODES OUR REPUBLIC IN WAYS  
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS  
RECOGNIZED. 
THEY GOT IT RIGHT.
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
OTHER THAN THAT -- I LOOK 
FORWARD TO THAT DAY.
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
JIMPLETE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED 
TO DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE 
CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I WOULD REMIND THE  
GENTLEMAN IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 
IMPEACHED AND REMOVED, THE NEW  
PRESIDENT WOULD BE MIKE PENCE 
NOT HILLARY CLINTON.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM 
FLORIDA, -- 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: SORRY  
THE GENTLEMAN YIELD TWO 
MINUTES?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
>> MADAM SPEAKER,DY NOT HAVE  
THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING FOREIGN  
INTO THIS COUNTRY.
MY MOUNTAINEER BROUGHT ME FROM  
ECUADOR LOOKING FOR FREEDOM AND 
OPPORTUNITY, BUT THAT'S NOT MY  
SORRY ALONE.
MS. MUCARSEL-POWELL: THIS IS A  
STORY WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT  
LIVE IN FLORIDA'S 26TH DISTRICT 
AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. 
WE HAVE LEFT AN EXPERIENCED 
CORRUPTION OF OUR COUNTRIES OF  
BIRTH WHERE BRUTAL  
DICTATORSHIPS HAVE CHOKED THEIR 
POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT THOSE IN 
POWER.
THIS PRESIDENT-ELECTED BY THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAS VIOLATED  
HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND VIOLATED 
THE RULE OF LAW.
THE EV 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING  
THAT HE WITHHELD MILITARY AID 
APPROVED BY COVERAGE AND  
LEVERAGED A WHITE HOUSE MEETING 
TO EXTRACT A POLITICAL FAVOR  
FROM A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
THE PRESIDENT ACTIVELY SOUGHT 
FOREIGN ELECTION INTERFERENCE 
TO BENEFIT HIMSELF. 
IT IS UNDENIABLE THAT HE HAS  
ABUSED HIS POWER AND OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS. 
HE PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT 
DANGER TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
AS AN IMMIGRANT, I STILL GET  
CHILLS BECAUSE I FEEL SO  
FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THIS 
EXTRAORDINARY COUNTRY.
THE GENIUS OF AMERICAN  
DEMOCRACY LIES IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THE DEDICATION 
TO THE RULE OF LAW. 
I WANT MY CHILDREN AND ALL OF 
OUR CHILDREN TO FEEL THE SAME 
WAY WHEN THEY GROW UP.
HOWEVER, IF WE SIT IDLY BY AS 
CRACKS BEGIN TO APPEAR IN OUR 
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, OUR  
CHILDREN WILL BE IN THE SAME  
SITUATION LIKE SO MANY OF US  
EXPERIENCED WHEN WE LEFT  
COUNTRIES WHOSE LEADERS 
DESTROYED DEMOCRACY.
WE IN CONGRESS MUST ABIDE BY  
OUR OATH TO DEFEND OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
THAT IS MY DUTY AS A MEMBER OF  
THIS BODY.
THAT IS MY DUTY AS A FATHER.
I YIELD BACK -- THAT IS MY DUTY 
AS A MOTHER.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM NEW YORK, MR. KING.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. KING: THANK YOU FOR 
YIELDING. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN  
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AS CHAIRMAN NADLER MUST RECALL, 
EXACTLY 21 YEARS AGO TODAY, I 
SPOKE ON THIS FLOOR IN  
OPPOSITION TO THE IMPEACHMENT 
OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. 
AND 21 YEARS AGO TOMORROW I 
VOTED AGAINST ALL FOUR OF 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT CLINTON.
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE AN  
ASSAULT ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT FOR A  
PHONE CALL FOR WHICH NO CRIME 
IS CHARGED, INFER MIND A HIGH 
CRIME, AND ASSERTING HIS  
CONSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVES OF  
PRESIDENT IS A CLEAR ABUSE OF 
POWER BY THE CONGRESS.
IT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT 
OF WEAPONIZING IMPEACHMENT TO 
UNDO THE SOLEMN DECISION OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MADAM SPEAKER, PRESIDENT TRUMP  
AND I GREW UP IN THE SAME 
BOROUGH OF NEW YORK CITY, AND 
TODAY I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH  
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND URGE A NO 
VOTE ON THESE HORRIBLE ACTS OF  
IMPEACHMENT, THESE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME AND STRONGLY URGE A NO 
VOTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD 2 1/2 MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. 
LOFGREN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 2 
1/2 MINUTES.
-- THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES.
MS. LOFGREN: WHEN THE PRESIDENT 
ABUSES HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWER 
TO UP-END THE CONSTITUTIONAL  
ORDER, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO 
LIVE UP TO OUR OATH OF OFFICE.
WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH 
DIRECT EVIDENCE ABOUT THE 
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS.
THEY THREATEN OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND UNDERMINED THE 
INTEGRITY OF THE NEXT ELECTION. 
WE NOW VOTE ON ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT FOR ABUSE OF POWER  
AND CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS AS A 
RESULT OF THAT EVIDENCE.
I'VE WORKED ON PRESIDENTIAL 
IMPEACHMENTS AS PART OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TWICE 
BEFORE. 
THIS THIRD TIME BRINGS ME NO  
JOY.
PRESIDENT NIXON ATTEMPTED TO  
CORRUPT ELECTIONS.
HIS AGENTS BROKE INTO THE 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS 
TO GET A LEG UP ON THE ELECTION 
AND THEN, JUST LIKE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP, HE TRIED TO COVER IT UP. 
THEN HE RESIGNED. 
THIS IS EVEN WORSE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT ONLY ABUSED 
HIS POWER TO HELP HIS 
RE-ELECTION, HE USED A FOREIGN  
GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.
HE USED MILITARY AID PROVIDED 
TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS AS  
LEVERAGE SOLELY TO BENEFIT HIS  
OWN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. 
GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD BE  
ASTONISHED SINCE HE WARNED  
AGAINST THE INSIDIOUS WILES OF  
FOREIGN INFLUENCE.
THE DIRECT EVIDENCE IS DAMNING. 
THE PRESIDENT HASN'T OFFERED  
ANY EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. 
THESE ACTIONS CONSTITUTE  
GROUNDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL  
IMPEACHMENT.
WHAT IS BEFORE US IS A SERIOUS  
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION  
OF CONGRESS.
THESE ABUSES STRIKE AT THE  
HEART OF OUR CONSTITUTION.
THE PRESIDENT'S 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF 
POWER, A HIGH CRIME AND 
MISDEMEANOR, IS ONGOING.
HE TOTALLY REFUSED TO PROVIDE 
ANY INFORMATION TO CONGRESS 
RELATED TO THE IMPEACHMENT  
INQUIRY.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE  
THE TOOL OUR FOUNDERS GAVE US 
IN THE CONSTITUTION TO PRESERVE 
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER. 
WE MUST IMPEACH, AND I YIELD  
BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MR.  
ROUZER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. ROUZER: MADAM SPEAKER, "THE 
WASHINGTON POST" HAD A HEADLINE 
AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK  
OFFICE, THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEGUN.
HOW ACCURATE THEY WERE. 
HERE WE ARE ALMOST THREE YEARS  
LATER AND WHAT WE ARE 
WITNESSING TODAY IS 
UNPRECEDENTED IN AMERICAN 
HISTORY, A VERY PARTISAN BASE 
OF IMPEACHMENT WITH NO FACTS TO 
WARRANT IT. 
THIS IS SPECULATION ROOTED IN A 
DEEP SEEDED HATRED FOR A MAN  
THAT MANY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF  
THE AISLE DETEST, NOT ALL BUT 
MANY. 
NO ONE DOES IT SAY THAT 
PERSONAL DISDAIN IS GROUNDS FOR 
IMPEACHMENT.
MANY OF THE CLAIMS BY THE 
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TURNED  
OUT TO BE FALSE.
RUSSIAN COLLUSION, THERE WAS  
NONE. 
WE WERE TOLD THAT THE F.B.I.  
DID NOT ABUSE THE FISA PROCESS  
IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
TRUMP CAMPAIGN. 
THAT, TOO, HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE 
COMPLETELY FALSE. 
THEN, WHEN THE RUSSIAN  
COLLUSION HOAX COLLAPSED, WE  
WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD HEAR  
FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER THAT HAD 
DETAILS OF A NEFARIOUS CALL 
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE 
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE. 
THEN WE FOUND OUT THEY WEREN'T  
EVEN ON THE CALL, AND WE STILL  
DON'T KNOW WHO THE  
WHISTLEBLOWER IS. 
WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS CLEAR  
EVIDENCE OF A QUID PRO QUO FOR  
PERSONAL GAIN.
AFTER READING THE TRANSCRIPT  
YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE  
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WOULD NOT  
STAND UP IN TRAFFIC COURT TO  
COME TO THAT CONCLUSION.
INSTEAD, THE INDUCE PUTEABLE  
FACTS DID NOT HAVE A CASE.
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
ONLY MAKE VAGUE ACCUSATIONS OF  
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION  
OF CONGRESS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T 
FIND TREASON OR BRIBERY OR  
ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MR. ROUZER: TODAY IS A VERY SAD 
DAY FOR OUR REPUBLIC. 
THE COUNTRY IS NOW DIVIDED. 
THE COUNTRY IS MORE DIVIDED 
THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN IN MY 
LIFETIME. 
THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TRAMPLED BY  
THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND BECAUSE OF THE ABUSES AT  
THE F.B.I. AND DEPARTMENT OF  
JUSTICE, MORE AMERICANS HAVE AN 
EVEN DIMMER VIEW OF VERY  
IMPORTANT AMERICAN  
INSTITUTIONS. 
THANKFULLY THE LENS OF HISTORY  
WILL ENSURE THE TRUTH IS TOLD 
AND WILL ENDURE.
CLOUDY -- 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
MR. NADLER: A PRESIDENT TO  
CORRUPT OUR ELECTIONS WHO WOULD 
ABUSE THE GREAT POWERS OF HIS 
OFFICE TO ENSURE HIS OWN  
RE-ELECTION, THE IMPEACHMENT  
INQUIRY IS NOT AN EFFORT TO 
OVERTURN AN ELECTION. 
IT IS A REAFFIRMATION OF THE  
SIMPLE TRUTH THAT IN THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA, NO PERSON, 
NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT, IS  
ABOVE THE LAW AND OUR DEMOCRACY 
CANNOT ALLOW A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT TO ABUSE THE POWER OF 
HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL AND 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
AND I NOW YIELD 2 1/2 MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM IT --  
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, MS.  
JACKSON LEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 2  
1/2 MINUTES.
MS. JACKSON LEE: I HATE NO  
WOMAN OR MAN. 
TODAY, THE MARN PEOPLE SHOULD 
RECEIVE CLARITY AND -- THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD RECEIVE  
CLARITY AND TRUTH.
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE HIGHEST 
LAW OF THE LAND.
THE PRESIDENT BREACHED AND  
VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION OF  
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED 
CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMES.
THE PRESIDENT'S CRIMES ARE  
IMPEACHABLE.
JOHN F. KENNEDY SAID IF THIS  
COUNTRY SHOULD EVER REACH THE 
POINT WHERE ANY MAN OR GROUP OF 
MAN BY THREAT OR THREAT OF  
FORCE, THEN NO LAW WOULD STAND  
FREE FROM DOUBT AND NO CITIZEN  
WILL BE SAFE FROM HIS 
NEIGHBORS.
THE FACTS ARE UNDISPUTED. 
FIRST, PRESIDENT TRUMP VIOLATED 
HIS OATH OF OFFICE BY PLACING 
HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL  
INTERESTS ABOVE THE NATIONAL  
INTERESTS BY SCHEMING TO COERCE 
UKRAINE INTO INVESTIGATING A  
POTENTIAL ELECTION OPPONENT.
SECOND, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
BETRAYED THE NATION BY  
WITHHOLDING THE CONNELLY AGREED 
$391 -- CONGRESSIONALLY AGREED  
$391 TO A FRAGILE ALLY AGAINST  
A VERY STRONG FOE, RUSSIA.
THIRD, THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF 
THE SCHEME CONCOCTED BY THE 
PRESIDENT WAS TO ENLIST A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY TO HELP IN THE  
2020 ELECTION.
THESE ACTS ARE CONSTITUTIONAL 
CRIMES AND ABUSE OF POWER.
THE TRUTH IS, THE PRESIDENT DID 
ASK FOR A FAVOR.
THOSE WERE HIS OWN WORDS. 
IN THE JULY 25 CALL, NO MENTION 
OF CORRUPTION.
ONLY THE MENTION OF THE BIDENS. 
THE PRESIDENT WAS ENGAGED IN  
WRONGDOING AND IT'S A CLEAR AND 
PRESENT DANGER. 
HE HAS A PATTERN, AND HIS 
BEHAVIOR REMAINS A CONTINUING 
THREAT TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL  
SECURITY. 
THE TRUTH IS THAT ABUSE OF  
POWER DOES VIOLATE THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
WHILE BOTH CORRUPTING AND 
CHEATING OUR AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY.
HIS ACTS BETRAY THE NATION. 
HE MUST TAKE CARE TO EXECUTE  
LAWS FAITHFULLY.
THIS IS THE TRUTH.
WHY DOES THE TRUTH MATTER?
BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO THE 
FARMER AT HIS OR HER PLOW.
IT MATTERS TO THE WAITRESS ON 
AN EARLY MORNING SHIFT. 
IT MATTERS TO THE STEELWORKER 
BUILDING AMERICA. 
IT MATTERS TO THE TEACHER IN A  
FIFTH GRADE CLASS.
IT MATTERS TO A MOTHER KISSING  
OFF HER MILITARY RECRUIT GOING  
OFF TO WAR. 
THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE  
PRESERVED.
OUR LAWS MUST BE RESPECTED. 
THE BLOODSHED AND SACRIFICE OF  
FELLOW AMERICANS CANNOT BE  
IGNORED, TRAMPLED ON OR 
REJECTED, AND TODAY OUR ACTIONS 
ON THE VOTE TAKEN TODAY MUST BE 
FOR NO PERSONAL GAIN OR 
GRANDER.
THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY HAS  
BEEN DIMMED BECAUSE OF HIS  
ACTS. 
THE TRUTH IS NO LONGER FOR ALL. 
IT IS FOR ONE MAN, DONALD J.  
TRUMP.
HIS TRUTH, HIS WAY, WE MUST 
REJECT THAT ABUSE OF POWER  
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AMERICA.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON SAID 
IMPEACHMENT WAS DESIGNED TO 
DEAL WITH THE CONDUCT --  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MS. JACKSON LEE: AND VIOLATION  
OF PUBLIC TRUST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MS. JACKSON LEE: HE HAS 
VIOLATED THE TRUST. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WHO  
SEEKS RECOGNITION?
MS. JACKSON LEE: WE MUST  
IMPEACH DONALD J. TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: IT'S MY PLEASURE 
TO YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN,  
MR. MITCHELL. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. MITCHELL: TODAY, THE HOUSE  
OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES ON TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
MEMBERS AND ALL AMERICANS MUST  
RECOGNIZE THAT IMPEACHMENT WAS  
INTENDED TO BE A SAFETY VALVE,  
RARELY USED, ONLY WHEN A  
PRESIDENT ACTS IN SUCH AN 
IMMORAL AND BLATANTLY UNLAWFUL  
MANNER AS IT THREATENS THE VERY 
BASE OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
AS WE CAST VOTES ON THESE 
ARTICLES, THE FUTURE TONE OF  
THIS HOUSE AND POLITICS IN THIS 
NATION MUST BE CAREFULLY  
CONSIDERED. 
THIS IS NOT WHETHER WE AGREE  
WITH OR LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S  
RHETORIC, POLITICAL TACTICS,  
USE OF TWITTER, POLICY CHOICES  
OR HIS POLITICAL RALLIES. 
ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, ALEXANDER  
HAMILTON, WARNED THAT THE RISKS 
OF BECOMING -- IMPEACHMENT  
BECOMING A SOLELY PARTISAN ACT  
IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND  
THESE ARTICLES CLEARLY DO NOT 
HEED THAT WARNING.
THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE 
WEAPONIZING IMPEACHMENT, MAKING 
IT ANOTHER ELECTION TOOL. 
I CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE  
EVIDENCE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT 
THE INQUIRY, AND CONTRARY TO  
SOME, CONSIDERED OUR HISTORY, 
OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, AND OUR 
FUTURE. 
IT IS CLEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
ACTIONS AS DESCRIBED IN THESE 
ARTICLES DO NOT CONSTITUTE  
TREASON, BRIBERY, OR HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
YOU SIMPLY DON'T LIKE HIM.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THESE  
ARTICLES AND WILL HOPE SOMEDAY  
WE RETURN TO SERVING THE NEEDS  
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MR. 
RICHMOND. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. RICHMOND: MADAM SPEAKER,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ON JANUARY 20,  
2017, RAISED HIS HAND AND SWORE 
TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
NOW, WE MUST PRESERVE, PROTECT, 
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION 
FROM HIM. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY NOT 
TO DISPARAGE AND EMBARRASS THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
BUT TO DEFEND OUR PRECIOUS  
DEMOCRACY.
I SPEAK TODAY, NOT BECAUSE I  
HATE THIS PRESIDENT, BUT  
BECAUSE I LOVE THIS BODY, THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
I HAVE HEARD REPUBLICANS SAY, 
WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO JUDGMENT? 
THIS IS NOT A RUSH TO JUDGMENT. 
IT'S A RUSH TO JUSTICE, AND WE  
MUST NOT DELAY. 
CORRUPTION IS CORROSIVE.
IT EATS AWAY LIKE ACID, AND THE 
LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE TIME 
WE ALLOW FOR THIS PRESIDENT TO  
DO IRREPARABLE HARM TO OUR  
COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY.
JUST LAST WEEK, RUDY GIULIANI 
WAS BACK AT IT IN UKRAINE.
SO PLEASE DON'T TELL US TO  
WAIT, BECAUSE THE CORRUPTION  
CONTINUES.
.
THERE IS A FAMOUS QUOTE THAT  
SAYS POLITICIANS WORRY ABOUT  
THE NEXT ELECTION.
STATESMEN WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT  
GENERATION. 
TODAY CALLS UPON US TO BE 
STATESMEN AND STATESWOMEN.
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, AND 
INDEPENDENT.
OUR ELECTION IS UNDER ATTACK  
FROM WITHIN.
SO TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, 
MANY OF WHOM SPEND A LIFETIME 
TRYING TO BUILD A REPUTATION OF 
HONESTY AND COURAGE, I BEG YOU  
DON'T THROW THAT AWAY FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
HE DOESN'T DESERVE IT, NOR WILL 
HE APPRECIATE IT PAST THE NEXT  
TWEET OR NEXT WEEK. 
MY FEAR, MY PREDICTION IS THAT  
HIS ACTIONS WILL CONTINUE.
MADAM SPEAKER, DONALD TRUMP 
RECENTLY SAID, I CAN DO 
ANYTHING I WANT.
HE ALSO BRAGGED THAT HE COULD 
SHOOT SOMEONE ON FIFTH AVENUE 
AND GET AWAY WITH IT. 
WELL, HE'S SHOOTING HOLES IN  
OUR CONSTITUTION ON 
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
AND OUR HOUSE, THE PEOPLE'S 
HOUSE, MUST DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION FROM A DOMESTIC  
ENEMY TO THE RULE OF LAW, 
DONALD TRUMP. 
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT  
GENERATIONS TO COME TO BLAME ME 
FOR LETTING OUR DEMOCRACY DIE,  
I THEREFORE RISE IN FAVOR OF  
IMPEACHING DONALD TRUMP.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS POINT I YIELD A MINUTE  
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM MISSOURI, MR. LUETKEMEYER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. LUETKEMEYER: I RISE IN  
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS 
CHARADE.
IF THERE IS WAS EVER ANY DOUBT  
THIS ENTIRE ILLEGITIMATE  
INVESTIGATION IS 100% 
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, EARLIER  
THIS MONTH SPEAKER PELOSI 
ADMITTED THE IMPEACHMENT  
PROCESS BEGAN 2 1/2 YEARS AGO.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, THE  
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID 
PUBLICLY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
BEEN TRYING TO REMOVE OUR 
PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE SINCE THE 
DAY HE GOT ELECTED SIMPLY 
BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE OUTCOME  
THEY WANTED.
ANOTHER OF MY DEMOCRAT  
COLLEAGUES PUBLICLY ADMITTED IN 
MAY THAT THE DRIVING FORCE  
BEHIND THEIR ACTIONS WAS, I 
QUOTE, IF WE DON'T IMPEACH THE  
PRESIDENT HE'LL GET RE-ELECTED. 
THIS WASN'T AN INVESTIGATION, 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS WAS A 
POLITICAL CRUSADE N ORDER TO  
ARRIVE AT THEIR PREDETERMINED 
CONCLUSION, HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS 
STAGING WELL REHEARSED HEARINGS 
WHERE THE CHARGES WERE DRAWN UP 
BY THEIR OWN FOCUS GROUPS.
DEMOCRAT DONORS SERVED AS 
WITNESSES, AND DEMOCRAT STAFF 
SERVED AS JUDGE AND JURY. 
EVEN WITH THE ODDS STACKED  
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, THE  
DEMOCRATS CAME UP WITH  
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. 
A WHILE AGO THE SPEAKER SPOKE 
OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THE LAST PHRASE OF THE PLEDGE 
IS, JUSTICE FOR ALL.
JUSTICE IS NOT SOMETHING  
AFFORDED THE PRESIDENT DURING 
THE INVESTIGATION.
HE WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS.
SOMETHING SUPREME COURT SAID  
SHOULD BE AFFORDED IN ALL 
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
THAT MAKES THIS PROCESS ILLEGAL 
AND ILLEGITIMATE. 
WHAT A SHAME, WHAT A SHAM.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK MR. 
COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, MS.  
GARCIA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MS. GARCIA: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
DIDN'T COME TO CONGRESS TO  
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.
EVEN WHEN HE SEPARATED BABIES 
FROM THEIR PARENTS AT THE 
BORDER. 
EVEN WHEN HE TOOK MONEY FROM  
OUR TROOPS TO BUILD HIS WALL. 
NO, I DIDN'T CALL FOR 
IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE I'M HERE TO 
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES  
OF MY CONSTITUENTS. 
YET, HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE  
OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. 
AS A FORMER JUDGE, I TOOK MY  
RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY TO 
WEIGH THE EVIDENCE AND  
DETERMINE IF THE PRESIDENT'S  
ACTIONS WERE IMPEACHABLE. 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE EVIDENCE IN  
THE INTELLIGENCE AND JUDICIARY  
REPORTS LEAVES US WITH NO 
CHOICE BUT TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT.
SO I STAND ON MY OATH THAT I  
HAVE SWORN TO THE CONSTITUTION  
AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
AND TODAY I URGE MY COLLEAGUES  
TO STAND BY THEIR OATHS, TOO. 
THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION 
INCLUDED IMPEACHMENT AS A 
SAFEGUARD AGAINST A CORRUPT 
PRESIDENT WHOSE MISCONDUCT  
COULD DESTROY THE VERY  
FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY. 
DONALD J. TRUMP ABUSED HIS  
POWER WHEN HE OBSTRUCTED  
CONGRESS AND ORDERED GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS NOT TO APPEAR BEFORE  
US. 
DONALD J. TRUMP CORRUPTED OUR 
ELECTION WHEN HE ASKED A  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE 
FOR HIS PERSONAL AND POLITICAL  
GAIN. 
TODAY, SADLY, I ASK MY  
COLLEAGUES, WILL YOU PUT YOUR 
PARTY OVER OUR COUNTRY? 
OR WILL YOU HELP SAVE OUR 
DEMOCRACY AND VOTE YES ON THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BEFORE  
YOU?
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I DO HAVE AN INQUIRY AS TO THE  
TIME REMAINING FOR BOTH SIDES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS TWO  
HOURS, 22 1/2 MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS 
TWO HOURS AND 27 1/2 MINUTES  
LEFT. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS POINT IT IS MY -- I 
YIELD NOW A MINUTE AND A HALF 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA, MR. 
KING. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. KING: THANK YOU MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING. 
I START OUT FIRST THAT THIS IS  
THE LARGEST AND MOST MASSIVE  
COVER-UP OF SUCH A LIST OF  
CRIMES AGAINST OUR COUNTRY. 
TO GO SO FAR AS TO BRING  
IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS TO COVER 
ALL THIS UP.
I WOULD TAKE YOU BACK TO  
OCTOBER OF 2015 WHEN BARACK 
OBAMA SAID, HILLARY CLINTON 
WOULD NEVER INTEND TO 
JEOPARDIZE OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
AGAIN, THE FOLLOWING APRIL THE  
NEXT MONTH, PETER STRZOK WROTE  
THE STATEMENT THAT WAS  
DELIVERED BY JAMES COMEY, AND 
THEY SPENT DEMOCRAT MONEY AND 
HILLARY CLINTON MONEY IN RUSSIA 
TO PICK UP DIRT ON DONALD 
TRUMP.
THEN JOE BIDEN GOES TO UKRAINE  
AND MAKES A STATEMENT, HERE'S A 
BILLION DOLLARS BUT YOU MUST DO 
WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
YOU ARE ACCUSING DONALD TRUMP 
OF DOING THAT WHICH JOE BIDEN 
HAS CONFESSED TO DOING. 
BY THE WAY, JOE BIDEN WAS NOT 
THE OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP. 
HE'S IN A 21-WAY PRIMARY, 
RUNNING THIRD IN THAT RACE. 
HIS OPPONENTS ARE THE OTHER 20  
DEMOCRATS.
HOW WOULD ANYBODY DIG INTO THAT 
MESS OF 21 PEOPLE AND DECIDE  
HE'S GOING TO GO OVERSEAS AND 
PULL SOMEONE -- YOU HAVE TO 
ASSIGN HIM A MOWIVE.
YOU ASSIGN HIM A MOWIVE THEN  
YOU CREATE THE DOTS AND GO DOT  
TO DOT. 
BUT THE REALITY IS IT WAS BIDEN 
THAT WAS DOING THE EXTORTION OF 
THE POWER PLAY IN ORDER TO  
PROTECT HIS OWN SON.
IT WAS DONALD TRUMP THAT WAS  
FOLLOWING THE LAW THAT SAID YOU 
HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS  
NOT CORRUPTION HERE BEFORE THIS 
MONEY IS HANDED OVER. 
BY THE WAY, THERE WAS A VIOLENT 
WAR GOING ON IN UKRAINE AND 
THAT'S WHEN WE SENT BLANKETS  
AND M.R.E.'S OVER THERE.
WHEN I HEAR THIS FROM THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
JOHNSON, HE DOESN'T THINK HE  
CAN WIN THE ELECTION FAIR AND 
SQUARE SO HE WILL -- WOULD  
CHEAT.
I HEARD THAT HERE ON THIS 
FLOOR.
NO, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
YOUR NUMBER ONE PROPONENT OF  
IMPEACHMENT, IS AL GREEN OF 
TEXAS, HE SAID THOSE VERY SAME  
THINGS AND THEY BROUGHT THIS  
CASE NOVEMBER 9 THE DAY AFTER 
TRUMP WAS ELECTED.
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLELADY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, 
MS. DEAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MS. DEAN: MADAM SPEAKER, WORDS  
MATTER. 
WE HAVE HEARD MANY WORDS OVER 
THE COURSE OF THESE LAST WEEKS. 
STILL WHAT STRIKES ME ARE THE 
WORDS THAT ARE MISSING FROM MY  
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE.
A GAPING HOLE IN THIS 
CONVERSATION. 
THE WORDS THEY CANNOT OR WILL 
NOT MOUTH.
DEFENDING A PRESIDENT'S 
CONDUCT.
CONDUCT THAT THREATENS OUR  
CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER. 
AND SO, SPEAKER, I ASK WHEN IS  
IT EVER RIGHT FOR A PRESIDENT 
TO COERCE A FOREIGN POWER TO  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS? 
WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO INTIMIDATE A 
FOREIGN LEADER INTO ANNOUNCING  
FALSE INVESTIGATIONS INTO A 
POLITICAL RIVAL?
WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR THAT  
PRESIDENT TO WITHHOLD 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED  
AID TO THAT COUNTRY AT THE  
EXPENSE OF ITS NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND OUR VERY OWN?
AND WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO BLOCK A CO-EQUAL 
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FROM 
INVESTIGATING THE SCHEME TO 
CHEAT AN ELECTION?
THE ANSWER OF COURSE IS NEVER.
BUT THAT WORD DOES NOT COME 
TRIPPINGLY FROM THE TONGUES OF  
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THE CHOICE 
TO STAND BEHIND A MAN WHOSE 
BEHAVIOR IS NOT WORTHY OF YOUR  
TORTURED WORDS. 
BY OUR VOTE TODAY WE ARE  
SPEAKING TO FUTURE PRESIDENTS 
AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. 
WE ARE DECLARING THAT WE WILL 
NOT TOLERATE FOREIGN  
INTERFERENCE IN OUR 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 
AMERICANS ALONE WILL DETERMINE  
THE OUTCOME.
WE WILL NOT PERMIT A PRESIDENT  
TO ORDER THE COMPLETE DEFIANCE  
OF A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT. 
AND IN THE END, REGARDLESS OF 
THE OUTCOME OF THIS 
IMPEACHMENT, THE PRESIDENT'S  
TENURE WILL END.
AND THIS BODY AND OUR 
GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE LEFT WITH 
WHAT WE DID HERE TODAY. 
OURS IS A SOMBER GENERATIONAL 
DUTY ABOUT LOVE OF COUNTRY AND  
LIFTING A CONSTITUTION TO ITS 
GRAVEST PROTECTIONS, BUT IT'S 
HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS.
OUR DEMOCRACY IS A MATTER OF  
CONSCIENCE. 
BY VOTING TO SAFEGUARD OUR  
CONSTITUTION, MINE IS CLEAR.
I THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AS I'M REMEANED MANY TIMES WE 
TO THE THE SHAM PROCESS AND 
FOLLOW THE FACTS AND ONE VOTE.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT 
ELECTIONS, REMEMBER IT WAS THE  
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHO SAID 
WE CAN'T TRUST THE VOTERS --  
TOO DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT TO  
THE VOTERS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP  
NEXT YEAR.
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM ARIZONA  
AS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MRS. LESKO: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
AS YOU-ALL KNOW I SERVE ON BOTH 
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND 
RULES COMMITTEE AND I HAVE  
LITERALLY SPENT HOURS, HOURS  
PORING OVER TESTIMONY, LOOKING  
AT DOCUMENTS, SITTING IN  
HEARINGS. 
YOU KNOW THE CONCLUSION I GOT 
FROM ALL OF THAT? 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A TOTAL 
JOKE AND A TOTAL SHAM.
LET ME TELL YOU ONE OF THE  
REASONS WHY I THINK THAT. 
ALL OF THOSE WITNESSES, THE 17  
WITNESSES THAT THE DEMOCRATS  
BROUGHT FORWARD, NOT ONE SINGLE 
ONE OF THEM WAS ABLE TO 
ESTABLISH THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP  
COMMITTED BRIBERY, TREASON, 
HIGH CRIMES, OR MISDEMEANORS. 
WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THE U.S. 
CONSTITUTION. 
AND AGAIN, 17 OUT OF 24 
DEMOCRAT MEMBERS ON JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE VOTED ON THIS FLOOR 
TO MOVE FORWARD ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT BEFORE THE PHONE  
CALL. 
AND FIVE OUT OF NINE RULE 
COMMITTEE DEMOCRAT MEMBERS DID  
THE SAME THING. 
SO IF THE MAIN PART OF YOUR 
IMPEACHMENT IS THE CALL, WHY  
DID YOU VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT  
PRIOR TO THE CALL?
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC AND OTHERS THAT 
FOR TWO YEARS ADAM SCHIFF 
CLAIMED HE HAD PROOF, PROOF 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD  
COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA. 
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE.
AND THEN OVERNIGHT IT WAS 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. 
THEN QUID PRO QUO.
THEN BRIBERY. 
THEN EXTORTION. 
AND THE LIST GOES ON. 
YET NOT ONE OF THOSE IS LISTED  
IN THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
TO MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES,  
MADAM CHAIR, I SAY PLEASE STOP  
TEARING THE COUNTRY APART.
STOP THIS SHAM. 
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: THE GENTLELADY IS 
CORRECT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR IS 
NOT NEW.
HE HAS A PATTERN OF ENGAGING IN 
MISCONDUCT THEN OBSTRUCTING ANY 
INVESTIGATION INTO MISS 
MISCONDUCT TO COVER UP HIS  
ACTIONS AND HIDE THE TRUTH FROM 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I NOW YIELD TO THE GENTLELADY 
FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.  
ROYBAL-ALLARD, FOR THE PURPOSE  
OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. ROYBAL-ALLARD: I RISE IN  
SUPPORT OF TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT  
PROCEEDINGS AND ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY 
REMARKS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN  
FROM RHODE ISLAND, MR.  
LANGEVIN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. LANGEVIN: I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. 
MADAM SPEAKER, OUR NATION WAS 
FOUNDED ON CERTAIN PRINCIPLES.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE OF,  
BY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE. 
THAT A SYSTEM OF THREE CO-EQUAL 
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WOULD  
PROVIDE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE 
PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE HEARD.
AND THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE  
LAW.
TODAY, SADLY, WE ARE VOTING TO  
IMPEACH PRESIDENT DOND JOHN 
TRUMP BECAUSE HE'S BROKEN HIS 
CONVENANT WITH THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
IN DOING SO, WE ARE USING THE 
POWERS THE FOUNDING FATHERS 
ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.
TO ADDRESS A PRESIDENT WHO HAS  
VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR 
ANTI-FACTS ARE WITHOUT  
QUESTION. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CONSISTENTLY 
ENENGAGED IN A PATTERN OF 
BEHAVIOR INCONSISTENT WITH THE  
RULE OF LAW.
HE'S REFUSED TO TAKE  
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. 
HE HAS UNDERMINED THE CHECKS  
AND BALANCES WE RELY ON BY  
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS AT EVERY 
TURN. 
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE HAS ABUSED 
HIS POWER BY USING HIS OFFICE 
TO SOLICIT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE 
IN OUR ELECTIONS, UNDERMINING 
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. 
ON THIS SAD DAY FOR OUR NATION, 
I WILL DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT  
HAS SO OFTEN FAILED TO DO.
I WILL FULFILL MY OATH TO 
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION AND I WILL VOTE IN 
FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME IT IS MY PLEASURE  
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.  
CHABOT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. CHABOT: MADAM SPEAKER,  
TODAY IS A SAD DAY IN OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY AS HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS ARE POISED TO APPROVE 
ON A STRICTLY PARTY-LINE VOTE 
ARKTELES OF IMPEACHMENT BASED 
ON WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL KOHL LAR 
JONATHAN TURLEY CALLED WAFER  
THIN EVIDENCE.
THIS WILL SET A DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT WHERE IMPEACHMENT 
BECOMES THE NORM RATHER THAN  
THE EXCEPTION.
THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR FOUNDING  
FATHERS INTENDED. 
THEY WANTED IMPEACHMENT TO BE 
RARE. 
THEY SET A HIGH BAR FOR 
IMPEACHMENT, TREASON, BRIBERY,  
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
ALLEGED ABUSE OF POWER, THE 
FIRST ARTICLE IS NOT A HIGH 
CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR.
IN FACT, IT'S NOT EVEN A CRIME. 
SINCE THERE IS NO CONCISE LEGAL 
DEFINITION OF ABUSE OF POWER, 
THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE HOUSE 
CAN DESIGNATE NEARLY ANY  
DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT 
FROM NOW ON AN IMPEACHABLE  
OFFENSE.
THE SECOND ARTICLE ALLEGED  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS WOULD 
PRODUCE A SIMILARLY DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT.
ASSERTING EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE,  
A PRACTICE THAT BEGAN WITH  
GEORGE WASHINGTON, IS NOT 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
RATHER, IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE  
ESSENTIAL CHECKS AND BALANCES 
CONTELL NATED UNDER THE --  
CONTEMPLATED UNDER THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
NEARS WHAT NEARLY EVERY GRADE 
SCHOOL STUDENT IN AMERICA KNOWS 
BUT APPARENTLY HOUSE DEMOCRATS  
DO NOT. 
. 
OF 
IF CONGRESS DISAGREED WITH THE  
PRESIDENT, IF THEY DON'T AGREE  
WITH THE PRESIDENT, TAKE IT TO  
COURT.
LET THE THIRD BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT DECIDE.
THE HOUSE HAS NEVER APPROVED  
ABUSE OF POWER OR AS ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT BUT THAT'S GOING TO 
CHANGE TODAY. 
THE DEMOCRATS ARE PURSUING A  
WACKY THEORY UNDER WHICH ALL  
FOUR PRESIDENTS ON MOUNT RUSH MR
COULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED.
IF IT SOUNDS ABSURD, IT'S 
BECAUSE IT IS ABSURD. 
IT'S BEEN ABSURD FROM THE 
OUTSET. 
HERE'S WHAT'S NOT ABSURD BUT  
RATHER FRIGHTENING. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE SETTING A 
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT UNDER WHICH 
NO FUTURE PRESIDENT WILL BE 
IMMUNE FROM IMPEACHMENT AND IT  
WILL FOREVER NEGATIVELY TARNISH 
THE HISTORY OF THIS HOUSE.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, THE  
PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT CONSTITUTED 
THE HIGHEST OF HIGH CRIMES  
AGAINST OUR COUNTRY.
AN OFFENSE DOESN'T HAVE TO  
VIOLATE A CRIMINAL STATUTE TO BE
IMPEACHABLE, THAT WAS CONFIRMED 
IN PRESIDENT NIXON'S CASE AND 
AGAIN IN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S. 
THERE'S NO HIGHER CRIME THAN FOR
THE PRESIDENT TO USE THE POWER  
OF HIS OFFICE TO CORRUPT OUR  
ELECTION. 
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MR. 
POCAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. POCAN: THIS JULY, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP BLOCKED $400 MILLION IN 
AID UKRAINE NEEDED TO DEFEND  
ITSELF AGAINST RUSSIA BECAUSE HE
NEEDED UKRAINE TO DO HIM A FAVOR
FIRST.
HE ASKED UKRAINE -- THE 
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE TO LAUNCH  
AN INVESTIGATION INTO A 
POLITICAL RIVAL, MILITARY AID 
WOULD COME AFTER. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A SINGLE CALL 
OR SINGLE TRANSCRIPT. 
THIS IS A PERFECT STORM, MONTHS 
OF ACTIVITY DIRECTLY ORDERED BY 
THE PRESIDENT TO HIS SENIOR 
CABINET, ANING OR -- AN 
ORCHESTRATED PLAN TO HAVE A 
FOREIGN POWER INTERFERE IN OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE POWER
OF HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL AND  
POLITICAL GAIN AND REFUSED TO 
COOPERATE WITH A CO-EQUAL BRANCH
OF GOVEMENT THIS IS SETTING A 
PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTS 
DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. 
DONALD TRUMP MUST BE HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTION. 
TODAY WE SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO 
THIS PRESIDENT AND ALL FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS, MR. MARSHALL. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. MARSHALL: I RISE IN 
OPPOSITION TO THE IMPEACH.
OF THE LEGITIMATELY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
ENOUGH. 
FOR THE LOVE OF THIS COUNTRY, 
ENOUGH. 
ENOUGH OF THIS IMPEACHMENT  
CIRCUS. 
ENOUGH OF THESE SHAM WITCH  
HUNTS.
I'M VOTING NO BECAUSE THE 
PRESIDENT HAS DONE NOTHING  
WRONG.
THE ONLY THING THE PRESIDENT -- 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GUILTY  
OF IS DOING THE THING HE IS SAID
HE WOULD DO.
AND IF MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES 
WERE HONEST THEY'D TELL US THE  
ONLY THING PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 
GUILTY OF IS NOT BEING HILLARY  
CLINTON.
THE ONLY PARTY GUILTY OF  
OBSTRUCTION, ABUSE OF POWER OR  
WHATEVER FOCUS GROUPS TERM  
THEY'RE USING TODAY IS THE PARTY
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS AISLE.
THEY'RE OBSTRUCTING THE WOIFL 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY'RE OBSTRUCTING THE VERY  
FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY. 
BY POLITICALLY WEAPONIZING  
IMPEACHMENT THEY HAVE 
DANGEROUSLY SHATTERED PRESIDENT 
AND -- PRECEDENT AND ABUSED OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
THEY ALONE WILL BEAR THIS 
RESPONSIBILITY. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THEY'LL FAIL.
AND IT'S NO WONDER THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THIS BODY. 
IT'S PAST TIME TO BE DONE WITH  
THIS CIRCUS AND GET TO THE WORK 
THAT MATTERS, LIKE SE KEURIG  
BORDERS AND PASSING TRADE DEALS.
I WILL VOTE NO AND ENCOURAGE  
THIS BODY TO MOVE ON FROM THIS  
HEARTBREAKING, DISGRACEFUL DAY  
TO THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH 
CAROLINA, MR. PRICE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. PRICE: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
MOMENT OUR FOUNDERS ANTICIPATED 
ESTABLISHING THE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT HAS ARRIVED.
THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED HIS POWER
BY ASKING A AS A RULE NEBLE 
FOREIGN LEADER TO INVESTIGATE 
BOTH HIS POLITICAL RIVAL AND A  
BASELESS RUSSIAN CONSPIRACY 
THEORY. 
WHILE WITH HOLDING  
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED  
DEFENSE AID AND A COVETED WHITE 
HOUSE VISIT.
HE THEN BLOCKED CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION INTO THESE ABUSES.
THESE ABUSES THREATEN THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, THEY
CORRUPT OUR DIPLOMACY, AND THEY 
UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY.
WE SOMETIMES REGARD 
CONSTITUTIONAL CHECKS AND 
BALANCES AS THE INDESTRUCTIBLE  
UNDERPINNINGS OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
IN FACT, THEY'RE NOT FIXED, 
THEY'RE NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED  
THIS BEYOND ALL DOUBT.
IT'S UP TO THE CONGRESS, THE  
FIRST BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, TO  
APPLY THE REMEDY THAT THE 
CONSTITUTION PRESCRIBES BECAUSE 
THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY ARE
REAL AND PRESENT. 
WITH THIS VOTE WE AFFIRM THAT NO
ONE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, IS
ABOVE THE LAW.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS  
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IT'S BEEN 
TROUBLING TO SEE THE PARTISAN,  
DIVISIVE WAY IN WHICH DEMOCRATS 
HAVE CARRIED OUT THIS PROCESS.
I GUESS WE SHOULDN'T BE 
SURPRISED, THOUGH.
THEY PROMISED THEY'D UNSEAT THIS
PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAY HE TOOK 
HIS OATH OF OFFICE. 
FROM THE START, THIS HAS BEEN A 
BASELESS ATTEMPT TO UNDO THE  
WILL OF 63 MILLION AMERICANS WHO
VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
MR. COMER: I CAN TELL YOU, THE  
PEOPLE I REPRESENT IN KENTUCKY, 
THE VERY PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR 
THIS PRESIDENT TO ENACT CHANGE  
AND FIGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY, ARE 
APALLED AT THE CHARADE THEY'VE  
SEEN IN THE HOUSE IN RECENT 
MONTHS. 
THEY ARE APALLED AT THE ACTIONS 
FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS. 
WHO HAVE FAILED TO EVEN COME  
CLOSE TO PROVING THEIR CASE.
I HOPE ALL OF MY CONGRESSIONAL  
COLLEAGUES CAREFULLY CONSIDER 
THE PRECEDENT THEY'RE SET BIG 
VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS SHAM  
PROCESS AND THESE ILLEGITIMATE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THESE ARTICLES WERE WRITTEN AND 
BUILT ON A REPORT THAT WAS  
DRAFTED BE BIASED PRESUMPTIONS, 
CHERRY-PICKED WITNESSES AND 
VASTLY DISPUTED FACTS.
THE PRESIDENT DID NOT COMMIT ANY
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
AND IT'S CLEAR FOR ALL OF US TO 
SEE THROUGH THE NOW VERY WELL 
KNOWN TRANSCRIPT, RIGGED PROCESS
SETS A CONCERNING PRECEDENT FOR 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES MOVING 
FORWARD.
I WHOLE HEARTEDLY OPPOSE THESE  
BASELESS ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MR. PETERS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. PETERS: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MANY LAMENTED THAT THIS EFFORT  
IS NOT BIPARTISAN BUT THAT'S ON 
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES. 
REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT SOUGHT THE 
TRUTH.
THEY HAVE SOWLINGT TO AVOID THE 
TRUTH.
THEY HAVE DEMEANED AND INSULTED 
WITNESSES, PATRIOTS, WARRIORS,  
CAREER DIPLOMATS, WHO PROVIDED  
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. 
NO HOUSE REPUBLICAN HAS JOINED  
US TO DEMAND THAT DOCUMENTS AN  
WITNESSES THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP  
HAS REFUSED TO PRODUCE. 
INSTEAD, REPUBLICAN LEAD SHERS  
WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP CAN SET THE RULES OF HIS  
OWN TRIAL AND THERE'LL BE NO  
FACT WITNESSES. 
REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO SEEK THE  
TRUTH AND CONDEMN THE ABUSE OF  
POWER OR TO WORK WITH US TO 
PREVENT THIS ONGOING BEHAVIOR IN
THE FUTURE. 
THAT'S TRAGEDY OF TODAY'S EVENT.
IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY,  
THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS HAVE GONE
INTO BATTLE WITHOUT RESERVATION 
TO FIGHT FOR OUR REPUBLIC AS  
THEY STILL DO TODAY.
MANY HAVE BEEN GRAVELY INJURED, 
SOME HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE 
SACRIFICE.
BUT TODAY IN CONTRAST, FOR FEAR 
OF LOSING AN ELECTION, MY 
COLLEAGUES WILL NOT SPEAK UP FOR
THE RULE OF LAW.
OR AGAINST PRESIDENTIAL ABUSE OF
POWER.
VOTERS MAY GIVE THEM A PASS BUT 
HISTORY WILL JUDGE THEM HARSHLY.
I WILL VOTE FOR THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE NOW TO YIELD 
A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
LOUDERMILK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. LOUDERMILK: I THANK MY  
COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA AND  
FRIEND, MR. COLLINS.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION NOT ONLY TO
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BUT 
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE 
PROCESS THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO  
THIS POINT. 
OUR CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF  
RIGHTS ARE ALL ABOUT PROCESS. 
OUR FOUNDERS KNEW THAT A  
GOVERNMENT WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS  
COULD ACCUSE ANYONE OF ANY CRIME
AT ANY TIME EVEN WITHOUT  
COMPELLING EVIDENCE.
THAT'S WHY THE FIFTH AND 14TH 
AMENDMENTS ESTABLISHED A BEDROCK
PRINCIPLE OF INNOCENT UNTIL 
PROVEN GUILTY BEYOND A  
REASONABLE DOUBT. 
ON NOVEMBER 14, SPEAKER PELOSI  
INFORMED THE PRESIDENT, THE 
PRESIDENT SHOULD PROVE HIS  
INNOCENCE WHEN SHE STATED MR. 
PRESIDENT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING  
THAT SHOWS YOUR INNOCENCE HE  
SHOULD MAKE THAT KNOWN. 
THE CONSTITUTION ALSO GUARANTEES
THAT THE ACCUSED CAN CALL 
WITNESSES TO TESTIFY ON THEIR 
BEHALF. 
BUT THE REPUBLICANS AND THE 
PRESIDENT WERE CONTINUALLY  
DENIED THAT RIGHT THROUGHOUT  
THIS PROCESS. 
THE SIXTH AMENDMENT GUARANTEES  
THE RIGHT OF THE DEFENDANT TO 
FACE THEIR ACCUSER BUT NOT ONLY 
THE DEMOCRATS PROHIBITED  
REPUBLICAN AND THE PRESIDENT  
FROM QUESTIONING THE SO-CALL  
WHISTLEBLOWER, HIS IDENTITY HAS 
BEEN KEPT SECRET. 
BEFORE YOU TAKE THIS HISTORIC 
VOTE TODAY, ONE WEEK BEFORE 
CHRISTMAS, I WANT YOU TO KEEP 
THIS IN MIND. 
WHEN JESUS WAS FALSELY ACCUSE OF
TREASON, PONTIUS PILATE GAVE  
JESUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FACE 
HIS ACCUSERS. 
DURING THAT SHAM TRIAL, PONTIUS 
MYLAT AFFORDED MORE RIGHTS TO 
JESUS THAN THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
AFFORDED THIS PRESIDENT AND THIS
PROCESS.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: THE PRESIDENT WAS 
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME 
AND TESTIFY BEFORE THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, TO SEND HIS COUNSEL, 
TO QUESTION WITNESSES, HE 
DECLINED TO DO SO.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.  
KILDEE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. KILDEE: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR OUR 
COUNTRY AND FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ABUSED THE  
POWERS OF HIS OFFICE, BETRAYED  
THE PUBLIC TRUST, AND UNDERMINED
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY BY  
PRESSURING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT 
TO INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL GAIN. 
IN THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY 
THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR.
THE REMEDY FOR SUCH MISCONDUCT  
BY A PRESIDENT IS IMPEACHMENT.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO CONGRESS  
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, BUT SADLY, THE 
PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT LEAVES US
NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN. 
MY GRANDDAUGHTER KAITLYN IS 8,  
MY GRANDSON COLLIN IS 4.
SOMEDAY, A LONG TIME FROM NOW,  
THEY'LL ASK ME ABOUT THIS DAY.
THEY'LL ASK ABOUT THE TIME A  
PRESIDENT PUT HIMSELF ABOVE THE 
LAW.
AND THEY'LL WANT TO KNOW WHAT I 
DID TO STOP HIM.
I WILL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THEM. 
TODAY I VOTE TO UPHOLD THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE  
PRESIDENT WAS SUPPOSEDLY GIVEN  
RIGHTS AT THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE BUT WHO WOULD HE ASK  
QUESTIONS OF, THREE LAW SCHOOL  
PROFESSORS AND A STAFF MEMBER?
NOT A LOT OF DUE PROCESS THERE. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE  
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE SPENT  
UPWARDS OF $30 MILLION IN THREE 
YEARS TRY TO OVERTURN THE 2016  
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND 
COME UP WITH NOTHING. 
BECAUSE OF THEIR RADICAL LEFT 
WING, DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO  
MAKE ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL  
ELECTIONS INVALID UNTIL JUDGED  
WORTHY BY THE MAJORITY IN THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES DOES NOT SERVE AT THE  
PLEASURE OF THE HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
MR. BABIN: PROGRAMS THE GREATEST
DENIAL OF -- PERHAPS THE  
GREATEST DENIAL OF REALITY  
REGARDING PRESIDENT TRUMP IS  
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT UNDER HIS  
POLICIES THINGS ARE ACTUALLY  
GOING MUCH BETTER THAN THEY HAVE
IN DECADES FOR WORKING  
AMERICANS.
WE'RE A DEMOCRATIC, 
CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IN WHICH
POWER FLOWS FROM WE THE PEOPLE  
TO OUR PRESIDENT AND ELECTED  
OFFICIALS.
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY THINKS  
OTHERWISE.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE 
ENTITLED TO RULE US, EVEN IF  
THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE RULES TO
INVALIDATE THE WILL AND VOTES OF
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.
THAT IS WHY THE ABSENCE OF A  
CASE DOES NOT MATTER IN THIS  
CHARADE OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE RECOGNIZE AND SHARE MY 
URGENCY ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE  
HERE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU AND YOUR 
MAJORITY MAY DECIDE TODAY BUT I 
HAVE FAITH THAT THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE WILL DECIDE OTHERWISE  
NEXT NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I NOW YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLELADY FROM 
WASHINGTON, -- THE GENTLELADY 
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS 
RESOLUTION. 
AFTER CAREFULLY REVIEWING ALL OF
THE EVIDENCE AND THE ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT BEFORE US, IT IS  
CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP  
ABUSED THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY AND ON TRUCTED 
CONGRESS. 
I DID NOT COME TO THIS  
CONCLUSION LIGHTLY. 
IMPEACHMENT IS AN EXTREMELY 
SERIOUS MATTER. 
BUT NO PRESIDENT CAN BE ALLOWED 
TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN COUNTRY 
FOR PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN.
MS. DELBENE: NO PRESIDENT IS  
ABOVE THE LAW.
HIS BEHAVIOR JEOPARDIZED THE  
INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS, PUT OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK AND 
PLACED HIS PERSONAL INTERESTS 
ABOVE THOSE OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
HIS
HIS OBSTRUCTION HAS PREVENTED 
THE HOUSE FROM CONDUCTING ETC.  
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY OF OVERSIGHT
OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, BY 
FAILING TO UPHOLD HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP FORCES  
EACH OF US AS MEMBERS OF THE  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO 
UPHOLD OURS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO JUST 
THAT AND DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, MR. RIGGLEMAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. RIGGLEMAN: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I OPPOSE THIS IMPEACHMENT EFFORT
AND WILL VOTE NO ON THE ARTICLES
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I REPRESENT THE FIFTH DISTRICT  
OF VIRGINIA, WHICH IS HOME TO SO
MANY FOUNDING FATHERS.
WHOSE VISIONS SHAPED THE GREAT  
COUNTRY WE ARE LIVING IN TODAY. 
THOMAS JEFFERSON AND JAMES  
MADISON ARE NOT AROUND TO SEE 
WHAT THEIR CREATION HAS BECOME. 
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE 
PLEASED TO SEE CONGRESS 
SUBVERTING THE WILL OF DEMOCRACY
BY HOLDING AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE  
BECAUSE THE MAJORITY PARTY  
SIMPLY CANNOT ACCEPT THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
INSTEAD OF WASTING THE  
TAXPAYERS' TIME AND MONEY ON  
SPECIOUS INVESTIGATIONS, WE 
COULD HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS SURPRISED MEDICAL 
BILLING, SECURE THE BORDER, 
ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC,  
REDUCE STUDENT DEBT AND SOLVE A 
LITANY OF OTHER ISSUES THAT 
AMERICANS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT.
TOMORROW WE MIGHT HAVE A VOTE ON
THE USMCA, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE 
PASSED MONTHS AGO, HAD IT NOT 
BEEN FOR THE OBSTRUCTION AND  
DELAYS FROM DEMOCRATS.
DELAYS THAT ARE MADE -- THAT  
HAVE MADE FARMERS IN MUE -- 
FARMERS IN MY DISTRICT AND OTHER
DISTRICTS SUFFER. 
THE DECISIONS WE MADE TO LEAD UP
TO THIS PROCEEDING WREAKS OF  
CAREERIST BUREAUCRATS AND 
POLITICIANS THAT PUT POLITICS 
OVER PEOPLE.
I WAS NOT ELECTED TO TAKE 
POLITICAL VOTES THAT ATTEMPT TO 
OVERTURN THE WILL OF THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I RAN FOR OFFICE TO SERVE MY  
CONSTITUENTS. 
LET'S REMEMBER THAT'S WHY WE ARE
HERE. 
WEAPONIZING A MOTION IS NOT THE 
WAY TO SERVE THE UNITED STATES  
OF AMERICA AND TO MY COLLEAGUES 
WHO COUST DOE JUST THAT, I OFFER
A QUOTE, TO ARGUE WITH A PERSON 
WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE USE OF  
REASON IS LIKE ADMINISTERING  
MEDICINE TO THE DEAD. 
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
WOULD REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT 
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED OVER 400 
BILLS.
275 BIPARTISAN BILLS. 
DRIVING DOWN COSTS OF HEALTH  
CARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,  
RAISING WAGES, REBUILDING 
INFRASTRUCTURE, TAKING ON 
CORRUPTION AND SELF-DEALING IN  
WASHINGTON. 
80% OF THESE BILLS ARE  
LANGUISHING ON SENATOR  
MCCONNELL'S DESK. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MS. KAPTUR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. KAPTUR: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING.
I WISH TO PLACE ON THE RECORD 
THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SWEAR A
SOLEMN OATH TO PROTECT AND  
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST 
ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND  
DOMESTIC, AND TODAY WE FULFILL  
OUR OATH BY DEFENDING LIBERTY.
THE CENTRAL FIGURE, TESTING 
AMERICA'S RESOLVE, IS NOT HERE  
IN WASHINGTON TODAY.
RATHER, THE CLOSETED VILLAIN  
SITS IN MOSCOW AT THE KREMLIN.
VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS COORDINATED  
MURDERS, ELECTION HACKING,  
PROPAGANDA, THE ENTRAPMENT OF 
WILLING FOOLS, AND GREEDY 
UNDERLINGS WHO PUT THEIR OWN  
SELFISH INTERESTS OVER LIBERTY. 
PUTIN SEEKS TO SOW DISARRAY AND 
DESTABILIZE DEMOCRACIES AND THE 
NATO ALLIANCE.
AT PUTIN'S DIRECTION, RUSSIA  
ILLEGALLY INVADED UKRAINE IN  
2014, AND AS UKRAINE DEFENDS  
EUROPE'S EASTERN FLANK, 14,000  
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AT  
PUTIN'S HAND WITH OVER TWO  
MILLION DISPLACED.
RATHER THAN STAND UP -- RATHER  
THAN STAND UP TO PUTIN, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS MINIONS 
AIDED PUTIN.
FIRST IN HASTENING RUSSIAN  
INTERFERENCE IN OUR 2016  
ELECTIONS, AND THEN MORE  
RECENTLY, WITHHOLDING VITAL 
MILITARY AID FROM UKRAINE TO  
COERCE ITS INTERFERENCE IN OUR  
2020 ELECTIONS WHERE MR. -- FOR 
MR. TRUMP'S PERSONAL GAIN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MS. KAPTUR: MIGHT I END BY  
SAYING, ONWARD LIBERTY. 
VOTE FOR THE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER, AT  
THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE AND  
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, DR. MURPHY. 
MR. MURPHY: I RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THESE BASELESS ARTICLES OF 
PPACA AND THE UNPRECEDENTED 
PROCESS THAT'S BEEN USED IN THIS
EFFORT TO IMPEACH THE DULY  
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
IT IS A MOCKERY OF AMERICAN 
JUSTICE.
IN 1788, ONE OF OUR FOUNDING  
FATHERS, ALEXANDER HAMILTON,  
WROTE IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, 
IN MANY CASES IMPEACHMENT WILL  
CONNECT ITSELF WITH THE 
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONING FAXES 
-- FACTIONS AND IN SUCH CASES 
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE  
GREATEST DANGER, THAT THEIR 
DECISION WILL BE REGULATED MORE 
BY THE COMPARABLE STRENGTH OF 
PARTIES, MAJORITY AND MINORITY, 
THAN BY REAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF  
INNOCENTS OR -- INNOCENCE OR  
GUILTY. 
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
-- GUILT. 
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT THE MAJORITY CAN  
EXERT ITS INFLUENCE REGARDLESS  
OF JUSTICE. 
IN THIS STATEMENT, HAMILTON 
WARNED US ABOUT THE DANGER OF 
MOB RULE. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE A CRIMINAL AND 
HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A CRIME 
FOR THREE YEARS.
BUT THIS PRESIDENT  HAS NOT 
COMMITTED A CRIME.
AS THE LEADER OF AMERICAN 
FOREIGN POLICY, THE PRESIDENT 
HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION 
TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION IN 
COUNTRIES TO WHICH WE PROVIDE 
AID.
THIS IS NOT AN ABUSE OF POWER,  
IT IS HIS JOB.
ONE OF THE ARTICLES IS  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN  
OBSTRUCTED IS THIS PRESIDENT'S  
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS. 
I DON'T BLAME THE PRESIDENT FOR 
REFUSING TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN
THIS GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN  
INNOCENT CIRCUS.
THIS IS NOT HOW OUR FOUNDING  
FATHERS FRAMED AMERICAN JUSTICE.
THIS IS A TRAGIC DAY IN OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY. 
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HATE 
THIS PRESIDENT MORE THAN THEY 
LOVE THIS COUNTRY.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS PRAYER AND NOT
THIS DESTRUCTIVE PARTISANSHIP.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, THE  
PRESIDENT'S OBSTRUCTION IS  
UNPRECEDENTED AND CATEGORICAL.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS THAT THE 
HOUSE CANNOT INVESTIGATE HIS  
MISCONDUCT OUTSIDE OF AN  
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.
HE DEFIES LAWFUL CONGRESSIONAL  
SUBPOENAS AND THEN HE SUES TO 
BLOCK THIRD PARTIES FROM  
COMPLYING WITH SUCH SUBPOENAS.
EVEN AS HE PURSUES HIS OWN  
INTEREST IN COURT, HIS  
ADMINISTRATION SIMULTANEOUSLY 
ARGUES THAT CONGRESS IS BARRED  
FROM OBTAINING JUDICIAL 
ENFORCEMENT WHEN EXECUTIVE  
BRANCH OFFICIALS DISREGARD ITS  
SUBPOENAS.
SO WHEN CAN THE PRESIDENT BE  
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS  
WRONGDOING? 
IN HIS MIND, NEVER. 
THE CONSTITUTION, HOWEVER,  
DISAGREES.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA, MS. HOLMES NORTON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. NORTON: MADAM SPEAKER, MY 
WORDS ARE MY ONLY REMEDY TODAY  
IN SPITE OF THE UPCOMING D.C. 
STATEHOOD VOTE WE EXPECT TO BE  
SUCCESSFUL. 
THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA HAVE NO VOTE ON  
IMPEACHMENT OR ON ANY OTHER 
MATTER ON THIS FLOOR NOW. 
I SPOKE ON THIS FLOOR ON THE  
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON
20 YEARS AGO. 
UNLIKE THE CLINTON IMPEACHMENT  
ON PERJURY CONCERNING AN AFFAIR 
WITH AN INTERN, TRUMP'S 
IMPEACHMENT TURNS ON SABOTAGE OF
NATIONAL SECURITY TO GET HIMSELF
RE-ELECTED. 
CLINTON REPENTED. 
TRUMP INSISTS THAT HE DID 
NOTHING WRONG.
THAT'S A PROMISE TO CONTINUE HIS
LONG PATTERN OF ABUSE OF POWER  
AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
IMPEACHMENT IS OUR ONLY 
RECOURSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE  
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, 
A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, MR. BUCK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. BUCK: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
GEORGIA.
TODAY DEMOCRATS LOWER THE BAR 
FOR IMPEACHMENT.
UNDER THE STANDARD OF -- UNDER  
THIS STANDARD, A PRESIDENT CAN  
BE IMPEACHED IN THE ABSENCE OF A
CRIME, WITHOUT DUE PROCESS AND  
FOR ASSERTING A LEGALLY 
CONSTITUTIONALLY RECOGNIZED 
PRIVILEGE.
HISTORY SHOWS DEMOCRAT  
PRESIDENTS HAVE ABUSED POWER TO 
UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY AND WIN 
ELECTIONS AND YET THEY HAVE NOT 
BEEN IMPEACHED. 
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT  
USED THE I.R.S. TO TARGET HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
HIS SON LATER ADMITTED F.D.R. 
USED, QUOTE, THE I.R.S. AS A  
WEAPON OF POLITICAL RETRIBUTION.
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY USED  
THE F.B.I. TO WIRETAP AND 
MONITOR POLITICAL OPPONENTS,  
INCLUDING CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.
HE DEPORTED ONE OF HIS  
MISTRESSES TO AVOID SCANDAL.
PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON SPIED  
ON GOLDWATER'S CAMPAIGN, SIGNING
OFF ON WIRETAPPING HIS OPPONENT 
AND GOLDWATER'S AIRPLANE AND  
USING A C.I.A. SPY TO OBTAIN  
ADVANCED COPY OF GOLDWATER'S  
STRATEGIES AND SPEECHES.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA REFUSED  
TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO CONGRESS
RELATED TO FAST AND FURIOUS.
HIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL RECESS 
APPOINTMENTS WERE UNANIMOUSLY 
STRUCK DOWN BY THE SUPREME  
COURT.
HE USED NATIONAL SECURITY 
AGENCIES TO LIE TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE ABOUT BENGHAZI TO WIN THE
2012 ELECTION.
HE SPIED ON REPORTERS.
FINALLY, IT WAS THE OBAMA 
ADMINISTRATION THAT COMMITTED 17
SERIOUS VIOLATIONS BEFORE THE 
FISA COURT TO SPY ON TRUMP  
CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATES.
DESPITE THESE CLEAR ABUSES OF 
POWER BY F.D.R., J.F.K., L.B.J. 
AND OBAMA, REPUBLICANS DID NOT  
IMPEACH.
WHY?
BECAUSE THE FRAMERS DID NOT WANT
A LOW BAR FOR IMPEACHMENT.
THEY WANTED CONGRESS AND THE  
PRESIDENT TO WORK OUT THEIR 
DIFFERENCES.
WHEN I ASKED PROFESSOR TURLY IN 
A JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING IF
ANY PRESIDENT COULD AVOID 
IMPEACHMENT WITH THIS LOW 
STANDARD, HE SAID NO. 
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I WOULD REMIND THE  
GENTLEMAN THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA  
PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF  
INFORMATION TO CONGRESSIONAL  
REQUESTS, THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL 
HOLDER AND OTHERS TESTIFIED.
UNLIKE NOW. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS, MS. 
KELLY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. KELLY: MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY 
IS A SOLEMN DAY IN AMERICA. 
A DAY THAT NONE OF US HOPE FOR  
WHEN WE CAME TO CONGRESS. 
BUT THE EVENTS OF TODAY ARE 
SOMETHING THAT EACH OF US SWORE 
THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO EXECUTE
AND DE-- IN DEFENSE OF THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
THIS IS THE OATH THAT BINDS THE 
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 116TH  
CONGRESS AS OUR DEMOCRACY 
IMPLORES WE DEFEND HER. 
A CLEAR AND PRESENT THREAT TO 
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS WHAT  
BRINGS US HERE. 
THE ARC TECT, A PRESIDENT WHO 
ASKS THAT A FOREIGN NATION  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTION.
THIS WAS OUR FOUNDING FATHERS'  
GREATEST FEAR.
I CAST A SOLEMN VOTE FOR THE  
MANY INDIVIDUALS IN MY DISTRICT 
WHO ENTRUSTED ME TO BE THEIR  
VOICE IN CONGRESS.
THEY ENTRUSTED ME TO UPHOLD OUR 
CONSTITUTION FOR THEM.
I VOTE YES FOR SARA IN CHICAGO, 
DOUG IN KANKAKEE, DIANE IN  
FLOSSMORE, YES FOR CATHERINE AND
JIMMY IN PARK FOREST. 
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE. 
THE PATH FORWARD IS CLEAR.
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT AN OPTION, IT
IS AN OBLIGATION, BECAUSE NO ONE
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME IT IS MY PRIVILEGE 
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,  
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. RESCHENTHALER: THANK YOU. 
IN THE NAVY WE HAD A SAYING.
BLUFF.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT. 
I'LL GIVE YOU THE BOTTOM LINE.
DEMOCRATS ARE TERRIFIED THAT  
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING WIN  
RE-ELECTION.
THEY CAN'T BEAT HIM ON THE  
MERITS. 
SO DEMOCRATS ARE CAVING TO THEIR
FAR-LEFT RADICAL BASE AND 
THEY'RE USING THE THOUGHTS AND  
THE FEELINGS AND THE ASSUMPTIONS
OF SOME UNNAMED BUREAUCRATS 
RATHER THAN RELYING ON FACTS AND
LAW TO IMPEACH A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A 
POLITICAL HIT JOB.
I'VE BEEN ON ALL SIDES OF THE 
COURTROOM.
I WAS A PROSECUTOR IN THE NAVY, 
I WAS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN THE 
NAVY. 
I WAS A DISTRICT JUDGE IN NYE 
HOMETOWN. 
-- MY HOMETOWN. 
LET ME TELL YOU, AS LAWYER I  
WOULD DEFEND THIS CASE EVERY DAY
OF THE WEEK.
AS A JUDGE, I WOULD DISMISS THIS
ON DAY ONE FOR LACK OF MERIT. 
THERE'S NO CASE HERE. 
I'LL TELL YOU WHO I'D PROSECUTE,
THOUGH. 
I WOULD PROSECUTE ADAM SCHIFF 
FOR ABUSE OF POWER. 
WHY?
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE USED 
HIS POSITION AS CHAIRMAN TO LEAK
PHONE RECORDS OF MR. NUNES. 
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE  
DUMPED DOCUMENTS 48 HOURS BEFORE
A HEARING?
THAT IS THE ABUSE OF POWER. 
OBSTRUCTION -- I'D PROSECUTE THE
DEMOCRATS FOR OBSTRUCTION.
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE 
JUDICIARY DEMOCRATS VOTED DOWN  
MY REQUEST TO SUBPOENA THE  
WHISTLEBLOWER?
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT CHAIRMAN
NADLER REFUSED EVERY SINGLE 
REPUBLICAN REQUEST FOR A FACT 
WITNESS?
THAT IS OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
SO AGAIN, LET ME BE CLEAR.
TODAY IS NOTHING MORE MAN A --  
THAN A POLITICAL HIT JOB. 
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, ONCE 
AGAIN I HEAR A LOT OF ATTACKS ON
MEMBERS OF -- ON DEMOCRATIC 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
BUT NOT ONE SINGLE WORD OF  
SUBSTANTIVE DEFENSE OF THE  
PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
VIRGINIA, MR. CONNOLLY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. CONNOLLY: MADAM SPEAKER,  
EACH OF US HERE TOOK AN OATH TO 
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
NOT THE PRESIDENT AND NOT OUR 
POLITICAL PARTY.
TODAY HISTORY WILL JUDGE, DID WE
ABIDE THAT OATH?
TO EXTORT A FOREIGN COUNTRY, TO 
INVESTIGATE YOUR POLITICAL  
OPPONENT IS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
TO SOLICIT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE 
IN AN AMERICAN ELECTION IS AN 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF POWER.
THE NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST JUST
SUCH ABUSES PROMPTED OUR  
FOUNDERS TO GRANT THE SOLE POWER
OF IMPEACHMENT TO THIS HOUSE. 
THE DELICATE BALANCE OF POWER,  
THAT UNDERPINS OUR DEMOCRACY, IS
THREATENED WHEN A PRESIDENT 
DISREGARDS THE CONSTITUTION BY  
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS' POWER TO  
COVER UP ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, IN 
DOING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP  
VIOLATED HIS OATH.
TODAY WE MUST PUT COUNTRY OVER  
PARTY.
CON STANCE OVER COMPLICITITY. 
TODAY WE MUST ASSERT NO ONE'S 
ABOVE THE LAW.
TODAY WE'RE SUMMONED BY HISTORY 
TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT 
TRUE, BUT I THINK THE SPEAKERS  
ARE NOT WORKING ON THE MAJORITY 
SIDE BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
IT, THE FACTS.
LET'S GO OVER IT QUICKLY. 
NO PRESSURE, NO CONDITIONALITY, 
NO -- NOTHING WAS EVER DENIED 
THEM WHEN THEY GOT THROUGH. 
THEY ACTUALLY GOT THE MONEY AND 
THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR IT. 
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACTS. 
THAT'S A DISTRACTION THAT 
DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN. 
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.  
DAVIDSON. 
MR. DAVIDSON: I'VE HEARD  
NUMEROUS COLLEAGUES SAY THEY  
DIDN'T RUN FOR CONGRESS TO  
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.
MAYBE NOT ORIGINALLY, BUT 
UNFORTUNATELY FROM THE MOMENT 
PROCEEDINGS BEGAN, AFTER THE  
FOURTH VOTE TO LAUNCH AN  
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, TODAY'S  
VOTE WAS INEVITABLE.
MANY OF THEM CAMPAIGNED ON IT.
. 
I LOVE THIS COUNTRY WITH A  
SOLDIER'S PASSION.
I CAME HERE TO DEFEND FREEDOM,  
NOT TO DENY DUE PROCESS TO  
ANYONE. 
I CAME HERE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS 
AND SOLVE THE BROKEN STATUS QUO,
NOT TO PUNISH THOSE LIKE  
PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO DELIVER ON  
PROMISES TO PUT AMERICA BACK ON 
THE PATH TO PEACE AND PROSPERITY
THAT HAS MADE AND KEPT OUR  
COUNTRY FEE.
FOR MONTH AMERICANS HAVE HEARD  
SPECULATION ABOUT THE 
PRESIDENT'S MOTIVES IN UKRAINE. 
DESPITE MONTHS OF HEARINGS AND  
COUNTLESS DOCUMENTS, AMERICANS  
HAVE NOT SEEN PROOF THAT THE  
PRESIDENT COMMITTED A HIGH CRIME
OR MISDEMEANOR. 
WE HAVE A REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN 
KEEP IT.
THIS IS DISGRACEFUL, DISHONEST  
PROCESS, IT'S A DISCREDIT TO  
THIS BODY AND TO OUR NATION.
I URGE THE HOUSE TO DROP THESE  
DIVISIVE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
AND GET TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. 
I YIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, HOW  
MUCH -- COULD YOU TELL ME HOW 
MUCH TIME BOTH SIDES HAVE LEFT, 
PLEASE? 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN HAS 2 TWO HOURS AND 
TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS  
TWO HOURS AND THREE MINUTES.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK,
MS. VELAZQUEZ.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. VELAZQUEZ: THE FACTS ARE  
CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WITH HELD $400 MILLION IN
MILITARY AID TO AN ALLY OF THE  
UNITED STATES AND ALSO HELD BACK
A WHITE HOUSE MEETING TO COMPEL 
A FOREIGN NATION TO INVESTIGATE 
HIS POLITICAL OPPONENT. 
AT THE EXACT TIME THE PRESIDENT 
WAS DOING THIS UKRAINE WAS  
ENGAGED IN A BATTLE FOR ITS VERY
EXISTENCE WITH ONE OF AMERICA'S 
ADVERSARIES, RUSSIA.
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER  
TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN NATION TO 
DIG UP DIRT ON A POLITICAL  
OPPONENT AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.
THIS WAS QUITE SIMPLY A 
GEOPOLITICAL SHAKEDOWN. 
THE PRESIDENT THEN TRIED TO 
BLOCK CONGRESS FROM EXERCISING  
ITS CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED 
DUTY TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TODAY  
FACES A STARK CHOICE. 
IF WE CHOOSE TO TURN A BLIND EYE
TO PUT POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY 
BEFORE THE CONSTITUTION, THEN WE
ARE COMPLICIT IN THIS SUBVERSION
OF DEMOCRACY. 
IF WE DO NOT HOLD THIS PRESIDENT
ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE FAILED THE 
PEOPLE WHO SENT US HERE AND WE  
HAVE ABDICATED OUR OWN OATH TO  
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. COLLIN: AT THIS TIME IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTE  
THOSE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, 
MR. BYRNES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. BYRNES: IN THREE MONTHS 
WE'VE FROM RECEIVING AN 
UNSUBSTAN SHATED WHISTLEBLOWER  
COMPLAINT TO ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NOT SINCE ANDREW JOHNSON HAS THE
HOUSE ENGAGED IN SUCH A PARTISAN
POLITICAL STUNT.
FROM THE BEGINNING THIS HAS BEEN
A SHAM AND THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN  
NOTHING BUT A STAR CHAMBER. 
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY LITERALLY 
LOCKED THEMSELVES IN THE  
BASEMENT OF THIS BUILDING HIDING
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
MR. BYRNE: WHEN MY COLLEAGUES 
AND I REFUSED TO STAND FOR IT,  
DEMOCRATS MOVED TO PUBLIC 
HEARINGS. 
BUT DENIED US QUESTIONS.
DENIED US WITNESSES.
AND DENIED THE PRESIDENT ANY  
MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY DEFEND 
HIMSELF.
WITH THIS COMPLETE ABUSE OF 
PROCESS, THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
HAS PRODUCED THIS EFLIMSIEST AND
MOST LEGALLY UNSOUND ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HISTORY OF 
THIS NATION.
NEVER BEFORE HAS THE HOUSE  
REPORTED AN ARTICLE OF  
IMPEACHMENT THAT DOES NOT ALLEGE
AN UNDERLYING CRIME YET THIS  
MAJORITY WILL DO SO TODAY.
READ THE TRANSCRIPTS. 
THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO.
NO PRESCRIBERY NO EXTORTION.
NO CRIME. 
AND NO ABUSE OF POWER.
AND THEY DON'T EVEN ALLEGE A  
CRIME IN THEIR ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
THE PRESIDENT RAISING UKRAINIAN 
CORRUPTION IS NOT AN IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE.
IF THE FEELINGS OF HUNTER BIDEN 
WERE SO -- DEAL OFFINGS HUNTER  
BIDEN WERE SO ABOVE BOARD YOU'D 
THINK THE MAJORITY WOULD BE FINE
LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. 
YET THEY HAVEN'T MOVED MY 
RESOLUTION ASKING FOR AN  
INVESTIGATION AND OUR SUBPOENAS 
FOR HUNTER BIDEN HAVE ALL BEEN  
DENIED. 
HUNTER BIDEN DOESN'T GET A PASS 
BECAUSE HIS DAD WAS VICE  
PRESIDENT.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST
THIS CHARADE EVERY STEP OF THE  
WAY AND I'LL PROUDLY HI VOTE NO 
TODAY.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. MAD NADLER: I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLELADY FROM 
WISCONSIN, MS. MOORE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. MOORE: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
FACTS ARE UNCONTESTABLE, THE  
EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. 
THE PRESIDENT GROSSLY MISUSED 
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AND 
OBSTRUCTED CONGRESS AND JUSTICE 
REQUIRE THIS IS IMPEACHMENT I 
HAVE FEEL COMPELLED TO RESPOND  
TO THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT 
DEMOCRATS ARE USING THIS PROCESS
TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION.
YOU KNOW, I AGREE.
ELECTIONS ARE THE APPROPRIATE 
VENUE FOR PUBLIC POLICY 
DISPUTES. 
HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
A PUBLIC POLICY DISPUTE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PRESIDENT 
WHO SUBVERTED NATIONAL SECURITY 
BY SOLICITING FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.
THE EXACT THING OUR FOUNDING  
FATHERS FEARED. 
AND THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCE FOR  
WHICH THEY DRAFTED THE  
IMPEACHMENT CLAUSE. 
OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR CONSTITUTION,
DESERVES STANDING UP FOR. 
I WILL LEAVE MY COLLEAGUES WITH 
THIS LAST THOUGHT AS THEY DECIDE
HOW TO CAST THIS HISTORIC VOTE. 
FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN  
TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD ONLY TO 
LOSE HIS OWN SOUL.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FAR 
MINUTE. 
-- RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
HALF. 
>> THIS IS THE DAY THE FOUNDING 
FATHERS FEARED WHEN THEY GRANTED
CONGRESS THE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT WHERE WE HAVE A 
POLITICAL PARTY SO DEAD SET 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT THAT THEY 
WILL DO ANYTHING TO IMPEACH HIM 
AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET AWAY 
WITH IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE
THE VOTES.
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THIS PROCESS 
IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE DICTATED BY
A THIN PARTISAN MAJORITY, NOR 
SIT MEANT TO BE USED WHEN AN  
ELECTION IS JUST AROUND THE 
CORNER. 
NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER  
THAN OUR SPEAKER, WHO I HAVE  
GREAT RESPECT FOR AND I AGREE 
WITH THE COMMENT SHE IS MADE ON 
MARCH 6 OF JUST THIS YEAR.
IMPEACHMENT IS SO DIVISIVE TO 
THE COUNTRY, THAT UNLESS THERE'S
SOMETHING SO COMPELLING AND 
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN, I  
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO DOWN 
THAT PATH BECAUSE IT DIVIDES THE
NATION. 
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S 
HAPPENED. 
WHEN WE WALK OUT OF HERE TONIGHT
WE ALL KNOW HOW THIS RESULT IS  
GOING TO GO.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING FOR  
THIS. 
NOT ONE REPUBLICAN IS BREAKING. 
THIS IS NOT BIPARTISAN. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE 
DISGUSTED WITH THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WE 
BRING SHAME UPON THIS BODY TODAY
BY MOVING FORWARD THIS  
IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MR. LOWENTHAL.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. LOWENTHAL: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
THE FACTS IN THIS CASE ARE AS 
SIMPLE AS THEY ARE TRAGIC.
WEAKNESS -- WITNESS AFTER 
WITNESS ATTESTED TO THESE FACTS.
NO ONE HAS CREBLY REFUTED THEM. 
-- CREDIBLEY REFUTED THEM.
PRESIDENT TRUMP TRIED COERCE  
UKRAINE TO INTERFERE IN THE 2020
ELECTIONS.
HE USED THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE 
FOR POLITICAL GAIN. 
BY WITH HOLDING AID TO UKRAINE, 
THE PRESIDENT ENDANGERED OUR  
ALLY, UKRAINE, AND UNDERMINED 
OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY.
WHEN HE GOT CAUGHT, THE 
PRESIDENT ATTEMPTED TO COVER UP 
THE CRIME AND SHUT DOWN ANY 
INVESTIGATION BY OBSTRUCTING  
CONGRESS. 
WE HAVE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE 
THAT THIS PRESIDENT POSES AN  
URGENT THREAT TO OUR ELECTIONS, 
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND TO
THE RULE OF LAW.
CONGRESS MUST VOTE TO IMPEACH 
HIM, PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL 
REPUBLIC. 
THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
THE ONLY URGENT THREAT TO THIS  
BODY IS THE CLOCK AND THE 
CALENDAR AND THE DESIRE TO  
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE WE 
GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
WITH THAT, A MINUTE AND A HALF  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE,
MR. ROE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. ROE: TODAY IS A SAD DAY IN  
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
SINCE DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED  
IN 2016, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ON 
A CRUSADE TO STOP HIM BY ANY  
MEANS.
I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
ARE THE FAIREST PEOPLE ON THIS  
EARTH.
THEY BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD BE 
TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW NO
MATTER WHAT YOUR STATION YOU  
OCCUPY IN LIFE. 
RICH, POOR, PRESIDENT, FACTORY  
WORKER, FAIR. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ANYTHING  
BUT FAIR. 
FOR TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TOLD  
THAT THEN-CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP
COLLUDED WITH RUSSIANS TO 
INTERFERE WITH OUR ELECTIONS. 
TWO YEARS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
SPENT ON THE MUELLER  
INVESTIGATION NO COLLUSION. 
YOU'D THINK AFTER BEING THAT  
WRONG DEMOCRATS WOULD FINALLY 
DECIDE TO WORK ON THE PROBLEMS  
THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT US
HERE TO DO. 
YOU'D BE WRONG AGAIN. 
THEN WE WERE TOLD THE PRESIDENT 
WITH HELD MONEY TO THE  
UKRAINIANS IN A QUID PRO GO QUO 
NO, BRIBERY, NO ABUSE OF POWER. 
I I GUESS WHATEVER POLL PASSED. 
TO GAIN INFORMATION ON A  
POLITICAL RIVAL PORK TEN RBLE 
RIVAL.
HERE'S SOME FACTS.
FACT NUMB ONE, THE TRANSCRIPT OF
JULY 25 PHONE CONVERSATION SHOWS
NO PRESSURE.
FACT NUMBER TWO, PRESIDENT  
ZELENSKY DID NOT KNOW THE MONEY 
WAS WITH HELD.
FACT THREE, NO INFORMATION  
OCCURRED WERE WAS ANNOUNCED.
FACT FOUR, THE MONEY WAS  
RELEASED SEPTEMBER 11, 2019.
FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS.
ONE MEMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE SAID, QUOTE, I'M  
CONCERNED IF WE DON'T IMPEACH 
THIS PRESIDENT, HE WILL GET 
RE-ELECTED. 
END QUOTE.
THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, SAYS IT  
ALL.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK, THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM OREGON,  
MS. BONAMICI. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. BONAMICI: I TAKE SLIRES MY  
OATH TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
I DO NOT TAKE TODAY'S 
PROCEEDINGS LIGHTLY.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS INCLUDED 
THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IN THE  
CONSTITUTION UPHOLD OUR VALUES  
AND TO MAINTAIN THE CHECKS AND  
BALANCES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO  
SEPARATION OF POWERS AND TO 
DEMOCRACY.
THEY KNEW WAY BACK IN 17  7 THAT
A PRESIDENT COULD ABUSE THE 
POWER OF THE OFFICE.
IN FACT, THEY ADOPTED THE PHRASE
HIGH CRIMES AND -- HIGH CRIME 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS FROM A  
PHRASE USED IN ENGLISH  
PARLIAMENT SINCE 1386, INTENDED 
TO COVER SITUATIONS WHERE AN  
OFFICIAL ABUSED HIS PUTTER AND  
INCLUDED DISOBEYING ANED ORER 
FROM PARLIAMENT.
DONALD TRUMP ABUSED THE POWER OF
HIS OFFICE BY INVITING A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN THE  
U.S. ELECTIONS. 
AND HE DID THIS NOT TO HELP THE 
UNITED STATES BUT TO BENEFIT  
HIMSELF.
THAT'S WRONG AN IT'S AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
THEN WHEN CONGRESS EXERCISED OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO  
INVESTIGATE THESE WRONGDOINGS HE
OBSTRUCTED THE INVESTIGATION  
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THAT IS ALSO WRONG AND IT'S ALSO
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
IN OUR COUNTRY NO ONE IS ABOVE  
THE LAW.
THAT INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT OF  
THE UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. KELLY: DECEMBER IS SUCH A 
GREAT MONTH, THERE ARE SO MANY  
GREAT DATES IN DECEMBER, WE TALK
ABOUT WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED IN DECEMBERS IN THE  
PAST. 
IN ADDITION TO CHRISTMAS BEING  
SOMETHING WE CELEBRATE, THE 
BOSTON TEA PARTY TOOK PLACE IN  
DECEMBER BUT ALSO DECEMBER 7, 
1941, A HORRIFIC ACT HAPPENED IN
THE UNITED STATES, IT'S ONE 
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID THIS IS
A DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY.
TODAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019, IS  
ANOTHER DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN  
INFAMY. 
WHEN JUST BECAUSE YOU HATE THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
AND YOU CAN FIND NO OTHER REASON
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE 
SO BLINDED BY YOUR HATE THAT YOU
CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT YOU'VE 
DECIDED THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE  
SURE THIS PRESIDENT DOESN'T GET 
ELECTED AGAIN IS TO IMPEACH HIM.
ON THE FLOOR OF THE PEOPLE'S  
HOUSE, THE BASTION OF DEMOCRACY 
AND LIBERTY IN THE WHOLE WORLD, 
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT POLITICAL  
POWER IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN
PRINCIPLE.
I WOULD URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE 
HOUSE TO VOTE NO ON IMPEACHMENT 
AND TO LOOK THEIR VOTERS IN THE 
EYE AND -- LISTEN, LET ME TELL  
YOU.
THE VOTERS WILL REMEMBER NEXT 
NOVEMBER WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS 
DECEMBER. 
THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME, THIS IS
A DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD 
BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS 
THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA, 
MS. FRANKEL.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. FRANKEL: IN 1787 AT THE 
CONCLUSION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
WAS ASKED, DO WE HAVE A REPUBLIC
OR A MONARCHY?
HE RESPONDED, A REPUBLIC IF YOU 
KEEP IT.
MADAM SPEAKER, A REPUBLIC IS A  
FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE 
COUNTRY IS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC  
MATTER, NOT THE PRIVATE CONCERN 
OR PROPERTY OF THE RULERS.
IN A REPUBLIC, NO PERSON IS 
ABOVE THE LAW.
IN A REPUBLIC, THE PRESIDENT MAY
NOT ABUSE HIS POWER BY WITH 
HOLDING CRITICAL FOREIGN  
ASSISTANCE FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
NOR MAY HE STOP WITNESSES FROM  
TALKING.
I DID NOT COME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT BUT I DID 
TAKE AN OATH TO KEEP THE  
REPUBLIC. 
FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR  
GRANDCHILDREN, WE SHOULD DO 
NOTHING LESS. 
ONE DAY, I WILL TELL MY GRANDSON
THAT I STOOD UP FOR OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
I WILL VOTE YES TO IMPEACH THE  
PRESIDENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: AT THIS TIME I 
YIELD ONE MINUTE AND 40 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN,
MR. GROTHMAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND 40 SECONDS.
MR. GROTHMAN: I WOULD LIKE TO 
ADDRESS WHY WE'RE HERE. 
WE'RE NOT HERE BECAUSE OF A 
MISQUOTED PHONE CALL IN 2019. 
"THE WASHINGTON POST" RAN AN  
ARTICLE HEADLINE -- HEADLINING  
THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEGUN THE 
DAY HE WAS WORN IN -- SWORN.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND WHO 
SPOKE EARLIER CALLED FOR IMPEACH
789 TWO DAYS BEFORE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WAS SWORN.
IN THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS WAS 
INTRODUCING IMPEACHMENT 
RESOLUTIONS TWO YEARS AGO AND 
SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD BE  
IMPEACHED SO HE CAN'T GET 
RE-ELECTED. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS NOT ABOUT 
WHAT HAPPENED ON A PHONE CALL,  
IT'S ABOUT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HAS DONE. 
THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO  
ARE APPREHENDED AND DON'T HAVE  
LEGAL AUTHORITY FELL FROM 
100,000 PEOPLE IN MAY TO UNDER  
5,000 PEOPLE IN NOVEMBER AND YOU
HATE HIM FOR IT.
BEN CARSON THINKS THAT  
LOW-INCOME HOUSING SHOULD BE  
USED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS AND 
NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE 
ILLEGALLY AND YOU HATE HIM FOR  
IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT  
PEOPLE COMING HERE AND GOING ON 
WELFARE, AND YOU HATE HIM FOR 
IT. 
. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP RENEGOTIATED  
THAT RIPOFF TRADE AGREEMENT WITH
MEXICO AND CANADA THAT WAS LET  
IN PLACE BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND  
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND YOU HATE HIM
FOR IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIDES WITH LAW  
ENFORCEMENT INSTEAD OF CRIMINALS
AND YOU HATE HIM FOR SIDING WITH
THE POLICE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP LETS CHRISTIAN  
ADOPTION AGENCIES CHOOSE WHO  
THEY WANT TO BE PARENTS AND YOU 
DON'T LIKE THEM FOR -- HIM FOR  
THAT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WON'T LET 
FOREIGN AID GO TO AGENCIES THAT 
PERFORM ABORTIONS.
YOU HATE HIM FOR THAT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S JUDGES STICK  
TO THE CONSTITUTION, HE'S 
DISLIKED FOR THAT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS KEEPING HIS  
CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND YOU HATE  
HIM FOR THAT. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MEMBERS
ARE ONCE AGAIN REMINDED TO KEEP 
THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, WE DO
NOT HATE PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WILL CONTINUE TO THREATEN 
THE NATION'S SECURITY, DEMOCRACY
AND CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM IF HE 
IS ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN OFFICE. 
THAT THREAT IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PERSISTED 
DURING THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 
IN SOLICITING FOREIGN POWERS TO 
INVESTIGATE HIS POLITICAL 
OPPONENTS.
THE PRESIDENT STEADFASTLY 
INSISTS HE DID NOTHING WRONG AND
IS FREE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. 
THAT THREATENS OUR NEXT 
ELECTION. 
AS WELL AS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL 
DEMOCRACY.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
MCNERNEY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. MCNERNEY: MADAM SPEAKER, THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, IS VESTED BY THE
CONSTITUTION WITH THE POWER OF  
IMPEACHMENT TO BALANCE THE POWER
OF THE PRESIDENCY.
WITHOUT THIS ESSENTIAL DUTY, THE
PRESIDENT COULD EXPLOIT HIS 
SACRED OFFICE WITHOUT ANY REGARD
FOR THE LAW.
ON JANUARY 3, 2019, EVERY MEMBER
OF THE HOUSE SWORE AN OATH TO 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THIS
WEEK WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO  
JUST THAT.
WHEN ASES AROSE THAT THE  
PRESIDENT -- ALLEGATIONS AROSE  
THAT THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO 
COERCE A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO  
HELP UNDERMINE THE 2020 
ELECTION, THE HOUSE CARRIED OUT 
ITS DUTY TO INVESTIGATE A 
POTENTIAL ABUSE OF POWER. 
BUT THE PRESIDENT REFUSED TO  
COOPERATE AND FORBADE HIS 
ADMINISTRATION FROM DOING SO, 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS FROM 
CARRYING OUT OUR SWORN  
RESPONSIBILITY. 
IF THESE ACTIONS BEAR NO  
CONSEQUENCE, FUTURE PRESIDENTS  
MAY ACT WITHOUT CONSTRAINT AND  
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY WILL BE AT AN
END.
THEREFORE, COMPELLED BY MY SWORN
DUTY TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION,
I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH THIS 
PRESIDENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO MY  
FRIEND FROM FLORIDA, A MINUTE 
AND A HALF. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS MY  
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE AND REITERATE 
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S WARNING  
TO THE REPUBLIC 223 YEARS AGO.
THE CONSTITUTION RIGHTLY SETS A 
HIGH BAR FOR IMPEACHMENT, BUT 
THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS  
ALSO DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY OF  
THE LEGISLATORS TO VOTE THEIR 
MINDS INDEPENDENT OF PARTY  
POLITICS. 
REMOVING A PRESIDENT IS TOO 
IMPORTANT AND LAWMAKERS ARE 
GIVEN TOO MUCH LATITUDE TO  
DEFINE HIGH CRIMES AND  
MISDEMEANORS FOR IT TO BE ANY 
OTHER WAY.
OTHERWISE EXCESSIVELY PARTISAN  
POLITICIAN TIGSES COULD OVER--  
POLITICIANS COULD OVERTURN AN 
ELECTION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE 
PRESIDENT IS A MEMBER OF THE  
OPPOSITE AND OPPOSING PARTY.
IT IS IN REGARD TO THIS 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT GEORGE 
WASHINGTON FOREWARNED US AS A 
NATION AT THIS MOMENT IN HIFT I 
HAD -- IN HISTORY.
MR. YOHO: WHEN POLITICAL PARTIES
MAY NOW AND THEN ANSWER POPULAR 
ENDS, THEY ARE LIKENY IN THE  
COURSE OF TIME TO BECOME POTENT 
ENGINES IN ONE UNPRINCIPLED MEN 
AND WOMEN WILL BE ENABLED TO  
SUBVERT THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE 
TO USURP FOR THEMSELVES THE 
REINS OF GOVERNMENT.
HOW WISE HE WAS.
VOTE NO ON THIS ASSAULT TO OUR  
REPUBLIC. 
THE CONSTITUTION -- REPUBLIC, 
THE CONSTITUTION AND AGAINST  
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, JOHN 
ADAMS WARNED IN A LETTER TO 
THOMAS JEFFERSON THAT THESE 
RISKS ARE UNAVOIDABLE AND MIGHT 
SOMETIMES OVERLAP.
QUOTE, YOU ARE APPREHENSIVE OF  
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, INTRIGUE, 
INFLUENCE.
SO AM I.
AS LONG AS OFTEN AS ELECTIONS 
HAPPEN, THE DANGER OF FOREIGN 
INFLUENCE OCCURS. 
CLOSED QUOTE. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM MICHIGAN, MRS.  
LAWRENCE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MRS. LAWRENCE: MADAM SPEAKER, 
TODAY HISTORY IS BEING WRITTEN. 
THE FACTS ARE CONCLUSIVE. 
THE PRESIDENT ATTEMPTED TO USE  
THE POWER OF THE POWERFUL OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT TO FORCE UKRAINE TO
INFLUENCE OUR 2020 ELECTION.
IN THE PROCESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
JEOPARDIZED OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND WITH HELD VITAL  
MILITARY -- WITHHELD VITAL  
MILITARY ASSISTANCE, ATTEMPTED  
TO PREVENT FURTHER RUSSIAN  
AGGRESSION TO OUR REGION. 
HOWEVER, AS OUR COMMITTEES, 
INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, 
WHICH I SIT ON, AND WHICH I'M A 
MEMBER, SOUGHT TO INTERVIEW 
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES AND OBTAIN 
DOCUMENTS, THE PRESIDENT ORDERED
FROM THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE  
THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO NOT
PARTICIPATE AND OBSTRUCTED THE  
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
ARTICLE 1 PROVIDES THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE SOLE 
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT. 
AS WELL AS THE AUTHORITY TO 
CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF THE  
EXECUTIVE BRANCH. 
WHAT DID VERY TO HIDE?
WHEN THE FRAMERS MET OVER 200 
YEARS AGO, THEY WENT TO GREAT 
LENGTH TO ENSURE FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS WOULD BE FORCED TO 
ANSWER TO THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL  
RESPONSIBILITY. 
I STAND TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE 
TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, 
MR. CLINE, A MEMBER OF THE  
JUDICIARY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. CLINE: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
TODAY IS A SAD DAY FOR THIS 
BODY, FOR THE VOTERS WHO SENT ME
HERE LAST NOVEMBER, AND FOR OUR 
NATION. 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CAUTIONED WHEN
ASKED WHAT HE HAD GIVEN US, A 
REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT. 
TODAY WE TAKE A STEP FURTHER  
TOWARD LOSING THE REPUBLIC THAT 
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS ENVISIONED 
BY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITY THAT  
THEY SPECIFICALLY WARNED  
AGAINST.
THE MISUSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT FOR ONE  
PARTY'S POLITICAL GAIN. 
OUR CONSTITUTION IS THE VERY  
FOUNDATION OF OUR REPUBLICAN -- 
REPUBLIC. 
ITS ASSURANCE OF  
SELF-DETERMINATION HAS BEEN THE 
SHINING BEACON BY WHICH OUR 
NATION HAS CHARTERED ITS COURSE 
OVER THE LAST TWO CENTURIES FROM
A NEW DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT,  
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, TO THE 
GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, 
AMERICA HAS BEEN POWERED OVER 
THE YEARS NOT BY GOVERNMENT, BUT
BY THE INGENUITY, THE BRAVERY 
AND THE FAITH OF ITS PEOPLE.
CONFIDENT IN THEIR PLACE AS ONE 
NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE,  
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR  
ALL.
AND SO IT IS WE THE PEOPLE WHO  
DETERMINE OUR PRESIDENT, NOT WE 
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
NOR WE THE CONGRESS.
THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR, IT'S 
ONLY WHEN WE SEE CLEAR PROOF OF 
THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES  
OUTLINED IN ARTICLE 2, SECTION  
4, TREASON, BRIBERY OR OTHER  
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, 
THAT WE ARE TO CHALLENGE THE  
DECISION OF THE VOTERS, BREAK 
THE FIGURATIVE GLASS AND PULL 
THE EMERGENCY RIP CORD THAT IS  
IMPEACHMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT PROOF TODAY.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID, I KNOW OF
NO SAFE DEPOSITORY OF THE 
ULTIMATE POWERS OF SOCIETY BUT  
THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND IF WE 
THINK THEM NOT ENLIGHTENED  
ENOUGH TO EXERCISE THEIR CONTROL
WITH A WHOLESOME DISCRETION, THE
REMEDY IS NOT TO TAKE IT FROM 
THEM. 
BUT TO INFORM THEIR DISCRETION  
BY EDUCATION. 
BUT RATHER THAN EDUCATE THIS  
MAJORITY HAS CHOSEN TODAY TO OVE
FEW SKATE WITH SPECULATION. 
AND WHEN -- OBFUSCATE.
AND WHEN HISTORY LOOKS AT THIS  
HOUSE, IT WILL JUDGE IT FOR WHAT
IT TRULY IS.
A BLATANTLY POLITICAL PROCESS 
DESIGNED TO FINALLY ACHIEVE WHAT
THEY COULD NOT ACHIEVE AT THE 
BALLOT BOX, THE REMOVAL OF A  
DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT. 
COMPELLED BY MY SWORN DUTY TO 
UPHOLD THIS CONSTITUTION AND FOR
THE PEOPLE, I VOTE NO ON  
IMPEACHMENT TODAY.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
HUFFMAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. HUFFMAN: MADAM SPEAKER, AS  
WE TAKE THIS SOLEMN, NECESSARY  
STEP OF IMPEACHING PRESIDENT  
TRUMP, MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES 
HAVE MADE UP THEIR MINDS. 
WE CAN'T PERSUADE THEM TO DO THE
RIGHT THING.
SO I'LL ADDRESS MY REMARKS TO 
THE FUTURE. 
TODAY'S VOTE WILL BE JUDGED BY  
FUTURE GENERATIONS, INCLUDING MY
PRECIOUS CHILDREN, ABBY AND 
NATHAN, MAYBE GRANDKIDS.
HISTORIANS WILL STUDY WHAT  
MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS DID  
WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY WAS TESTED 
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
BY A PRESIDENT WHO PUT PERSONAL 
INTERESTS ABOVE COUNTRY, WHO  
COMPROMISED NATIONAL SECURITY TO
CHEAT HIS WAY TO RE-ELECTION, 
AND WHEN CAUGHT, NOT ONLY LIED  
AND REFUSED TO ADMIT WRONGDOING,
BUT FLOUTED CONGRESS' AUTHORITY.
HE EVEN CALLED THE  
CONSTITUTIONAL IMPEACHMENT  
MECHANISM UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
HISTORIANS WILL MARVEL HOW SOME 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONTINUED TO
STAND BY THIS MAN, HOW THEY PUT 
BLIND PARTISAN LOYALTY OR FEAR  
OF DONALD TRUMP ABOVE THEIR DUTY
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. 
HOW THEY MADE ABSURD PARTISAN 
ARGUMENTS AND TRIED TO OBSTRUCT 
THESE PROCEEDINGS AND HOW 
INSTEAD OF PUSHING BACK WHEN  
THEIR PARTY FELL UNDER THE DARK 
SPELL OF AUTHORITARIANISM, THEY 
EMBRACED IT AS IF THE 
CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW,  
AND OUR OATH OF OFFICE MEAN 
NOTHING.
SO, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR OUR  
FUTURE GENERATIONS, OUR 
CHILDREN, THE JUDGMENT OF 
HISTORY, LET ME BE CLEAR -- I 
STAND WITH OUR CONSTITUTION,  
WITH THE RULE OF LAW, AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
I'LL BE VOTING YES TO IMPEACH 
DONALD J. TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR  
YIELDING ME TIME. 
TODAY'S VOTE TO IMPEACH THE DULY
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES IS TRULY HISTORICAL. 
HOWEVER, ITS UNIQUE PLACE IN  
HISTORY IS NOT FOR THE REASONS  
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THEIR  
MAINSTREAM MEDIA OVERLORDS ARE  
SO DESPERATELY TRYING TO CONVEY.
TODAY WE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS  
THE DAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS, 
CLAIMING A FALSE MORAL  
SUPREMACY, OVER THE DESIRE OF 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, EXECUTED A 
DELIBERATE AND ORCHESTRATED PLAN
TO OVERTURN A PRESIDENTIAL  
ELECTION. 
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN  
HISTORY THAT A PARTY PARADED OUT
THEIR IVY LEAGUE ACADEMICS TO 
EXPLAIN TO 31 STATES AND ALMOST 
63 MILLION PEOPLE THAT THEIR  
VOICE SHOULD NOT BE HEARD AND 
WHY THEIR VOTES SHOULD BE 
COUNTED.
MR. WILLIAMS: I PRAY FOR OUR  
NATION EVERY DAY. 
BUT TODAY I'M PRAYING FOR MY  
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.
WHO ARRIVED AT THIS PARTISAN AND
SELF-DIRECTED FORK IN THE ROAD  
AND CHOSE THE ROAD NEVER BEFORE 
TRAVELED AND ONE THAT HAS A DEAD
END.
DONALD J. TRUMP IS OUR  
PRESIDENT.
CHOSEN BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FAIR AND SQUARE.
AS WE SAY IN TEXAS, IT'S A DONE 
DEAL. 
DEMOCRATS ATTEMPT --  
DEMOCRATICS' ATTEMPT TO CHANGE  
HISTORY WILL NEVER UNDO THAT. 
MAY GOD BLESS THE GREATEST  
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
MR. COLLINS: RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
WOULD REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT 
THE IMPEACHMENT CLAUSES PLACED  
IN THE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR FORM
OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST A 
PRESIDENT WHO WOULD SUBVERT OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTIES IN 
BETWEEN ELECTIONS.
I NOW YIELD ONE 911 THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
TEXAS -- ONE MINUTE TO THE  
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
TEXAS, MR. GREEN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. GREEN: AND STILL I RISE,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE BECAUSE I LOVE MY COUNTRY
AND, MADAM SPEAKER, SHALL ANY 
MAN BE BEYOND JUSTICE, THIS IS  
THE QUESTION POSED IN 1787 BY 
GEORGE MASON AT THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
SHALL ANY MAN BE BEYOND JUSTICE?
MADAM SPEAKER, IF THIS PRESIDENT
IS ALLOWED TO THWART THE EFFORTS
OF CONGRESS WITH A LEGITIMATE 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, THE  
PRESIDENT WILL NOT ONLY BE ABOVE
THE LAW, HE WILL BE BEYOND  
JUSTICE.
WE CANNOT ALLOW ANY PERSON TO BE
BEYOND JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY. 
IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY, ON  
BEHALF OF THE REPUBLICAN, AND 
FOR THE SAKE OF THE MANY WHO ARE
SUFFERING, I WILL VOTE TO 
IMPEACH AND I ENCOURAGE MY  
COLLEAGUES TO DO SO AS WELL.
NO ONE IS BEYOND JUSTICE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I'D ALSO REMIND MY CHAIRMAN THAT
THE IMPEACHMENT WAS NOT TO BE 
USED IN THE -- BETWEEN ELECTION 
CYCLES TO DEFEAT A PRESIDENT, 
SITTING PRESIDENT, WHO YOU THINK
WILL BE RE-ELECTED. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
BUCHANAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
BUKEBUKE THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER -- BUKEBUKE THANK YOU,  
MADAM SPEAKER --  
MR. BUCHANAN: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I WILL VOTE TODAY AGAINST BOTH  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE 
WE ARE WITHOUT MERIT, SETTING A 
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR OUR 
COUNTRY.
THIS POLITICAL VENDETTA IS AN 
ABUSE OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS
AND WOULD SUBVERT THE VOTES OF  
63 MILLION AMERICANS. 
JUST BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT'S  
OPPONENTS ARE AFRAID THAT HE'LL 
WIN RE-ELECTION IS NO EXCUSE FOR
WEAPONIZING IMPEACHMENT.
NO PRESIDENT IN HISTORY HAS EVER
BEEN IMPEACHED 10 MONTHS BEFORE 
AN ELECTION.
ELECTIONS ARE THE HEART OF OUR  
DEMOCRACY, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS 
DEVICED A SIMPLE WAY TO REMOVE A
PRESIDENT IF YOU DISDEGREE WITH 
HIM.
IT'S CALLED -- DISAGREE WITH  
HIM.
IT'S CALLED AN ELECTION.
AND WE HAVE ONE COMING UP IN  
LESS THAN A YEAR. 
LET'S LET THE PEOPLE DECEMBER 
THIS NEXT NOVEMBER. 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM MICHIGAN, MS. 
TLAIB.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
. 
>> I RISE IN SUPPORT OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
I LEARN SO MUCH FROM MY 
RESIDENTS AT HOME.
THEIR COMMON SENSE AND  
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS RIGHT AND 
WHAT IS WRONG IS WHY THEY 
OPPOSE ANY PERSON USING THE 
MOST POWERFUL POSITION IN THE 
WORLD FOR GAIN. 
WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE  
UNITED STATES AND UPHOLD THE  
CONSTITUTION, NOT AS  
REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS BUT AS 
AMERICANS.
MS. TALIB: WE SHOULD LEARN. 
DOING NOTHING HERE, MADAM 
SPEAKER, IS NOT AN OPTION.
LOOKING AWAY FROM THESE CRIMES  
AGAINST OUR COUNTRY IS NOT AN 
OPTION. 
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE  
FUTURE OF OUR NATION AND OUR  
DEMOCRACY FROM CORRUPTION,  
ABUSE OF POWER, CRIMINAL  
COVER-UP, AND BRIBERY.
AND THIS, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS 
VOTE IS ALSO FOR MY SONS IN THE 
FUTURE. 
OF SO MANY GENERATIONS. 
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO  
PLEASE, VOTE YES ON THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. JOYCE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. JOYCE: I RISE ON THIS DARK  
DAY IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE  
OF REPRESENTATIVES TO VOICE MY  
OPPOSITION TO THE SHAMEFUL  
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT HAS  
OCCURRED IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE  
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE DO NOT  
LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THEY 
PROUDLY BOASTED ABOUT THEIR 
INTENTION TO IMPEACH OUR  
PRESIDENT BEFORE HE WAS EVEN  
SWORN INTO OFFICE.
OUT OF DISDAIN FOR THE  
PRESIDENT AND FOR THOSE OF US 
WHO ELECTED HIM, THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES IS CONSIDERING  
TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
THAT ARE SO VERY WEAK THAT THEY 
EVEN FAIL TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC 
CRIMES. 
THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT IN  
SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN  
PENNSYLVANIA KNOW THE TRUTH.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THE  
TRUTH.
THIS IMPEACHMENT CIRCUS HAS 
NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE FACTS. 
THIS PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN  
ABOUT SEEKING REVENGE FOR THE 
PRESIDENT'S ELECTION IN 2016  
AND ATTEMPTING TO PREVENT HIM 
FROM WINNING AGAIN IN 2020. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY 
OPPOSE THIS PARTISAN AND  
SHAMEFUL EFFORT TO IMPEACH OUR  
DEMOCRATICALLY AND DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION, I 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN WITH 
ME AND VOTE NO ON THE ARTICLES  
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, ALL  
WE KEEP HEARING FROM THE OTHER  
SIDE ARE ATTACKS ON THE PROCESS 
AND QUESTIONS OF OUR MOTIVES. 
WE DO NOT HEAR BECAUSE WE 
CANNOT HEAR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT 
ARTICULATE A REAL DEFENSE OF  
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM MASSACHUSETTS,  
MS. PRESSLEY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. PRESSLEY: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE TODAY TO PROTECT OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
TODAY, WE TAKE A STAND AGAINST  
CORRUPTION AND ABUSES OF POWER. 
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY IS 
NOT ONLY PATRIOTIC, IT IS 
UNIQUELY AMERICAN.
AMERICA IS A STORY OF ORDINARY  
PEOPLE CONFRONTING ABUSES OF  
POWER WITH THE STEADFAST  
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. 
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THE 
OPPRESSED HAVE BEEN RELEGATED 
TO THE MARGINS BY THE POWERFUL, 
AND EACH TIME WE HAVE FOUGHT  
BACK. 
DELIBERATE IN OUR APPROACH, 
CLEAR-EYED. 
EACH GENERATION HAS FOUGHT FOR  
THE PRESERVATION OF OUR 
DEMOCRACY, AND THAT IS WHAT 
BRINGS US TO THE HOUSE FLOOR  
TODAY.
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN THE  
PURSUIT OF OUR TRUTH. 
CONGRESS HAS DONE ITS DUE 
DILIGENCE.
TODAY, WE SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE, 
WE ARE NOT TOLERATE ABUSES OF 
POWER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION RESTS 
IN OUR HANDS. 
IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART BUT A  
RESOLVED ONE, AND BECAUSE I 
BELIEVE OUR DEMOCRACY IS WORTH  
FIGHTING FOR, I WILL VOTE TO  
IMPEACH DONALD J. TRUMP, AND I  
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE  
SAME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MY CHAIRMAN, 
AGAIN, I THINK HEARS US.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE  
IT. 
WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING BUT A 
PROCESS THAT WAS COMPLETELY 
AMUCK, YOU TALK ABOUT THE 
PROCESS.
LET'S DO IT ONE MORE TIME.
NO PRESSURE BY EITHER MR. TRUMP 
AND MR. ZELENSKY. 
WHAT HORRIFIES ME IS THE  
CONTINUATION TO SAY THAT MR.  
ZELENSKY, WHO IS THE SUPPOSED 
VICTIM HERE, WHO SAID MANY  
TIMES THERE WAS NO PRESSURE.
THE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS ARE 
CALLING HIM A LIAR OR WEAKENING 
HIM IN HIS OWN COUNTRY. 
HAS NO CONDITIONALITY IN THE  
TRANSCRIPT OR AFTER THAT. 
FIVE MEETINGS PROVE THAT. 
ALL HIGH LEVEL MEETINGS.
NO CONDITIONALITY.
TWO OF THOSE MEETINGS WERE WHEN 
THE UKRAINIAN KNEW THEIR AID  
WAS BEING HELD. 
AFTER, THERE WAS NOTHING DONE 
TO GET THE MONEY, GUESS WHAT  
THEY GOT THE MONEY. 
THAT'S THE FACT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO  
DEAL WITH.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
SO LET'S CONTINUE TO SEE HOW  
THE SHAM WAS PERPETRATED. 
THAT'S WHAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS 
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WITH THAT I YIELD A MINUTE AND  
A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MICHIGAN, MR. BERGMAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. BERGMAN: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I BELIEVE ALL THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE NEED TO BE LOOKED IN THE 
EYE BY ALL THEIR  
REPRESENTATIVES.
TODAY IS THE CULMINATION OF THE 
DEMOCRATS' THREE YEAR-LONG  
QUEST TO DELEGITIMIZE THE 
PRESIDENT.
THIS WAS PROMISED IN 2016.
IT WAS ALL PROMISED WHEN THE  
DEMOCRATS TOOK MAJORITY.
THIS SHAM PROCESS BEGAN WITHOUT 
A FORMAL VOTE IN THE HOUSE AND  
CONTINUED OVER THESE PAST 
SEVERAL MONTHS WILLFULLY  
TRAMPLING ON DECADES OF 
BIPARTISAN PRECEDENT. 
NO DUE PROCESS, CLOSED DOOR 
DEPOSITIONS EVEN THOUGH NOTHING 
IN THE INVESTIGATION WAS  
CLASSIFIED AND LEAKING ONLY 
DETAILS THAT FIT THEIR  
NARRATIVE.
IF THIS ISN'T PARTISAN  
POLITICS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. 
HOLDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 
ACCOUNTABLE IS A JOB I TAKE 
EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.
BUT THE IMPEACHMENT VOTES TODAY 
REPRESENT THE WORST OF  
WASHINGTON, D.C.
YET, ANOTHER REASON MY  
CONSTITUENTS ARE SO 
DISILLUSIONED WITH THE PROCESS  
AND DISAPPOINTED BY THE 116TH 
CONGRESS. 
MICHIGAN'S FIRST DISTRICT SENT  
ME TO WASHINGTON TO GET THINGS  
DONE, TO GET GOVERNMENT OFF 
THEIR BACKS AND HELP RURAL  
MICHIGANNERS AND OTHERS ACROSS  
THE COUNTRY KEEP MORE OF THEIR  
HARD-EARNED CURRENCY. 
NOT IMPEACH OUR DULY ELECTED  
PRESIDENT.
WITH THAT I URGE MY COLLEAGUES  
TO SUPPORT AGAINST THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. 
BARRAGAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. BARRAGAN: MADAM SPEAKER, IT 
IS WITH A SOLEMN SENSE OF DUTY  
THAT I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
AS THIS CHAMBER DEBATES TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS ABUSE OF  
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF  
CONGRESS, I WANT HISTORY TO 
KNOW THAT I STOOD UP TO SAY 
THAT I STAND FOR THE  
CONSTITUTION AND OUR DEMOCRACY. 
WHEN MY IMMIGRANT MOM BECAME A  
UNITED STATES CITIZEN, SHE TOOK 
AN OATH AND ALLEGIANCE TO OUR 
COUNTRY AND CONSTITUTION. 
WHEN I STOOD ON THIS FLOOR AS A 
NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I TOOK  
AN OATH TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND  
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER  
WHEN HE USES OFFICIAL OFFICE  
AND POWER TO ASK FOREIGN  
GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN OUR  
ELECTIONS.
WHEN HE ASKED A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT FOR A PERSONAL FAVOR 
TO DIG UP DIRT ON HIS POLITICAL 
OPPONENT SO HE COULD CHEAT. 
THE PRESIDENT GOT CAUGHT AND  
THEN HE TRIED TO COVER IT UP. 
TODAY, WE SAY NO MORE.
TODAY, WE SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW 
THIS PRESIDENT TO ABUSE HIS 
POWER AND ENDANGER OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
I STAND TO SAY, NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW.
NOT EVEN THIS PRESIDENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PERRY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. PERRY: SINCE BEFORE 
INAUGURATION THE PRESS AND  
MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS HAVE 
BEEN FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
MEMBERS REFUSE TO ATTEND THE  
INAUGURATION. 
THEY CALLED FOR IMPEACHMENT.
THEY VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, THEY  
VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT, CREATING 
AND MANUFACTURING EVIDENCE. 
RECALL AND VOTES OF NO  
CONFIDENCE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN  
OUR CONSTITUTION FOR A REASON.
OUR SYSTEM DEMANDS EVIDENCE OF  
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
IF SUCH EVIDENCE EXISTED, THERE 
WOULD BE AGREEMENT IN THIS  
CHAMBER, BUT THERE IS NOT.
THERE IS NOT AN AGREEMENT 
BECAUSE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE. 
MADISON AND HAMILTON WARNED US  
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN, THAT 
IMPEACHMENT WOULD VEER TOWARD 
POLITICAL FACTIONS AND THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS. 
THIS IS BITTERLY AND NAKEDLY  
PARTISAN. 
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE AISLE HAVE MADE A  
MOCKERY OF THIS PROCESS AND 
THIS GOVERNMENT.
THEY DESPIES THE PRESIDENT AND  
ARE THEMSELVES A-- DESPICE THE  
PRESIDENT AND ARE THEMSELVES  
ABUSING THEIR POWER.
MADAM SPEAKER, THEY HOPE IF 
THEY REPEAT THEM OVER AND OVER  
YOU WILL BELIEVE THEIR CHARGES. 
REPEATING THINGS THAT AREN'T  
TRUE DOESN'T MAKE THEM TRUE.
THE CALL RECORD BETWEEN THE TWO 
PRESIDENTS ARE CLEAR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INTERESTED  
IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF 
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
HE ASKED THE UKRAINIANS TO WORK 
WITH OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THE UKRAINIANS WERE ALREADY 
GETTING THE MILITARY HARDWARE 
AND THEY GOT THE AID THEY 
DESIRED.
THESE ARE NOT HIGH CRIMES.
THESE ARE DISAGREEMENTS OVER  
FOREIGN AID.
MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT DRIVEN BY 
A QUEST OF FACTS OR TRUTH.
THEY ARE DRIVEN BY THEIR  
PARTISAN, ANIMUS, AND A 
TIMETABLE.
THESE ARE THE RECKLESS AND  
IRRESPONSIBLE ACT OF ELITISTS 
IN THE SWAMP AND THEY UNDERLINE 
THE FABRIC OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
I URGE A NO VOTE AND I YIELD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
WOULD REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT 
THERE IS IN FACT EXTENSIVE  
DIRECT EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE  
PRESIDENT'S OWN WORDS AND 
ACTIONS, WHICH IS CORROBORATED  
AND SUPPORTED BY INDIRECT AND 
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
THE RECORD LEAVES THE FOLLOWING 
KEY FACTS INDISPUTABLE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S OWN ATTORNEY, 
RUDY GIULIANI, PUSHED UKRAINE 
TO INVESTIGATE JOE BIDEN AND A  
DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY  
ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTIONS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DIRECTED U.S. 
OFFICIALS AND PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY HIMSELF TO WORK WITH 
MR. GIULIANI TO FULFILL ITS 
DEMANDS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHHELD  
CRITICAL MILITARY AID FOR 
UKRAINE.
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP STONEWALLED 
CONGRESS' INVESTIGATION TO  
COVER-UP HIS MISCONDUCT.
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.  
CASTEN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. CASTEN: MADAM SPEAKER, THIS 
SHOULD NOT BE A PARTISAN VOTE.
THIS IS A VOTE ABOUT AMERICA. 
IT'S A VOTE ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY 
AND OUR OATH TO THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
WE ALL TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT  
THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL  
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S WRONG TO  
WITHHOLD FOREIGN AID FOR A  
POLITICAL FAVOR.
WE ALL KNOW IT'S WRONG TO 
IGNORE CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS. 
AND WE KNOW IT'S WRONG TO 
DEFAULT TO SILLY PARTISAN 
PROCESS ARGUMENTS RATHER THAN 
TO RISE AND DEFEND THIS 
BEAUTIFUL BUT ALL-TOO-FRAGILE 
DEMOCRACY.
AND WHEN THOSE ABUSE THOSE  
POWERS FOR PERSONAL ADVANTAGE,  
IT'S FOR US TO UPHOLD THE 
RESPONSIBILITY THE FOUNDERS 
BESTOWED UPON US. 
I REMIND YOU THE GREAT WORDS OF 
LINCOLN.
WHEN ONE PARTY WOULD INFLAME  
PARTISANSHIP RATHER THAN LET  
THE NATION SURVIVE, I AM PROUD  
TO BE THE PARTY TO ACCEPT 
PARTISANSHIP RATHER THAN ACCEPT 
THE NATION PERISH.
THIS MOMENT THE MESSAGE IS  
CLEAR, WE MUST IMPEACH. 
DON'T VOTE YOUR PARTY, VOTE 
YOUR CHARACTER. 
THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE 
JUDGED AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE  
ALL GOING TO BE JUDGED. 
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I ASK FOR A TIME 
CHECK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS AN 
HOUR AND -- AN HOUR AND 44 1/2  
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS 
AN HOUR AND 47 1/2 MINUTES. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO,  
MR. TIPTON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. TIPTON: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO  
THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS PROCESS 
DOES NOT BEGIN WITH A 
WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT. 
IN FACT, IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS  
BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE 
PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED.
THE THEATRICS, POLITICAL  
POSTURING HAVE ENSURED THAT 
THIS BODY IS NOT ACTUALLY 
PURSUING TO PRESERVE CHECKS AND 
BALANCES. 
RATHER, THIS PROCESS ECHOS THE  
CALLS BY SOME THAT REFUSE TO  
ACCEPT THE 2016 ELECTION  
RESULTS.
NEITHER OF THE ARTICLES 
RECEIVING A VOTE JUST BY THE  
REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT FROM 
OFFICE. 
THE FIRST ARTICLES SUGGESTS 
THAT THE PRESIDENT PRESSURED A  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE 
TO ASSIST IN AN UPCOMING  
ELECTION. 
UKRAINE RECEIVED ITS AID  
WITHOUT A PREARRANGED 
AGREEMENT.
THIS IS UNSUBSTANTIATED.
SECOND ARTICLE IS PREMISED ON 
THE OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED WHEN 
THE WHITE HOUSE IGNORED 
SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY THE HOUSE.
OUR FEDERAL COURTS ARE THE  
ULTIMATE ARBITERS OF THESE  
DECISIONS.
IN FACT, THE PREVIOUS 
ADMINISTRATIONS REPUBLICAN AND  
DEMOCRAT BOTH HAVE DEALT WITH 
THESE ISSUES AND CLAIMED  
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.
MR. SPEAKER -- MADAM SPEAKER, 
THE ARTICLES THAT ARE BEFORE  
THIS HOUSE ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED. 
I INTEND TO VOTE NO ON THESE  
ARTICLES AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE  
MY COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO DO  
THE SAME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR. 
GALLEGO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. GALLEGO: MADAM SPEAKER, 
TODAY I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH  
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR  
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION  
OF CONGRESS.
THOSE STILL DEFENDING THE 
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS ARE 
DESPERATELY GRASPING AT STAUSE  
WHILE LIVING IN AN ALTERNATIVE  
UNIVERSE WHERE FACTS DON'T  
EXIST.
TO THOSE STILL UNWILLING TO 
SEARCH THEIR SOULS ASK  
YOURSELVES -- WOULD YOU SUPPORT 
A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT USING  
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PRESSURE A  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO 
INVESTIGATE A REPUBLICAN  
POLITICAL OPPONENT BASED ON 
FALSE RUSSIAN CONSPIRACY  
THEORIES? 
OF COURSE NOT.
THAT'S ABSURD.
ANY PRESIDENT WHO DOES THAT HAS 
ABUSED THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY FOR PERSONAL GAIN  
AND UNDERMINE OUR MOST SACRED 
TRADITION, OUR ELECTIONS. 
IN A FEW HOURS, EVERY MEMBER  
WILL MAKE A CHOICE. 
WILL YOU FALL INTO THE AGE-OLD  
POLITICAL TRAP OF THINKING  
BLIND PARTISANSHIP IS ALL THAT  
MATTERS OR WILL YOU VOTE TO 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY SO THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP AND EVERY FUTURE  
PRESIDENT WILL KNOW THEY ARE  
NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND WILL BE 
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR  
ACTIONS?
I HAVE MADE MY CHOICE.
I HOPE EVERY MEMBER PUTS THE  
DEFENSE OF OUR NATION FIRST AND 
JOINS ME. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I NEED TO YIELD A MINUTE AND A  
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
NEBRASKA, MR. SMITH.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. SMITH: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
RISE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST 
THIS ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
. 
IMPEACHMENT IS IMPORTANTLY  
ESTABLISHED IN OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
THE IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT  
HAS OVERWHELM HAPPENED TWICE  
INURE COUNTRY'S 243 YEAR  
HISTRY. 
YET TODAY FOR HIGHLY POLITICAL  
PURPOSES THE HOUSE MAJORITY IS  
TRYING TO REMOVE PRESIDENT  
TRUMP FROM OFFICE BASED ON  
SECONDHAND INDIRECT ACCOUNTS. 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WE  
ARE VOTING ON TODAY OFFER NO  
EVIDENCE OF A CRIME, BUT  
INSTEAD ARE PURPOSELY BROAD TO  
FIT THE MAJORITY'S NARRATIVE. 
LESS THAN ONE YEAR UNTIL THE  
NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WE  
ARE BEING ASKED TO OVERRIDE THE 
CHOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS LOBSIDED AND HYPER 
PARTISAN BIASED IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS HAS HAD -- HAS BEEN 
PREFERMED AS AN OUTCOME FROM  
THE VERY BEGINNING. 
-- PREDETERMINED AS AN OUTCOME  
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE DAY IN 
IN HISTORY IN OUR GREAT 
COUNTRY.
SURELY THERE WILL BE  
DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE 
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS FOR MANY 
YEARS TO COME.
INSTEAD OF UNNECESSARILY  
DIVIDING OUR CONTRY, AS WE ARE  
SEEING TODAY, WE SHOULD BE  
LOOKING AT WAYS TO BRING OUR  
COUNTRY TOGETHER. 
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS ARE 
BOTH IMPEACHABLE AND CRIMINAL.
ALTHOUGH THE VIOLATION OF THE 
FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTE IS 
NEITHER NECESSARY MORE  
SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY 
IMPEACHMENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S  
CONDUCT VIOLATED THE FEDERAL  
ANTI-BRIBERY STATUTE VERY 
CLEARLY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD ONE  
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
VIRGINIA, MR. BEYER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BEYER: I THANK THE  
CHAIRMAN. 
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I WILL 
VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP  
FOR ABUSE OF POWER AN 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
I DON'T HATE THE PRESIDENT. 
BUT I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND I 
HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
IS THE ONLY MORAL COURSE OF 
ACTION, THE ONLY WAY TO HONOR 
OUR OATH OF OFFICE. 
I HAVE NO DOUBT THE VOTES I 
CAST TODAY WILL STAND THE TEST  
OF TIME THIS. 
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 2016 
ELECTIONS.
I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MY 
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS APPROVE OF 
THE PRESIDENT'S ABUSES OF POWER 
AND SOLICITATION OF FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.
THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF  
THE WILLFUL SUSPENSION OF 
DISBELIEF.
THEY KNOW IN THEIR HEART WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IS 
DEEPLY WROPPING.
THEY KNOW THEY WOULD VOTE 
WITHOUT HESITATION TO IMPEACH A 
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHO HAS  
DONE THESE THINGS.
I REMIND ALL AMERICANS THE  
PRESIDENT DID NOT REBUT THE 
FACTS, MANY FACTS, WHICH LED TO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT TODAY.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR DEMOCRACY,  
OUR CONSTITUTION, AND OUR 
COUNTRY, WE MUST DOT RIGHT  
THING AND VOTE TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I WAS AMAZED BY WHAT THE  
CHAIRMAN SAID.
IF HE VIOLATED THE ROBBERY  
STATUTE, WHY DIDN'T WE ADD IT 
AS AREN'TICLE OF IMPEACHMENT, 
THE REASON WHY? 
HE IT DIDN'T. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM ARTICLE 2,  
SECTION 4 THE UNITED STATES 
CONSTITUTION STATES THAT THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
MAY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE FOR  
TREASON, BRIBERY, HIGH CRIMES,  
AND MISDEMEANORS. 
AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR I AM 
CONFIDENT THAT NO COURT WOULD 
ACCEPT THESE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT AS HAVING MET THE 
STANDARDS SET FORTH BY OUR  
FOUNDING FATHERS. 
THE IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES RELY 
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON HEARSAY 
AND OPINION TESTIMONY AND THEY  
PRESENT NO DIRECT EVIDENCE OF 
WRONGDOING. 
MR. GUEST: AS A FORMER DISTRICT 
ATTORNEY I AM DISMAYED THAT THE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE SUBMITTED  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
A SITTING PRESIDENT USING 
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT  
FAILS TO OFFER PROOF OF AN  
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CHARGES 
LEVIED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT  
ANTARCTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
LACK HISTORICAL PRECEDENT AND 
MOTIVATED BY PURE POLITICAL 
REASON. 
IF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
PASSES THE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT, THE DEMOCRATS WILL 
HAVE SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT  
BY UNDOING AMERICA'S VOTE FOR 
PRESIDENT BECAUSE A SINGLE  
PARTY DISAGREED WITH THE 2016 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO 
ON THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT  
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I NOW YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
THOMPSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. THOMPSON: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
FIND NO PLEASURE COMING TO THE  
FLOOR TODAY TO CONSIDER 
IMPEACHMENT.
I RAN FOR CONGRESS TO REPRESENT 
MY COMMUNITY AND TO SERVE THE 
COUNTRY I LOVE. 
AS A COMBAT VETERAN AND HAVING  
SERVED EIGHT YEARS ON THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, I 
UNDERSTAND THE THREAT THAT  
FOREIGN ACTORS CAN PLAY IN OUR  
ELECTIONS.
EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL MUST 
DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO  
PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY. 
NO ONE SHOULD INVITE A FOREIGN  
COUNTRY TO INTERFERE WITH OUR 
MOST SACRED ACT OF VOTING.
IT WAS ABUSE OF POWER BY THE  
PRESIDENT TO ASK A FOREIGN  
NATION TO INTERFERE IN OUR  
ELECTION TO BENEFIT HIS 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL INTEREST 
AND TO CONDITION BIPARTISAN 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED AID ON 
THAT INTERFERENCE.
UNCHECKED THESE ACTIONS COULD 
LEAD US DOWN A PATH THAT WILL 
UNRAVEL THE-THE FABRIC OF OUR 
NATION. 
I AM SADDENED WE ARE HERE 
TODAY.
IN THE INTEREST OF DEFENDING  
OUR NATION, I WILL VOTE FOR THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM TEXAS, MR. ROY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. ROY: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN  
FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. SPEAKER, OUR FOUNDERS 
INTENTIONALLY DID NOT EMBRACE 
RECALLS OR VOTES OF NO  
CONFIDENCE. 
WE DEMAND OF CONGRESS HIGH  
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
WHILE MY COLLEAGUES ARE FREE TO 
DISLIKE THE PRESIDENT E., AND 
VIEW THE PHONE CALL AS  
SOMETHING LESS THAN PERFECT,  
THEY ARE NOT FREE TO IMPEACH  
SOMETHING LESS THAN A HIGH  
CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR.
IN JUST OVER 10 MONTHS THE  
PEOPLE ARE FREE TO DECIDE AND 
WE SHOULD LET THEM. 
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON  
US, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE PRESS GALLERIES ARE FULL. 
OUR FLOOR FULL OF MEMBERS.
WHEN WILL WE GIVE THE WORLD --  
GIVE THE WORLD SOMETHING BETTER 
THAN THIS.
MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT THE  
CONSTITUTION THEY FOUND UNDER 
MOTHBALLS.
WHERE'S RESPECT FOR THE 
CONSTITUTION WHEN PEOPLE'S  
HOUSE DAILY REFUSE TO DO ITS  
ACTUAL JOB WHILE SHREDDING  
FEDERALISM. 
TODAY IN MEXICO A YOUNG GIRL  
WILL BE ABUSED WHILE BEING  
TRAFFICKED TOWARD OUR OPEN  
CORDERS.
WHILE SOME HERE YELL KIDS IN  
CAGES.
TODAY NEW YORK A YOUNG MOTHER 
WILL BE COURSED INTO ABORTION 
BY TAXPAYER FUNDED PLANNED  
PARENTHOOD, WHILE WE ALLOW THE  
GENOCIDE OF THE UNBORN IN THE 
FALSE NAME OF CHOICE. 
TODAY ACROSS AMERICA DIABETICS  
WILL AFFORD TO INSULIN DUE TO 
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RAVAGED  
BY GOVERNMENT AND INSURANCE 
BUREAUCRATS EMPOWERED IN THE  
FALSE NAME OF COVERAGE. 
TODAY OUR CHILDREN INHERIT $100 
MILLION OF DEBT AN HOUR 
BORROWED IN THE FALSE NAME OF 
WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE.
IN THIS CONDUCT BY CONGRESS,  
FAILING TO DO ITS JOBS, THAT  
SHOULD BE IMPEACHED.
ONE MIGHT ASK IF AMERICA WOULD  
BE BETTER OFF TAKING THE FIRST  
435 NAMES OUT OF THE PHONE BOOK 
TO REPRESENT US IN THE UNITED 
STATES HOUSE THAN WHAT IS ON  
DISPLAY HERE TODAY. 
TODAY IS NOT A DARK DAY BECAUSE 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THIS.
AMERICA IS GREAT. 
WASHINGTON IS BROKEN. 
AND WE ARE TAKING OUR COUNTRY 
BACK. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MS. MATSUI. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. MATSUI: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE TODAY WITH A HEAVY HEART.
I CAME TO CONGRESS TO SERVE THE 
GREAT PEOPLE OF SACRAMENTO AND  
TO BUILD AM BERT FUTURE FOR OUR 
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, 
INCLUDING MY GRANDKIDS. 
THE FACTS BEFORE US ARE CRYSTAL 
CLEAR.
WE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM 17  
BRAVE PATRIOTS WHO VALUE OUR  
DEMOCRACY AND THE CONSTITUTION. 
THEY TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP THREATENED TO WITHHOLD  
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED MONEY  
IN EXCHANGE FOR DIRT ON THE 
POLITICAL RIVAL AND WORSE.
IT CONTINUES TO INVITE FOREIGN  
POWERS TO VIOLATE OUR 
SOVEREIGNTY EVEN TODAY. 
ON ITS FACE THESE ARE 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES THAT 
REPRESENT A CLEAR AND PRESENT 
DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY THE ONLY ANSWER IS 
TO ACT NOW. 
WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AND 
STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP  
IMMEDIATELY SO THAT HE CANNOT 
VIOLATE THE NEXT ELECTION.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY AND 
OUR DEMOCRACY, I WILL VOTE YES  
TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. SMUCKER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. SMUCKER: THANK YOU. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO  
ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER  
SIDE OF THE AISLE, HOW MUCH IS  
THE TRUST OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE WORTH? 
WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE  
DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR 
GOVERNMENT, THE PRIMARY TOOL  
THAT THE CONSTITUTION GIVES 
THEM TO MAKE A CHANGE IS THEIR  
VOTE. 
AND ON NOVEMBER 8, 2016,  
AMERICANS FROM EVERY PART OF  
THIS NATION PACKED THE POLLS TO 
ELECT DONALD J. TRUMP TO BE THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
THE COUNTRY WANTED A DISRUPTER, 
A FIRE, A DEAL MAKER, A 
PRESIDENT THAT WOULD PUT  
AMERICA FIRST.
BUT SADLY ON THAT VERY SAME DAY 
DEMOCRATS HAD NO PLAN OR  
INTEREST IN HONORING THE VOTE 
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THEY WERE GOING TO ATTEMPT FROM 
DAY ONE TO DELEGITIMATIZE THIS  
PRESIDENT AND ULTIMATELY REMOVE 
HIM FROM OFFICE.
RIGHT AFTER THE PRESIDENT WAS 
SWORN IN, "THE WASHINGTON POST" 
WROTE, THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH  
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEGUN.
EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE A  
"POLITICO" ARTICLE HEADLINE 
READ, COULD TRUMP BE IMPEACHED  
SHORTLY AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE?
SO, HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
PLANNING FOR THIS DAY SINCE 
JANUARY, 2017.
IT'S CLEAR THAT FACTS HAVE  
NEVER MATTERED TO THE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS.
THEY NEVER PLANNED TO WORK WITH 
THE PRESIDENT.
INSTEAD THEY INTENDED ONLY TO 
FULFILL THEIR DIVISIVE PARTISAN 
AGENDA. 
AGAIN I ASK, HOW MUCH IS THE  
TRUST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE  
WORTH?
BECAUSE AFTER THE VOTE TODAY, 
FOR WHAT YOU THINK IS A 
SHORT-TERM PARTISAN GAIN, YOU 
CAN BE SURE THAT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE WILL HAVE LOST THEIR 
TRUST IN OUR INSTITUTION. 
THEY WILL HAVE LOST THEIR TRUST 
IN CONGRESS AND MOST  
IMPORTANTLY LOST TRUST THEIR  
VOTE COUNTS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. GARAMENDI: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IMPEACHING A PRESIDENT IS ONE 
OF THE MOST SOLEMN AND  
CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS THE 
UNITED STATES CONGRESS CAN  
MAKE. 
IT'S NOT AN ACTION THAT I OR MY 
FELL HOUSE COLLEAGUES TAKE  
LIGHTLY.
-- FELLOW HOUSE COLLEAGUES TAKE 
LIGHTLY.
INVESTIGATIONS AND HEARINGS 
CONDUCTED BY THE HOUSE PROVED 
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED HIS  
POWER AND ENDANGERED OUR  
NATIONAL SECURITY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO ISSUED A 
BLANKET ORDER PROHIBITING ALL 
EXECUTIVE OFFICE PERSONNEL FROM 
TESTIFYING, RESPONDING TO 
SUBPOENAS, OR TURNING OVER  
DOCUMENTS.
THEREFORE HE HAS OBSTRUCTED THE 
LEGITIMATE, CONSTITUTIONAL  
OBLIGATION OF CONGRESS. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS LEAVE 
ME NO CHOICE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP VIOLATED HIS  
OATH OF OFFICE. 
NOW I WILL UPHOLD MY OATH OF  
OFFICE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT  
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
AND MY PROMISE TO MY  
CONSTITUENTS TO CAREFULLY 
ANALYZE ALL ISSUES BEFORE ME. 
I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF BOTH  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
DUNN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. DUNN: I STAND BEFORE YOU  
TODAY A DISAPPOINTED MAN. 
I AM DISAPPOINTED IN A BROKEN 
AND PARTISAN PROCESS THAT HAS 
CONSUMED THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS. 
WE WERE TOLD THIS INVESTIGATION 
WAS GOING TO BE BIPARTISAN AND  
TRANSPARENT.
INSTEAD THE PROCEEDINGS WERE  
HELD IN SECRET BEHIND CLOSED  
DOORS WITH NO ATTEMPT AT A FAIR 
HEARING.
ALL THIS WAS DONE DELIBERATELY  
IN AN EFFORT TO UNDO THE  
RESULTS OF THE 2016 ELECTION. 
MADAM SPEAKER, MY CONSTITUENTS  
IN FLORIDA WANT TO SEE US GET 
TO WORK.
THEY WANT US, THEY ARE COUNTING 
ON US TO ACTUALLY FIX THE 
SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING, LOWER 
THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 
INSTEAD WE ARE HERE A WEEK  
BEFORE CHRISTMAS VOTING TO  
IMPEACH THE LEGITIMATE  
PRESIDENT, DONALD J. TRUMP, ON  
THE STRENGTH OF NOTHING BUT 
RUMORS. 
WE HAVE WASTED ALMOST A YEAR ON 
THIS PROCESS WHILE HOUSE  
DEMOCRATS CHOSE POLITICAL 
THEATER OVER SERVING THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS SHAMEFUL VOTE TO IMPEACH 
OUR PRESIDENT WILL BE A LASTING 
STAIN ON OUR HOUSE. 
AND I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES 
TO VOTE NO. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM  
OREGON, MR. DEFAZIO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. DEFAZIO: I THANK THE  
GENTLEMAN.
IT'S CLEAR-CUT. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES HAS VIOLATED HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE AND BETRAYED THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
HE ADMITTED TO SOLICITING 
ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN LEADER, 
TO INTERFERE IN THE U.S.  
ELECTION AND AID HIS POLITICAL  
RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. 
THAT'S A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION,  
AND A BETRAYAL OF THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE AND AN IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE.
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE ALSO  
DEMONSTRATES THE PRESIDENT  
WITHHELD CONGRESSIONALLY  
APPROVED TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO  
BLACKMAIL THE YOUNG, NEW  
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE UNDER  
ATTACK FROM RUSSIA. 
NOW THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA  
SAYS UKRAINE DIDN'T FEEL ANY  
PRESSURE. 
THEY ARE BEING INVADED BY 
RUSSIA. 
VLADIMIR PUTIN, TRUMP'S FRIEND, 
AND HE WITHHELD THAT AID UNTIL  
THE WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT CAME 
OUT.
THEN THE AID WAS RELEASED.
IT WASN'T RELEASED FOR ANY GOOD 
PURPOSE.
CONGRESS VOTED FOR THAT AID,  
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL 
THAT. 
IS ANOTHER IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
AND THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS 
PUT TOGETHER AN EXTENSIVE 
DOCUMENT WHICH SHOWS THAT THERE 
IS EVIDENCE OF NUMEROUS OTHER 
FEDERAL CRIMES, INCLUDING 
BRIBERY AND WIRE FRAUD. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS 
THREATEN THE CONTINUATION OF  
OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. 
I'M PROUDLY VOTING FOR  
IMPEACHMENT TODAY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I AM GLAD TO KNOW  
MR. TRUMP WAS GIVING THEM 
LETHAL AID, SOMETHING TO FIGHT  
BACK WITH NOT WHAT WAS  
PREVIOUSLY GIVEN TO THEM. 
THERE WAS AGAIN FROM THE  
PRESIDENT HIMSELF NO PRESSURE 
PUT ON HIM. 
IF YOUR WHOLE SAYS IF YOU ARE 
COERCING SOMEBODY IF THERE WAS  
NO PRESSURE.
WE DON'T SEEM TO GET THAT PART  
ON THIS FLOOR DEBATE TODAY. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MONTANA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. GIANFORTE: TODAY THIS 
CHAMBER IS PUSHING THROUGH THE  
POSE PARTISAN BASELESS ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT IN OUR HISTORY.
IT'S BEEN A SHAM SINCE DAY ONE. 
DRIVEN BY THOSE WHOSE BITTER  
RANGE AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP 
BLIND THEIR BETTER JUDGMENT.
. 
EARLIER THIS YEAR, SPEAKER  
PELOSI SAID, IMPEACHMENT IS SO  
DIVISIVE TO THE COUNTRY THAT  
UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING SO 
COMPELLING AND OVERWHELMING AND 
BIPARTISAN, I DON'T THINK WE  
SHOULD GO DOWN THAT PATH. 
NONE OF THOSE STANDARDS HAVE  
BEEN MET. 
NONE. 
THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS WERE A 
SCRIPTED, SUBSTANCE-FREE, 
MADE-FOR-TV SHOW. 
THEY WOULD BE COMEDY IF 
IMPEACHMENT WEREN'T SO SERIOUS  
AND GRAVE.
WITNESSES DENIED AWARENESS OF 
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, AND 
BECAUSE THE MAJORITY HAS FAILED 
TO MAKE THE CASE FOR  
IMPEACHMENT, THERE IS NO  
BIPARTISANSHIP. 
COMPELLING, OVERWHELMING, 
BIPARTISAN, SPEAKER PELEDS HAS  
NOT MET HER OWN -- PELOSI HAS 
NOT MET HER OWN CRITERIA FOR  
IMPEACHING. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE  
REJECTED THIS.
I WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS  
BIPARTISAN -- PARTISAN  
IMPEACHMENT SHAM. 
ON THIS SAD DAY OF AN 
IMPEACHMENT CHARADE, I YIELD  
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. 
GONZALEZ. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. GONZALEZ: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE ON A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA,  
A SAD DAY FOR TEXAS, AND A VERY 
SAD DAY FOR THE PEOPLE I  
REPRESENT.
I AM NOT GLEEFUL TODAY. 
I CAME TO FIGHT FOR 
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, MAKE SURE 
EVERYONE WAS OK.
I DID NOT COME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A SITTING PRESIDENT BUS 
HE'S GIVEN US NO CHOICE.
HE USED THE OFFICE OF THE 
PRESIDENCY FOR PERSONAL AND 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FEARED ONE 
DAY THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY 
WOULD STRETCH BEYOND ITS  
LIMITS. 
THUS, THEY ENSHRINED IN THE 
CONSTITUTION A SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES. 
WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT LOWER  
THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF OUR  
PRESIDENCY. 
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WITHER LIKE 
A CHEAP FLOWER IN BAD WEATHER,  
WATCHING OUR DEMOCRACY  
CRUMBLING AND ROT FROM WITHIN.
THAT IS NOT AMERICA THE WORLD 
KNOWS AND LOVE, AND THIS IS NOT 
SOMETHING WE WANT OUR FUTURE  
GENERATIONS TO INHERIT. 
THAT'S WHY TODAY I MUST VOTE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES AND FULFILL MY  
OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND I 
YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. ARMSTRONG: I YIELD TO MR. 
HURD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HURD: WE HAVE NOT HEARD 
EVIDENCE BEYOND A REASONABLE  
DOUBT OF BRIBERY OR EXTORTION.
ALLEGATIONS OF THESE TWO CRIMES 
AREN'T EVEN MENTIONED IN THE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BEING 
DEBATED TODAY.
BUT TODAY, WE HAVE SEEN A 
RUSHED PROCESS DIVIDE OUR 
COUNTRY.
TODAY, ACCUSATIONS HAVE BEEN  
HURLED AT EACH OTHER, 
QUESTIONING ONE ANOTHER'S 
INTEGRITY.
TODAY, A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT  
WILL BE SET.
IMPEACHMENT BECOMING A  
WEAPONIZED POLITICAL TOOL.
WE KNOW HOW THIS PARTISAN 
PROCESS WILL END THIS EVENING,  
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW?
CAN THIS CHAMBER PUT DOWN OUR 
SWORDS AND GET BACK TO WORK FOR 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
THIS INSTITUTION HAS A FABLED 
HISTORY OF CHANGING LEGISLATION 
THAT HAS NOT ONLY CHAUNGED OUR  
COUNTRY BUT HAS INSPIRED THE  
WORLD.
THIS FEAT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE 
BECAUSE THIS EXPERIMENT WE CALL 
AMERICA HAS ONE PERPETUAL GOAL, 
MAKE A MORE PERFECT UNION.
WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS 
HISTORY IF WE RECOGNIZE THE 
SIMPLE FACT THAT WAY MORE 
UNITES OUR COUNTRY THAN DIVIDES 
US. 
TOMORROW, CAN WE START FOCUSING 
ON THAT?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.  
DAVIS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
THIS IS INDEED A SAD DAY FOR  
OUR COUNTRY.
THIS IS INDEED A SAD DAY FOR  
AMERICA.
BUT IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS A SAD DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY 
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
DEFIED OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR  
RULES, OUR REQUIREMENTS, AND  
OUR EXPECTATIONS. 
IT IS CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT  
TRUMP PLACES HIMSELF ABOVE THE  
LAW, ABOVE OUR CONSTITUTION,  
AND ABOVE THE EXPECTATIONS OF 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AT MY LAST TOWN HALL MEETING, 
WHICH WAS HELD SATURDAY,  
DECEMBER 15, AT MALCOLM X 
COLLEGE IN CHICAGO, SOMEONE 
ASKED THE QUESTION -- WHAT IS 
OUR POSITION ON IMPEACHMENT?
MADAM SPEAKER, EVERY PERSON 
THERE ROSE AND SAID IMPEACH.
WHEN I SPEAK, I SPEAK FOR THE 
PEOPLE OF THE SEVENTH DISTRICT  
OF ILLINOIS, AND MY VOTE WILL 
BE IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH. 
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF 
MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. ARMSTRONG: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY FRIEND  
FROM TEXAS, MR. GOHMERT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. GOHMERT: THANK YOU. 
IN 1998, SENATOR SCHUMER SAID,  
AND I QUOTE, THIS IMPEACHMENT 
WILL BE USED AS A ROUTINE TOOL  
TO FIGHT POLITICAL BATTLES. 
WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PREDICTION. 
IT WAS A PROMISE, AND NOW IT'S  
PLAYING OUT.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING DONE  
HERE. 
AND FOR THOSE THAT SAY WE DON'T 
DEFEND THE FACT, HERE YOU GO. 
THE IMPEACHMENT SERVES TWO  
PURPOSES. 
NUMBER ONE, STOP THE  
INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND 
UKRAINE INTO THE CORRUPTION OF  
UKRAINE'S INTERFERENCE INTO THE 
U.S. ELECTION IN 2016.
YOU SAID THIS WAS ABOUT -- OH,  
THIS TERRIBLE RUSSIA COLLUSION. 
OH, THAT FELL THROUGH.
IT WAS ABOUT EMOLUMENTS.
IT WAS ABOUT BRIBERY, IT WAS  
ABOUT EXTORTION.
ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED 
WHICH IS THE INTENTION TO 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT. 
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. 
BUT LET'S BE HONEST.
THE PRESIDENT, TURNING HIS BACK 
ON UKRAINE, THAT HAPPENED IN  
2009, BECAUSE IN 2008, UKRAINE  
INVADED GEORGIA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
BUSH PUT SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA TO 
TEACH THEM A LESSON.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT? 
WELL IN MARCH, 2009, HILLARY  
CLINTON WAS SENT OVER TO RUSSIA 
WITH A RESET BUTTON TO SAY, 
BUSH OVERREACTED. 
WE'RE OK THAT YOU INVADED 
GEORGIA.
IT WAS A GREEN LIGHT TO RUSSIA  
TO INVADE UKRAINE.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO? 
OH, YEAH, YOU SEND BLANKETS AND 
M.R.E.'S. 
THEY CAN BE EAT AND WARM WHILE  
THE RUSSIANS ARE KILLING THEM.
THAT IS WHAT THE OBAMA  
ADMINISTRATION DID. 
THIS IS A TRAVESTY, AND WE'RE 
IN BIG TROUBLE, BECAUSE SCHUMER 
WAS RIGHT.
NOW IT'S LOWERED THE BAR. 
IT WILL BE USED FOR POLITICAL 
BATTLES, AND THIS COUNTRY'S END 
IS NOW IN SIGHT.
I HOPE I DON'T LIVE TO SEE IT.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I AM 
DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT ANY 
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE WOULD SPOUT 
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA ON THE FLOOR 
OF THE HOUSE. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.  
HIGGINS.
MR. GOHMERT: IF THE GENTLEMAN 
WILL YIELD? 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS  
RECOGNIZED. 
MR. GOHMERT: IF THE GENTLEMAN 
WILL YIELD? 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
HOUSE WILL COME TOURED. 
MR. GOHMERT: RUSSIA PROPAGANDA  
--  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. 
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS  
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. NADLER: --  
MR. HIGGINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION  
IS EXPLICIT.
BRIBERY IS AN IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE.
BRIBERY INVOLVES THE ABUSE OF 
POWER.
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES ABUSED THE POWER OF HIS  
OFFICE BY SOLICITING A BRIBE OF 
A FOREIGN LEADER TO INTERFERE 
IN AN ELECTION HE WAS AFRAID HE 
COULD NOT WIN HONORABLY,  
FAIRLY, OR FREELY.
YOU, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE,  
OPENED -- PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES WILL RELEASE $391 
MILLION IN MILITARY AID AND 
GIVE YOU THE STATURE AMPLIFYING 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING THAT YOU  
NEED. 
THIS IS A -- THIS IS A THIS FOR 
THAT, SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING 
TRANSACTION.
SOLICITING A BRIBE FROM A 
FOREIGN LEADER IS AN ABUSE OF 
POWER AND A FEDERAL CRIME.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH  
DAKOTA. 
MR. ARMSTRONG: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
BILIRAKIS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. BILIRAKIS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO THANK MY REPUBLICAN 
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE TOILED  
HONORABLY IN DEFENSE OF THE 
CONSTITUTION, RULE OF LAW,  
UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S A 
DARN SHAME THAT WE HAVE FOUND 
OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION  
TODAY.
EVERY TIME I STEP INTO THIS 
CHAMBER, I'M HUMBLED TO BE  
SERVING IN THE GREATEST 
LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE HISTORY 
OF THE WORLD. 
HOWEVER, IT'S DEEPLY  
DISAPPOINTING THAT THE  
HYPERPARTISANSHIP THAT HAS  
GRIPPED THIS COUNTRY HAS MADE 
ITS WAY INTO THIS CHAMBER.
I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A 
CONSENSUS BUILDER WHO WORKS 
ACROSS THE AISLE WHO GETS 
THINGS DONE FOR THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO  
THE MATTER OF IMPEACHMENT, I  
HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE ENTIRE 
PROCESS HAS BEEN POLITICALLY  
MOTIVATED.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED  
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, WHICH 
IS WHY I WILL VOTE NO.
THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN A 
PLOY TO CIRCUMVENT THE WILL OF  
THE PEOPLE BY REMOVING A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
IT'S A NATIONAL DISGRACE THAT 
SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. 
BUT WE ARE A GREAT NATION.
WE WILL SURVIVE THIS INDIGNITY. 
LET'S PUT THIS UGLY CHAPTER 
BEHIND US, MADAM SPEAKER, AND 
GET TO WORK.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI, MR. 
THOMPSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. THOMPSON: THANK YOU VERY  
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE QUESTION 
THAT WILL BE ANSWERED TODAY IS, 
WILL MEMBERS HONOR THEIR OATH 
TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION? 
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT SUPPORTING  
IMPEACHMENT BASED ON A POLICY 
DISAGREEMENT OR THE ELECTION  
RESULTS OF 2016.
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
THE PRESIDENT MUST BE HELD  
ACCOUNTABLE.
A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS IS NOT 
A HOAX OR A WITCH-HUNT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST OPPOSES  
IT. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
NOT EVEN PRESIDENT DONALD J.  
TRUMP.
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER  
BY PRESSURING UKRAINE TO HELP 
HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. 
IMPEACHMENT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL 
REMEDY FOR THESE ACTIONS. 
TRUMP BETRAYED HIS OATH,  
BETRAYED THE CONSTITUTION, AND  
UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS.
THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST THE 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY ARE WILLING 
TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO  
CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS BY  
THE PRESIDENT.
AS A NATION, WE HAVE NO OTHER 
ALTERNATIVE.
WE MUST PROTECT OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA.
IN HIS OWN WORDS, NO  
INTELLIGENT PERSON BELIEVES 
WHAT HE IS SAYING.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH  
DAKOTA. 
MR. ARMSTRONG: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA, MR. 
BAIRD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. BAIRD: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
TOTALITY OF THIS PROCESS IS 
JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT MY 
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE ARE 
MORE FOCUSED ON POLITICS THAN 
POLICY. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE 
BETTER. 
OUR REPUBLIC DESERVES BETTER. 
THE BRAVE MEMBER AND WOMEN OF 
OUR MILITARY -- THE BRAVE MEN 
AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY,  
MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE FOUGHT  
FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY 
AROUND THE WORLD. 
YET, TODAY, MY COLLEAGUES ARE 
ERODING THOSE FREEDOMS THROUGH  
A PROCESS THAT IGNORED FACTS, 
ABUSED POWER, AND WAS SHROUDED  
IN SECRECY. 
THOSE FACTS COULD NOT BE MORE 
CLEAR THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED 
NO CRIME, BROKE NO LAWS, AND  
THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE 
RIGHT THING.
REPRESENTING THE HOOSIERS IN MY 
DISTRICT AND VOTING AGAINST 
THIS IMPEACHMENT CHARADE. 
I STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP  
AND LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING 
POLICIES THAT CONTINUE TO MOVE  
OUR COUNTRY FORWARD.
I'LL YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF  
MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.  
BLUMENAUER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BLUMENAUER: THANK YOU.
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR  
COMMITTEES, THE LEADERSHIP OF 
THE SPEAKER, WE FOUND 
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TRUMP 
INVITED FOREIGN INTERESTS TO  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS FOR  
HIS PERSONAL GAIN AND HE THEN 
TOOK UNPRECEDENTED EFFORTS TO 
COVER IT UP, OBSTRUCTING  
CONGRESS. 
I'M PROUD OF THE COURAGE OF NEW 
MEMBERS TO DO THEIR DUTY SO 
THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS  
PRIVILEGED LIFE DONALD TRUMP  
WILL BE FINALLY HELD  
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS RECKLESS  
PERSONAL BEHAVIOR AND BUSINESS  
PRACTICES.
I VOTE PROUDLY FOR THESE TWO  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, AND  
THEN I HOPE THE HOUSE RETAINS 
CONTROL OF THE ARTICLES UNTIL 
THE SPEAKER AND LEADER SCHUMER  
CAN NEGOTIATE AGREEMENT ON  
PROCESS AND WITNESSES FROM  
MCCONNELL SO THAT THE NEXT  
STAGE WILL BE OPEN AND FAIR SO  
THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL  
ULTIMATELY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD 1 1/2 
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM 
OKLAHOMA, MR. HERN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. HERN: PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGAN 
NOVEMBER 13.
LESS THAN A MONTH LATER,  
SPEAKER PELOSI ANNOUNCED  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ON  
DECEMBER 5, SAYING THAT THE 
INVESTIGATION HAD REVEALED  
ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MOVE  
FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT. 
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT. 
22-DAY INVESTIGATION. 
SIX OF THOSE DAYS WERE  
WEEKENDS. 
HEARINGS WEREN'T HAPPENING AND  
THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN SESSION. 
SEVEN OF THOSE DAYS WERE WHEN 
THE HOUSE WAS IN RECESS.
TWO WERE FLYING DAYS WHERE  
CONGRESS DOESN'T HOLD HEARINGS. 
OUT OF THE 22 DAYS, JUST SEVEN  
DAYS, SEVEN DAYS WERE USED TO 
INVESTIGATE, DEBATE, AND VOTE 
ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE DUEL  
ELECTED LEADER OF OUR CON-- 
DULY ELECTED LEADER OF OUR  
COUNTRY.
SEVEN DAYS TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SEVEN 
DAY INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED 
ZERO FACTS IN SUPPORT OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
I SPENT EVER MINUTE I HAD IN  
THIS AS AN OBSERVER AND ALL I 
LEARNED IS IF YOU HATE SOMEONE  
SO STRONGLY AND ENOUGH PEOPLE 
AGREE WITH YOU, THAT'S GROUNDS  
ENOUGH TO BE IMPEACHED. 
WE ASKED FOR 12 HOURS OF  
DEBATE. 
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME 
ALLOTTED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 
IMPEACHMENT.
12 HOURS OF DEBATE FOR POSSIBLY 
THE BIGGEST VOTE I WILL CAST IN 
MY TENURE AS REPRESENTATIVE.
ISN'T ASKING TOO MUCH.
BUT, NO.
THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE  
BEFORE CHRISTMAS. 
SO IT'S OK TO RUSH THROUGH THE  
PROCESS.
I'M ASHAMED TO BE PART OF THIS  
TODAY EVEN AS I VOTE AGAINST  
THE IMPEACHMENT.
MY CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING 
EVERY DAY, MAD AS HELL, SAYING  
WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED THIS 
HISTORIC CHAMBER HAS FALLEN SO  
LOW TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE 
THIS TO HAPPEN. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY 
CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, MY 
FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
GEORGIA, HAS A TAG LINE ABOUT 
THE CLOCK ON THE CALENDAR.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT  
ABOUT THE CLOCK AND THE 
CALENDAR. 
IT IS ABOUT CORRUPTION AND THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS ABOUT A PRESIDENT WHO 
ABUSED HIS POWER TO COERCE AN 
ALLY TO INTERVENE IN OUR  
ELECTION AND POSES A CONTINUING 
THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
NEXT ELECTION.
THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE IS  
BUILT ON THREE PILLARS. 
WHEN THOSE THREE PILLARS FALL,  
THE ENTIRE DEFENSE OF THE 
PRESIDENT COLLAPSES.
FIRST, THEY CLAIM THERE WAS NO  
QUID PRO QUO. 
WELL, THE EVIDENCE IS 
UNDISPUTED. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP CONDITIONED A 
WHITE HOUSE VISIT AND MILITARY  
AID ON PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S 
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE  
INVESTIGATION.
AMBASSADOR WILLIAM TAYLOR WROTE 
AT THE TIME, QUOTE, I THINK 
IT'S CRAZY TO WITHHOLD SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE FOR HELP WITH A  
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, CLOSE 
QUOTE.
A REPORTER ASKED WHITE HOUSE  
CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY IF 
THERE HAD BEEN A QUID PRO QUO 
HERE. 
HE REPLIED, WE DO THAT ALL THE  
TIME. 
GET OVER IT.
THE PRESIDENT REFUSED TO HELP 
OUR ALLY UNTIL HE GOT A 
PERSONAL POLITICAL FAVOR. 
SO THE FIRST DEFENSE FALLS. 
SECOND, THE MINORITY CLAIMS 
THAT THE UKRAINIANS DIDN'T KNOW 
ABOUT THE HOLD. 
THE EVIDENCE AGAIN IS 
UNDISPUTED. 
UKRAINE KNEW ABOUT THE HOLD ON  
THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE WITHIN  
HOURS OF THE PRESIDENT'S JULY 
25. 
-- 25 CALL. 
LAURA COOPER OF THE DEPARTMENT  
OF DEFENSE TESTIFIED UNDER OATH 
AND ON JULY 25 THE STATE  
DEPARTMENT SENT TWO EMAILS TO 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
NOTIFYING THEM THAT UKRAINIAN 
OFFICIALS WERE ASKING WHERE IS  
THE AID?
UKRAINIANS UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY 
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS  
ASKING. 
HE WANTED A PERSONAL POLITICAL  
FAVOR BEFORE THE AID WAS  
RELEASED. 
SO THE SECOND DEFENSE FALLS.
THIRD AND FINALLY, MY 
REPUBLICAN FRIEND SAY THE AID 
WAS RELEASED. 
BUT THE AID WAS RELEASED ONLY 
AFTER THE PRESIDENT GOT CAUGHT. 
THIS HOUSE LAUNCHED ITS 
INVESTIGATION ON SEPTEMBER 9. 
THE HOLD ON THE AID WAS LIFTED  
ON SEPTEMBER 11.
THIS IS NOT EVIDENCE OF 
INCENSE.
IT IS EVIDENCE OF CULL  
EXABBLET. 
-- CULPABILITY. 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. 
WHEN HE GOT CAUGHT, HE DID  
EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO  
PREVENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
FROM LEARNING THE TRUTH ABOUT 
HIS ACTIONS BY DEFYING THE  
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION, BY 
ORDERING THAT ALL REQUESTS AND  
DEMANDS FOR INFORMATION BE  
DENIED. 
WITH OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND  
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION 
AT RISK, WE MUST ACT. 
NOT BECAUSE OF THE CLOCK ON THE 
CALENDAR BUT TO FIGHT AGAINST 
CORRUPTION AND FOR CONTINUED  
SELF-GOVERNANCE BY THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. ARMSTRONG: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT TO  
BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT WAS 
JUST SAID YOU HAVE TO ALSO  
BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY 
IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR. 
WITH THAT I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES 
TO MY FRIEND FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA, MR. DUNCAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. DUNCAN: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
WE ARE NOT DEBATING IMPEACHMENT 
OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT TODAY. 
YOUR MINDS ARE ALREADY MADE UP. 
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HAS HAD A 
VERDICT IMPEACHMENT LOOKING FOR 
A CRIME SINCE THE INAUGURATION. 
"THE WASHINGTON POST" RAN THE 
HEADLINE, THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
BEGUN JUST 19 MINUTES AFTER 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK THE OATH 
OF OFFICE.
19 MINUTES. 
FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN FROM 
MICHIGAN TOLD A GROUP OF  
SUPPORTERS, WE ARE GOING TO 
IMPEACH THE MOTHER BLANK  
SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS SWORN IN. 
EVEN SPEAKER PELOSI ADMITTED  
LAST WEEK THAT THE IMPEACHMENT  
EFFORT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2  
1/2 YEARS LONG BEFORE ANY PHONE 
CALL BETWEEN TWO WORLD LEADERS. 
IN FACT, 71% OF THE DEMOCRATS 
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE  
SUPPORTED IMPEACHMENT BEFORE  
THE PHONE CALL. 
THE IMPEACHMENT SHAM IS BASED 
ON HEARSAY, CONJECTURE, AND 
OPINION.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A SPEEDING 
PARTICULAR NET THIS COUNTRY 
BASED ON HEARSAY, YET WE ARE  
GOING TO IMPEACH AN AMERICAN  
PRESIDENT BASED ON JUST THAT. 
WHERE ARE THE CRIMES OF TEESON, 
HIGH CRIMES, OR MISDEMEANORS  
COMMITTED HERE? 
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT 
CONSTITUTE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES 
NOT HATRED OR POLICY  
DISAGREEMENTS.
IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT,  
CONGRESS TOLD THE 
ADMINISTRATION TO WITHHOLD AID  
TO UKRAINE UNTIL THEY GOT THEIR 
ACT TOGETHER. 
ADDRESS CORRUPTION. 
STRAIGHTEN OUT -- THAT WAS IN 
MULTIPLE NDAA'S VOTED ON BY 
BOTH PARTIES IN THIS CHAMBER. 
IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS WE ARE  
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT FOR  
SOMETHING WE TOLD HIM TO DO?
WE HAVE WASTED PRECIOUS TIME WE 
ARE GIVEN TO SOIST AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
YOU HELD SECRET HEARINGS AND  
DEPOSITIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 
IN CHAIRMAN SCHIFF'S CHAMBER OF 
SECRETS.
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A  
GREAT SENSE OF FAIRNESS.
I PROMISE YOU.
THEY SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS  
NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY IN THIS 
PROCESS.
IMPEACHMENT BASED ON HEARSAY  
AND OPINION NOT FACTS.
IT'S A SAD DAY IN THIS CHAMBER. 
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
MEMBERS ARE AGAIN REMINDED TO 
ADDRESS THEIR REMARKS TO THE  
CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MR. NADLER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
WOULD NOW INFORM YOU THAT THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
SCHIFF, THE CHAIR OF THE  
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, WILL  
NOW SERVE AS MY DESIGNEE AND  
WILL CONTROL THE REMAINDER OF 
THE TIME ON THE MAJORITY SIDE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DOES 
THE GENTLEMAN YIELD TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA?
MR. NADLER: HE'S MY DESIGNEE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DOES 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
YIELD TO HIMSELF? 
MR. SCHIFF: YES, I YIELD MYSELF 
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF: I THANK MY  
COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN NADLER. 
I THANK HIM FOR THE 
EXTRAORDINARY JOB THAT HE HAS 
DONE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND 
THROUGHOUT THESE DIFFICULT  
PROCEEDINGS.
MADAM SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUES, 
MY FELLOW AMERICANS, I RISE TO  
SUPPORT THE IMPEACHMENT OF  
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
WHEN A MAN UNPRINCIPLELED A 
PRIVATE -- UNPRINCIPLED IN  
PRIVATE LIFE, DESPERATE IN HIS  
FORTUNE, BOLD IN HIS TEMPER,  
POSSESSED OF CONSIDERABLE 
TALENTS, HAVING THE ADVANTAGE 
OF MILITARY HABITS, DESPOTIC IN 
HIS ORDINARY DEMEANOR, KNOWN TO 
HAVE SCOFFED IN PRIVATE AT THE  
PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY WHEN, 
SUCH A MAN IS SEEN TO MOUNT THE 
HOBBY HORSE OF POPULARITY TO  
JOIN IN THE CRY OF DANGER TO  
LIBERTY, TO TAKE EVERY  
OPPORTUNITY OF EMBARRASSING THE 
GOVERNMENT, THE GENERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND BRINGING IT  
UNDER SUSPICION, TO FLATTER AND 
FALL IN WITH ALL THE NONSENSE 
OF THE ZEALOTS OF THE DAY, IT 
MAY JUSTLY BE SUSPECTED HIS 
OBJECT IS TO THROW THINGS INTO  
CONFUSION THAT HE MAY RIDE THE  
STORM AND DIRECT THE WHIRLWIND. 
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF  
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WRITTEN IN 
1792. 
COULD WE FIND A MORE  
PRESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT 
DANGER EMANATING FROM 1600  
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
THE FRAMERS CRAFTED A 
CONSTITUTION THAT CONTEMPLATED  
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR THE 
HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. 
BUT ALSO AFFORDED THE CONGRESS  
WITH THE POWER TO REMOVE A  
PRESIDENT WHO ABUSED THE POWERS 
OF HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL  
GAIN. 
WHO COMPROMISED THE PUBLIC  
TRUST BY BETRAYING OUR NATION'S 
SECURITY. 
OR WHO SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE OUR  
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM BY SEEKING  
FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN THE 
CONDUCT OF OUR ELECTIONS. 
I WOULD SAY THAT THE FOUNDERS 
COULD HAVE LITTLE IMAGINED THAT 
A SINGLE PRESIDENT MIGHT HAVE 
DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS EXCEPT 
THAT THE EVIDENCE HAS SADLY 
PROVED THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT 
THIS PRESIDENT HAS DONE.
HAMILTON, AMONG OTHERS, SEEMS 
TO HAVE PREDICTED THE RISE OF 
DONALD TRUMP WITH A STAGGERS  
PRESHENCE.
HAVING WON FREEDOM FROM A KING, 
THE DRAFTERS OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION DESIGNED A 
GOVERNMENT IN WHICH AMBITION  
WAS MADE TO CHECK AMBITION. 
IN WHICH NO BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT WOULD PREDOMINATE  
OVER ANOTHER, AND NO MAN WOULD  
BE ALLOWED TO BE ABOVE THE LAW, 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT,  
ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT, SINCE 
WITH WHOM WOULD THE DANGER BE 
GREATER THAN WITH THE OFFICER 
CHARGED WITH BEING OUR  
COMMANDER IN CHIEF. 
EEFER THE COURSE OF THE LAST  
THREE MONTHS -- OVER THE COURSE 
OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS WE 
HAVE FOUND INCONTROVERTABLE 
EVIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ABUSED HIS POWER BY PRESSURING  
THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF  
UKRAINE TO ANNOUNCE AN  
INVESTIGATION INTO PRESIDENT  
TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL, JOE  
BIDEN.
WITH THE HOPES OF DEFEATING MR. 
BIDEN IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL  
ELECTION AND ENHANCING HIS OWN  
PROSPECTS FOR RE-ELECTION.
HE DIDN'T EVEN NEED THE 
INVESTIGATION TO BE UNDERTAKEN. 
JUST SIMPLY ANNOUNCE TO THE 
PUBLIC. 
THE SMEAR OF HIS OPPONENT, TO 
SMEAR OF HIS OPPONENT WOULD BE  
ENOUGH. 
TO EFFECTUATE THIS SCHEME,  
PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHHELD TWO  
OFFICIAL ACTS OF VITAL  
IMPORTANCE TO A NATION AT WAR 
WITH OUR ADVERSARY, VLADIMIR  
PUTIN'S RUSSIA. 
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD A WHITE  
HOUSE MEETING THAT UKRAINE  
DESPERATELY SOUGHT TO BOLSTER 
ITS STANDING ON THE WORLD 
STAGE.
EVEN MORE PERNICIOUSLY  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SUSPENDED 
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 
OF MILITARY AID APPROVED BY 
THIS CONGRESS TO COERCE UKRAINE 
INTO DOING HIS ELECTORAL DIRTY  
WORK. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY BY  
WITHHOLDING SUPPORT FOR A 
CRITICAL STRATEGY PART -- 
STRATEGIC PARTNER AT WAR IN 
ORDER TO IMPROVE HIS  
RE-ELECTION PROSPECTS.
BUT FOR THE COURAGE OF SOMEONE  
WILLING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE, HE 
WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT. 
INSTEAD, HE GOT CAUGHT. 
HE TRIED TO CHEAT AND HE GOT  
CAUGHT. 
THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. 
AS A CANDIDATE IN 2016 DONALD 
TRUMP INVITED RUSSIAN 
INTERFERENCE IN HIS 
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, SAYING 
AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY, RUSSIA, IF 
YOU ARE LISTENING, I HOPE YOU 
ARE ABLE TO FIND THE 30,000 
EMAILS THAT ARE MISSING.
A CLEAR INVITATION TO HACK  
HILLARY CLINTON'S EMAILS. 
JUST FIVE HOURS LATER, RUSSIAN  
GOVERNMENT HACKERS TRIED TO DO  
EXACTLY THAT. 
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AN IMMENSE  
RUSSIAN HACKING AND DUMPING 
OPERATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA  
DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN 
DESIGNED TO HELP ELECT DONALD 
TRUMP.
NOT ONLY DID CANDIDATE TRUMP  
WELCOME THAT EFFORT, BUT HE 
MADE FULL USE OF IT.
BUILDING IT INTO HIS CAMPAIGN 
PLAN, HIS MESSAGING STRATEGY, 
AND THEN HE SOUGHT TO COVER IT  
UP. 
THIS RUSSIAN EFFORT TO  
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS  
DIDN'T DETER DONALD TRUMP.
IT EMPOWERED HIM. 
THE DAY AFTER SPECIAL COUNSEL 
BOB MUELLER TESTIFIED BEFORE  
CONGRESS ABOUT RUSSIA'S 
SWEEPING AND SYSTEMIC EFFORT TO 
INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF OUR  
LAST ELECTION, THE DAY AFTER  
PRESIDENT TRUMP BELIEVED THAT 
THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS  
FIRST ELECTORAL MISCONDUCT HAD  
COME TO AN END, THE PRESIDENT 
WAS BACK ON THE PHONE URGING  
YET ANOTHER COUNTRY, THIS TIME  
UKRAINE, TO HELP HIM CHEAT IN 
ANOTHER ELECTION. 
THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN JULY  
TELLS SO MUCH OF THE STORY. 
THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN JULY  
OF 2019.
JULY 24, THE DAY THAT SPECIAL 
COUNSEL MUELLER TESTIFIED 
BEFORE CONGRESS, AND PRESIDENT  
TRUMP THOUGHT HE WAS FINALLY IN 
THE CLEAR, JULY 25, THE DAY 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT ON THE 
PHONE WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT  
AND IN THE CONTEXT OF A 
DISCUSSION ABOUT MILITARY 
SUPPORT FOR THAT EMBATTLED  
NATION, THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS  
RECENTLY FROZEN SAID, I WOULD 
LIKE YOU TO DO US A FAVOR,  
THOUGH. 
AND ASKED UKRAINE TO DO TWO 
INVESTIGATIONS TO HELP HIS  
RE-ELECTION EFFORTS IN 2020.
THAT WAS JULY 25. 
AND THEN WE COME TO JULY 26.
THE DAY GORDON SONDLAND CALLED  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ON HIS CELL 
PHONE FROM A RESTAURANT IN  
UKRAINE.
GORDON SONDLAND, NOT SOME 
ANONYMOUS NEVER TRUMPER BUT A 
MILLION DOLLAR DONOR TO THE 
PRESIDENT'S INAUGURATION AND  
HANDPICKED AMBASSADOR TO THE  
EUROPEAN UNION, WHAT DOES 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK SONDLAND, 
THE DAY AFTER THIS CALL?
WHAT DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK?
WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT WANT TO 
KNOW? 
DID HE ASK ABOUT UKRAINE'S  
EFFORTS TO BATTLE CORRUPTION? 
OF COURSE NOT.
DID HE ASK HOW THE WAR WITH 
RUSSIA WAS GOING? 
NOT A CHANCE. 
ON THE PHONE HIS VOICE LOUD 
ENOUGH FOR OTHERS TO HEAR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED SONDLAND, 
SO HE'S GOING TO DO THE 
INVESTIGATION, AND THE ANSWER 
WAS CLEAR.
SONDLAND ASSURED TRUMP THAT THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WAS GOING 
TO DO IT. 
AND THAT HE WOULD DO ANYTHING 
YOU ASKED HIM TO. 
. 
IF THAT WASN'T TELLING ENOUGH,  
MY COLLEAGUES IN A CONVERSATION 
THAT FOLLOWED, AN AMERICAN  
DIPLOMAT DINING WITH SONDLAND 
ASKED IF IT WAS TRUE THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T GIVE A 
BLANK ABOUT UKRAINE.
SONDLAND AGREED, SAYING, THE  
PRESIDENT CARED ONLY ABOUT BIG  
STUFF.
THE DIPLOMAT NOTED THAT THERE 
WAS BIG STUFF IN UKRAINE LIKE A 
WAR WITH RUSSIA.
AND SONDLAND REPLIED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT CARED ONLY ABOUT BIG  
STUFF THAT BENEFITS HIM 
PERSONALLY. 
LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION  
THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.
IN THAT SHORT CONVERSATION, WE  
LEARNED EVERYTHING WE NEED TO 
KNOW ABOUT THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT UKRAINE.
OR THE IMPACT ON OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY CAUSED BY WITH HOLDING 
MILITARY AID TO THAT COUNTRY  
FIGHTING FOR ITS DEMOCRATIC 
LIFE. 
ALL THAT MATTERS TO THIS  
PRESIDENT IS WHAT AFFECTS HIM 
PERSONALLY, AN INVESTIGATION  
INTO HIS POLITICAL RIVAL AND A  
CHANCE TO CHEAT IN THE NEXT 
ELECTION. 
AS PROFESSOR GEAR HART TESTIFIED
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TWO WEEKS  
AGO IF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 
IS NOT IMPEACHABLE, THEN NOTHING
IS IMPEACHABLE. 
EVEN AS THIS BODY UNCOVERED THE 
FACTS OF THIS UKRAINE SCHEME, 
EVEN AS WE OPENED AN IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY, EVEN AS WE GATHERED  
EVIDENCE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CONTINUED HIS EFFORTS TO SEEK 
FOREIGN HELP IN THE NEXT  
ELECTION. 
I WOULD THINK, HE SAID FROM THE 
WHITE HOUSE LAWN ON OCTOBER 3,  
THAT IF THEY'RE BEING HONEST  
ABOUT IT, THEY'D START A MAJOR  
INVESTIGATION INTO THE BINDS. 
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE ANSWER.
HE SAID.
AND HE MADE IT CLEAR IT'S AN  
OPEN INVITATION TO OTHER NATIONS
AS WELL, SAYING, CHINA SHOULD 
START AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
BIDENS TOO. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SENT HIS CHIEF  
OF STAFF TO THE WHITE HOUSE 
PODIUM AND HE TOLD THE WORLD  
THAT OF COURSE THEY HAD LINKED  
AID TO INVESTIGATIONS.
AND THAT WE SHOULD JUST GET OVER
IT. 
AND EVEN AS THESE ARTICLES HAVE 
MADE THEIR WAY TO THIS HOUSE  
FLOOR THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL  
ATTORNEY HAS CONTINUED PURSUING 
THESE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS ON  
BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT, THE 
PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS MEN PLOT  
ON. 
THE DANGER PERSISTS.
THE RISK IS REAL. 
OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT PERIL.
BUT WE ARE NOT WITHOUT A REMEDY,
PRESCRIBED BY THE FOUNDERS FOR  
JUST THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS, WILL WE 
USE IT? 
OR HAVE WE FALLEN PREY TO 
ANOTHER EVIL HAT FOUNDERS 
FOREWARNED, THE EXCESS OF 
FACTIONALISM, THE ELEVATION OF  
PARTY OVER COUNTRY. 
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES APPEAR TO 
HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE TO 
PROTECT THE PRESIDENT, TO ENABLE
HIM TO BE ABOVE THE LAW, TO 
EMPOWER THIS PRESIDENT TO CHEAT 
AGAIN, AS LONG AS IT IS IN THE  
SERVICE OF THEIR PARTY AND THEIR
POWER.
THEY'VE MADE THEIR CHOICE.
DESPITE THIS PRESIDENT AND THE  
WHITE HOUSE STONEWALLING EVERY  
SUBPOENA, EVERY REQUEST FOR 
WITNESSES, AND TESTIMONY FROM 
THIS CO-EQUAL, CO-EQUAL BRANCH  
OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE.
KNOWING THAT TO ALLOW THIS  
PRESIDENT TO OBSTRUCT CONGRESS  
WILL EMPOWER HIM AND ANY OTHER  
PRESIDENT THAT FOLLOWS TO BE AS 
CORRUPT, AS NEGLIGENT, OR AS  
ABUSIVE OF THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY AS THEY CHOOSE.
THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE.
AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL RUE THE 
DAY THAT THEY DID.
WHEN DONALD J. TRUMP WAS SWORN  
IN ON JANUARY 20, 2017, HE  
REPEATED THESE WORDS. 
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL 
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY  
ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND  
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE  
UNITED STATES.
HAS HE LIVED UP TO THAT SACRED  
OBLIGATION? 
HAS HE HONORED HIS OATH OF  
OFFICE? 
HAS HE PRESERVED, PROTECTED AND 
DEFENDED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES, THE UNCONTESTED  
EVIDENCE PROVIDES THE SIMPLE YET
TRAGIC ANSWER, HE HAS NOT.
IN AMERICA, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW.
DONALD J. TRUMP SACRIFICED OUR  
NATIONAL SECURITY IN AN EFFORT  
TO CHEAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
AND FOR THAT, AND HIS CONTINUED 
EFFORTS TO SEEK FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS,  
HE MUST BE IMPEACHED. 
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROMED IN.
>> MADAM CHAIR. 
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU HERE,  
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE 
EITHER YOU OR THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
PRESENT IN EITHER THE JUDICIARY 
OR OVERSIGHT HEARINGS.
I THINK WE'RE CONTINUING TO 
NEGLECT THE FOUR KEY FACTS OF.
THIS THE TRANSCRIPT IS OUT. 
EVERYBODY CAN READ IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN REDDITT.
THERE'S NO CONDITIONALITY OR AID
DISCUSSED ON THAT CALL. 
THE TWO PRINCIPALS ON THAT CALL,
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY SAID THERE'S NO  
PRESSURE. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SCREAMED FROM
THE ROOFTOPS ON NUMEROUS  
OCCASIONS THAT THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE, NO BRIBERY, NO QUID 
PRO QUO.
HE DIDN'T THE THE AID WAS BEING 
PAUSED NO INVESTIGATION WAS 
ANNOUNCED, A MEETING WITH THE 
PRESIDENT TOOK PLACE, AND THE 
AID WAS RELEASED. 
WITH THAT I YIELD --  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS REMINDED TO ADDRESS
REMARKS@CHAIR.
MR. ARMSTRONG: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MISSOURI, MR. SMITH.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SMITH: I COME FROM A STATE  
THAT RAISES CORN AND COTTON.
COOKLEBURRS AND DEMOCRATS.
YOUR FROTHY ELOQUENCE NEITHER 
CONVINCES NOR SATISFIES ME. 
I'M FROM THE SHOW-ME STATE. 
YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME.
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU ALL HAVE
SHOWN SO FAR IS THAT YOU'RE 
ABOUT TO IMPEACH A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT WHO HAS DONE NOTHING  
WRONG.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT IMPEACHING THE
PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEY ARE  
SCARED OF OUR REPUBLIC OR THAT  
HE HAS COMMITTED A CRIME. 
THEY ARE IMPEACHING HIM BECAUSE 
THEY FEAR THE PRESIDENT'S 
POLICIES. 
AND HOW WELL THEY ARE WORKING 
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MOST OF ALL, THEY FEAR THE  
ELECTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY 
CAN'T BEAT THEM.
IN FACT, ONE OF MY DEMOCRAT 
COLLEAGUES IS QUOTED SAYING, I'M
CONCERNED IF WE DON'T IMPEACH 
HIM, HE WILL GET RE-ELECTED.
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT A POLITICAL  
WEAPON. 
ANYONE WHO VOTES FOR IMPEACHMENT
SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
YOU CANNOT UNDO THE ELECTION  
BECAUSE YOUR FLAWED CANDIDATE 
DID NOT WIN.
AND THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T. 
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS,  
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED TO THE 
LOWEST POINT IN GENERATIONS.
WE ARE SEEING BETTER TRADE  
AGREEMENTS WITH OUR TRADING 
PARTNERS AND RECORD NUMBERS OF  
TAXES AND REGULATIONS TO STIFLE 
ECONOMIC GROWTH HAVE BEEN ROLLED
BACK, ALL THANKS TO PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP AND  
COMMITMENT. 
BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.
DEMOCRATS HAVE INTRODUCE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT -- MR.  
ARMSTRONG: I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN
15 SECONDS. 
MR. SMITH: WE SHOULDN'T BE  
SURPRISED, DEMOCRATS HAVE 
INTRODUCED ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT IN FIVE OUT OF OUR  
LAST SIX REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS. 
THEY ARE THE PARTY OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
ONCE AGAIN, MEMBERS ARE 
ADMONISHED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
YIELD TWO MINUTE THOSE  
GENTLEMAN, MR. SWALWELL.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. SWALWELL DONALD TRUMP IS  
USING THE PRESIDENCY TO PUT HIS 
OWN PERSONAL GAIN ABOVE OUR 
NATIONAL INTERESTS. 
HE IS USING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS
AND FOREIGN INTERFERENCE TO 
CHEAT THE NEXT ELECTION AND IT  
JEOPARDIZES OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND INTEGRITY AT THE 
BALLOT BOX. 
AND NOT A SINGLE FACT IN THIS 
CASE IS SERIOUSLY IN DISPUTE. 
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, WHO SENT 
HIS PERSONAL LAWYER TO UKRAINE  
TO INVESTIGATE HIS POLITICAL  
RIVAL?
WHO FIRED AN AMBASSADOR WHO 
STOOD IN HIS WAY? 
WHO CONDITIONED A WHITE HOUSE 
MEETING ON INVESTIGATIONS THAT  
ONLY PERSONALLY BENEFITED HIM 
AND NOT THE NATIONAL INTEREST?
WHO CUT OFF MILITARY AID TO AN  
ALLY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED IT?
WHO PRESSURED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY
TO CONDUCT THOSE INVESTIGATIONS?
WHO STOOD ON THE WHITE HOUSE  
LAWN AND ASKED NOT ONLY UKRAINE 
TO INVESTIGATE HIS RIVAL BUT  
ALSO CHINA? 
WHO HAS BURIED EVIDENCE AND 
BLOCKED WITNESSES FROM  
TESTIFYING? 
AND WHO IS STILL, TODAY, SENDING
US PERSONAL -- SENDING HIS  
PERSONAL LAWYER TO UKRAINE TO 
DIG UP DIRT AND RIG AN ELECTION?
THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE  
QUESTIONS IS PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.
THIS IS A CRIME SPREE IN  
PROGRESS BUT WE KNOW HOW TO STOP
IT. 
COURAGE.
YES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS 
SHOWN US HOW CORRUPT PRESIDENT  
TRUMP IS BUT IT'S ALSO SHOWN US 
THE COURAGE OF SOME OF OUR  
FELLOW PATRIOTIC CIVIL SERVANTS 
WHO HAVE USED THEIR COLONEL TO  
NOT ONLY STAND UP AROUND THE  
WORLD TO EXTINGUISH CORRUPTION  
BUT ALSO TO EXTINGUISH IT AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
HOW?
MY COLLEAGUES ARGUE NO HARM, NO 
FOUL, UKRAINE GOT THE AID.
WRONG.
TRUMP CHEATED.
PATRIOTS CAUGHT HIM.
THEN UKRAINE GOT THE AID. 
STANDING UP TURNS OUT WORKS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SUMMON THE 
COURAGE OF THOSE PATRIOTS AND TO
SUMMON THE COURAGE THEY SHOWED  
AGAINST DONALD TRUMP. 
IF THEY CAN RISK THEIR CAREERS, 
EVEN THEIR LIVES, TO DO THE 
RIGHT THING, CAN MY COLLEAGUES  
ALSO DO THE SAME? 
AFTER ALL, MORE IS ON THE LINE  
THAN JUST MILITARY AID TO AN  
ALLY. 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY IS AT 
STAKE.
STAND UP FOR THAT.
OUR ELECTION INTEGRITY IS AT  
STAKE.
STAND UP FOR THAT.
OUR CONSTITUTION IS AT STAKE. 
STAND UP FOR THAT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. ARMSTRONG: MAY I INQUIRE AS 
TO THE TIME REMAINING ON EACH 
SIDE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN HAS ONE HOUR AND 23 
AND A FOURTH MANY MINUTES 
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
HAS ONE HOUR AND 18 MINUTES 
REMAINING.
MR. ARMSTRONG: I APPRECIATE THE 
DETAILISM YIELD ONE AND A HALF  
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
OHIO, MR. JOHNSON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
AND A HALF MINUTES. 
MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
IS A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA. 
THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT SHAM  
SEEKS TO DISENFRANCHISE 63  
MILLION AMERICAN VOTERS.
SO I WANT TO USE MY TIME TO CALL
ON THIS CHAMBER, FOR MEMBERS TO 
RISE AND OBSERVE A MOMENT OF  
SILENT REFLECTION.
TO GIVE EVERY MEMBER HERE THE 
CHANCE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND
REMEMBER THE VOICES OF THE 63 
MILLION AMERICAN VOTERS THE 
DEMOCRATS TODAY ARE WANTING TO  
SILENCE.
MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, 
DISENFRANCHISING 63 MILLION 
VOTERS GIVES ME 63 MILLION  
REASONS TO VOTE NO. 
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO  
THE SAME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: IT'S MY PLEASURE TO 
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MS. SEWELL,
THE GENTLELADY FROM ALABAMA.
THE CHAIR: THE GENTLELADY IS  
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. 
MS. SEWELL: MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS
WITH A HEAVY HEART AND PROFOUND 
SENSE OF THE GRAVITY OF THIS  
MOMENT THAT I RISE TODAY IN 
SUPPORT OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
TO BE CLEAR, I DID NOT RUN FOR  
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
I CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY ON 
BEHALF OF THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE
OF ALABAMA'S SEVENTH  
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 
BUT THE FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED.
THE TRUTH IS CLEAR. 
AND I HAVE BEEN LEFT NO OTHER 
CHOICE. 
AS A MEMBER OF THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE, I SAT IN SHOCK, IN 
AWE, AS WITNESS AFTER WITNESS 
CAME FORWARD, THEIR STORIES 
PAINTING A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER. 
THEY TESTIFIED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT HAD DIRECTED ORERS TO 
WITHHOLD VITAL MILITARY AID FOR 
UKRAINE AND A WHITE HOUSE VISIT 
IN EXCHANGE FOR INVESTIGATION 
INTO THE BIDENS.
TO DATE, ALL THE MILITARY AID 
HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AND 
THERE'S STILL BEEN NO WHITE 
HOUSE MEETING.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS CLEAR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDAGED OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE VERY  
ESSENCE OF OUR DEMOCRACY FOR HIS
OWN PERSONAL POLITICAL GAIN.
THEN, PRESIDENT TRUMP SOUGHT TO 
COVER IT UP BY SUBVERTING THE 
OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS.
IF PRESIDENTIAL ABUSE OF POWER  
IS LEFT UNCHECKED, WE ALL BECOME
ACCOMPLICES WHEN HE DOES IT 
AGAIN.
THIS CANNOT BECOME THE NEW  
NORMAL. 
NOT ON OUR WATCH. 
WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
INDEFENSIBLE ACTION SET IN  
MOTION THIS EVENT, MY VOTE FOR  
IMPEACHMENT TODAY IS NOT ABOUT  
THE PRESIDENT.
IT IS ABOUT MY OATH TO DEFEND 
AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I UPHOLD  
AND HONOR THE SACRED TRUST THAT 
MY CONSTITUENTS GAVE ME.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BETRAYED  
HIS OATH OF OFFICE. 
LET US NOT BETRAY OURS. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
YOU'RE BACK.
FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I'M BACK. 
ALSO NOTED SOME CHANGES AROUND  
HERE SINCE WE LEFT. 
I NOTICE I HAVE A NEW MANAGER 
ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO AS I CAME 
BACK IN NOTICED GAVE AN 
ELOQUENT DEFENSE OF HIS SIDE OF 
THE STORY WE ARE TELLING. 
I WISH WE COULD HAVE HAVE THAT  
HAD BEFORE THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE WHERE WE COULD ASK  
QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF GIVING ONE 
SIDE. 
WITH THAT I YIELD A MINUTE AND  
A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. KELLER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. KELLER: THANK YOU.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY WILL 
FOREVER BE REMEMBERED AS A  
STAIN ON OUR REPUBLIC.
THESE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 
ARE NOT BASED UPON FACTS, 
EVIDENCE, REASON, OR ANY  
INAPPROPRIATE OR IMPEACHABLE  
ACTIONS BY OUR PRESIDENT. 
INSTEAD, THE ACTIONS BEING  
TAKEN BY THOSE FAVORING 
IMPEACHMENT ARE A PRODUCT OF  
THEIR DISDAIN FOR PRESIDENT 
TRUMP, HIS AMERICA FIRST  
AGENDA, AND PARTICULARLY  
DISDAIN BY THE OTHER PARTY FOR  
THE 63 MILLION AMERICANS THAT 
ELECTED HIM AS PRESIDENT. 
AGAIN, THESE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT ARE NOT BASED ON  
ANY FACTS BUT RATHER ON 
HEARSAY, PRESUMPTIONS,  
INNUENDO, AND FEELINGS. 
FEELINGS BY DEMOCRATS AND 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS THAT WANTED  
PRESIDENT TRUMP REMOVED FROM  
OFFICE SINCE THE DAY HE WAS 
ELECTED.
IN DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION  
I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO OPPOSE  
BOTH ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS UNCLEAR WHO WILL JUDGE  
THOSE VOTING FOR IMPEACHMENT  
TODAY MORE HARSHLY, HISTORY OR  
VOTERS. 
SO I WANT DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR  
IMPEACHMENT TODAY TO KNOW 
THAIL' BE PRAYING FOR THEM. 
FROM THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, THE  
23RD CHAPTERERS VERSE 234, AND  
JESUS SAID, FATHER, FORGIVE 
THEM. 
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. 
THANK YOU.
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, MY 
COLLEAGUES HAVE REFERRED TO 
PATRIOTIC AMERICANS WHO 
TESTIFIED BEFORE THE  
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AS 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE JUST  
WHO THOSE CAREER BUREAUCRATS  
ARE.
THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE AMBASSADOR 
BILL TAYLOR WHO HAS SERVED THIS 
COUNTRY FOR DECADES, GRADUATED  
TOP IN HIS CLASS AT WEST POINT, 
SERVED DURING VIETNAM IN  
COMBAT, RNED A BRONZE STAR -- 
EARNED A BRONZE STAR. 
PEOPLE LIKE KOHL MEMBER 
VINDMAN, SERVED IN IRAQ, A  
PURPLE HEART. 
AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH SERVED 
IN DANGEROUS PLACES ALL OVER  
THE WORLD.
ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED ALL 
ALL OUR FOREIGN SERVICE OVERS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE MY 
COLLEAGUES WOULD LABEL AS 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE COURAGE 
TO DO THEIR LAWFUL DUTY TO  
ANSWER A SUBPOENA, TO COME AND  
TESTIFY.
AND FOR THIS THEY ARE CALLED  
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
WELL, WE SHOULD HAVE MORE 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS OF THAT  
CALIBER.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MR. KOSTA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. COSTA: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
RISE WITH A HEAVY HEART THE TWO 
MOST DIFFICULT VOTES ANY MEMBER 
OF CONGRESS EVER HAS TO CAST IS 
TO VOTE TO GO TO WAR OR TO  
IMPEACH.
TODAY I WILL VOTE FOR THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE 
LISTENED CAREFULLY TO MY  
CONSTITUENTS. 
I WEIGHED ALL THE AVAILABLE 
INFORMATION TO DETERMINE  
WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT  
COMMITTED ANY WRONGDOING. 
THERE ARE DISTURBING FACTS FROM 
THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT INFORM 
MY DECISION, INCLUDING THE  
PRESIDENT'S OWN WORDS.
HIS AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN  
UNION TESTIFIED THERE WAS A 
QUID PRO QUO TO WITHHOLD AID TO 
THE UKRAINE FOR INVESTIGATION 
TO FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN  
AND EVERYONE WAS IN THE LOOP. 
HIS OWN NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISOR, JOHN BOLTON, SAID HE 
WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS  
DRUG DEAL, AS HE CALLED IT. 
THEN THE PRESIDENT OPENLY 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CHINA AND 
UKRAINE SHOULD INVESTIGATE MR.  
BIDEN.
THERE IS MUCH MORE EVIDENCE 
POINTING TO THE PRESIDENT 
VIOLATING HIS OWN OATH OF 
OFFICE. 
I HAVE NOT MADE THIS DECISION 
LIGHTLY BUT I MUST UPHOLD MY  
OWN OATH OF OFFICE BECAUSE I  
BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT HAS 
FAILED TO UPHOLD HIS OATH OF  
OFFICE. 
THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY AND MY  
BELIEF IN THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES AND OUR OWN 
NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS 
HAVE LED ME TO THIS VOTE. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT IS INTERESTING TO SAY, AND I 
APPRECIATE ANYBODY WHO COME AND 
GIVE TESTIMONY, BUT IT IS 
INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THESE 
SAME CHAIRMEN WHO SPOKE 
ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THOSE WHO  
TESTIFIED WOULD HAVE TO DISMISS 
COMPLETELY ALMOST ANYTHING BY 
MR. VOLCKER OR MR. MORRISON.
I WILL SAY AT LEAST THEY HAD  
THE ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO  
COME AND TESTIFY. 
UNLIKE THE CHAIRMAN WHO WROTE A 
REPORT, SENT IT TO JUDICIARY, 
AND DIDN'T W THAT I YIELD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS. 
GRANGER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR A  
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MS. GRANGER: I RISE TODAY IN  
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE  
POLITICALLY DRIVEN ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT THAT HAVE BEEN  
BROUGHT BEFORE THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES TODAY.
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO 
ACCEPT THE VOTERS' CHOICE TO  
ELECT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THEY HAVE USED ANY AND ALL  
UNDEMOCRATIC AND UNFAIR MEANS 
NECESSARY TO TRY AND REMOVE HIM 
FROM OOFS.
MY VOTE TODAY NOT ONLY AGAINST  
ILLEGITIMATE IMPEACHMENT OF OUR 
PRESIDENT, WHICH BEGAN NOT WITH 
FACTS BUT WITH A FOREGONE 
CONCLUSION, IT IS AGAINST HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS MAKING A MOCKERY OF 
DUE PROCESS AND THE RULE OF 
LAW.
THIS WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE IN  
THE SENATE SO ALL DEMOCRATS 
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IS POST 
OPPONENTING THE IMPORTANT WORK  
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- IS  
POSTPONING THE IMPORTANT WORK 
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THIS ENDLESS CRUSADE OF 
DEMOCRATS TO REMOVE THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
HAS PUT PARTISAN POLITICS ABOVE 
THE ISSUES AMERICANS FACE 
TODAY.
IT'S TIME DEMOCRATS STOP  
PLAYING PARTISAN GAMES THAT 
HURT HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS. 
IT'S TIME FOR THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE TO BE CONGRESS PRIORITY  
AGAIN.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME 
IN VOTING NO. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I AM MORE THAN DELIGHTED TO 
REFER TO THE TESTIMONY  
AMBASSADOR VOLCKER AND MR.  
MORRISON. 
AM BASS DOOR VOLKER WHO 
ACKNOWLEDGED IN RETROSPECT HE 
SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED WHEN 
THEY WERE CALLING FOR 
INVESTIGATIONS IT MEANT THE 
BIDENS AND TO ASK A FOREIGN 
LEADER TO INVESTIGATE A 
POLITICAL RIVAL WAS WRONG.
HAPPY TO REFER TO HIS TESTIMONY 
AS WELL AS MR. MORRISON WHO 
WENT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY 
COUNCIL LAWYER IMMEDIATELY  
AFTER HE LISTENED TO THAT 
TELEPHONE CALL. 
AND WHO ALSO TESTIFIED THAT HE  
WAS INFORMED BY AMBASSADOR  
SONDLAND THAT THE PRESIDENT 
WANTED ZELENSKY IN A PUBLIC 
BOX.
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO BE FORCED 
TO GO TO THE MIKE AND ANNOUNCE  
THESE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS.
HAPPY TO REFER TO THEIR 
TESTIMONY AS WELL.
HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA FOR 
TWO MINUTES, REPRESENTATIVE 
SPEIER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
TWO MINUTES.
MS. SPEIER: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
MY FATHER FLED NAZI GERMANY FOR 
AMERICA.
BECAUSE HE SAW WHAT HAPPENED  
WHEN A DESPOT BECAME  
UNTETHERED. 
HE FLED BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN  
DEMOCRACY.
AND THE RULE OF LAW.
AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
BEFORE HE DIED, HE ASKED TO BE  
BURIED IN A SIMPLE PINE BOX 
WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG TO  
SYMBOLIZE HIS LOVE OF THIS  
COUNTRY.
TODAY WE ARE CALLED UPON TO DO  
OUR DUTY OUT OF LOVE OF 
COUNTRY.
THE PRESIDENT STANDS ACCUSED. 
WE MUST JUDGE HIM AS WE JUDGE 
ANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. 
ON THE FACTS AND ON THE LAW.
THE FACTS SHOW THAT THE 
PRESIDENT'S NORTH STAR IS 
RUSSIA. 
NOT THE CONSTITUTION. 
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DELAYED 
MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE, OUR  
ALLY, AS THEY WERE UNDER ATTACK 
BY RUSSIA, OUR ADVERSARY. 
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE  
PRESIDENT WITHHELD A MEETING  
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AT THE  
WHITE HOUSE, GIVING RUSSIA THE  
UPPER HAND IN PEACE NEGOTIATION 
WAS UKRAINE.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMOTED THE  
RUSSIAN HOAX THAT UKRAINE 
ATTACKED OUR ELECTION IN 2016.
A CUE NARD THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN 
-- CUNEARD THAT HAS PROVEN TO 
BE A LIE, A RUSSIAN LIE.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS HIS  
MOWIVE. 
HIS CONDUCT AND CRIMES  
REPREHENSIBLE AND IMPEACHABLE.
WHEN I VOTE TODAY MY FATHER'S 
LEGACY IS DEEP, VERY DEEP 
WITHIN ME.
MY FATHER LOVED AMERICA AND I 
LOVE AMERICA. 
AND THAT IS WHY I WILL VOTE TO  
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I SEE HOW THIS IS  
PLAYING OUT.
INSTEAD OF TESTIFYING AND 
ANSWERING ALL QUESTIONS WE'LL 
DO IT IN POTSHOTS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT MR. VOLCKER  
AGAIN.
HE NEVER TESTIFIED ANYONE 
WANTING TO INVESTIGATE VICE 
PRESIDENT WIDEN.
WHAT HE DID TESTIFY TO WHICH  
WAS LEFT OUT THEY WANTED TO --  
THAT THE UKRAINIANS DOING BAD 
THINGS PLACED HUNTER BIDEN ON 
THE BOARD TO AVOID ANYTHING,  
THAT NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED  
AND FOUND OUT.
LET'S AT LEAST TELL THE STORY.
HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THIS 
IN AN ACTUAL HEARING, NOT HERE. 
THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. 
THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN 
WANTING, THE MAJORITY HAS 
PLAYED THIS THE WHOLE TIME. 
WE'LL PLAY THIS OUT AS LONG AS  
THEY WANT TO. 
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF  
THEY HAD A CASE TO HAVE MADE IT 
IN THE PROPER SETTING INSTEAD 
OF NOT COMING AND NOT 
TESTIFYING. 
WITH THAT I YIELD A MINUTE AND  
A HALF TO GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, 
MR. WEBER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM IS RECOGNIZED  
FOR A MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. WEBER: IT'S VERY  
INTERESTING TO SEE THE  
SOCIALISTIC LEFT DEMOCRATS THAT 
HAVE A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION  
FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR  
FOUNDERS' PRINCIPLES. 
WOULD THAT THOSE SAME 
SOCIALISTS, MADAM SPEAKER,  
WOULD AFFORD UNBORN BABIES THE  
RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND 
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AS WELL. 
MADAM SPEAKER, HISTORY TELLS US 
THE FIRST THREE IMPEACHMENTS IN 
THIS COUNTRY CRIMES IN  
INVOLVED. 
JOHNSON VIOLATED LAW CONGRESS 
PASSED OVER HIS SLEET JOE.
NIXON WAS INVOLVED IN A 
COVER-UP. 
CLINTON LIED TO A FEDERAL GRAND 
JURY TORE FALSIFY AN AFFIDAVIT. 
CRIMES. 
ALL INSTANCES OF CRIMES.
NOW COMES A SOCIALISTIC 
LEANINGS, MADAM SPEAKER, A  
SENSIBLY READLING THE 
PRESIDENT'S MINDS KNOWING WHAT  
HIS INTENT WAS AND DICTATING TO 
US AND THE WITNESSES THAT WERE  
IN THE HEARINGS WHAT HIS MIND 
SET WAS.
AND THAT QUITE FRANKLY THEY 
DIDN'T BELIEVE HE HAD THE RIGHT 
TO BE IN CHARGE OF  
FOREIGNPOLICY. 
WE HEARD AMBASSADORS, AND YES,  
WE HEARD CAREER BUREAUCRATS,  
CAREER DIPLOMATS, THEY GET TO 
RIDE THE BUS. 
THEY DON'T GET TO DRIVE THE 
BUS.
THE PRESIDENT IS IN CHARGE OF 
FOREIGN POLICY. 
WE HAD -- THEY SAID THE 
PRESIDENT HAD THE AUDACITY TO 
USE HIS JUDGMENT ON FOREIGN 
POLICY INSTEAD OF THEIRS. 
OPINIONS. 
OPINIONS. 
SUPPOSITIONS, INDEED. 
THE VERY SWAMP HE IS DRAINING 
IS OBJECTING. 
WHO KNEW. 
WHO KNEW. 
TODAY NOW DURING THE EARLIER  
RULE DEBATE SOMES THE FLOOR 
MANAGER FROM THE OTHER SIDE 
FROM MASSACHUSETTS CITING NOT 
FACTS, BUT NEWSPAPER ARTICLES,  
CNN, USA OPINIONS, EDITORIALS.
UNBELIEVABLE, MADAM SPEAKER.
AMERICANS ARE WATCHING. 
THE DELETERIOUS, AND IN DEEP  
YOGURT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I JUST REMIND MY  
COLLEAGUES THAT AMBASSADOR  
VOLCKER SAID THE ATTACKS ON JOE 
BIDEN WERE MERITLESS AND HE 
TRIED TO PERFECT SAID MR. 
GIULIANI THERE WAS NO FACTUAL 
SUPPORT FOR THEM. 
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
LEWIS, FOR TWO MINUTES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. LEWIS: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE WITH A  
HEAVY HEART TO SUPPORT THIS 
RESOLUTION. 
I CAME TO WASHINGTON IN 1961 TO 
GO ON THE FREEDOM RIDES, WE 
CHOSE THAT DAY. 
WHEN WE CAME HERE ON AUGUST 28, 
1963, FOR THE MARCH ON  
WASHINGTON, IT WAS JOYFUL.
WE MET WITH A YOUNG PRESIDENT,  
PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD 
KENNEDY.
WHEN WE CAME HERE ON AUGUST 6,  
1965 FOR THE SIGNING OF THE 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WE WERE  
EXCITED, HOPEFUL. 
WE MET PRESIDENT LYNDON 
JOHNSON.
BUT TODAY, THIS DAY, WE DIDN'T  
ASK FOR THIS. 
THIS IS A SAD DAY.
IT IS NOT A DAY OF JOY. 
OUR NATION IS FOUNDED ON THE  
PRINCIPLE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE 
KINGS.
WE HAVE PRESIDENTS. 
AND THE CONSTITUTION IS OUR 
COMPASS.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS  
NOT RIGHT, NOT JUST, NOT FAIR,  
YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO  
SAY SOMETHING, TO DO SOMETHING. 
OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN 
WILL ASK US WHAT DID YOU DO?
WHAT DID YOU SAY? 
FOR SOME THIS VOTE MAY BE HARD. 
BUT WE HAVE A MISSION AND A 
MANDATE TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE 
OF HISTORY. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I ALWAYS LIKE TO 
BE POLITE.
I DO APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA CONFIRMING  
EVERYTHING I SAID IN MY 
STATEMENT A MOMENT AGO. 
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR. 
WENSTRUP. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. WENSTRUP: MADAM SPEAKER,  
SINCE 2016 AMERICA HAS SEEN A 
PATTERN OF FAILED AND DISPROVEN 
ATTACKS AND ALLEGATIONS AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
TODAY IS THE FOURTH IMPEACHMENT 
RELATED VOTE SINCE PRESIDENT  
TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.
IT'S YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO 
REACH A PREDETERMINED 
CONCLUSION OF IMPEACHMENT,  
CONCLUSION BUILD ON POLITICAL 
BIAS, ACCUSATIONS, AND  
INNUENDO. 
THESE REPETITIVE REPEAL A 
POLITICAL OBSESSION DISGUISED 
AS SOME KIND OF RIGHTEOUS 
OVERSIGHT . 
WHEN THEY DIDN'T WIN AT THE 
BALLOT BOX, THEY PURSUED A  
RUSSIAN COLLUSION NARRATIVE,  
SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER  
HAD TO WASTE TIME AND TAXPAYER  
DOLLARS TO PROVE FALSE. 
. 
WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK THEY  
SOUGHT A NEW PATH FORWARD TO GET
IMPEACHMENT.
THEY HELD MADE FOR TV HEARINGS, 
COMPLETE WITH SECRET MEETINGS IN
THE BASEMENT OF THE CAPITOL.
THE CHARGES TODAY LACK EVIDENCE 
TO SUPPORT THEM.
THERE WASN'T ONE WITNESS THAT 
SAID A CRIME OR IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I REMIND MY  
COLLEAGUES, NO CRIME, NO  
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD DEFENSE, IF
YOU ASK ME. 
I WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO 
FURTHER REVEAL THE TRUTH AND  
FURTHER REVEAL THE ABUSES OF  
POWER, MADAM SPEAKER THAT 
DEMOCRATS PAID FOR AND ENACTED  
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
ABUSES OF POWER FROM THE OTHER  
SIDE OF THE AISLE WITHIN THIS 
BODY AND WITHIN OUR F.B.I.
AMERICANS DESERVE THE TRUTH.
ALL IN ALL, HISTORY WILL  
REMEMBER TODAY AS THE POLITICAL 
IMPEACH THAMENT SET THE 
PRECEDENT FOR PRESIDENTS TO BE  
IMPEACHED EVERY TIME THERE'S A  
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. 
I OPPOSE THE ARTICLES BEFORE US 
TODAY AND I YIELD BACK TO THE 
OTHER SIDE AND THEIR SUPERIOR 
IMAGINATIONS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: PROUD TO RECOGNIZE  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
QUIGLEY, FOR TWO MINUTES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. QUIGLEY: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
INDEED WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES EABUSED HIS POWER AND  
BETRAYED HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
HE LAID SIEGE TO THE ELECTORAL  
PROCESS.
THESE ACTIONS POSE A DIRECT 
THREAT TO THE FREEDOM AND 
FAIRNESS OF THE UPCOME 20G20  
ELECTION. 
THE VERY DAY AFTER ROBERT 
MUELLER TESTIFIED THAT RUSSIA 
HAD SYSTEMATICALLY AND  
RELENTLESSLY ATTACKED THE 2016  
ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT PICKED  
UP THE PHONE AND MADE HIS 
NOW-INFAMOUS JULY 25 CALL TO  
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY  
ASKING THE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ON
THAT CALL, QUOTE DO, US A FAVOR 
THOUGH, AND ANNOUNCE  
INVESTIGATION INTO HIS POLITICAL
RIVAL JOE BIDEN.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM NUMEROUS 
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND 
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS THE  
PRESIDENT DID NOT EXPECT UKRAINE
TO OPEN THE INVESTIGATIONS, HE  
JUST WANTED THEM ANNOUNCED SO HE
COULD SMEAR HIS RIVAL.
RATHER THAN TRUSTING VOTERS TO  
DECIDE WHO SHOULD HOLD THE WHITE
HOUSE HE AGAIN SOUGHT THE AID OF
THE FOREIGN COUNTRY TO TIP THE  
SCALES IN FAVOR AGAIN.
AFTER RUSSIA'S UNPRECEDENTED  
INTERFERENCE A DARK CLOUD HUNG  
OVER THE 2016 ELECTION AND  
INSTEAD OF LEADING THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE OUT FROM UNDER THE CLOUD,
THE PRESIDENT INSTEAD EMBOLDENED
BY PERCEIVED LACK OF  
CONSEQUENCE, ATTEMPTED TO 
PRESSURE ZELENSKY TO INTERFERE  
IN THE 2020 ELECTION. 
AFTER A COURAGEOUS WHISTLEBLOWER
CAME FORWARD AND WARNED CONGRESS
AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE  
PRESIDENT'S SCHEME, THE 
PRESIDENT STOOD ON THE WHITE  
HOUSE LAWN IN FRONT OF TV 
CAMERAS BROADCASTING AROUND THE 
WORLD AND CALLED FOR CHINA TO 
INTERFERE TOO.
SMOFFER MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED
WHY NOT WAIT? 
WHY ARE WE PROCEEDING?
THAT'S VERY SIMPLE. 
BECAUSE NOTHING COULD BE MORE 
URGENT. 
WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF THE  
2020 ELECTION AND CONGRESS HAS  
ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO  
PROTECT THE SACRED EQUALIZER, 
OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
TO DEFEND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
ELECTIONS AND TO FULFILL OUR  
DUTY TO THE CONSTITUTION, I WILL
BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY AND I YIELD 
BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, 
MR. LAMB BORN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. LAMBORN: MADAM SPEAKER, IN  
INWATCHING THIS IMPEACHMENT 
SOUND AND FURY SIGNIFYING 
NOTHING SHOULD LOOK FOR THREE 
MISREPRESENTATIONS THE DEMOCRATS
ARE MAKING. 
ONE, TRUMP ENDANGERED NATIONAL  
SECURITY. 
NO. 
THE 55-DAY DELAY DID NOT STOP 
UKRAINIANS FROM DEFENDING 
THEMSELVES HSM EGAVE THEM LETHAL
AID WHICH OBAMA NEVER DID.
DURING OBAMA'S NEGLIGENCE,  
DEMOCRATS SAID NOTHING. 
TWO, TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW 
NO ONE IS.
BUT WHY DON'T THE DEMOCRATS TELL
US WHAT LAW HE BROKE? 
THEY CAN'T, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T 
BREAK ANY.
SO DEMOCRATS HAVE RESORTED TO 
TWO VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE  
ARTICLES, ABUSE OF POWER AND  
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. 
THREE, THE EVIDENCE IS NOT IN 
DISPUTE.
THE EVIDENCE IS VERY MUCH IN US 
DISPUTE.
FOR EVERY STATEMENT THE 
DEMOCRATS CHERRY PICK TO INDICT 
TRUMP, MORE STATEMENTS BACK UP  
THE PRESIDENT.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT A PARTISAN  
EMPLOYEE BY -- PLOY BY DEMOCRATS
TOOVER TURN AN ELECTION.
THIS CHARADE WILL FAIL AND THE  
SENATE WILL EXONERATE TRUMP AND 
EVERYONE KNOWS IT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS, MR. CASTRO, FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. CASTRO: AS MY COLLEAGUES  
SAID, THE EVIDENCE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER AND  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS IS  
UNCONTESTED.
BUT LET'S OUTLINE A FEW EVENTS. 
THE $55 MILLION IN MILITARY AID 
HELD UP BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN SPITE OF  
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE.
THE SUM ORE OF 2019 WAS A SUM 
OVER SHAME FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. 
THEY BLOCKED SECURITY ASSISTANCE
MONEY FOR UKRAINE WITH NO 
EXPLANATION OSMEN JULY 10,  
GORDON SONDLAND STATES IN A 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH  
UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS THAT THEY 
WILL GET A WHITE HOUSE MEETING  
ONLY AFTER ANNOUNCING AN  
INVESTIGATION INTO PRESIDENT  
TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL.
ON JULY 18, A WHITE HOUSE 
STAFFER ANNOUNCES THE FREEZE ON 
UKRAINIAN AID PER DIRECT  
PRESIDENTIAL ORDER. 
AND JUST ONE DAY AFTER ROBERT 
MUELLER'S TESTIMONY BEFORE  
CONGRESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKES 
THE NOW-INFAMOUS PHONE CALL TO  
ZELENSKY, ASKING HIM TO 
INVESTIGATE THE BIDENS. 
THEN, THINGS START TO FALL  
APART.
SEE, THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNS THAT
A WHISTLEBLOWER HAS REPORTED  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PHONE CALL  
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN A  
COMPLAINT.
ON SEPTEMBER 9, CONGRESS STARTS 
TO INVESTIGATE THE PRESIDENT'S  
ACTIONS.
AND THEN THE JIG IS UP. 
ON SEPTEMBER 11, THE AID IS 
SUDDENLY RELEASED WITHOUT 
EXPLANATION OTHER TWO MONTHS  
LATER.
WHEN YOU READ THE CALL  
TRANSCRIPT AND FOLLOW THE 
TIMELINE I LAID OUT, GUILTY IS  
GUILTY. 
NOTHING CHANGED DURING THAT TIME
REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S 
SUPPOSED CONCERNS OVER  
CORRUPTION. 
LET'S BE CLEAR. 
THE MILITARY AID WAS RELEASED 
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT GOT 
CAUGHT. 
BUT GETTING CAUGHT DOESN'T GET  
YOU OFF THE HOOK. 
AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, IS 
ATTEMPTED MURDER A CRIME? 
IS ATTEMPTED ROBBERY A CRIME? 
IS ATTEMPTED EXTORTION AND  
BRIBERY BY A PRESIDENT A CRIME? 
YES, IT IS. 
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER
WE WILL FIND THE MORAL COURAGE  
TO STAND UP FOR OUR COUNTRY AND 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA, MR. PALMER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. PALMER: I RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
TODAY IS A DAY THAT DIMINISHES  
THE REPUTATION AND STATURE OF 
THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES, A DAY I NEVER  
DREAMED I'D SEE.
TODAY MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES  
SEEK TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION BY 
FORCING A VOTE THAT WILL FOREVER
BE A STAIN ON THIS CONGRESS.
THEY ARE NOT JUST VOTING TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP, MY 
COLLEAGUES ARE VOTING TO IMPEACH
THE JUDGMENT OF EVERY PERSON WHO
VOTED FOR HIM AND THE PROCESS BY
WHICH WE ELECT THE PRESIDENT AND
BY WHICH WE WILL GOVERN OUR 
NATION. 
MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES CLAIM THE
RUSSIANS INFLUENCED THE OUTCOME 
OF THE 2016 ELECTION BUT BASED  
ON THEIR CORRUPT IMPEACHMENT  
PROCEEDINGS, IT APPEARS MY  
COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED 
BY HOW RUSSIA CONDUCTS TRIAL NO 
REAL EVIDENCE, NO CRIME, NO DUE 
PROCESS, NO JUSTICE.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE FAILED TO  
SHOW ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR THE  
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND EVIDENCE
THEY MADE IT UP.
THEY CONDUCTED MOST HEARINGS IN 
SECRET. 
INSTRUCTED WITNESSES NOT TO 
ANSWER REPUBLICAN MEMBER'S  
QUESTIONS AND DENIED OUR RIGHT  
TO CALL WITNESSES, MAKING IT  
ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THEIR OBJECTIVE
WAS FROM THE BEGINNING  
PATHETICALLY POLITICAL. 
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT ELECTIONS
HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, DEMOCRAT  
AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, THIS DAY 
WILL SURELY HAVE CONSEQUENCES AS
WELL. 
AS WE DESCEND INTO MORE 
DISRESPECT, DISTRUST AND EVEN 
CONTEMPT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE
DESTRUCTIVE OF THIS CHAMBER AND 
I FEAR EVENTUALLY OUR REPUBLIC. 
I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON
IMPEACHMENT I HAVE YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I THANK THE SPEAKER.
VERY QUICKLY, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
MADE REPEATED REFERENCE TO SOME 
SECRET PROCEEDINGS AND SECRET 
STAR CHAMBER. 
THIS IS APPARENTLY WHAT THEY  
CALL DEPOSITIONS. 
I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WHEN THEY
WERE IN THE MAJORITY THEY 
CONDUCTED DEPOSITIONS BUT THEY  
WERE DIFFERENT IN THIS RESPECT. 
IN THE DEPOSITIONS WE CONDUCTED 
IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE 
OVER 100 MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO 
PARTICIPATE.
THAT'S HOW SECRET THEY WERE.
WE REVEALED ALL OF THE  
TRANSCRIPTS OF THOSE  
DEPOSITIONS.
THE REPETITION OF THIS FALSEHOOD
DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.
IT ONLY MAKES THE FALSEHOOD THAT
MUCH MORE DELIBERATE. 
WITH THAT I'M PLEASED TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MICHIGAN, MR. AMASH, FOR TWO  
MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. AMASH: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THESE
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I COME TO THIS FLOOR NOT AS A 
DEMOCRAT, NOT AS A REPUBLICAN,  
BUT AS AN AMERICAN. 
WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE  
CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW,  
AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE. 
UNDER OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, 
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT ABOUT POLICY 
DISAGREEMENTS OR INEFFECTIVE  
GOVERNANCE. 
NOR IS IT ABOUT CRIMINALITY 
BASED ON STATUTES THAT DID NOT  
EXIST AT THE TIME OUR 
CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN. 
IMPEACHMENT IS ABOUT MAINTAINING
THE INTEGRITY OF THE OFFICE OF  
THE PRESIDENCY. 
AND ENSURING THAT EXECUTIVE 
POWER IS DIRECTED TOWARD PROPER 
ENDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THE 
HOUSE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND THE SENATE THE  
SOLE POWER TO TRY ALL 
IMPEACHMENTS. 
WE IN THE HOUSE ARE EMPOWERED TO
CHARGE IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT. 
THE CONSTITUTION DESCRIBES SUCH 
CONDUCT AS HIGH CRIMES AND  
MISDEMEANORS BECAUSE IT PERTAINS
TO HIGH OFFICE AND RELATING TO  
-- RELATES TO THE MISUSE OF THAT
OFFICE. 
WE NEED NOT RELY ON ANY OTHER 
BRANCH OR BODY TO ENDORSE OUR 
DETERMINATIONS. 
WE HAVE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
IN FEDERALIST NUMBER 65,  
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE, THE 
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, 
QUOTE ARE THOSE OFFENSES WHICH  
PROCEED FROM THE MISCONDUCT OF  
PUBLIC MEN OR IN OTHER WORDS, 
FROM THE ABUSE OR VIOLATION OF  
SOME PUBLIC TRUST.
THEY'RE OF A NATURE WHICH MAY,  
WITH 3E KUHLIAR PROPRIETY, BE 
DENOMINATED POLITICAL AS THEY 
RELATE CHIEFLY TO INJURIES DONE 
IMMEDIATELY TO THE SOCIETY  
ITSELF. 
END QUOTE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DONALD J. TRUMP 
HAS ABUSED AND VIOLATED THE 
PUBLIC TRUST BY USING HIS HIGH  
OFFICE TO SOLICIT THE AID OF A  
FOREIGN POWER, NOT FOR THE  
BENEFIT OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA, BUT INSTEAD FOR HIS  
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN.
HIS ACTIONS REFLECT PRECIS -- 
PRECISELY THE TYPE OF CONDUCT 
THE FRAMES OF THE CONSTITUTION  
INTENDED TO REMEDY THROUGH THE  
POWER OF IMPEACH AND -- 
IMPEACHMENT AND IT IS OUR DUTY  
TO IMPEACH HIM. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: UNDOUBTEDLY HOUSE  
RESOLUTION 660 DOESN'T MATTER TO
THE MAJORITY AND THE MANAGER OF 
THIS BILL BECAUSE THE INSPECTOR 
GENERAL TRANSCRIPT HAS NOT BEEN 
RELEASE.
THERE WERE DOCUMENTS NOT  
TRANSFERRED AND WE'RE NOT SURE  
WE WERE WE GOT EVERYTHING WE  
WERE SUPPOSED TO GET IN THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT 
AND OPEN YOU HOLD IT IN THE SCIF
AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. 
I YIELD THOUGH GENTLEMAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS IMPEACHMENT DID NOT 
START WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
IT STARTED 19 MINUTES AFTER THE 
PRESIDENT TOOK THE OATH OF  
OFFICE. 
19 MINUTES AFTER THE  
INAUGURATION, THE "WASHINGTON 
POST" PUBLISHED A STORY SAYING  
THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEGUN.
THE FIRST DAY OF CONGRESS, DAY  
ONE, A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF MY  
CLASS CALLED FOR THE IMPEACHMENT
OF THE PRESIDENT, THEN  
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, QUID PRO
QUO.
NONE OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN 
THESE ARTICLES BEFORE US TODAY. 
THE FIRST ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT
CRAFTED IS A FICTION NOT AN 
ENUMERATED BASIS IN THE 
CONSTITUTION FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
THE MAJORITY WOULD HAVE YOU 
BELIEVE ABUSE OF POWER IS A HIGH
CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR. 
IT'S NOT. 
UNLIKE PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND 
NICKSON WHO WERE TRIED FOR  
ACTUAL CRIMES, THIS PRESIDENT IS
BEING TRIED ON VAGUE PHRASES  
THAT APPEAR NOWHERE IN THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
THE SECOND ARTICLE DOESN'T  
APPEAR IN THE CONSTITUTION AS A 
BASIS FOR IMPEACHMENT AND IS  
ATTEMPTING TO IMPEACH A CUELY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT FOR ASSERTING 
CONSTITUTION LL ABASED  
PRIVILEGES ASSERT ODDEN A 
BIPARTISAN BASIS BY BOTH  
POLITICAL PARTIES THROUGHOUT THE
NATION'S HISTORY. 
THIS HOUSE IS IMPEACHING THE  
PRESIDENT OVER A PHONE CALL TO  
ANOTHER WORLD LEADER. 
A FEW LINES OF A PHONE  
TRANSCRIPT THAT'S BEEN CLEATLY  
AND UTTERLY MISREPRESENTED BY 
THE MAJORITY. 
THE PROCESS WAS ANYTHING BUT  
OPEN, BIPARTISAN OR EQUITABLE,  
ABANDONING ALL PAST HISTORIC DUE
PROCESS AFFORDED THE MINORITY 
AND THE PRESIDENT.
THE DEMOCRATS RAN A PARTISAN  
INVESTIGATION, REFUSING THE 
RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY, REFUSING
THE RIGHT FOR THE PRESIDENT'S 
COUNSEL TO CALL WITNESS,  
REFUSING TO A MINORITY HEARING  
DAY JUST TO NAME A FEW. 
THE MAJORITY WAVES AROUND A 
REPORT DRAFT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
STAFF CONCOCTED AS A MATTER OF  
FACT. 
WHEN THEY NEEDED BACKUP FOR 
THEIR APPROACH THEY PARADED OUT 
LIBERAL PROFESSORS WITH ANIMUS  
AGAINST THE PROFESSORS WHO GAVE 
THEM LICENSE TO IMPEACH FOR ANY 
REASON THEY WISH. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING  
THEMSELVES KINGS IN A MANNER FAR
WORSE AN MORE OBVIOUS THAN WHAT 
THEY'RE ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT  
OF DOING. 
THE ONLY ABUSE OF POWER HERE IS 
THE DEMOCRAT-LED CONGRESS.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO MR.
CISNEROS, THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. CISNEROS: I TOOK THE OATH TO
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION FOR THE FIRST  
TIMEFUL I TOOK THAT OATH AGAIN  
EARLIER THIS YEAR AS A MEMBER OF
CONGRESS. 
EVERY DAY, I WORK HARD TO LIVE  
BY THAT OATH AND GIVE THE 39TH  
DISTRICT THE REPRESENTATION IT  
DESERVES. 
I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT 
IMPEACHMENT IS A SERIOUS  
UNDERTAKING AND MUST BE DONE  
WITH INCREDIBLE CARE. 
WHEN THE UNPRECEDENTED  
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT AND HIS INTERACTIONS  
WITH UKRAINE WERE FIRST 
REPORTED, I FELT IT WAS 
CONGRESS' DUTY TO INVESTIGATE 
AND FIND OUT THE TRUTH. 
AND NOW THE FACTS ARE BEFORE  
CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
THE PRESIDENT BETRAYED HIS OATH 
TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION BY ATTEMPTING TO 
UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
ELECTIONS FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL  
BENEFIT.
HE ASKED A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO
INVESTIGATE A POLITICAL RIVAL 
AND ENDANGERS OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY BY WITH HOLDING  
MILITARY AID TO AN ALLY.
FOR ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT PERSONAL 
POLL TOIRKS PARTY AFFILIATION,  
IT'S ABOUT UPHOLDING MY OATH TO 
PUT OUR COUNTRY AND CONSTITUTION
FIRST AND PROTECT OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY. 
THIS IS WHY I WILL VOTE TO MOVE 
FORWARD WITH THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
THE PRESIDENT.
I HOPE ALL MY COLLEAGUES WILL 
JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THIS 
GREAT THREAT AND STAND UP TO  
THIS ADMINISTRATION IN DEFENSE  
OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
.
MR. KUSTOFF: MADAM SPEAKER, 
GOING BACK ALMOST THREE YEARS 
TO WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS SWORN 
INTO OFFICE, WE HAVE SEEN SOME  
MEMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF  
THE AISLE PLEDGING AND  
PROMISING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT  
TRUMP.
PRIOR TO THE START OF THIS  
INQUIRY, SPEAKER PELOSI CLAIMED 
THAT THE IMPEACHMENT MUST BE  
COMPELLING, OVERWHELMING, AND 
BIPARTISAN. 
THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY WAS 
ANNOUNCED LESS THAN THREE 
MONTHS AGO. 
AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE  
PROCESS HAS BEEN FAST, FAULTY,  
AND FLAWED. 
WHAT WE HAVE WITNESSED SINCE  
SEPTEMBER 24 WHEN THE INQUIRY 
WAS ANNOUNCED IS THAT THE 
EVIDENCE WE HAVE SEEN IS NOT  
COMPELLING, IT'S NOT  
OVERWHELMING, AND THE PROCESS 
IS UNDOUBTEDLY AND  
UNQUESTIONABLY NOT BIPARTISAN.
I'M VIEWING THIS THROUGH THE  
LENS OF A FORMER UNITED STATES  
ATTORNEY. 
AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE HERE'S THE 
BOTTOM LINE FOR THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE. 
THERE WAS NO BRIBERY. 
THERE WAS NO EXTORTION. 
THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO.
THERE WERE NO HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS COMMITTED BY THE 
PRESIDENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
NOW RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEWOMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. CHU, FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. CHU: MADAM SPEAKER, WE KNOW 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHHELD 
NEEDED MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE. 
WE KNOW THAT HE USED IT TO  
DEMAND UKRAINE INTERFERE IN THE 
2020 ELECTION FOR HIS OWN 
BENEFIT.
AND WE KNOW THAT UKRAINE KNEW.
NONE OF THESE FACTS HAVE BEEN 
DISPUTED. 
INSTEAD, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS  
TRIED TO HIDE THE TRUTH.
BUT THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE  
THE LAW.
NOBODY IS.
CORRUPTION AND OBSTRUCTION. 
THE PRESIDENT IS GUILTY OF  
BOTH. 
THE BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER WAS  
MADE CLEAR FROM OVER 100 HOURS  
OF TESTIMONY BEFORE THREE 
COMMITTEES AND WAS CLEAR IN THE 
CALL SUMMARY RELEASED BY THE  
WHITE HOUSE.
THE OBSTRUCTION HAS BEEN MADE 
CLEAR BY THE PRESIDENT'S  
REFUSAL TO COOPERATE AT EVERY 
TURN, EVEN WHEN ORDERED BY A  
COURT.
SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT ANY  
PRESIDENT CAN ABUSE THEIR POWER 
TO INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
IT'S ALSO A BETRAYAL OF THE 
OATH OF OFFICE AND THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
TWHRFER -- THEREFORE IN 
FULFILLMENT OF MY OWN OATH OF 
OFFICE IT'S WITH SOLEMN PURPOSE 
TODAY THAT I VOTE TO IMPEACH  
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM OHIO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
>> MADAM SPEAKER, DEMOCRATS 
STARTED WITH QUID PRO QUO, THAT 
DIDN'T WORK WELL. 
THEN IT WAS BRIBERY, EXTORTION  
OF THE THEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR  
WITNESSES IN AND NOT ONE COULD  
ANSWER IF THEY SAW ANY EVIDENCE 
OF BRIBERY, EXTORTION, OR ANY 
CRIME WHEN QUESTIONED.
IT WAS JUST SILENCE.
THEN THE WITNESSES TESTIFIED  
THEY HEARD THIS, HEARD FROM SO  
AND SO. 
WHEN THE DEMOCRATS BROUGHT  
THEIR STAR WITNESS IN,  
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, WHEN ASKED 
HE SAID I PRESUMED THE AID WAS  
HELD UP.
I PRESUMED. 
TESTIMONY WAS HEARSAY,  
CONJECKTUREKS AND ASSUMPTIONS.
NOW IT'S ABUSE OF POWER WITH NO 
UNDERLYING CRIME. 
MR. GIBBS: ABUSE OF POWER TO  
THE DEMOCRATS IS THEY DON'T 
LIKE HIS POLICIES OR HE TREATED 
A REPORTER HARSHLY. 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
THERE ARE THREE CO-EQUAL  
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. 
WHEN EXECUTIVE BRANCH EANCH 
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH HAVE AN  
IMPASSE, THAT'S WHEN THE  
JUDICIAL BRANCH INTERVENES. 
THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.
THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T SOUGHT OUT 
THAT ROUTE. 
EVERY PRESIDENT, INCLUDING  
GEORGE WASHINGTON, COULD HAVE 
BEEN IMPEACHED BASED ON THESE 
FACT-LESS ARTICLES. 
THERE IS NO CRIME.
AS UKRAINE RECEIVED THEIR AID 
BEFORE THE DEADLINE AND NO  
WITNESS WITNESSED ANYTHING. 
THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE RULE OF  
LAW.
IT'S POLITICS AT ITS WORSE. 
IT'S DISGRACEFUL. 
IT'S TIME TO END THIS CHARADE 
AND SCAM ON THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE. 
I URGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE NO ON  
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: HAPPY TO REMIND MY  
COLLEAGUES OF AMBASSADOR  
SONDLAND'S TESTIMONY. 
HE POSED THE QUESTION WAS THERE 
A QUID PRO QUO? 
THE ANSWER IS YES.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A QUID  
PRO QUO INVOLVING THE MILITARY  
AID, HE SAID IT WAS AS CLEAR AS 
TWO PLUS TWO EQUALS FOUR. 
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO MS. SCHAKOWSKY, THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. SCHAKOWSKY: IT IS MY ADULT  
SON WHOM I WILL ALWAYS CREDIT 
FOR MY DECISION LAST JUNE TO  
SUPPORT AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. 
IT HAD NEVER BEEN MY GOAL TO  
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT, BUT IAN  
MADE SUCH A COMPELLING CASE.
HE REMINDED ME OF THE OATH I  
HAVE TAKEN 11 TIMES NOW TO  
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE  
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
HE SAID, MOM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT 
POLITICS. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTY.
AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST MY 
ARGUMENTS HE SAID, THIS HAS 
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FINAL  
OUTCOME.
IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT  
THING.
EVEN IF OTHERS DON'T. 
HE MADE ME SEE THAT IT WAS  
ABOUT MY LEGACY, MY MODEST  
PLACE IN HISTORY. 
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MY SON 
SON, FOR HELPING ME DO THE  
RIGHT THING TODAY.
TO VOTE TO IMPEACH THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
DONALD TRUMP, BECAUSE NO  
AMERICAN IS ABOVE THE LAW.
AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
SONDLAND SAID HE HAD NO DIRECT  
EVIDENCE. 
HE PRESUMED THAT WAS GOING ON.
BACK TO PRESUMPTION AGAIN.
WITH THAT A MINUTE AND A HALF 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,  
MR. FLORES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. FLORES: THE SPEAKER OF THE  
HOUSE THE FOLLOWING SAID IN AN  
INTERVIEW IN "THE WASHINGTON  
POST," QUOTE, IMPEACHMENT IS SO 
DIVISIVE TO THE COUNTRY THAT  
UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING SO  
COMPELLING AND OVERWHELMING AND 
BIPARTISAN I DON'T THINK WE 
SHOULD GO DOWN THAT PATH  
BECAUSE IT DIVIDES THE COUNTRY, 
UNQUOTE.
I THINK MOST AMERICANS WOULD  
AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT 
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS THOUGHTFUL  
AND REASONABLE. 
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY TO VOTE ON 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
HOW DID THE MAJORITY PARTY DO 
IN MEETING THE OBJECTIVES SET 
FORTH BY THE SPEAKER? 
HERE ARE THE ANSWERS. 
FIRST, THE ONLY COMPELLING  
ATTRIBUTE ABOUT THIS SHAM IS  
THE LENGTHS OF MAJORITY HAS 
GONE TO APPEASE THE RADICAL 
SOCIALIST WING OF THEIR PARTY.
SECOND, THE ONLY OVERWHELMING 
FEATURE ABOUT THIS SHAM IS THE  
ABUSE OF POWER BY THE MAJORITY  
AND THE RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR  
FAIRNESS THROUGHOUT THIS SIR  
CUFMENTS FINALLY, THE ONLY  
BIPARTISAN ACTIVITY WILL BE THE 
VOTES AGAINST THESE FLIMSY  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME  
IN OPPOSING THESE DEPLORABLE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AND 
DEMAND THE HOUSE GET BACK TO  
WORKING ON THE PRIORITIES THAT  
HARDWORKING FAMILIES CARE ABOUT 
THE MOST. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: PRIOR TO  
RECOGNIZING MR. RUPPERSBERGER 
FOR ONE MINUTE, THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM MARYLAND.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR MUN 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I SPENT 12  
YEARS ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE, INCLUDING AS RANKING 
MINORITY MEMBER.
MR. RUPPERSBERGER: MY 
BIPARTISAN COOPERATION WITH 
REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN WAS WIDELY  
RECOGNIZED. 
WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL 
SECURITY, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR  
BIPARTISAN POLITICS.
ALL 17 WITNESSES, MOSTLY TRUMP  
APPOINTEES, TOLD THE SAME STORY 
DURING THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE HEARINGS. 
EACH TESTIFYING THAT OUR  
COMMANDER IN CHIEF JEOPARDIZED  
AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY FOR  
THE SAKE OF HIS RE-ELECTION.
THE PRESIDENT HELD HOSTAGE  
MILITARY AID FOR THE FIGHT  
AGAINST A COMMON ENEMY, RUSSIA. 
HE WILLFULLY OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS' ACTUALLY PROSCRIBED 
IMPEACHMENT POWERS. 
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I 
RESISTED CALLS TO BEGIN ITCH  
PEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AND I 
RESENT THOSE WHO SAY THIS IS  
ABOUT REVERSING THE ELECTION. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR  
NOT YOU LIKE TRUMP. 
IT'S ABOUT UPHOLDING OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
ALLOWING THIS TO GO 
UNQUESTIONED SETS A DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT AND PERMANENT DAMAGES 
OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND  
BALANCES. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS ARE 
CLEAR THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY. 
WE MUST UPHOLD OUR OATH OF  
OFFICE AND SUPPORT THESE  
ARTICLES. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM MICHIGAN, MR. WALBERG. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. WALBERG: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN STRONG  
OPPOSITION TO THESE BASELESS  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS NEVER  
INTENDED IMPEACHMENT TO BE A  
ONE-SIDED POLITICAL WEAPON. 
SADLY THE MAJORITY HAS REDUCED  
THIS SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL 
ACTION TO A PURELY PARTISAN 
TACTIC TO TAKE DOWN PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.
HISTORY WILL NOT BE KIND TO THE 
VOTE TODAY. 
IT WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A  
RUSHED PROCESS THAT LACKS 
CREDIBILITY OR TRANSPARENCY 
WITH A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME  
THAT PUTS A PREMIUM ON  
POLITICAL THEATER INSTEAD OF  
FACTS.
BY ANY OBJECTIVE STANDARD, THE  
DEMOCRATS IMPEACHMENT CASE IS 
THE THINNEST IMAGINABLE.
THERE IS NO IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE 
BEFORE US TODAY.
IT'S A COMPLETE AND TOTAL SHAM. 
I CLOSE NOT BY QUOTING A  
PRESIDENT FROM THE PAST.
BUT RATHER FROM THE DULY  
ELECTED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
TO MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES 
THROUGH YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, YOU 
ARE THE ONES INTERFERING IN 
AMERICA'S ELECTION. 
YOU ARE THE ONES SUBVERTING 
AMERICA'S DEMOCRACY.
YOU ARE THE ONES OBSTRUCTING  
JUSTICE.
YOU ARE THE ONES BRINGING PAIN  
AND SUFFERING TO OUR REPUBLIC 
FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH PERSONAL,  
POLITICAL, AND PARTISAN GAIN. 
THESE ARE HARD WORDS, I KNOW. 
BUT THAT IS THE SAD REALITY OF  
THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
I WILL PROUDLY VOTE NO TODAY. 
A VOTE THAT UPHOLD OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
DEFENDS OUR PRESIDENT.
AND PRESERVES THE PILLARS OF  
OUR NATION'S DEMOCRACY AND NOW  
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR. 
GRIJALVA, FOR ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. GRIJALVA: I WILL VOTE IN  
FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
THE FACTS ARE IRREPUTABLE 
ANTI-ONGOING OBSTRUCTION AND  
COVER-UP IS SHAMEFUL. 
MY PARENTS CAME HERE AS 
IMMIGRANTS AND I'M PROUD TO 
LIVE IN A NATION THAT REWARDED  
THEIR HARD WORK BY PROVIDING A  
BETTER FUTURE FOR MY SISTERS  
AND I.
AND AS A FIRST GENERATION 
AMERICAN AND NOW A MEMBER OF  
CONGRESS, A STORY LIKE MINE IS  
ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY A NATION  
THAT UPHOLDS THE RULE OF LAW  
AND TRULY LIVES OUT THE VALUES  
ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
I AM BLESSED WITH THREE 
DAUGHTERS AND FIVE GRANDKIDS. 
BECAUSE OF THIS LIVING LEGACY 
AND THE LEGACY I INTEND TO PASS 
ON TO MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY GOAL 
TODAY IS ROOTED IN PROTECTING 
THEIR FUTURE. 
THE UNDERPINNINGS FOR 
IMPEACHMENT ARE REAL AND  
HISTORIC. 
TRUMP HAS SUBVERTED THE RULE OF 
LAW, ABUSED HIS POWER, AND  
ENGAGED IN COVER-UP.
NO A MISDIRECTION LIES  
DISINFORMATION, TANTRUMS, AND 
CRIES OF VICTIMIZATION BY TRUMP 
AND OTHERS CAN UNDO THE ABUSE 
OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
THE PRESIDENT LEAVES US NO  
CHOICE BUT TO VOTE TO IMPEACH 
SO WE CAN PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY 
AND CORRECT THE DAMAGE THAT'S 
ALREADY DONE. 
I ARE VOTE IN FAVOR OF  
IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD J. TRUMP  
NOT AS A PARTISAN ACT BUT AS A  
SERIOUS, URGENT, AND NECESSARY  
ONE.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,  
MR. BRAIDY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BRADY: 21 YEARS AGO THIS  
WEEK I SPOKE HERE ON  
IMPEACHMENT.
IN THIS SADLY HISTORY WILL NOT  
TREAT DEMOCRATS WELL. 
THEY'LL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED 
AS THE SENATOR JOE MCCARTHYS OF 
OUR TIME. 
SO BLINDED BY THEIR HATRED OF 
PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY ABANDONED  
AMERICAN RIGHTS OF DUE PROCESS  
AND FAIRNESS AND JUST DECENCY.
REMINISCENT OF JOE MCCARTHY 
THEY ASSAULTED THE  
CONSTITUTION, TOOK SECRET 
HEARINGS, BLOCKED EVIDENCE AND  
SWITCHED CHARGES LIKE ROGUE 
PROSECUTORS.
ULTIMATELY THEY CHOSE ABUSE OF  
POWER BECAUSE THEY PRACTICE IT  
SO WELL.
PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED NO  
CRIME OR IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
NONE. 
HIS LEGACY WON'T BE STAINED.
DEMOCRATS' WILL.
THEY'LL LOOK BACK AT THESE DAYS 
IN SHAME BECAUSE TRUMP HATERS 
IN CONGRESS LIKE RED HATERS OF  
THE PAST ARE WILLING TO PLUNGE  
AMERICA INTO DARKNESS FOR RAW 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT BETRAYS THE  
NATION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I VOTE NO.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
TEXAS, MR. DOGGETT, FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. DOGGETT: TYRANNY RARELY 
APPEARS FULL BORN.
IT ARISES, IT ENCROACHES AS 
FREEDOMENCE.
OUR NATION'S GREAT FOUNDERS 
SOUGHT TO PROTECT US FROM 
TYRANNY WITH CAREFULLY CRAFTED  
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
BUT NOW ALONG COMES A PRESIDENT 
WHO ACTUALLY SAYS HE'S ACTUALLY 
EMPOWERED TO DO WHATEVER HE 
WANTS.
HE CAN NEITHER BE PROSECUTED  
NOR EVEN INVESTIGATED FOR ANY 
CRIME.
AND THAT HE CAN TOTALLY IGNORE  
ANY IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING OF 
WHICH HE DISAPPROVES. 
THESE ARE THE CLAIMS OF A 
WANNABE TYRANT WHO HAS EXTOLED  
THE VIRTUES OF TYRANTS AND AUTO 
CONTRACTS FROM MANILA TO MOUSE  
COW.
TO ADVANCE TYRANNY, HE ADOPTS 
AN OPEN BORDER POLICY, INVITING 
FOREIGNERS TO COME IN TO OUR  
COUNTRY AND INTRUDE IN OUR  
ELECTIONS.
FOREIGN NATIONS HAVE THEIR OWN  
AGENDAS, ESPECIALLY ADVERSARIES 
LIKE RUSSIA AND CHINA.
. 
AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD BE THE 
ONLY ONES DETERMINING THE FATE  
OF OUR ELECTIONS. 
IF THERE CONTINUES TO BE FOREIGN
INTERFERENCE WE WILL NEVER HAVE 
FREE ELECTIONS AND WE WILL NOT  
BE FREE.
WE ACT TODAY TO SAFEGUARD OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT 
STANDS NOT TO ONE MAN WHO WOULD 
BE KING.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
BEFORE I CALL MY NEXT SPEAKER 
CAN I GET A TIME CHECK FROM THE 
SPEAKER?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS ONE  
HOUR, THREE AND A QUARTER 
MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
HAS 57 AND A QUARTER MINUTES  
REMAINING.
ONE HOUR, THREE AND A QUARTER 
MINUTES.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I NOY NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- ONE MINUTE
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, MR. ALLEN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. ALLEN: THANK YOU TO MY  
FRIEND FROM GEORGIA AND THANK 
YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK IN  
DEALING WITH THIS VERY SAD DAY  
IN OUR COUNTRY. 
TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY, A PRESIDENT 
WILL BE IMPEACHED.
THIS WILL BE, HOWEVER, THE FIRST
TIME IMPEACHMENT HAS BEEN 
ENTIRELY PARTISAN AND WITHOUT 
MERIT.
THIS CHARADE IS NOT BECAUSE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GUILTY OF A  
HIGH CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR BUT 
BECAUSE ONE POLITICAL PARTY 
DOESN'T LIKE HIM OR HIS POLICIES
OF AMERICA FIRST. 
THE FACTS ARE, WE HAVE A DIVIDED
GOVERNMENT AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS  
ARE AT WAR WITH THE EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH. 
FACT TWO, THEY HAVE BEEN  
PLANNING FOR THIS DAY SINCE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.
FACT THREE, THEY ACCUSE THE 
PRESIDENT FIRST AND THEN HAVE 
SPENT MONTHS LOOKING FOR A  
CRIME.
FACT FOUR.
BUT NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN  
PRESENTED OF AN IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE.
DURING ONE OF THE PARTISAN  
HEARINGS, A MEMBER OF THIS BODY 
ASKED IF PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD  
EVIDENCE OF HIS INNOCENCE, WHY  
DIDN'T HE BRING IT FORWARD? 
THE DEMOCRATS WANT AMERICANS TO 
BELIEVE OUR PRESIDENT IS GUILTY 
UNTIL HE PROVES HIMSELF 
INNOCENT? 
THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
TODAY WE'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES. 
WE NEED TO GET THE TRUTH AND THE
TRUTH IS, THE DECISION OF WHO 
SHOULD BE OUR PRESIDENT SHOULD  
BE MADE BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
NOT SPEAKER PELOSI, ADAM SCHIFF 
AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
YORK, MR. ENGEL, CHAIRMAN ENGEL,
FOR THREE MINS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. ENGEL: I THANK MY FRIEND, 
MR. SPEAKER.
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN  
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE I HAVE TO SAY 
THAT THIS IS A SAD DAY. 
NO ONE IS GLEEFUL THAT THE  
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS HAVE BROUGHT
US TO THIS POINT BUT WHEN YOU 
BOIL IT DOWN, WE'RE HERE TODAY  
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT ABUSED THE
POWER OF HIS OFFICE TO HELP HIS 
CHANCES OF RE-ELECTION. 
HE USED THE ENORMOUS WEIGHT OF  
THE PRESIDENCY AND AMERICAN 
FOREIGN POLICY TO PUSH A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO SMEAR A POLITICAL 
RIVAL.
AND HE GOT CAUGHT.
WHY IS THIS CONDUCT SO SERIOUS? 
WHY HAS THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR
PUSHED THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES TO EXERCISE ONE 
OF ITS MOST CONSEQUENTIAL 
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 
THE PRESIDENT BEING IN KA HOOTS 
WITH A FOREIGN POWER MEANS  
CORRUPTING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
OUR ELECTIONS ARE AT THE HEART  
OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THE FOUNDATION
OF WHAT MAKES OUR SYSTEM OF 
GOVERNMENT GREAT OUR REPUBLIC,  
IF WE CAN DEEP IT, AS BENJAMIN  
FRANKLIN, ONCE SAID.
IF OUR ELECTIONS ARE UNFAIR OUR 
REPUBLIC CANNOT STAND.
ANYONE WHO TRIES TO FIX AN  
ELECTION IS TAKING AWAY THE 
POWER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO 
CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS. 
IF IT HAPPENS AT ANY LEVEL OF 
GOVERNMENT IT'S TOXIC TO OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
THIS CAME FROM THE HIGHEST  
LEVEL.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S EVEN MORE  
SERIOUS.
BECAUSE WHAT WITH THE -- WHAT 
WAS THE PRESIDENT WILLING TO  
GIVE UP FOR THIS ADVANTAGE? 
WHAT PRICE WAS HE WILLING TO  
PAY?
THE PRICE IS OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND THE PRESIDENT  
DIVIDES THE SHADOW FOREIGN  
POLICY THAT UNDERMINE OURS  
DIPLOMACY AND DIPLOMATS WHEN HE 
HELD BACK ASSISTANCE TO THE 
UKRAINE WHO IS EMBROILED IN A 
WAR AGAINST RUSSIA WHEN HE  
PRESSURED A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT  
TO INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
AGAIN.
HE SACRIFICED OUR SECURITY. 
HE SHOOK THE FAITH OF OUR LOYAL 
ALLY. 
HE PLAYED INTO THE HANDS OF 
VLADIMIR PUTIN. 
HE WEAKENED OUR COUNTRY ALL 
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HELP
HIS RE-ELECTION BID.
ONLY THE PRESIDENT HAS THAT 
POWER.
TO CORRUPT OUR FOREIGN POLICY 
FOR POLITICAL GAIN. 
AND THE MOMENT HE CHOSE TO DO 
SO, THE MOMENT HE UNDERMINED OUR
SECURITY IN HIS SCHEME TO 
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY, WHETHER
HE SUCCEEDED OR NOT AND THANK 
GOD HE DID NOT, AT THAT MOMENT  
IT BECAME AN ABUSE OF POWER AND 
A PRESIDENT WHO ABUSES HIS POWER
FOR PERSONAL GAIN IS EXACTLY  
WHAT THE FRAMERS FEARED.
IT'S WHY IMPEACHMENT IS IN THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
WE NEED TO PASS THESE ARTICLES. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS HAVE  
LEFT US NO CHOICE.
HE CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO 
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY AND TEAR
APART THE FABRIC THAT HOLDS OUR 
COUNTRY TOGETHER SO I WILL VET  
FOR IMPEACHMENT AND I YIELD 
BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM DWEA.
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA,  
MR. GEATS, MEMBER OF THE  
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECK NAYSED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MS. GEATS --  
MR. GEATS: THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE
UKRAINE.
IT'S ABOUT POWER. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS IT, HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS WANT IT.
WITH NO CRIME, NO EVIDENCE, NO  
PROOF, NO AYEN DA FOR AMERICA,  
THIS IMPEACHMENT CHARADE MARCHES
ON, HAVING NO RULES AND ADHERING
TO NO SENSE OF HONOR. 
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT FOOLED  
BY DIRTY TRICKS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WON'T FORGET
THAT DEMOCRATS ARE TRIGGERED  
INTO IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE HIM AND 
DON'T LIKE US.
THOSE WHO VOTE YES ON TODAY'S 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT MUST  
CARRY THE HEAVY BURDEN OF SHAME 
AND GUILT FOR AS LONG AS THEY 
SERVE IN CONGRESS WHICH WON'T BE
LONG BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WILL REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER.
DEMOCRATS WOULD RATHER TRIP THE 
PRESIDENT JUST TO SEE HIM 
STUMBLING THAN SEE AMERICA  
SUCCEED.
THEY'D RATHER IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT THAN WORK TOGETHER FOR
THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY  
AND OUR CITIZENS. 
DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE WON THE HOUSE
IN 2018 BUT THEY HAVEN'T  
FOREGIVEN DONALD TRUMP FOR  
HAVING THE AUDACITY TO WIN THE  
PRESIDENCY. 
AND THEY HAVEN'T FOREGIVEN YOU, 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FOR VOTING 
FOR HIM.
THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS SWORN  
INTO CONGRESS, A MEMBER OF THE  
BODY SAID SHE PROMISED TO 
IMPEACH THE MOTHER-F-ER.
THIS WAS PLOTTED AND PLANNED  
BEFORE HE WAS SWORN, IN POSSIBLY
BEFORE SOME DEMOCRATS COULD 
POINT TO UKRAINE ON A MAP.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SAID
HE WAS THE STRONGEST MEMBER TO  
LEAD A POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT. 
DEMOCRATS MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN WHY
THEY WOULD IMPEACH A PRESIDENT, 
BUT THEY KNEW IT WAS AN 
NEVITTABILITY.
THIS IMPEACH SUSPECT A SLAP IN  
THE FACE TO THE MILLIONS OF 
AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE SAME 
AMERICANS DEMOCRATS IN  
WASHINGTON HAVE MOCKED AS SMELLY
WAL-MART SHOPPERS AND 
DEPLORABLES.
THIS IMPEACHMENT ISN'T  
LEGITIMATE, IT'S THE RADICAL  
LEFT'S INSURANCE POLICY.
BUT WE HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY 
TOO.
IT'S THE NEXT ELECTION AND WE 
INTEND TO WIN IT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT, MR. 
WELCH, FOR TWO MINUTES. 
MR. WELCH: WE THE PEOPLE HAVE A 
COMMON TIE THAT BINDS US  
TOGETHER NOW AS IT HAS SINCE THE
FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S OUR SHARED RESPECT FOR THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
LET US ALL STEP BACK FROM THE 
MAELSTROM OF THE MOMENT TO  
RECALL THAT OUR COUNTRY'S 
INCEPTION 243 YEARS AGO, THE  
CONCEPT OF A DEMOCRATIC 
SELF-GOVERNING RULE WAS A 
BREATHTAKING AND IDEALISTIC 
ASPIRATION. 
WHEN THE 13 AMERICAN COLONIES 
BOLDLY REJECKED THE RULE OF A 
BRITISH MONARCH, OUR -- REJECTED
THE RULE OF A BRITISH MONARCH,  
OUR FOUNDERS WERE DETERMINED TO 
CREATE A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD  
RULE WITH CONSENT OF THE  
GOVERNED. 
ENSURING THAT THIS ENDURED  
THROUGH THE AGES WAS AN ENORMOUS
EXISS TEN RBLE CHALLENGE. 
IT WAS MET WITH THE ADOPTION OF 
THE CONSTITUTION IN 1788. 
AT ITS HEART, OUR TWO BEDROCK 
PRINCIPLE -- ARE TWO BEDROCK  
PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SERVED AS  
TOUCHSTONES FOR OUR COULDN'T  
SINCE.
FIRST IT ESTABLISHED AMERICA AS 
A NATION OF LAWS WHERE NO PERSON
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
SECOND IT ESTABLISHED THE 
CONCEPT OF A SEPARATION OF  
POWERS WHERE THREE CO-EQUAL 
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WOULD  
CHECK EACH OTHER. 
LESS POWER BE CONCENTRATED IN 
ONE AT THE EXPENSE OF LIBERTY TO
ALL.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHEN PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ABUSED THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE BY SOLICITING FOREIGN  
INTERFERENCE IN THE UPCOMING  
ELECTION FOR HIS PERSONAL 
BENEFIT, HE WILLFULLY INFRINGED 
UPON THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO 
DECIDE WHO WILL LEAD OUR NATION 
AND IN DOING SO HE PLACED 
HIMSELF ABOVE THE LAW AND IN  
VIOLATION OF HIS OATH.
WHEN HE DENOUNCED, DENIED AND 
DEFIED THE CLEAR AUTHORITY OF 
CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE HIS 
CONDUCT, HE REPUDIATED OUR  
CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES AND FURTHER  
VIOLATED HIS OATH TO PRESERVE,  
PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS FOR THESE REASONS I WILL  
CAST MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF  
IMPEACHING PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN
TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR. 
BIGGS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. BIGGS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
CHAIR.
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
AISLE HAVE SAID WHERE ARE THE 
FACTS?
AS IF WE HAVE THE BURDEN OF 
PROOF.
IT'S YOUR BURDEN OF PROOF, MADAM
CHAIR.
IT'S THE DEMOCRATS' BURDEN OF 
PROOF.
BUT THE FACTS ARE UNCHANGED.
THE UKRAINE RECEIVED AID THAT 
THEY WERE PROMISED AND  
APPROPRIATED FOR IT.
THE AID WAS LAWFULLY DISBURSED. 
IN FACT IT WAS DISBURSED WITHIN 
THE TIME LIMITS SET BY THIS 
CONGRESS. 
IF YOU WANTED IT SENT TO THEM 
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2019,  
SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT IN THE 
LEGISLATION.
YOU DID NOT.
UKRAINIANS GAVE NOTHING IN  
RETURN. 
UKRAINIAN'S PRESIDENT SAID HE 
FELT NO PRESSURE NO COERCION, NO
DURESS NO CONDITIONALITY. 
BUT WHAT CHANGED? 
ON THE DAY THAT THE AID WAS 
RELEASED, TWO ANTI-CORRUPTION 
MEASURES WERE SIGNED INTO LAW BY
THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, MR. -- 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE MANUFACTURED THIS
SHAM AND ARGUE THAT REFUSING TO 
COOPERATE IS IMPEACHABLE. 
THE SUPREME COURT IS CURRENTLY  
CONSIDERING THE EXTENT OF 
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE WHEN  
FIGHTING DUBIOUS SUBPOENAS. 
BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING THEIR 
PROCESS TO COURT, OR WAITING FOR
THE COURT TO RULE ON THE PENDING
CASE, THE DEMOCRATS CHOSE TO  
PRESS FORWARD BECAUSE SIMPLY  
THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO 
WAIT. 
WE DON'T HAVE TIME, THEY SAY. 
BUT FAILING TO DO SO IS AN ABUSE
OF POWER OF THIS INSTITUTION  
THAT WILL HAVE GRAVE  
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR REPUBLIC.
WHEN THE OTHER SIDE CLAIMS THEY 
PROCEED WITH SOBERNESS, I'M 
BEMUSED BY MEDIA REPORTS THAT 
INDICATE THEY'VE BEEN ADMONISHED
NOT TO DO A JIG TODAY WHEN THEY 
WIN THE VOTE, WHICH WE KNOW THEY
WILL. 
I AM STRUCK THAT SOLEMNNYITY OF 
PROCESS SHOULDN'T NEED TO HAVE  
AN ADMONITION AGAINST LEVITY. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN PART SAB. 
VINDICTIVE. 
DEPISS HONEST.
-- DISHONEST. 
DEMOCRATS ARE LIED ABOUT THE  
CONTENT OF THE JULY 25 CALL, MET
SECRETLY WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER,
HELD SOVIET-STYLE HEARINGS  
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHERE THE 
COMMITTEE OF JURISDICTION 
COULDN'T ATTEND, BLOCKED THE  
PRESIDENT'S COUNSEL FROM  
ATTENDING, IT'S BEEN A SHAM FROM
START TO FINISH.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RECOGNIZE MR. SCOTT FOR A 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS EXNICED. 
MR. SCOTT: I ASK UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY 
REMARKS IN FAVOR OF BOTH  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE MR. 
CARSON, THE CONGRESSMAN FROM  
INDIANA FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. CARSON SP --  
MR. CARSON: THANK YOU, CHAIR, 
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
AS WE CONTINUE AND CONSIDER THIS
HISTORIC IMPEACHMENT VOTE, LET'S
BE CLEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT'S 
ACTIONS SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZE NOT
ONLY AMERICA'S NATIONAL 
SECURITY, BUT THE SECURITY OF 
OUR CLOSEST ALLIES. 
HIS ACTIONS THREATEN THE GOALS  
OF THE U.S.-LED NATO ALLIANCE.
YOU SEE, UKRAINE IS A NATION  
WORKING HARD TO MAKE ITS  
DEMOCRACY STRONGER. 
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, UKRAINE IS 
ON THE FRONT LINES OF RUSSIAN 
AGGRESSION. 
THANKFULLY, U.S. MILITARY AID 
HELPS UKRAINE DEFEND ITSELF 
AGAINST RUSSIA AND INTEGRATE  
ITSELF INTO THE EUROPEAN  
COMMUNITY.
WHEN OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE  
STRONGER, AMERICA IS STRONGER.
WE ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO 
PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND PUT A STOP
TO TYRANNY. 
BUT THE PRESIDENT -- BUT TO 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, STRENGTHENING  
THIS VALUABLE NATIONAL SECURITY 
OBJECTIVE, MADAM SPEAKER, WAS 
NOT AS IMPORTANT AS SMEARING A  
POLITICAL RIVAL.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE KNOW THAT HE  
HELD NEARLY $400 MILLION OF AID 
TO UKRAINE UNTIL PRESIDENT  
ZELENSKY AGREED TO HELP HIM DIG 
UP DIRT ON HIS POTENTIAL WILL --
POTENTIAL 2020 OPPONENT.
THIS AID WAS APPROVED BY  
CONGRESS WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN 
SUPPORT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS HURT  
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AND  
UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
NATION'S PROMISES TO OUR ALLIES.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR LEADERS TO
TRADE AWAY OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
WE CANNOT ALLOW RUSSIA'S  
CONTINUED THREATS TO DEMOCRACY  
GO UNANSWERED.
WE MUST NOT ALLOW OUR OWN 
PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES
TO GET AWAY WITH BREAKING HIS 
OWN OATH OF OFFICE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THAT IS WHY WE 
TAKE THE SOLEMN, NECESSARY VOTE 
TO IMPEACH. 
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OHIO, MR. LATTA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
.
MR. LATTE: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
-- MR. LATTA: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
WE HAVE WATCHED THIS 
ILLEGITIMATE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS
WHILE MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE CONDUCTED 
THE MOST POLARIZING IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS IN OUR HISTORY AND THE 
MEN AND WOMEN ARE TIRED OF 
PUTTING POLITICAL GAMES ABOVE 
OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HELD SECRET 
MEETINGS, WITHHELD IMPORTANT 
DEVELOPMENTS, DID NOT GIVE DUE 
PROCESS TO THE PRESIDENT.
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS UNFAIR 
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT 
MORE OUT OF CONGRESS.
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ARE 
NOT BASED ON FACTS BUT INSTEAD 
ARE ENTIRELY POLITICALLY 
MOTIVATED.
THE TRUTH IS THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE PUT ON PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY AND THE TRANSCRIPTS 
CONFIRM THERE WAS NO 
CONDITIONALITY.
THIS INQUIRY HAS BEEN RIGGED 
FROM THE START, LACKING 
FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND 
TRUTH.
IT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF 
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS AND BASED OFF
THE OPINION OF AN UNNAMED 
WHISTLEBLOWER AND HEARSAY.
THE ACCUSATIONS IN TODAY'S 
PROCEEDINGS DO NOT ALIGN WITH 
THE FACTS.
THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS OUT 
OF STEP WITH EXISTING PRECEDENT 
FOR PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS, AND IS NOT A 
PROCESS I WILL SUPPORT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT 
COUNTRY FIRST AND VOTE IN 
OPPOSITION TO THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF:  I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN.
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TO
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MRS. MALONEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MS. MALONEY: -- 
MRS. MALONEY: MR. SPEAKER, I 
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
J. TRUMP.
HE ABUSED THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL AND 
POLITICAL GAIN AT THE EXPENSE OF
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WHOLESALE 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS IS 
UNPRECEDENTED, INDISPUTABLE, AND
IMPEACHABLE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST 
PRESIDENT IN HISTORY TO OPENLY 
AND COMPLETELY DEFY ALL ASPECTS 
OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.
IN AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP HIS 
ABUSE OF POWER, HE ORDERED THE 
ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOT TO 
PARTICIPATE IN THE INQUIRY AND 
DIRECTED IT TO DEFY LAWFUL 
SUBPOENAS FROM CONGRESS.
AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM, I FIND 
THIS OBSTRUCTION PARTICULARLY 
OFFENSIVE.
EVEN -- EVEN PRESIDENT NIXON 
ACCEPTED CONGRESS' IMPEACHMENT 
AUTHORITY AND ALLOWED HIS AIDES 
AND ADVISORS TO PRODUCE THE 
DOCUMENTS TO CONGRESS.
AND PRESIDENT NIXON ALLOWED 
CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF TO 
TESTIFY IN BOTH THE HOUSE 
IMPEACHMENT AND THE SENATE 
WATERGATE INVESTIGATIONS, 
INCLUDING HIS CHIEF OF STAFF AND
WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL.
BY CONTRAST, PRESIDENT TRUMP, 
WITHOUT ANY LEGAL BASIS, 
DIRECTED CURRENT AND FORMER 
OFFICIALS NOT TO COOPERATE WITH 
THE HOUSE'S INQUIRY, WHICH 
RESULTED IN NINE OF 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS DEFYING
SUBPOENAS FOR TESTIMONY AND IN 
RESPONSE TO THE HOUSE'S INQUIRY,
PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO 
TURNOVER EVEN ONE SINGLE -- NOT 
ONE SINGLE DOCUMENT TO CONGRESS 
IN RESPONSE TO LAWFUL SUBPOENAS.
PUT SIMPLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
ACTIONS ARE EVEN WORSE THAN 
NIXON'S.
LET ME REPEAT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS ARE 
EVEN WORSE THAN NIXON'S.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS ESTABLISHED
A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES 
THAT SPREAD OUT POWER BETWEEN 
THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY DECIDED THAT NO ONE WOULD 
BE A KING, THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW, INCLUDING THE 
PRESIDENT.
AND THEY GAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF IMPEACHMENT SOLELY TO THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP DEFIES OUR 
SUBPOENAS AND OBSTRUCTS OUR 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, HE SEEKS TO
PLACE HIMSELF ABOVE THE 
CONSTITUTION AND ABOVE THE LAW.
WE CANNOT LET THAT STAND.
AND IF WE DO, THEN THAT'S THE 
END OF CONGRESS AS A CO-EQUAL 
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
AND WE'VE ALLOWED PRESIDENT 
TRUMP TO ELEVATE HIMSELF ABOVE 
THE LAW.
IT IS OUR SOLEMN DUTY UNDER THE 
CONSTITUTION TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS BLATANT 
ABUSE OF POWER AND HIS 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK 
YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS, MR. 
WOMACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. WOMACK: I THANK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR GIVING ME THIS 
MOMENT.
MADAM -- OR, MR. SPEAKER, YEARS 
FROM NOW HISTORY BOOKS WILL TELL
OF THIS DAY.
IT WILL TELL OF A PURELY 
PARTISAN EFFORT TO REMOVE THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
AN EFFORT NOT BUILT ON A HIGH 
CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR, NOT ON A 
PROCESS AND KEEPING WITH THE 
HIGH AMERICAN STANDARD OF DUE 
PROCESS AND EQUAL TREATMENT.
THIS EFFORT IS ROOTED ONLY IN 
THE GOVERNING PARTY'S HATRED OF 
A MAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
MEMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE HAVE BEEN IN PURSUIT OF 
THIS MOMENT SINCE 2016.
THEY ARE CONSUMED BY IT.
EARLIER IN THIS DEBATE, ONE OF 
OUR COLLEAGUES REFERRED TO OUR 
PRESIDENT AS A DOMESTIC ENEMY.
OUR FOUNDERS WARNED US ABOUT 
THIS DAY.
THAT IS WHY OUR NATION HAS 
ENTRUSTED THE FUTURE OF THE 
COUNTRY WITH THE OUTCOME OF 
ELECTIONS, BE NOT THE WILL OF A 
PARTY FILLED WITH CONTEMPT FOR A
DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT.
MY HOPE IS WHEN THE HISTORIANS 
WRITE ABOUT THIS DAY, IT IS NOT 
WRITTEN IN THE CONTEXT OF A 
NATION THAT LOST ITS WAY, 
BECAUSE ITS ELECTED MEMBERS 
CHOSE HATEFUL PARTISANSHIP OVER 
THE SACRED OATH THAT'S PROTECTED
THIS GREAT REPUBLIC SINCE ITS 
FOUNDING AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA 
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF:  MR. SPEAKER, 
IT'S -- I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, 
MR. MALINOWSKI, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. MALINOWSKI: MR. SPEAKER, IN 
AMERICA WHEN WE CALL THE FIRE 
DEPARTMENT OR ENROLL OUR 
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, WE DO NOT 
EXPECT A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TO 
SAY TO US, I NEED YOU TO DO US A
FAVOR, THOUGH.
WHY WOULD WE TOLERATE A 
PRESIDENT USING HIS AWESOME 
POWER TO MAKE FOREIGN POLICY 
WHEN THE SAFETY OF OUR COUNTRY 
IS AT STAKE NOT FOR THE PEOPLE 
BUT FOR HIMSELF?
I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH TODAY 
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID JUST
THAT WHEN HE SHOOK DOWN A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY, TO CRIMINALLY 
INVESTIGATE HIS POLITICAL RIVAL.
IF WE FAIL TO SAY THAT THIS WAS 
WRONG, THEN ANY PRESIDENT WILL 
BE FREE TO ASK A FOREIGN POWER, 
BE IT RUSSIA, CHINA, OR IRAN, TO
HELP HIM HURT HIS POLITICAL 
ENEMIES AT HOME, AND EVERY 
FOREIGN TYRANT AND CLEPT OWE 
KRATT THAT -- CLEPTO KRATT WILL 
KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING.
SEARCH YOUR CONSCIENCE AND 
ASK -- DO YOU WANT OUR FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS TO BEHAVE AS THIS ONE
HAS DONE?
DO NOT WHISPER IN THE SHADOWS OF
THE CAPITOL THAT YOU DISAPPROVE 
AND THEN DEFEND THAT CONDUCT 
HERE TODAY.
DO YOUR DUTY.
KEEP YOUR OATH.
DEPEND YOUR COUNTRY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA, MR. WILSON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. WILSON:  THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
OVER A MONTH AGO ON NOVEMBER 14,
I SPOKE ON THE IMPEACHMENT HOAX 
WITH POINTS TRUE THEN AND STILL 
TRUE TODAY.
AFTER OVER A MONTH OF SECRET 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 
ADMINISTRATION, DEMOCRATS HAVE 
NOW DECIDED TO OPEN THESE 
CONTROLLED HEARINGS TO THE 
PUBLIC.
THIS CONTINUES THE DECEPTION BY 
DEMOCRATS TO MISLEAD THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT'S INSULTING.
NO REPUBLICAN WITNESSES, NO 
COUNSEL BY THE PRESIDENT TO 
PARTICIPATE, AND FULL 
EXONERATION BY COURAGEOUS 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF UKRAINE.
IT'S SAID INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
FUNDING OUR MILITARY THROUGH THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION 
ACT PASSED ONLY LAST WEEK OR 
 
PASS THE UNITED 
STATES-MEXCIO-CANADA TO CREATE 
JOBS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE 
CONTINUE WASTED MILLIONS ON THE 
RUSSIAN HOAX NOW PROCEEDING WITH
A UKRAINIAN HOAX.
THIS PARTISAN WITCH-HUNT DIVERTS
THE PRESIDENT'S SUCCESSES.
THERE IS RECORD JOB CREATION.
THE STOCK MARKET, AGAIN, TODAY, 
IS THRIVING, SHOWING THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP KEEPS HIS 
PROMISES.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR 
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET 
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR 
ON TERRORISM.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF:  MR. SPEAKER, I'M 
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. GOMEZ, FOR 
ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. GOMEZ: MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE 
HERE AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY BECAUSE THE 
PRESIDENT ABUSED THE POWER OF 
HIS OFFICE.
BRIBING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO 
INTRUDE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND 
ENGAGE IN OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS TO COVER IT UP.
OUR CREDIBILITY IN THE GLOBAL 
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
OUR CHARACTER AND MOTIVATIONS 
ARE QUESTIONED.
WE KNOW WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S 
TRUE LOYALTIES LIE.
NOT WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, NOT 
WITH OUR ALLIES, BUT WITH OUR 
ADVERSARIES AND HIMSELF.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ONCE SAID, 
NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND 
ADVERSITY.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN'S 
CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER.
DONALD TRUMP HAS FAILED THIS 
TEST, AND NOW OUR TEST IS 
WHETHER WE WILL BE A CHECK ON 
THAT POWER.
THEREFORE, WE MUST HOLD ANYONE 
TO ACCOUNT, REGARDLESS OF PARTY 
OR POLITICS, BE WHO SETS FIRE TO
THE VERY INSTITUTION THAT DEFINE
OUR NATION AND OUR VALUES.
AND WITH THIS IN MIND, I WILL 
VOTE YES TO IMPEACH DONALD J. 
TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH 
CAROLINA, MS. FOXX.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA 
IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO 
THE PROCESS AND TO THE 
RESOLUTION.
WHEN CONGRESS SEES FIT TO 
EXAMINE ITS SOLEMN POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT, IT IS IMPERATIVE 
THAT IT DOES SO IN GENUINE 
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, FAIRLY, 
TRANSPARENTLY AND OBJECTIVELY.
ANYTHING LESS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT HAS 
FALLEN FAR SHORT OF THAT.
SADLY, ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S 
PREDICTION IN FEDERALIST NUMBER 
65 HAS COME TRUE WHERE HE WARNED
THAT, IN MANY CASES IT WILL 
CONNECT ITSELF WITH THE 
PRE-EXISTING FACTIONS AND WILL 
ENLIST ALL THEIR ANIMOSITIES, 
PARTIALITIES AND INTERESTS ON 
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND IN 
SUCH CASES THERE WILL ALWAYS BE 
THE GREATEST DANGER THAT THE 
DECISION WILL BE REGULATED MORE 
BY THE COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF 
PARTIES THAN BY THE REAL 
DEMONSTRATIONS OF INNOCENCE OR 
GUILT.
AFTER YEARS OF INVESTIGATIONS, 
HEARINGS, AND MILLIONS OF 
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, DEMOCRATS 
FOUND NO PROOF THAT THE 
PRESIDENT COMMITTED A CRIME, NO 
PROOF OF THE VAGUE ACCUSATIONS 
IN THESE ARTICLES CLEARLY 
REFLECT.
A BASIC PREREQUISITE OF 
IMPEACHING FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS IS A CHARGE THAT AN
ACTUAL CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
THESE EMPTY, BASELESS ARTICLES 
EXPOSE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
WHAT THIS IS, A DESPERATE 
PARTISAN ATTEMPT TO AVENGE THE 
LAWS OF THE DEMOCRATS' PREFERRED
CANDIDATE IN 2016.
WE MUST RESPECT AMERICAN VOTERS 
AND REJECT THESE ARTICLES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
JUST A QUICK FACT CHECK BEFORE I
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE AISLE CLAIM THAT NO 
REPUBLICAN WITNESSES WERE 
ALLOWED TO TESTIFY.
THAT IS, OF COURSE, NOT CORRECT.
IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, 
THREE OF THE REPUBLICAN 
REQUESTED WITNESSES TESTIFIED.
THAT'S ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR OF 
THE WITNESSES WERE 
REPUBLICAN-REQUESTED WITNESSES.
THAT THEY INCRIMINATED THE 
PRESIDENT DID NOT MAKE THEM ANY 
LESS REQUESTED BY THE MINORITY.
I AM NOW PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 
MR. KEATING, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS 
RECOGNIZED.
MR. KEATING: TODAY I REFLECT ON 
THE IMPAIR TIFFS OF TWO -- 
IMPERATIVES OF TWO SONS OF 
MASSACHUSETTS, JOHN ADAMS, WHO 
IN ONE SENTENCE CAPTURED THE 
VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY 
SAYING, WE ARE A GOVERNMENT OF 
LAWS, NOT MEN.
TRANSLATION, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE
LAW.
AND JOHN F. KENNEDY WHO IN HIS 
ICONIC CITY UPON A HILL ADDRESS 
CAUTIONED THAT ANYONE OF US 
HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE WOULD BE 
JUDGED BY THE HIGH COURT OF 
HISTORY ON WHETHER WE WERE TRULY
MEN AND WOMEN OF COURAGE.
WITH THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO 
ONE'S ENEMIES AND THE COURAGE TO
STAND UP AS WELL TO ONE'S 
ASSOCIATES.
THE COURAGE TO RESIST PUBLIC 
PRESSURE AS WELL AS PRIVATE 
GREED.
AND ON WHETHER WE ARE TRULY MEN 
AND WOMEN OF INTEGRITY WHO NEVER
RUN OUT OF THE PRINCIPLES IN 
WHICH WE BELIEVE.
AND WHOM NEITHER FINANCIAL GAIN 
OR POLITICAL AMBITION COULD EVER
DIVERT FROM THE FULFILLMENT OF 
OUR SACRED TRUST.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, IN 
DIFFERENT AND DISDAINFUL OF THIS
TRUST, CONSPIRED TO EXTRACT 
PERSONAL BENEFIT FROM HIS 
OFFICE.
HE DISHONORED HIS OATH.
I REFUSE TO ABANDON MINE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. ARMSTRONG: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE 
ONLY REPUBLICAN WITNESSES 
ALLOWED IN THE INTELLIGENCE 
HEARINGS WERE ON THE DEMOCRATS' 
PREAPPROVED LIST.
WITH THAT I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA, MR. RICE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 
1/2 MINUTES.
MR. RICE: MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE 
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PARTISAN 
SHAM OF AN IMPEACHMENT 
RESOLUTION THAT IS RIPPING OUR 
COUNTRY APART.
. 
BEGINNING BEFORE HE ETCH TOOK 
OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN
ATTACKED BY A NEVER ENDING  
BARRAGE OF LIES, CORRUPTION AND 
DECEIT BY THE LIBERAL POLITICAL 
ELITE INCLUDING JAMES COMEY,  
PETER STRZOK, LISA PAGE, HILLARY
CLINTON AND THE IMPEACHMENT SE  
LOTS IN THIS CONGRESS.
DEMOCRATS CO-LEWDED WITH RUSSIA 
AND UKRAINE BY TO THE INTERFERE 
IN OUR 2016 ELECTION BY 
PRODEWSING THE NOW-FAMOUS STEELE
DOZZYAY AND NOW THEY ACCUSE THE 
PRESIDENT OF INTERFERING IN AN  
ELECTION. 
THEY USED WIRETAPS TO SPY ON THE
PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN AND NOW  
ACCUSE HIM OF ABUSING HIS 
OFFICE. 
THEY STRUCTURE THESE PROCEEDINGS
TO DENY THE PRESIDENT AND 
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS A FAIR  
HEARING THEN ACCUSE THE 
PRESIDENT OF OBSTRUCTING  
CONGRESS. 
LOOK IN THE MIRROR, FOLKS.
THE REACTION OF THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE THAT THIS IS CONTRIVE  
ANDEN CORRUPT WAS ENTIRELY  
PREDICTABLE AND IS ENTIRELY 
CORRECT.
THE POLLS THAT TURNED AGAINST 
THEM AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE  
DESPERATE TO STOP THE BLEEDING. 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE CRAMMING THIS  
VOTE IN JUST BEFORE LEAVING FOR 
CONGRESS TO DISPOSE OF  
IMPEACHMENT AS QUICKLY AND  
PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE. 
THE ACTIONS OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE
STAYING ON THIS CHAMBER.
-- ARE A STAIN ON THIS CHAMBER. 
I URGE IMY COLLEAGUES IN JOINING
-- TO JOIN ME IN FIGHTING THIS  
ABUSE OF POWER AND VOTE NO ON 
THIS SHAM OF A RESOLUTION.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE TO DO 
ANOTHER FACT CHECK SO QUICKLY 
BUT OF COURSE THERE WAS NO  
PRE-APPROVED WITNESS LIST.
I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.  
MEEKS, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. MEEKS: THE DECISION TO  
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES IS OF ENORMOUS  
MAGNITUDE AND UTMOST  
SIGNIFICANT.
THERE ARE FEW ISSUES THAT SO  
DEEPLY REFLECT UPON THE THE 
CONSTITUTION AND AMERICAN SYSTEM
OF GOVERNANCE.
AS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE UNITED
STATES HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
COMMITTEE, I'VE SPENT YEARS 
TRYING TO PROMOTE AMERICAN  
VALUES OF DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE
OF LEW AND OTHER -- IN OTHER  
PARTS OF THE WORLD INCLUDING  
EASTERN EUROPE. 
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SO STEEPED  
IN UKRAINIAN ISSUES FOR SO LONG,
I KNOW HOW DAMAGING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S ACTIONS WERE. 
BUT THE PRESIDENT'S DAMAGE DOES 
NOT END THERE HE HAS  
CONSISTENTLY OBSTRUCTED AT EVERY
TURN OF THIS INVESTIGATION. 
THIS NATION'S FOUNDING FATHERS  
FOUGHT TO END UNACCOUNTABLE 
RULE. 
DID NOT FREE OURSELVESES FROM A 
KING TO TURN THINK PRESIDENT  
INTO A MONARCH. 
BUT THE CAMERA OF HISTORY IS  
ROLLING.
AND I WILL CAST MY VOTE 
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES  
OF DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW 
AND OUR CONSTITUTION FOR THE  
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
Y. TRUMP. 
I DO SO BECAUSE I COULD NOT LOOK
MY GRANDDAUGHTER OR ANY MEMBER  
OF FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE EYE
HAVING CONDONED ACTIONS THAT  
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO  
DO THE SAME.
MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEBRASKA, MR.  
BACON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BACON: I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO THIS IM350E67MENT. 
NO LAW WAS BROKEN.
NO HIGH CREERMS -- CRIMES OR  
MISDEMEANORS. 
THE UKRAINIANS RERE-SEVED AID,  
AID PREVIOUSLY REJECTED BY THE  
ADMINISTRATION BEFORE IT. 
THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION AND  
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID HE  
RECEIVE NOD PRESSURE FROM THE 
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EVER.
SIMPLY PUT THERE'S NO QUID PRO  
QUO AND NO BRIBE. 
ELECTIONS ARE IN 10 MONTH BUS 
THE MAJORITY DOESN'T TRUST THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE TOO MANY HAVE 
SAID THAT THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE
PRESIDENT IS NOT CORRECTED IN 
2020 AND THAT'S SHAMEFUL. 
TODAY'S VOTE SETS A NEW 
PRECEDENT FOR AMERICA.
IN THE FUTURE, THE MAJORITY WILL
USE IMPEACHMENT AS A TACTIC TO  
REMOVE A PRESIDENT. 
OUR FOUNDERS FEARED THIS I  
STRONGLY OPPOSE IT. 
I WANT MY STATEMENT IN THE  
RECORD UNTIL THE END OF TIME TO 
SHOW I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE 
CONSTITUTION BY OPPOSING THE  
MAJORITY TAKING DOWN A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT WHO COMMIT NOD
CRIME.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MY COLLEAGUES 
CONTINUE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT 
THAT THE UKRAINIANS GOT THE 
MONEY.
YES, THE PRESIDENT GOT CAUGHT 
BUT THEY GOT THE MONEY, NO HARM,
NO FOUL.
IT'S EQUIVALENT OF SAYING IF  
YOU'RE PULLED OTHER BY A COP AND
YOU ATTEMPT TO BRIBE THE COP, 
AND THE COP DOESN'T TAKE THE  
MONEY BUT ARRESTS YOU, WHERE TO 
IS THE CRIME IN THAT? 
THEY CAN'T GET THE MONEY. 
THIS IS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD
HAVE YOU ACCEPT.
THIS IS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD
HAVE YOU ACCEPT.
THAT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT GOT  
CAUGHT IN THE ACT, WE MUST LOOK 
THE OTHER WAY.
BUT OF COURSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY
THE LAW WORKS.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE  
CONSTITUTION WORKS. 
THAT'S NOT THE WAY OUR OATH OF  
OFFICE WORKS. 
OUR OATH OF OFFICE REQUIRES US  
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT THAT 
ABUSES HIS POWER WHETHER HE GETS
AWAY WITH IT OR HE GETS CAUGHT. 
AND IN THIS CASE, HE GOT CAUGHT.
I'M NOW PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.  
NORCROSS, FOR ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. NORCROSS: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE TODAY A TIME OF GRAVE  
CONCERN FOR ALL AMERICANS.
THIS PAST WEEKEND I JOINED A  
BIPARTISAN DELEGATION TRAVELING 
TO BELL JAM, LUXEMBOURG, FOR THE
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE  
OF THE BULGE. 
A BATTLE THAT OVER 19,000 
AMERICANS GAVE THEIR LIVES. 
TODAY, WE'RE CALLED TO PRESERVE 
THAT DEMOCRACY THAT THEY SO 
BRAVELY DEFENDED. 
OVER TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS ONE OF
THE FIRST MEMBERS IN CONGRESS TO
VOTE TO ADVANCE THE INQUIRY.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE WITH HELD  
FINAL JUDGMENT AS I REVIEW THE  
FACTS AND HEARD THE TESTIMONY.
I BELIEVE THERE'S OVERWHELMING  
EVIDENCE WELL BEYOND REASONABLE 
DOUBT THAT PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP IS GUILTY IN BOTH ARTICLES
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION  
OF CONGRESS.
THEREFORE, I WILLUP HOLD MY OATH
TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED  
STATES IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS OUR SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY 
TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE 
FOUGHT AND GIVEN THEIR LIVES. 
TOUP HOLD THE TRUTH.
IN AMERICA, IN ONE, NO ONE IS 
ABOVE THE LAW.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I LOVE THIS, 
REMEMBER, QUIT PRO QUO DIDN'T 
WORK OUT REAL WELL, SUPPOSEDLY  
IT WAS PRESSURE ON MR. ZELENSKY.
YOU HAD TO POLL TEST IT.
THE MAJORITY DIDN'T WORK OUT, 
FOCUS GROUPS DIDN'T LIKE IT SO  
WE THROW IN A BRIBE.
IT'S IN THE REPORT. 
IF THEY HAD A BRIBE OR HAD A  
CRIME IT WOULD BE IN THE  
ARTICLES. 
GUESS WHAT? 
HE DOESN'T HAVE IT HE CAN'T PUT 
IT IN THERE.
THIS IS ALL FLUFF AND 
CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T 
GET TO THE PRESIDENT AND THAT'S 
WHAT'S KILLING THEM.
A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A 
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. BUCSHON: THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS
HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH 
IMPEACHING PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE
HE WAS ELECTED. 
HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WIN HOW 
MUCH COULD VOTERS SUPPORT HIM?
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE TOLD 
THE ONLY WAY THE SPEAKER WOULD  
MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT 
WAS IF THE CASE WAS COMPEL, 
OVERWHELM, AND BIPARTISAN.
YET THE CASE FOR IMPEACHMENT  
THAT'S BEEN RUSHED FORWARD BY 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS IS ANYTHING BUT 
THAT. 
TO BE CLEAR, NEITHER OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT PROVE 
ANY WRONGDOING OR IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN  
PLACE.
INSTEAD, HOUSE DEMOCRATS' CASE  
RESTS SOLELY ON HEARSAY 
TESTIMONY AND PRESUMPTIONS FROM 
CHERRY-PICKED WITNESSES.
THE FRAMES OF THE CONSTITUTION  
NEVER INTENDED IMPEACHMENT TO BE
USED AS A TOOL TO SETTLE  
POLITICAL AND POLICY  
DIFFERENCES.
THAT'S WHAT ELECTIONS ARE FOR.
THIS IS A SAD AND DANGEROUS 
MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY AS  
IMPEACHMENT IS BEING USED TO  
UNDO THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE AND SILENCE THE VOICES OF
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN THE  
PROCESS.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WOULD BE 
ASHAMED.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO 
ON THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT  
SHAM AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I YIELD ONE MINUTE  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
YEARS AGO I TOOK MY FIRST OATH  
TO THE COUNTRY, WENT TO WAR,  
FOUGHT ALONGSIDE OUR NATION'S 
FINEST MEN AND WOMEN. 
SOME OF THEM GAVE THEIR LIVES 
FOR OUR NATION. 
NOT A DAY HAS PASSED THAT I 
DON'T REFLECT ON THOSE  
SACRIFICES. 
I LEARNED DURING THAT TIME THAT 
OUR NATION IS BUILT ON  
SACRIFICE.
WE HAVE OVERCOME CHALLENGING  
TIMES BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE 
DECIDED TO PUT ASIDE THEIR  
PERSONAL INTERESTS, THEIR 
LIVELIHOODS, AND YES, EVEN GIVE 
THEIR LIVES TO DO WHAT IS BEST  
FOR OUR NATION. 
MR. CROW: OUR FOUNDERS CREATED A
SYSTEM TO ENSURE WE WOULD HAVE  
NO KINGS OR DICTATOR A SYSTEM 
THAT VESTS POWER IN THE PEOPLE  
TO ENSURE THAT NO MAN OR WOMAN  
IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
GENERATION AFTER GENERATION THIS
SYSTEM HAS SURVIVED BECAUSE 
PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT.
TODAY, IT IS OUR TURN.
THE PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER  
AND SCORN FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
CHECKS AND BALANCES IS  
UNPRECEDENTED.
UNLESS WE STAND UP AGAINST THESE
ABUSES, WE WILL SET THE COUNTRY 
ON A DANGEROUS NEW COURSE.
MY OATHING, MY LOVE OF OUR  
COUNTRY AND MY DUTY TO HONOR THE
SACRIFICES WHO CAME BEFORE US 
REQUIRE ME TO ACT.
TO MY COLLEAGUES, IT IS TIME TO 
PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL AND  
POLITICAL INTERESTS AND HONOR 
THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, I YIELD 
30 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, MR. HICE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZE IF --  
RECOGNIZED FOR 35 SECONDS.
MR. HICE: THE DEMOCRATS' NEW  
DEFINITION FOR EVIDENCE IS  
ALLEGATIONS.
ALLEGATIONS BASED ON HEARSAY, I 
MIGHT ADD.
THEY HURL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST 
THE PRESIDENT AND THEN SAY TO 
HIM IT'S NOT THEIR  
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVE GUILTY  
BUT THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE TO 
BELIEVE THE PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.
THIS HAS BEEN A SHAM AND AN ACT 
OF INJUSTICE AGAINST THE  
PRESIDENT AND AGAINST 93 MILLION
AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR HIM AND 
ALL THOSE -- ALTHOUGH THIS  
PROCESS WAS RIGGED FROM THE 
BEGINNING, DEMOCRATS NEVER  
PRODUCED A SINGLE TRUE PIECE OF 
EVIDENCE. 
IT'S TIME FOR US TO STOP THIS 
HOAX AND VOTE AGAINST THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MS.  
LURE YASM 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR  
WHAT PERIOD OF TIME?
MR. SCHIFF: FOR ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MRS. LURIA: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY  
MEMBERS IN HARM'S WAY, WHO  
DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION.
IN SUPPORT OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES
WHO KEEP FAITH THAT THEIR LOVED 
ONE'S SACRIFICE WAS JUSTIFIED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE OATH I 
FIRST TOOK AT 17 UPON ENTERING  
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
AND TOOK FIVE MORE TIMES IN MY  
20-YEAR NAVAL CAREER. 
AN OATH THAT COMFORTED ME IN THE
YEARS I SPENT AWAY FROM MY  
FAMILY, DEPLOYED AROUND THE 
GLOBE.
AN OATH THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO 
REMAIN VIGILANT ON THE BRIDGE OF
THE SHIP AT NIGHT.
AN OATH THAT STRENGTHENED ME  
WHEN IN COMMAND AS I SENT MY  
FELLOW SAIL -- SAILORS INTO 
HARM'S WAY. 
AND TODAY AN OATH THAT GIVES ME 
RESOLVE.
RESOLVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND 
NOT WHAT IS POLITICALLY 
EXPEDIENT.
RESOLVE TO STAND WITH THE 
PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE  
LAST WEEK AND RESOLVE TO STAND  
UP TO THE PRESIDENT IN THIS 
HOUSE TODAY.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THE 
SAME STRENGTH AND THE SAME  
RESOLVE.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU MADAM  
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 35 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,  
MR. WALKER. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. WALKER: WHEN EMOTION  
SUPERSEDES THE FACTS, THE 
CONCLUSION IS CATACLYSMIC.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP NOT A 
THREE-MONTH PROCESS BUT A 
THREE-YEAR PROCESS WITH 
DEMOCRAT'S DISDAIN SO MUCH IT'S 
LED TO THE ABUSE OF THIS HOUSE. 
THESE ARE THE SAME DEMOCRATS WHO
PROMISED AMERICA THEY SAW 
EVIDENCE OF RUSSIAN COLLUSION.
DID AMERICAN PEOPLE TRUST THEM? 
THEY DON'T. 
A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE 
CONDEMNED THIS IMPEACHMENT  
PROCESS AND THAT'S WHAT 
DEMOCRATS SETTING THE RULES AND 
THEN BENDING AND BREAKING THE 
RULES TO FIT THEIR NARRATIVE. 
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SEE 
THER IS CUS FOR WHAT IT IS, I 
WONDER HOW MANY MORE WILL JOIN  
THEM. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. ESHOO: I RISE TODAY TO  
DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY BY VOTING FOR THE TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE WORDS OF OUR SACRED OATH  
DEFINE OUR DUTY AND THOSE WORDS 
MUST BE KEPT. 
OUR FOUNDERS' PRIMAL FEAR WAS 
THAT POWERFUL MEMBERS OF OUR  
GOVERNMENT WOULD BECOME, IN 
HAMILTON'S WORDS, MERCENARY 
INSTRUMENTS OF CORRUPTION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE  
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY BY 
IGNORING AND INJURING NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND OTHER VITAL  
NATIONAL INTERESTS TO OBTAIN AN 
IMPROPER PERSONAL BENEFIT.
HE ALSO BETRAYED OUR NATION BY  
ABUSING HIS HIGH OFFICE TO  
ENLIST THE FOREIGN POWER IN 
CORRUPTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.
ARTICLE 2 I AGREE WITH BECAUSE  
IT'S DETAIL -- BECAUSE IT 
DETAILS THE OBSTRUCTION OF  
CONGRESS BY THE PRESIDENT BY  
DIRECTING UNPRECEDENTED, CAT  
GORICAL, AND INDISCRIMINATE 
DEFIANCE OF SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY 
THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE  
PRESIDENCY IN A MANNER  
SUBVERSIVE TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
I BELIEVE THE CONSTITUTION IS 
THE SOLE -- SOUL OF OUR NATION  
AN BY DEFENDING IT WE ARE SAYING
WE WILL NOT BE SOULLESS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 35 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, 
MR. BARR. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 35  
SECONDS.
MR. BARR: DON'T BE FOOLED.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT IMPEACHING THE
PRESIDENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
DEMOCRATS ARE IMPEACHING THE  
PRESIDENT FOR FOLLOWING A LAW 
THAT THEY THEMSELVES VOTED FOR. 
NO LESS THAN FIVE TIMES IN THE  
LAST SICK YEARS.
BIPARTISAN CONGRESSES IMPOSED ON
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AN 
AFFIRMATIVE DUTY TO ENSURE THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE WAS 
COUNTERING CORRUPTION AND FOR 
GOOD REASON.
UKRAINE IS THE THIRD MOST 
CORRUPT NATION ON EARTH.
THE PRESIDENT NOT ONLY HAD THE  
LEGAL AUTHORITY TO TEMPORARILY  
PAUSE SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO  
UKRAINE, HE HAD A MANDATE FROM  
CONGRESS TO DO IT AND AS A  
RESULT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S 
GOVERNMENT MADE HISTORIC  
ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORMS MAKING  
THEM A MORE RELIABLALL LIE, 
COUNTERERING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.
FAR FROM -- THE PRESIDENT 
DEFENDS NATIONAL SECURITY,  
OPPOSE THIS I78 PEACHMENT.
-- THIS IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPYRED. 
MR. SCHIFF: MY COLLEAGUES WOULD 
HAVE US BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT 
HELD UP AID TO UKRAINE BECAUSE  
HE WAS CONCERNED ABCORRUPTION 
CHING THERE NOT A SHRED OF  
EVIDENCE FOR THAT ALL NATIONAL  
SECURITY EXPERTS TESTIFIED THAT 
UKRAINE MET THE CRITERIA TO 
RECEIVE THE AID.
SO WHAT WAS THE REAL MOTIVATION 
HERE? 
ONE THING IS TELLING. 
IN 2017, THE PRESIDENT HAD NO 
PROBLEM WITH AID TO UKRAINE.
RAISE NOD ISSUE OF CORRUPTION.
IN 2018 HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH  
THE MILITARY AID FOR UKRAINE. 
SO WHAT CHANGED IN 2019?
OWE BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WAS  
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND ALL OF
A SUDDEN, DONALD TRUMP HELD UP  
AID FOR UKRAINE.
AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND 
TESTIFIED, THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T 
CARE ABOUT UKRAINE.
ALL HE CARED ABOUT WAS THE BIG 
STUFF, THE INVESTIGATION OF THE 
BIDENS THAT GIULIANI WAS 
PUSHING.
THE MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE
GENTLELADY FROM VIRGINIA, MS. 
SPANBURGER, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPANO: -- 
MS. SPANBURGER: I RISE IN HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755.
AS A C.I.A. CASE OFFICER I USED 
TO MEET WITH FOREIGN NATIONALS 
WHO WERE PROVIDING FOREIGN 
INTELLIGENCE TO HELP INFORM OUR 
HARDEST NATIONAL SECURITY 
DECISIONS AND KEEP OUR COUNTRY 
SAFE.
THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM COUNTRIES
WHERE LEADERS ABUSED THEIR POWER
AND DEFIED THE RULE OF LAW 
RISKED IMPRISONMENT AND OFTEN 
THEIR VERY LIVES IN ORDER TO 
PROVIDE THE UNITED STATES WITH 
INFORMATION TO HELP US TO INFORM
US.
MS. SPANBERGER: BUT WHY?
IT WAS THEIR BELIEF IN THE 
UNITED STATES, THEIR BELIEF IN 
OUR COUNTRY, THE LONGEST 
STANDING DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD,
OUR COUNTRY A BEACON OF HOPE IN 
THE WORLD, A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
FOUNDED ON A DOCUMENT AND THE 
BELIEF IN THE RULE OF LAW AND A 
BELIEF IN ITS PEOPLE.
TODAY, I AM PROUD TO SERVE IN 
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, REPRESENTING
MY HOMETOWN AND, AGAIN, SERVING 
OUR COUNTRY, THAT BEACON OF HOPE
IN THE WORLD.
AND TODAY, ESPECIALLY TODAY, I 
REFLECT ON THE FOUNDING 
DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE SET US APART
IN THE WORLD, LEADING PEOPLE 
ACROSS GENERATIONS AND ACROSS 
THE WORLD TO RISK EVERYTHING 
BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS IN OUR 
GREAT NATION.
TODAY, ESPECIALLY TODAY, I 
AFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO 
UPHOLDING AND PROTECTING THE 
CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW, 
AND THE PEOPLE IT GOVERNS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 35 SECOND TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. 
ARRINGTON.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 35 
SECONDS.
MR. ARRINGTON: THE FIRST-EVER 
COMPLETELY PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT 
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES.
MADAM SPEAKER, I AM DEEPLY 
DISTURBED THAT HISTORY WILL 
INDEED BE MADE TODAY IN THIS 
HALLOWED CHAMBER BUT FOR ALL OF 
THE WRONG REASONS.
NOT FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY BUT 
HATRED FOR A POLITICAL FOE.
NOT TO PURSUE JUSTICE BUT TO 
PUNISH A POLITICAL ADVERSARY.
NOT TO SEEK TRUTH BUT TO SEIZE 
POLITICAL POWER FOR THE LOVE OF 
COUNTRY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE 
THIS DISASTROUS POLITICAL RUSE.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I YIELD TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, 
CHAIRWOMAN WATERS, FOR THREE 
MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MS. WATERS:  LADIES AND 
GENTLEMEN, UNFORTUNATELY, THE 
RULES OF DEBATE WON'T ALLOW ME 
TO CITE ALL OF THE REASONS WHY 
THIS PRESIDENT SHOULD BE 
IMPEACHED.
THERE ARE MANY.
HOWEVER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE HOUSE, TO QUOTE MAYA ANGELO.
WHENEVER SHOWS THEM WHO THEY 
ARE, BELIEVE THEM THE FIRST 
TIME.
THIS DAY WAS NOT INEVITABLE BUT 
PREDICTABLE BECAUSE THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TIME
AND TIME AGAIN TO BELIEVE THAT 
HE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
AND HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION OR OUR DEMOCRACY.
BASED ON ALL THAT WE KNOW ABOUT 
DONALD TRUMP, WE COULD HAVE 
PREDICTED HE WOULD HAVE ABUSED 
THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT BY 
CORRUPTLY SOLICITING THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE AND THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO 
PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE INVESTIGATIONS
INTO HIS POLITICAL OPPONENT, 
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. 
BIDEN.
THIS IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION 
INCLUDES EVIDENCE THAT THIS 
PRESIDENT WITHHELD $391 MILLION 
OF TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT CONGRESS 
APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
PROVIDING VITAL MILITARY AND 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE 
TO OPPOSE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.
ANOTHER BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER.
OUR INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT
THIS PRESIDENT ADVANCED A 
DISCREDITED THEORY, PROMOTED BY 
RUSSIA, ALLEGING THAT UKRAINE, 
RATHER THAN RUSSIA, INTERFERED 
IN THE 2016 UNITED STATES 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR 
CORRUPT PURPOSES IN PURSUIT OF 
PERSONAL, POLITICAL BENEFIT.
NEVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY HAVE
WE EXPERIENCED A PRESIDENT WHO 
HAS SO CLEARLY CONDUCTED HIMSELF
IN A MANNER OFFENSIVE TO AND 
SUBVERSIVE OF THE CONSTITUTION 
AND DIRECTED HIS CABINET 
MEMBERS, EXECUTIVE BRAFRM -- 
BRANCH MEMBERS AND AGENCIES TO 
DEFY SUBPOENAS.
THIS PRESIDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED 
THAT HE WILL REMAIN A THREAT TO 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE 
CONSTITUTION IF ALLOWED TO 
REMAIN IN OFFICE AND HAS ACTED 
IN A MANNER GROSSLY INCOMPATIBLE
WITH SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE 
RULE OF LAW.
BECAUSE AT EVERY TURN, HE HAS 
SHOWN US WHO HE IS.
IT IS NO SECRET THAT THIS 
PRESIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN 
IMPEACHED A LONG TIME AGO.
TODAY, WE STAND HERE WITH AN 
IRREFUTABLE CASE AND AN 
INDISPUTABLE SET OF FACTS THAT 
THIS PRESIDENT ABSOLUTELY ABUSED
HIS POWER AND OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS.
ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD 
HAVE BEEN CAUGHT CONDUCTING 
THEMSELVES IN THE WAY THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS WOULD HAVE BEEN 
PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF
THE LAW.
IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT ANY MEMBER 
OF THIS HOUSE IS WILLING TO 
DISREGARD THE CONSTITUTION, 
TURNED A BLIND EYE TO HARD 
FACTS, AND IGNORE A CONFESSION 
FROM THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF.
HISTORY WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO 
WERE WILLING TO SPEAK TRUTH TO 
POWER.
YES, I CALLED FOR TRUMP'S 
IMPEACHMENT EARLY.
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY.
OUR FOREMOTHERS AND FOREFATHERS 
SHED THEIR BLOOD TO BUILD AND 
DEFEND THIS DEMOCRACY.
I REFUSE TO HAVE IT UNDERMINED.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS 
RESOLUTION.
I'M PROUD THAT IN THE FINAL 
ANALYSIS, JUSTICE WILL HAVE BEEN
SERVED IN AMERICA AND DONALD 
TRUMP WILL HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER -- 
MS. WATERS:  I YIELD BACK.
MR. COLLINS: THE HOUSE IS NOT IN
ORDER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. COLLINS: RECLAIMING MY TIME 
THAT THE GENTLELADY DID NOT 
HAVE, I YIELD 35 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MR. 
ABRAHAM.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 35 
SECONDS.
MR. ABRAHAM: WHAT IS SHAMEFUL 
IS
THAT SPEAKER PELOSI HAS ALLOWED 
THIS POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT AND WE
SHOULD REMOVE HER FROM THE 
HOUSE.
THE TROUBLE WITH OUR LIBERAL 
FRIENDS IS NOT THAT THEY ARE 
IGNORANT, IS THAT THEY KNOW SO 
MUCH THAT ISN'T SO.
DEMOCRATIC EXTREME PARTISANSHIP 
WILL SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT 
FOR THIS NATION.
AND MARK MY WORDS, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THIS SINISTER ATTEMPT 
TO REMOVE THIS LAWFUL PRESIDENT 
WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLELADY FROM NEVADA, MS. 
TITUS, FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. TITUS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER
MY STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD 
SUPPORTING THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
DONALD TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SCHIFF: AND I NOW RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT, 
MR. HIMES, FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. HIMES:  THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN ANGER AND HOPE.
I AM ANGRY THAT PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP HAS TREATED HIS OATH AND 
OFFICE SO DISRESPECTFULLY THAT 
NOW WE MUST HOLD HIM TO ACCOUNT.
THE TRUTH IS CLEAR TO ANYONE NOT
DELIBERATELY LOOKING AWAY.
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD MILITARY 
AID IN A WHITE HOUSE MEETING 
UNLESS AND UNTIL A VULNERABLE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A 
NAKEDLY POLITICAL INVESTIGATION.
IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE 
UKRAINIANS UNCOVERED ANY 
WRONGDOING.
THE MERE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD 
DAMAGE HIS POLITICAL OPPONENT.
MR. TRUMP DIDN'T CARE ABOUT 
STOPPING CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE.
NEVER MENTIONED THE WORD 
CORRUPTION ONCE IN THE INFAMOUS 
JULY 25 CALL.
THIS WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO 
REDUCE UKRAINIAN CORRUPTION.
IT WAS AN ATTEMPT BY DONALD J. 
TRUMP TO AIM UKRAINIAN 
CORRUPTION STRAIGHT AT THE HEART
OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 
2020.
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS THIS WHICH 
IS WHY HE HAS NOT GIVEN THIS 
CONGRESS A SINGLE EMAIL, PHONE 
RECORD, OR DOCUMENT.
THAT IS NOT THE BEHAVIOR OF A 
MAN WITH NOTHING TO HIDE.
IT IS SIMPLY AN UNDENIABLY 
CONTEMPT OF THIS CONGRESS.
BUT WHAT MAKES THIS IMPEACHMENT 
ESSENTIAL IS THAT THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER HAS 
NOT STOPPED.
AS WE SPEAK, HE CONTINUES TO 
URGE FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN OUR
DEMOCRACY, BESEECHING CHINA TO 
INVESTIGATE THE BIDENS, SENDING 
RUDY GIULIANI OVERSEAS.
HE TWEETED THIS MORNING, I DID 
NOTHING WRONG, ALL CAPS.
HE BELIEVES IT TOO.
HE SEES NOTHING BY SENDING 
UKRAINIAN OR CHINESE INFLUENCE 
IN OUR ELECTION.
HE CONTINUES TO DO IT.
HE'LL WAKE UP TOMORROW AND DO IT
AGAIN IF WE DON'T STOP HIM 
TODAY.
TLIN LIES OUR -- THEREIN LIES 
OUR HOPE.
I AM PROUD TO ANSWER THE CALL OF
DEMOCRACY AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO DO THE SAME AND YIELD BACK 
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
FOR THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND I 
YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI, MR. 
KELLY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30 
SECONDS.
MR. KELLY: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
SPENT TWO CHRISTMASS DEFENDING 
OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS AND I GET A
MEASLY 30 SECONDS TO SPEAK IN 
THIS LAUGHABLE PROCESS.
OUR PRESIDENT MADE A CAMPAIGN 
PROMISE TO DRAIN THE SWAMP.
AND THERE ARE THOSE TODAY 
RELYING ON SWAMP CREATURES' 
WORDS TO PRESERVE SWAMP.
HOW DO YOU SUPPRESS THE VOTES OF
63 MILLION PEOPLE AND AN 
ELECTORAL LANDSLIDE?
YOU KEEP REPEATING THE SAME 
LIES.
I HEARD THE GREATEST FICTION 
EVER SPOKE, IF YOU DON'T LIKE 
THE FACTS, JUST REWRITE THEM IN 
A PARODY AND REPEAT.
IF THE FACTS ARE CLEAR AND 
INDISPUTABLE, WHY IS THE SPEAKER
DEMANDING MORE WITNESSES?
YOU CAN'T DISPUTE NOTHING THAT 
NEVER HAPPENED.
I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO FOR THIS 
SHAM.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I AM 
PROUD TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
KRISHNAMOORTHI.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. KRISHNAMOORTHI:  MADAM 
SPEAKER, I DIDN'T COME TO 
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH ANYBODY, LET
ALONE THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE FACTS, HERE 
WE ARE.
WHILE FACTS REMAIN UNANSWERED, 
TWO KEY FACTS ARE CLEAR AND 
COMPEL ME TO SUPPORT THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
FIRST, PRESIDENT TRUMP ATTEMPTED
TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
TO HELP HIS RE-ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN.
AND SECOND, THE PRESIDENT USED 
THE POWERS OF HIS OFFICE, AGAIN,
TO OBSTRUCT A CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION INTO THAT 
WRONGDOING.
THE PRESIDENT HAS FALSELY 
CLAIMED HE'S BEEN DENIED THE 
CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME, HE'S PREVENTING 
THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES WITH 
DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENTS 
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
IF THE PRESIDENT WERE INNOCENT, 
AS HE CLAIMS, SURELY THESE 
WITNESSES WOULD BE ABLE TO 
TESTIFY TO THAT.
IF THERE HAVE BEEN NO QUID PRO 
QUO, THESE WITNESSES COULD SAY 
THAT.
IF AID TO UKRAINE WERE NOT 
INTENTIONALLY DELAYED FOR 
IMPROPER PURPOSES, THEY COULD 
SURELY TESTIFY TO THAT ALSO.
BUT RATHER THAN GIVING THESE 
WITNESSES THE CHANCE TO SPEAK, 
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED THEM.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE DEFENSE 
DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE EVEN SILENCED THE LOQUACIOUS 
MICK MULVANEY WHO UTTERED AT A 
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THERE WAS 
A QUID PRO QUO AND, GET OVER IT.
BY CHOOSING TO BLOCK THIS 
TESTIMONY, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT 
PROVING HIS INNOCENCE.
HE'S JUST PROVING HE'S AFRAID OF
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, THE 
TRUTH WILL COME TO LIGHT, AND IT
HAS.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO ACT ON IT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT'S A SHAME ON THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE WHEN YOU ACCUSE SOMEBODY 
AND NOT LET THEM DEFEND WHAT YOU
ACCUSE THEM OF.
I YIELD TO MR. ROSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. ROSE: MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE 
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT SPECTACLE 
THAT JUST SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH 
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S OPPONENTS
FAILED TO DO AT THE BALLOT BOX 
IN 2016.
OUR VOTES TODAY ARE MERELY 
FORMALIZING THE DECISION MY 
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE REACHED THREE YEARS 
AGO, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN AN 
EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR COUNTRY, AN
INSULT TO OUR CONSTITUTION, AND 
A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL WORK
WE SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHING FOR 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF 
TENNESSEE'S SIXTH DISTRICT IN 
STRONGLY SUPPORTING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP, AND I WILL VOTE AGAINST 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BEFORE US TODAY.
THANK YOU.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
. 
MR. SCHIFF: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN, MR. HIGH ZEN  
GAFMENT 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. HUIZENGA: IN HER OWN WORDS, 
SPEAKER PELOSI SAID IMPEACHMENT 
WOULD BE OVERWHELMERING,  
COMPELLING AND BIPARTISAN.
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
FAIL TO MEET THE SPEAKER -- 
SPEAKER'S OWN STANDARDS.
REPRESENTING A GOOD CHUNK OF  
GERALD FORD'S ALL DISTRICT, 
BEING A STAFFER IN THE CLINTON  
ADMINISTRATION, I HAVE AN 
INTIMATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE 
EFFECTS OF IMPEACHMENT ON THIS  
NATION. 
I'M STUNNED TO SEE MY DEMOCRAT  
COLLEAGUES WHITE WATER BILL 
CLINTON'S COOPERATION WITH THE  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT WAS 
GOING ON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRE.
MR. SY LEN -- 
MR. HUIZENGA:S THE IT'S THE 
BIASED IMPEACHMENT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD TO THE 
GENTLEMAN.
>> THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT A  
SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. 
IF IT WERE THE DEMOCRATS  
WOULDN'T HAVE POLLED TO SEE WHAT
THE CHARGE WAS. 
REPEATING SOMETHING OVER AND  
OVER DOESN'T MAKE SOMETHING MORE
TRUE. 
WHEN ONE PRODUCES A COMMITTEE 
REPORT WITH FABRICATED FINDINGS 
AND THEN QUOTE FROM IT LIKE IT'S
AUTHORITATIVE IT'S NO MORE VALID
THAN HAVING A CAMPAIGN PAY FOR A
FOREIGN ENTITY FOR A DOSSIER AND
SELLING IT TO A FISA COURT TO 
SPY ON A CAMPAIGN.
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN 
INFORMATION IN SEARCH OF A  
CRIME.
IT'S TIME TO THEND CHARADE. 
MR. SCHIFF: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
IN A DAY OF HEAVY VERBAL DEBATE,
I CHOOSE TO USE MY TIME TO  
ENUMERATE IN DETAIL EVERY HIGH  
CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR COMMITTED 
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED  
STATES. 
I WILL DO SO NOW.
 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HASICS PYRED.
-- HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE,
MR. FLEISCHMANN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS 
MR. FLEISCHMANN: MY 30  
SECONDSING, MY HEART ACHE FOURS 
GREAT REPUBLIC TODAY. 
I IMPLORE MY DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES IN THIS HOUSE, WITH  
WE'RE NOT REPUBLICANS OR  
DEMOCRATS, WE ARE AMERICANS.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE,  
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PROCEDURE.
SETTLE OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
POLITICALLY.
WE OWE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A  
GREAT DUTY TO COME TOGETHER.
DON'T GIVE THE SENATE THE 
VICTORY LAP.
GIVE THE HOUSE THE VICTORY LAP. 
VOTE NO TO IMPEACH. 
WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
THEY WANT SO DEARLY FOR US TO 
COME TOGETHER FOR OUR GREAT 
REPUBLIC. 
AND THANK OUR GREAT PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MEMBERS
ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
CONTINUE TROW SERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS -- MR. COLLINS: CAN 
YOU GIVE US THE TIME FOR THE  
MAJORITY AND MINORITY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN HAS 43 MINUTES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
HAS 29 MINUTES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
WALZ. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZE. 
MR. WALZ: I'M A GREEN BERET AND 
A PROUD VETERAN.
BUT THIS PROCESS DOES IN THE  
MAKE ME PROUD.
I'VE FOUGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD  
FROM AFRICA TO AFGHANISTAN AND  
SEEN FAIRER AND MORE TRANSPARENT
PROCESSES THAN THIS.
SINCE THE DEMOCRATS LOST THE  
ELECTION IN 2016, THEY'VE BEEN  
FOCUSED ON IMPEACHING THIS  
PRESIDENT.
MEANWHILE WE HAVE NOT SOLVED THE
PROBLEMS AMERICA ENTRUSTED US TO
SOLVE.
IMMIGRATION.
HEALTH CARE.
INFRASTRUCTURE. 
NOTHING IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S  
RISES TO THE LEVEL OF HIGH  
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
FOR THAT REASON I'LL BE VOTING  
GENCHES IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
CONTINUES TO RESERVE. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, MR.  
GUTHRIE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. GUTHRIE: I RISE IN  
OPPOSITION TO THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HAVE 
BEEN PLANNING TO IMPEACH  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE HE TOOK 
OFFICE. 
AFTER MONTHS OF WASTING HOUSE 
TIME ON PARTISAN INVESTIGATIONS,
THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO PRODUCE  
EVIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
COMMITTED A CRIME.
I WILL VOTE NO ON TODAY'S 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK  
IN THE BE BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF 
KENTUCKIANS.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
ZWRELT FROM CALIFORNIA. 
MR. SCHIFF: I'M PROUD TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
YORK, MR. MALONEY, FOR TWO  
MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZE FOR TWO  
MINUTES.
MR. MALONEY: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
FACTS AND EVIDENCE ESTABLISH  
THAT THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS 
POWER OF HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL
GAIN AND SOUGHT TO COVER UP HIS 
CONDUCT BY OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS.
WHAT WE DO TODAY GOES TO THE  
HEART OF THE OATH WE TAKE TO  
SUPPORT AN DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
THESE ACTIONS ARE AS NECESSARY  
AS THEY ARE HEARTBREAKING.
IT IS THE PRESIDENT, NOT ANY  
MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, WHO HAS 
BROUGHT US TO THIS SAD PLACE. 
HIS ACTIONS ECHO IN THIS  
CHAMBER.
LIKE A TIN CAN TIED TO HIS LEG  
WILL RATTLE BEHIND HIM THROUGH  
THE PAGES OF HISTORY. 
FOR THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NONE OF 
US WILL ESCAPE THE TRUTH. 
IT WILL COME FOR US ALL IN THIS 
WORLD OR THE NEXT.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
THE PRESIDENT USED TAXPAYER 
MONEY AND OFFICIAL ACTS TO  
PRESSURE A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO
HELP HIM WIN RE-ELECTION BY 
SLANDERING A FELLOW AMERICAN. 
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS TRUTH?
WE KNOW IT BECAUSE BRAVE  
AMERICANS, SOLDIERS AND PUBLIC  
SERVANTS, CAME FORWARD TO REVEAL
THE PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT. 
AND THE PRESIDENT?
HE CONTINUES TO UNDERTAKE AN  
UNPRECEDENTED COVERUP TO  
STONEWALL THE PUBLIC AND  
OBSTRUCT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES  
IN CONGRESS.
HE WITH HOLDS ACCESS TO 
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS BELONGING 
TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD FURTHER
ESTABLISH HIS MENDACITY.
HE BLOCKS ADVISORS AN ASSOCIATES
FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE THE  
PUBLIC TO CONCEAL THE WRONGS  
THEY WITNESSED. 
HIS ACTIONS ARE UNWORTHY OF THE 
PRESIDENCY. 
TODAY IS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG  
AND WHETHER WE STILL KNOW THE 
DIFFERENCE. 
TODAY WE HOLD THE PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE.
IF WE FAIL TO DO SO, FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS WOULD SEE CORRUPTION 
AS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. 
AND THERE OUR DEMOCRACY GOES TO 
DIE.
WE INHERIT THIS REPUBLIC FROM 
OUR ANCESTORS AND BORROW IT FROM
OUR CHILDREN. 
WITH HUMILITY, WE PRAY THAT THE 
HISTORY OF THIS DAY WILL GUIDE  
US TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR 
NATION. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, 
MR. LONG. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. LONG: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
WE HAVE NEVER, EVER IN THE  
HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY SEEN A  
PRESIDENCY LIKE THIS ONE. 
ONCE THE PRESIDENT WAS SWORN IN,
19 MINUTES LATER, "THE  
WASHINGTON POST" SAID 
IMPEACHMENT BEGINS TODAY. 
A MILLION WOMEN MARCHED THE NEXT
DAY ON WASHINGTON.
BANK OF AMERICA, STARBUCKS BOTH 
SUPPORTED HILLARY CLINTON HAD 
THEIR WINDOWS BROKEN OUT IN 
WASHINGTON BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE  
SO UPSET THAT THIS MAN WAS  
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
HE'S HAD HIS HEAD HELD UNDER  
WATER FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS  
NOW.
NEVER COMING UP FOR A BREATH OF 
AIR.
JUST KEEP PUSHING HIM DOWN. 
LOWEST BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT EVER. 
LOWEST HISPANIC UNEMPLOYMENT  
EVER. 
HIGHEST STOCK MARKET EVER.
LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN YEARS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEBRASKA, 
MR. FORTENBERRY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. FORTENBERRY: THANK YOU, 
MADAM SPEAKER.
I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED SINCE THE 
BEGINNING OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS THAT IT'S BEEN DRIVEN BY
A PREDETERMINED GUILTY VERDICT. 
IT'S UNFAIR, IT'S WRONG AND NOW 
EVERY FUTURE PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT
OR REPUBLICAN, WILL HAVE TO 
WORRY THAT THE IMPEACHMENT  
PROCESS WILL BE DRIVEN AS A 
BLUNT FORCE POLITICAL 
INSTRUMENT. 
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THIS DAY IS 
SAD.
IT'S NOT SAD, IT'S REGRETTABLE. 
BUT THIS DAY WILL END SHORTLY.
THE HOUSE HAS HAD ITS CATHARTIC 
MOMENT. 
TOMORROW WILL BEGIN A NEW DAY.
LET'S GET BACK TO WORK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA, MR. LAMALFA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. LAMALFA: READY, FIRE, AIM.
WE'RE HEARING MADE UP ARTICLES  
TO FIT A FOOTHOLD.
GEORGE WASHINGTON COULD HAVE  
BEEN IMPEACHED WITH THESE.
WE'RE A REPUBLIC, NOT A 
DEMOCRACY AS THEY KEEP  
INSISTING.
NO ONE CAME TO CONGRESS TO  
IMPEACH.
SEVERAL NEW AND RETURNING 
MEMBERS HAVE COME SPECIFICALLY  
TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
I HEAR ABOUT SADNESS AND  
SOLEMNNYITY.
FOR IMPEACHMENT?
NO, BUT BECAUSE THEIR CANDIDATE 
LAST. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CHOSE DONALD
J. TRUMP TO LEAD US.
I CALL ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
SHOW THROUGH THIS -- SEE THROUGH
THIS SHAM.
MR. SCHIFF: RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA,  
MR. ADERHOLT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. ADERHOLT: -- MR. COLLINS: 
MR. JOHNSON OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
30 SECONDS. 
MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M 
VOTING NO.
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT IN THE BEST  
INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY AND IN 
FACT HAS ONLY DEEPENED THE  
PARTISAN DIVIDE THAT TRULY  
PLAGUE THIS IS COUNTRY. 
WHEN THE SUN COMES UP TOMORROW I
PRAY WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THE 
ANGER AND DIVISION IN THIS  
CHAMBER WILL GIVE WAY TO AN 
HONORABLENESS AND A PRODUCTIVITY
AND A TIME OF WORKING TOGETHER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: LET'S GO BACK TO 
MR. ADERHOLT. 
30 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA, MR. ADERHOLT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. ADERHOLT: THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR.
TODAY, A DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT 
IS BEING IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES, BY THE  
DEMOCRATS, COMPELED BY  
PARTISANSHIP, NOT BY THE FACTS. 
I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH  
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND I  
WILL -- I PLAN TO CAST MY VOTE  
AGAINST BOTH ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
THIS IS NOT -- IT'S NOT THAT THE
PRESIDENT ABUSES POWER. 
IT IS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO ARE 
ABUSING ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
TOOLS THAT'S BEEN ENTRUSTED TO  
THE CONGRESS BY THE -- IN THE 
CONSTITUTION BY OUR FOUNDING  
FATHERS.
TWISTING THE CONSTITUTION TO  
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT --  
MR. SCHIFF: CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER. 
30 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. OLSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. OLSON: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY DEFINES A  
STAR CHAMBER AS CHARACTERIZED BY
SECRECY AND OFTEN BE  
IRRESPONSIBLE, ARBITRARY AND  
OPPRESSIVE. 
SADLY MY DEMOCRAT FRIENDS HAVE  
TURNED THIS -- TERMED THIS THE  
PEOPLE'S CHAMBER. 
IT'S THE STAR CHAMBER OF THE  
PEOPLE. 
ONE EXAMPLE, THE MOST IMPORTANT 
THING WE CAN DO AS MEMBERS IS 
DECLARE WAR.
NEXT ONE IS TO IMPEACH A  
PRESIDENT.
WE WANT TO HAVE EVERY MEMBER  
STAND UP AND VOTE, SAY THEIR  
VOTE LOUDLY.
CNN HAS BEEN DENIED.
I YIELD BACK. 
THIS IS A SHAME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR.
THOMPSON. 
MR. THOMPSON: --  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. THOMPSON: I THANK THE 
RANKING MEMBER, THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
WHILE THIS CHAMBER SHOULD ENSURE
LAWS ARE FOLLOWED, THIS IS FOR  
POLITICAL GAIN. 
I CAUTION MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE
PLACED POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY 
AHEAD OF MODERATION, YOUR VOTES 
TODAY WILL CHANGE THIS  
INSTITUTION.
IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE THIS BODY
UTILIZES THE MOST SEVERE OF ITS 
CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS TO PUT THE
OPPOSITION PARTY ON TRIAL.
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. SCHIFF: IT'S MY PLEASURE TO 
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.  
BRUN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. BROUN: WHEN I WAS 
COMMISSIONED AS SECOND  
LIEUTENANT OF THE UNITED STATES 
ARMY, I SWORE AN OATH TO SUPPORT
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
I HAVE DEN SO 13 TIMES IN MY 35 
YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
THAT OATH MEANS EVERYTHING. 
TO SERVE AND FIGHT FOR OUR  
COUNTRY, TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE 
OUR VALUES. 
YET PRESIDENT TRUMP BETRAYED HIS
OATH, ABUSED HIS POWER, THE 
IMMENSE POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY.
HE THREATENED OUR ELECTIONS BY  
INVITING FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
HE CHOSE INVESTIGATING A  
POLITICAL RIVAL OVER DEFENDING  
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
SO TODAY, WE MUST USE OUR POWER.
THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER ENDOWED 
BY OUR CONSTITUTION AND 
ENTRUSTED BY THE PEOPLE, THE  
POWER TO IMPEACH. 
WE MUST HOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP  
ACCOUNTABLE OR ELSE WE WILL BE  
COMPLICIT IN UNDERMINING OUR  
DEMOCRACY, OUR SECURITY, AND OUR
DIGNITY.
HIS CONDUCT DEMONSTRATES HIS  
UNFITNESS TO SERVE AS COMMANDER 
IN CHIEF AND WARRANTS REMOVAL 
FROM OFFICE.
THE OATH I TOOK AS A MEMBER OF  
CONGRESS IS THE SAME I TOOK AS A
SOLDIER.
AN OATH THAT REMINDS ME VALUES  
MATTER. 
DUTY, HONOR, AND THE RULE OF LAW
MATTER. 
THE TO THE KEEP MY OATH TO THE  
PEOPLE I SERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MR. BRUN: TODAY I VOTE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES.
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, 
MR. LAHOOD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. LAHOOD: I SAID FROM THE 
BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS,  
IMPEACHMENT IS AND SHOULD BE THE
NUCLEAR OPTION, RESERVED FOR THE
MOST TREASONOUS ACTIVITY AND THE
MOST SERIOUS ACTIVITY.
CLEARLY THAT HAS NOT BEEN MET 
HERE. 
AS I'VE REVIEWED THE FACTS IN 
EVIDENCE AS A FORMER FEDERAL  
PROSECUTOR, I'VE READ 
TRANSCRIPTS, WATCHED THE HEAR,  
READ THE WHISTLE BLER REPORT. 
THAT HAS NOT BEEN MET HERE. 
IN ADDITION, THIS PROCESS HAS 
LACKED FAIR PS. 
DUE PROCESS.
AND TRANSPARENCY. 
WE SHOULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT  
DOING THIS. 
THIS IS A TRAVESTY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
COLLINS CLEANSE THANK YOU, MR.  
SPEAKER.
I YIELD --  
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MR. 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO MR. 
HARRIS. 
MR. HARRIS: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
THE FEW AMERICANS THAT ARE GOING
TO BE WATCHING THIS, BECAUSE  
THEY KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.
THEY'RE WONDERING WHY ARE WE  
TRYING TO NEGATE THE VOTE OF 63 
MILLION AMERICANS, INSTEAD OF 
TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT 
AMERICANS CARE ABOUT. 
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE, THE 
HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH CARE, 
SECURING OUR BORDERS. 
KEEPING OUR ECONOMY GOING.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD  
BE TALKING ABOUT. 
NO. 
INSTEAD WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS
RESOLUTION TONIGHT AND THEN GO  
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION 
INSTEAD OF DOING THE JOB OF 
AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, WE 
CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS, MR.  
WATKINS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. WATKINS: MADAM SPEAKER, AS A
POLITICAL NEWCOMER BEFORE THIS, 
JUST LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP,  
PERHAPS LIKE ME HE WAS NAIVE TO 
THINK THAT THIS HOUSE, THAT IN  
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, EVERYBODY 
WAS TRUE AND JUST.
IT'S NOT THE CASE.
DEMOCRATS WEREN'T SADDENED BY 
THIS SOLEMN DAY.
THEY WEREN'T WAITING FOR ALL THE
EVIDENCE. 
THIS WAS ALWAYS ABOUT POLITICS. 
BECAUSE THEY LOATH THE  
PRESIDENT, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T 
PLAY BY THEIR BELTWAY RULES.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
BUT THE FACT IS, KANSAS IS  
BETTER, THE U.S. IS BETTER AND  
THE WORLD IS BETTER BECAUSE OF  
DONALD TRUMP. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, WE 
CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.  
CALVERT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. CALVERT: THANK YOU. 
MADAM SPEAKER, MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HAVE  
BEEN CLAMORING FOR THIS DAY 
SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS 
ELECTED.
THEIR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE 
ELECTION RESULTS AND LATER THE  
FINDINGS OF THE MUELLER 
INVESTIGATION HAVE BROUGHT FORTH
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT THAT ARE
NEGATED BY TWO SIMPLE FACTS.
NAMELY, THE MILITARY AID TO 
UKRAINE WAS PROVIDED AND NO 
INVESTIGATION WAS EVER STARTED. 
THE REAL OFFENSE IS THAT THE  
PRESIDENT WON THE ELECTION AND  
THEIR FEAR IS HE'LL WIN AGAIN,  
DESPITE ALL THEIR EFFORTS.
I WILL VOTE AGAINST THE PARTISAN
ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION.
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE BALANCE 
OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY  
IN OPPOSITION TO IMPEACHMENT  
AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
THIS IS BASED ON HEARSAY THAT 
WERE MADE BY PARTISAN WITNESSES 
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A SHAM, 
MADAM SPEAKER.
AND IT'S DIVIDED THIS COUNTRY.
CONGRESS HAS WASTED TIME ON THIS
IMPEACHMENT, WOULD HAVE BEEN  
BETTER USED ON ADDRESSING ISSUES
THAT ARE FACING AMERICANS LIKE  
SECURING OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, 
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, OR 
ESTABLISHING THE  
CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED 
BUDGET. 
AND NOW AMERICAN WORKERS HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL THE SENATE TRIAL TO  
PASS USMCA THAT THE PRESIDENT 
AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN 
WORKING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. 
I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE PATH  
CONGRESS CHOSE TO GO DOWN, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MR. BURCHETT: FOR THE RECORD, 
MADAM SPEAKER, I THINK YOU'RE 
DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR. 
GOSAR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. GOSAR: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT'S OBVIOUS TODAY THAT THERE'S 
AN INTENSE HATRED FROM THE  
DEMOCRATS OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.
WHY DO THEY HATE THE MAN SO 
MUCH? 
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 
OUT-OF-CONTROL  
GOVERNMENT-GONE-WILD, THE ABUSES
OF FISA, THE ABUSES BY THE  
F.B.I., THE ABUSES IN THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT. 
MAYBE IT'S JUST THE PREVIOUS  
ADMINISTRATION THEY'RE TRYING TO
COVER UP. 
IT'S SAD. 
THIS IS A SHAMEFUL ACT, WHAT  
WE'RE DOING TODAY.
SHAME ON THE DEMOCRATS. 
SHAME ON PURSUING THIS. 
I ASK EVERYBODY TO VOTE NO AND  
TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHO VOTES FOR 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
POSEY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30  
SECONDS.
MR. POSEY: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA.
WE KNOW THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A 
SHAM. 
THEY KNOW THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A 
SHAM. 
THEY KNOW WE KNOW THIS  
IMPEACHMENT IS A SHAM.
AND THEY KNOW THAT MOST OF THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS  
IMPEACHMENT IS A SHAMEFUL SHAM. 
WE KNOW THAT IT BEGAN THE MOMENT
THE PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED, LONG 
BEFORE HE HAD A TELEPHONE CALL  
WITH ANY FOREIGN LEADERS. 
WE'VE HEARD THE NUMEROUS  
QUOTATIONS FROM THEM THAT 
VALIDATE THOSE VERY POINTS. 
AND YET THEY PERSIST IN TRYING  
TO OVERTURN THE DULY ELECTED  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
OF AMERICA. 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT CALLS FOR -- 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'VE 
HEARD SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN A
ROW NOW, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO
SEE HOW VERY FEW OF THEM WANT TO
ADDRESS ANY OF THE FACTS OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT. 
NOR DO THEY WISH TO DEFEND -- 
NOR DO THEY WISH, APPARENTLY, 
MADAM SPEAKER, I'VE STRUCK A  
NERVE.
NOR DO THEY -- NOR DO THEY WISH 
TO DEFEND A PRESIDENT WHO WOULD 
EXTORT AN ALLY, WITHHOLD  
MILITARY AID TO HELP HIM CHEAT  
IN AN ELECTION. 
THEY DON'T WANT TO DEFEND THAT  
CONDUCT.
SO INSTEAD THEY SAY, OH,  
DEMOCRATS REALLY WANT TO IMPEACH
THE PRESIDENT OR DEMOCRATS DON'T
LIKE THE PRESIDENT. 
BUT WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY IS THAT 
THIS PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS  
ETHICAL.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY WAS THAT  
THIS PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS  
LEGAL.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY WAS THIS  
PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS 
CONSTITUTIONAL. 
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY IS THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS UPHELD HIS OATH OF
OFFICE. 
NO, THEY CAN'T SAY THAT.
ALL THEY CAN SAY IS, WE DON'T 
LIKE THE PROCESS. 
OR OUR COLLEAGUES ARE JUST TOO  
HAPPY TO IMPEACH. 
OR, OR IT'S OVERTURNING THE WILL
OF THE PUBLIC WHEN IT'S A 
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. 
INTERESTINGLY MY COLLEAGUES WHO 
SUPPORTED THE IMPEACHMENT OF  
BILL CLINTON DID NOT THINK IT 
WAS OVERTURNING THE WILL OF THE 
PEOPLE. 
APPARENTLY THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROVISION ONLY OVERTURNS THE  
WILL OF THE PEOPLE IF IT'S A  
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. 
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM MORE  
CREDIT THAN THAT. 
WHAT IS THE DISTINCTION HERE IS 
THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CONDUCT. 
THIS REMEDY WAS PUT IN THE  
CONSTITUTION FOR A REASON.
IT'S NOT AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL  
REMEDY. 
IT IS PART OF THE CONSTITUTION. 
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONCEIVE OF
THIS REMEDY AS BEING  
UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS IF YOU  
BELIEVE, AS THE PRESIDENT DOES, 
THAT HE IS THE STATE. 
THAT ANYTHING THAT OPPOSES HIM  
OPPOSES THE STATE IS BY 
DEFINITION ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL. 
BUT THAT, OF COURSE, IS 
NONSENSE. 
BUT IT IS MORE THAN NONSENSE. 
IT IS DANGEROUS NONSENSE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM  
WASHINGTON, MS. SCHRIER, FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
MS. SCHRIER: MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON'S EIGHTH 
DISTRICT SENT KNOW CONGRESS TO  
FIGHT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND  
MAKE THOUGHTFUL, EVIDENCE-BASED 
DECISIONS.
I DID NOT COME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
BUT EVIDENCE IS EVIDENCE. 
AND A BALANCE OF POWER IS 
FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. 
MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, LIKE  
EVERYBODY ELSE HERE, I TOOK AN  
OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION 
AND PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.
HISTORY WILL JUDGE THIS MOMENT. 
GIVEN ALL THE FACTS BEFORE US,  
IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY REMEDY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I'M SURE IT DID STRIKE A CORD 
WITH THE CHAIRMAN, SINCE HE 
SHOWED UP A LITTLE LATE, HADN'T 
HEARD ALL THE ARGUMENTS.
WE BEAT THE FACTS BACK ALL THE  
TIME. 
IT WAS THE MAJORITY'S SIDE THAT 
HAD TO RUN THROUGH THAT CLOCK 
AND THAT CALENDAR, IT'S KILLING 
HIM BECAUSE HIS ARGUMENTS ARE 
FALLING FLAT. 
TO SPEAK OF EVIDENCE, YEAH, WE  
LOOKED AT THE EVIDENCE. 
THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T FIT  
ANYTHING. 
BY THE WAY, IF HE HAD EXTORTION,
PUT IN ARTICLES.
HE CAN'T, BECAUSE HE CAN'T MAKE 
THE CASE. 
HE CAN ONLY PUT IT IN HIS NOTES 
AND THEN COME TO THE MIC WHEN HE
CAN'T BE QUESTIONED AND TALK  
ABOUT IT. 
THAT'S THE CORD THAT'S BEEN 
STRUCK. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD TWO MINUTES  
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH 
DAKOTA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
ARM ARM THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER
--  
MR. ARMSTRONG: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
ONCE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SWORN  
IN, ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WERE
INTRODUCED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
IN THREE YEARS, HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE INTRODUCED 10 RESOLUTIONS, 
GETTING SUPPORT OF OVER 100 OF  
THEIR MENS. 
AND ALL OF THAT BEFORE THE -- 
MEMBERS.
AND ALL OF THAT BEFORE THE JULY 
25 PHONE CALL.
BUT ALSO THE RUSSIA CONSPIRACY  
HOAX WAS EXPOSED. 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGES  
WERE ABANDONED AFTER THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATION FELL FLAT.
AFTER 2,800 SUBPOENAS 500 
WARRANTS AND 17 LIES IN A FISA  
WARRANT APPLICATION, THEY HAD 
NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. 
UNDETERRED BY THE FACTS AND 
UNINTERESTED IN GOVERNING, THE  
BEAT MARCHED ON.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY. 
WE HAVE NO QUID PRO QUO, NO 
BRIBERY, NO EXTORTION, NO CRIMES
ALLEGED IN THE ARTICLES AT ALL. 
BUT DON'T WORRY BECAUSE WE HAVE 
A BRAND NEW 632-PAGE REPORTALING
ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SOME -- REPORT ALLEGING ALL 
KINDS OF THINGS.
SOME FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. 
THIS ISN'T A SOMBER, SOLEMN 
PROCESS.
THIS IS A POLITICAL DRIVE-BY. 
THEY JUST WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP  
GONE. 
BUT THIS NEVER-ENDING MARCH 
TOWARDS OVERTURNING THE 2016  
ELECTION HAS CONSEQUENCES.
BECAUSE YOU'RE TELLING 63 
MILLION VOTERS THAT THEIR VOTES 
-- THAT YOU DON'T RPT THEIR 
VOTE. 
VOTERS IN -- RESPECT THEIR VOTE.
VOTERS IN STATES LIKE MINE USED 
TO SEND DEMOCRATS TO THIS AUGUST
CHAMBER, BUT RECENTLY HAVE FOUND
NO HOME IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WHO FEEL THAT THEIR VALUES HAVE 
BEEN REPLACED BY A LIBERAL, 
ELITIST AGENDA, WHO FEEL THAT 
THEIR -- THAT PARTISAN POINTS 
ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN 
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.
YOU'RE NEVER-ENDING -- YOUR 
NEVER-ENDING IMPEACHMENT QUEST  
IS A REMINDER TO THEM THAT YOU  
DON'T TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT, YOU 
DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR WAY OF 
LIFE AND YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS 
ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE 
IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AS CHAIRMAN NADLER HAS SO 
OMINOUSLY STATED, IF YOU'RE 
SERIOUS ABOUT REMOVING A  
PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE, WHAT 
YOU'RE REALLY DOING IS  
OVERTURNING THE RESULTS OF A  
LAST -- OF THE LAST ELECTION. 
WELL, THEY WERE SERIOUS.
THEY SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS 
TALKING ABOUT IT, UNWILLING TO  
ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF 2016. 
I WONDER IF MY COLLEAGUES 
RECOGNIZE THE IRONY THAT THEIR  
IMPEACHMENT VENDETTA IS THE 
GREATEST ELECTION INTERFERENCE  
OF ALL. 
AND IT WAS HOME-GROWN, RIGHT  
HERE IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MEMBERS
ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, WE 
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME  
-- I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD THREE  
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW YORK, MR. ZELDIN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. ZELDIN: THIS IMPEACHMENT IS 
AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR HOUSE  
DEMOCRATS.
ON THE SUBSTANCE, DEMS CLAIM  
THAT THEIR CASE IS UNCONTESTED, 
RELYING ON PRESUMPTIONS, HEARSAY
AND 3% OF THE STORY, TRYING TO  
CONNECT DOTHS THAT AREN'T 
ACTUALLY CONNECTED -- DOTS THAT 
AREN'T ACTUALLY CONNECTED.
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY DIDN'T KNOW  
THERE WAS A HOLD ON AID UNTIL 
AUGUST 29.
THE AID GETS RELEASED SHORTLY 
THEREAFTER AND UKRAINE DIDN'T 
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO GET THAT 
AID RELEASED. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAYS NO  
DEMAND, NO QUID PRO QUO, NO 
PRESSURE. 
BUT DEMOCRATS WANT THE PUBLIC TO
IGNORE THE OTHER 97% OF THIS  
STORY.
SEE IT -- IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE  
THAT. 
SENATE DEMOCRATS WANT NEW 
WITNESSES TO SHOW WHY THERE WAS 
A HOLD ON AID.
ODD REQUEST IF YOU THINK YOU'VE 
ALREADY PROVEN YOUR CASE. 
AT THE HEART OF THIS DEBATE, TWO
INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING  
DISCUSSED BETWEEN COUNTRIES.
DEMOCRATS AND MEDIA ALLIES WANT 
THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE IT'S ALL  
JUST DEBUNK THAT UKRAINIANS 
INTERFERED IN THE 2016 ELECTION.
THEY WANT YOU TO IGNORE COMMENTS
THAT CHALUPA WORKED WITH  
UKRAINIAN EMBASSY, ORIGINS OF 
THE STEELE DOSSIER, THE 
BLACKLEDGER AND MORE. 
THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS IS 
THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ARE  
SMARTER THAN DEMOCRATS ARE  
GIVING THEM CREDIT FOR. 
NEXT, THE DEMOCRATS CLAIM 
REPUBLICANS ARE ARGUING THAT IT 
WAS UKRAINE AND NOT RUSSIA THAT 
WANTED TO INTERFERE AND WAS 
INTERFERING IN THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT REPUBLICANS
ARE SAYING. 
OF COURSE WE HAVE THE ISSUE OF A
CORRUPT UKRAINIAN ENERGY COMPANY
RUN BY A CORRUPT UKRAINIAN  
OLGARK HIRING HUNTER BIDEN WITH 
NO EXPERIENCE SOLELY BECAUSE HE 
IS V.P. BIDEN'S SON.
NOW, THE COMPANY WANTED TO HIRE 
HUNTER BIDEN BECAUSE THEY WANTED
TO CURRY FAVOR. 
THERE WAS THIS ONGOING  
CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION. 
ENTER JOE BIDEN.
HE GETS THAT PROSECUTOR FIRED.
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE  
IMMUNE FROM SCRUTINY. 
I DISAGREE. 
OUR GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE 
WORKING TOGETHER TO GET TO THE  
BOTTOM OF ALL OF THIS.
THIS HAS ALSO BEEN A TOTAL  
DISASTER ON THE PROCESS.
FROM GETTING A FEDERAL WORKER TO
FILE A WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT, 
TO SCHIFF'S VERSION MADE UP OF  
THE JULY 25 CALL. 
IN CLOSED-DOOR INTERVIEW, SCHIFF
WAS PROSECUTOR, JUDGE, JURY AND 
WITNESS COACH.
EVERY DAY HE LOVED GETTING  
AMERICA DRUNK ON HIS FAVORITE 
COCKTAIL. 
THREE INGREDIENTS, CHERRY 
PICKING LEAKS, WITHHOLDING KEY  
FACTS, AND MISSTATING EVIDENCE. 
IN A DEPOSITION AND IN THE  
PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE PRESIDENT'S
COUNSEL WAS NOT INVITED TO  
ATTEND, PRESENT EVIDENCE OR 
CROSS-EXAMINING WITNESSES.
REPUBLICANS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO  
CALL WITNESSES LIKE HUNTER  
BIDEN, JOE BIDEN AND MANY 
OTHERS. 
THEN THERE WAS THE HOUSE  
JUDICIARY DEBACLE WHERE SCHIFF  
COULDN'T EVEN SHOW UP TO PRESENT
HIS REPORT. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS RIPPING OUR 
COUNTRY IN HALF.
IT'S FATALLY FLAWED ON A  
PROCESS, THE SUBSTANCE, THE 
INTENTIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
IT'S A TOTAL SCHIFF SHOW. 
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO VOTE NO. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I THANK THE SPEAKER.
WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE  
BALANCE OF OUR TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,  
MR. MEADOWS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. MEADOWS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, TODAY, AS WE SIT HERE 
DEBATING IMPEACHMENT, YOU KNOW, 
THEY ALL WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT'S
THE CONSTITUTION, IT'S ALEXANDER
HAMILTON. 
YOU KNOW, THE LAST 30 DAYS I'VE 
HEARD MORE ABOUT HAMILTON FROM  
MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES, AND 
UNTIL THEN THE CLOSEST THEY HAD 
-- THEY CAME TO HAMILTON WAS A  
$10 BILL. 
ALL OF A SUDDEN WHAT WE HAVE IS 
THESE STRICT CONSTITUTIONALISTS 
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. 
LISTEN, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO  
WITH THE CONSTITUTION, IT HAS 
NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING BUT 
RAW POLITICS. 
. 
THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE  
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO GOT 
SEVEN BY FOLK YOWS FOR NOT  
TELLING THE TRUTH.
NO ONE ON THIS SIDE GOT THAT  
DURING THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO 
UNDERSTAND TWO KEY FACTS. 
THE DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL SET  
THEIR OWN RULES OF EVIDENCE.
THEY SAID WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR
IMPEACHMENT IS TO HAVE  
COMPELLING EVIDENCE AND 
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
THEY DON'T HAVE EITHER OF THOSE 
TWO THINGS. 
THEY FAILED THE RULES THAT THEY 
MADE UP THEMSELVES. 
WE'VE GOT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF 
UKRAINE SAYING THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE. 
WE'VE GOT THE NUMBER TWO GUY IN 
UKRAINE SAYING THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE. 
WE'VE GOT THE NUMBER THREE GUY  
IN UKRAINE, NO PRESSURE.
THESE ARE THE SUPPOSED VICTIMS  
OF THIS ALLEGED CRIME.
AND YET HERE WE ARE, SUPPOSEDLY 
HAVING THIS COMPELLING EVIDENCE 
AND FACTS WHEN THE BEST WITNESS 
THEY HAVE, THE VERY BEST WITNESS
THEY HAD, HAD TO CHANGE HIS 
TESTIMONY TWICE.
THEY MENTIONED HIM 611 TIMES. 
AND ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY, HE  
SAID I PRESUMED THAT THAT'S WHAT
THE PRESIDENT MEANT.
YOU SEW -- YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL 
YOU, THERE'S NOT FACTS HERE TO  
SUPPORT IT BUT WHAT'S MORE  
IMPORTANT THAN THAT, MADAM  
SPEAKER IS THIS.
BECAUSE HERE WE ARE TODAY, WE 
HAVE BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO 
IMPEACHMENT.
NOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES OPPOSITE
WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO 
THINK THAT THIS IS A SAD AND  
SOMBER DAY. 
THIS IS A SAD DAY, IT'S A SAD 
DAY FOR THIS INSTITUTION BECAUSE
WE LOWERED THE BAR TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT THAT CONTINUES TO GIVE
US AN ECONOMY THAT NOT ONLY IS  
GROWING, BUT GROWING AT LEVELS  
THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN THE  
HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. 
WHEN WE LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT AT 
A LEVEL THAT IS TRULY 
REMARKABLE, THEY WANT TO  
IMPEACH.
BUT IT'S ANOTHER SAD DAY BECAUSE
NOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS 
THEY'RE TELLING THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE THAT 233 DEMOCRATS 
DESERVE TO DECIDE WHO THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
SHOULD BE AND DISENFRANCHISE 63 
MILLION VOTERS. 
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, WHEN 
THE HISTORY OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
IS WRITTEN, IT WILL BE SAID THAT
MY WASHINGTON DEMOCRAT FRIENDS  
COULDN'T BRING THEMSELVES TO  
WORK WITH DONALD TRUMP SO THEY  
CONSOLED THEMSELVES INSTEAD BY  
SILENCING THE WILL OF THOSE WHO 
DID, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I'M PROUD TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA, MR. SHERMAN, FOR ONE
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. SHERMAN: ROBERT MUELLER LAYS
OUT FACTS FROM 2017 THAT  
CONSTITUTE OBSTRUCTION OF 
JUSTICE BUT SAYS THE PRESIDENT  
CANNOT BE INDICTED, ONLY  
CONGRESS CAN APPLY THE LAW TO 
THOSE FACTS.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING  
ABOUT IMPEACHMENT SINCE THOSE 
FACTS EMERGED IN 2017.
OF COURSE TODAY, WE FOCUS ON  
MORE RECENT CRIMES. 
SO WHY DID WE TALK OF 
IMPEACHMENT BACK WHEN A 
REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS WOULD 
NOT ACT?
WHY DO WE IMPEACH TODAY WHEN A  
REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE IS  
UNLIKELY TO ACT?
FIRST, BECAUSE IT IS OUR  
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.
NO MATTER WHAT THE POLITICAL  
CONSEQUENCES. 
SECOND, BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST  
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO CHASTEN -- TO 
CHASTEN AND RESTRAIN A PRESIDENT
WHO DOES NOT NATURALLY FEEL 
CONSTRAINED BY THE RULE OF LAW. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ATTEMPT TO  
UKRAINE -- TO EXTORT UKRAINE WAS
SECRETIVE AND FURTIVE, FOR FROM 
HIS PLAYSONNED THREATS WE SAW IN
2017. 
WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS THIS  
PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE COMMITTED  
HAD NO ONE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT THEN. 
TODAY WE'LL DEMONSTRAT THAT THE 
-- DEMONSTRATE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
--  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: WOULD HAVE BEEN  
NICE IF THEY FELT THESE CRIMES  
WERE WORTH BEING PUT IN THE 
ARTICLES. 
>> DO YOU KNOW WHO DOESN'T THINK
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PRESENTED  
ENOUGH TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT TODAY?
IT'S THE DEMOCRATS. 
HERE IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
RUNNING THIS INQUIRY HAVE 
DECLARED THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING
NEEDED. 
THEY HAVE ALL THE TESTIMONY AND 
EVIDENCE NOSE IMPEACH RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, DOWN THE HALL, 
DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE ARE 
SAYING HE OPPOSITE. 
THEY'RE COMPLAINING.
THEY NEED MORE EVIDENCE AND MORE
TESTIMONY BECAUSE SENATE  
DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BUILT THEM A 
HOUSE OF CARDS IMPEACHMENT. 
AN IMPEACHMENT BUILT BY THE SAME
DEMOCRATS WHO TOLD AMERICA, 
TRUST US. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED 
TREASON.
HE'S A RUSSIAN AGENT. 
AND WE'VE GOT EVIDENCE. 
WHICH OF COURSE PROVED TO BE  
TOTALLY FALSE AND TO QUOTE THE  
FAVORITE CATCH PHRASE OF ONE  
MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, THEY GOT  
CAUGHT. 
ALONG THE WAY, THOSE SAME 
DEMOCRATS SAID, TRUST US. 
THE FISA LAW AND COURT WEREN'T  
ABUSED BY THOUGH BA MA  
ADMINISTRATION USING DEMOCRATIC 
OPPOSITION RESEARCH DOSSIER 
AGAINST THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND  
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AGAIN, TOTALLY FALSE AND AGAIN, 
THEY GOT CAUGHT.
WHEN KEMS STARTED THIS LATEST 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY THEY SAID 
TRUST US, WE HAVE NOT YET SPOKEN
TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
SADLY MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES  
HAVE PLACED THEIR CREDIBILITY IN
THE HANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE BODY
THAT HAVE NO CREDIBILITY LEFT,  
MEMBERS NOBODY TRUSTS BECAUSE 
THEY KEEP GETTING CAUGHT  
BETRAYING AMERICA.
BUT UNLESS A BOLT OF COURAGE AND
INTEGRITY STRIKES THAT SIDE OF  
THE ROOM IN THE NEXT HOUR,  
HISTORY WILL REFLECT THAT DONALD
TRUMP IS THE THIRD PRESIDENT TO 
BE IMPEACHED. 
HISTORY MAY ALSO SHORTLY REFLECT
THAT HE'LL BE THE FIRST 
PRESIDENT TO BE RE-ELECTED AFTER
BEING WRONGFULLY IMPEACH. 
IF THAT HAPPENS, DEMOCRATS WON'T
BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND A PRETEND
VENEER OF CARING ABOUT THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
HISTORY WILL RECORD THE 
DEMOCRATS' LEGACY AS A BETRAYAL 
OF THE CONSTITUTION.
BECAUSE THE FOUNDERS MEANT FOR  
IMPEACHMENT TO BE USED FOR  
ACTIONS SO EXTRAORDINARY, SO  
RARE, IT'S HAPPENED THREE TIMES 
IN TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES.
IT WASN'T MEANT FOR 
CONGRATULATORY PHONE CALLS WHERE
THERE'S NO CRIME ALLEGED, 
THERE'S IN VICTIM AND THE 
DEMOCRATS THEMSELVES COULDN'T 
EVEN DECIDE WHAT TO ACCUSE THE  
PRESIDENT OF DOING WRONG. 
BEFORE ENDING UP WITH THIS  
EMBARRASSMENT OF A GRAB BAG OF  
ABUSE OF POWER ARTICLE. 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS?
TO EVEN ALLEGE IT IS AN 
ADMISSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL 
ILLITERACY. 
THE FOUNDERS HAD A TERM FOR WHAT
THE DEMOCRATS CALL OBSTRUCTION  
OF CONGRESS.
THE FOUNDERS CALLED IT THE  
SEPARATION OF POWERS. 
FUNNY THING ABOUT OBSTRUCTION.
EVERY TIME THE DEMOCRATS GET  
CAUGHT TRYING TO FLAME PRESIDENT
FOR SOME CRIME HE DIDN'T COMMIT 
THEY FOLLOW UP BY ACCUSING HIM  
OF OBSTRUCTING THEIR EFFORTS  
TRYING TO FRAME HIM FOR ACT HE  
IS DIDN'T COMMIT IN THE FIRST 
PLACE.
THE FOUNDERS FEARED THIS POWER  
WOULD BE USED BY THOSE WITH THE 
MOST VOTES, DEMOCRATS ARE THE 
FOUNDERS' WORST NIGHTMARES COME 
TRUE. 
MOST AMERICANS ARE PROBABLY 
THINKING THEY WISH THEY COULD 
IMPEACH THE DEMOCRATS AND THEY  
CAN, NEXT NOVEMBER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I THINK WHEN THE  
HISTORY OF THIS TIME IS WRITTEN 
IT WILL RECORD THAT WHEN MY 
COLLEAGUES FOUND THAT THEY  
LACKED THE COURAGE TO STAND UP  
TO THIS UNETHICAL PRESIDENT,  
THEY CONSOLED THEMSELVES BY 
ATTACKING THOSE WHO DID.
I NOW RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. TAKANO, FOR
A UNANIMOUS CONSENT QUSM  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. TAKANO: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD
MY REMARKS SUPPORTING THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SCHIFF: I REQUEST UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT FOR THE GENTLELADY FROM 
NEW YORK, MS. CLARKE, FOR HER 
REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. CLARKE: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD
MY REMARKS SUPPORTING MY VOTE 
FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD J.
TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MRS.
NAPOLITANO FARC UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT QUSM  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MRS. NAPOLITANO: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD
MY REMARKS SUPPORTING THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
DONALD TRUMP. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SCHIFF: THE GENTLELADY FROM 
OHIO, MRS. BEATTY, FOR UNANIMOUS
CONSENT QUSM  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MRS. BEATTY: I ASK UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD
MY REMARKS SUPPORTING THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION SO ORDERED. 
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLELADY FROM VIRGINIA, MS. 
WEXTON, FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
QUSM  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. WEXTON: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD
MY REMARKS SUPPORTING THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION SO ORDERED. 
MR. SCHIFF: I'M PROUD TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
JERSEY, MR. PASCRELL, FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. PASCRELL: MADAM SPEAKER,  
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE 
FAILURE OF SO MANY TO CAST ASIDE
NARROW AMBITION TO CONFRONT THE 
THREAT STANDING BEFORE US.
ALL FOR THE CHANCE TO 
INVESTIGATE THIS GOVERNMENT 
TOGETHER, THE PRESIDENT AND HIS 
PARTY STONEWALLED AND 
OBSTRUCTED. 
WE'RE HERE TODAY WAS THEY CHOOSE
COMFORT OVER COURAGE AND AVARICE
OVER THE REPUBLIC.
THIS IS THE ONGOING TRAGEDY OF  
OUR AGE AND IT IS ONGOING.
THE MATTER IS NOW SOLELY IN OUR 
HANDS AND BELONGS TO US AND US  
ALONE.
THE BUCK HAS STOPPED. 
MANY HAVE EVOKED A JUDGMENT OF  
HISTORY.
AS AN ANTI--- AS AN ANTIDOTE TO 
THIS THREAT.
BUT THE THREAT IS HERE TODAY NOT
TOMORROW. 
WE NEED NOT, MUST NOT AWAIT THE 
VERDICT OF TIME FOR DONALD  
TRUMP'S ABUSE OF POWER AND  
OBSTRUCTION.
WE CAN OFFER THAT VERDICT RIGHT 
NOW AND WE ARE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR. JORDAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. JORDAN: THE DEMOCRATS FOUGHT
TWO KEY THINGS. 
FORGOT ABOUT THE FACTS AND  
FORGOT ABOUT FAIRNESS.
FOUR FACTS WILL NEVER CHANGE. 
WE HAVE THE CALL TRANSCRIPT NO  
QUID PRO QUO. 
WE HAVE THE TWO GUYS ON THE 
CALL, EXCUSE ME WHO REPEATEDLY  
SAID THERE WAS NO PRESSURE, 
THERE WAS NO PUSHING, WE HAVE 
THE FACT UKRAINE DIDN'T KNOW AID
WAS HELD UP AT THE TIME OF THE  
PHONE CALL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
UKRAINE TOOK NO ACTION, NO  
ANNOUNCE. 
OF INVESTIGATION TO GET THE AID 
RELEASED BUT DEMOCRATS DON'T  
CARE. 
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FACTS 
AND THEY SURE DON'T CARE ABOUT  
THE PROCESS.
NO SUBPOENA POWER FOR 
REPUBLICANS NO REPUBLICAN 
WITNESSES, DURING THE 
DEPOSITIONS, REPUBLICANS WERE 
PREVENTED FROM GETTING ALL THEIR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
DEMOCRATS GOT EVERY ONE OF THEIR
QUESTIONS.
WITNESS RESPONDED TO EVERY ONE  
OF THEIRS BUT NOT REPUBLICANS.
THE CHAIRMAN WOULDN'T LET THEM. 
AND OF COURSE THE WHISTLEBLOWER,
THE ANONYMOUS WHISTLE BLOW WE 
ARE NO FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, 
BIASED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, 
WHO WORKED FOR JOE BIDEN, WAS 
NEVER COMPELLED TO TESTIFY. 
THE GUY WHO STARTED IT ALL. 
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE  
PRESIDENT BEEN DRIVING THESE  
GUYS CRAZY BECAUSE HE'S GETTING 
THINGS DONE, DOING WHAT HE SAID 
HE WAS GOING TO DO, HE'S HAVING 
RESULTS, TAXES HAVE BEEN CUT, 
REGULATIONS REDEUCED, 
UNEMPLOYMENT AT ITS LOWEST  
LEVELS IN YEARS, OUT OF THE IRAN
DEAL, EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM, 
HOSTAGES HOME FROM NORTH KOREA  
AND A NEW NAFTA AGREEMENT COMING
TOMORROW. 
BUT GUESS WHAT, WHEN YOU DRAIN  
THE SWAMP, THE SWAMP FIGHTS 
BACK. 
THEY STARTED ATTACKING THE  
PRESIDENT BEFORE THE ELECTION 
EVEN. 
JULY 31, 2016, THEY OPENED THE  
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION. 
THE F.B.I. SPIDE ON FOUR  
AMERICAN CITIZENS ASSOCIATED  
WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
THE F.B.I. TOOK THE DOSSIER TO  
THE FISA COURT, THE DOSSIER THEY
KNEW WAS FALSE. 
THEY TOOK IT TO THE COURT, LIED 
TO THE COURT 17 TIMES.
GUESS WHAT? 
THREE DAYS AGO THREE DAYS AGO ON
NATIONAL TELEVISION, EVEN JIM 
COMEY HAD TO ADMIT THE F.B.I. 
WAS WRONG.
YESTERDAY, ONE DAY AGO, THE FISA
COURT SENDS THE F.B.I. A LETTER 
AND SAYS STRAIGHTEN UP, GET YOUR
ACT TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO 
THE FISA APPLICATION PROCESS. 
THINK ABOUT.
THIS THINK ABOUT THIS.
THE ATTACK STARTED THEN AND 
CONTINUED RIGHT UP UNTIL TODAY. 
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT 
SOMETHING.
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SAID THE FISA
PROCESS WAS FINE, THE DOSSIER 
WAS FINE, THE RUSSIA  
INVESTIGATION WAS FINE. 
THAT SAME VAGE RAN THE  
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT SAME 
INDIVIDUAL'S STAFF MET WITH THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER.
THAT SAME GUY IS THE ONLY GUY IN
CONGRESS WHO KNOWS WHO THE  
WHISTLE BLOWER IS FOR SURE THAT 
SAME INDIVIDUAL RELEASED PHONE  
RECORDS OF THE PRESIDENT'S  
PERSONAL ATTORNEY, RELEASED THE 
PHONE RECORDS OF A MEMBER OF THE
PRESS, RELEASED THE PHONE 
RECORDS OF A REPUBLICAN MEMBER  
OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN UNFAIR, 
IT'S BEEN DANGEROUS, AND IT HAS 
BEEN HARMFUL TO OUR COUNTRY.
DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED 
THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NANCY PELOSI MADE THAT CLEAR  
FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN SHE CALLED  
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES AN IMPOSTOR. 
THE WILL OF WE THE PEOPLE, THE  
63 MILLION FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR  
THIS GUY, MADE HIM PRESIDENT IN 
AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE LANDSLIDE  
THEY NEVER ACCEPTED THAT FACT.
WE ARE LESS THAN 11 MONTHS AWAY 
FROM THE ELECTION.
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE  
WHO SHOULD BE PRESIDENT.
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS, MR. SCHNEIDER, 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. SCHNEIDER: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
RISE TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION 
AND SUPPORT THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED THE POWER  
OF HIS OFFICE BY CORRUPTLY  
PUTTING HIS OWN POLITICAL 
INTEREST AHEAD OF OUR NATION'S  
SECURITY. 
HE BLOCKED CONGRESSIONALLY  
AUTHORIZED MILITARY AID TO  
COERCE UKRAINE TO LAUNCH A PHONY
INVESTIGATION INTO HIS POLITICAL
RIVAL.
IN THE MONTHS SINCE, HE'S WAGED 
A CAMPAIGN OF ABSOLUTE  
OBSTRUCTION AGAINST CONGRESS' 
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY, 
ORDERING ALL FEDERAL OFFICIALS  
TO DEFY SUBPOENAS AND REFUSING  
TO PRODUCE EVEN A SINGLE  
DOCUMENT. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I TAKE NO JOY IN 
TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT VOTE OR THAT
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS DEMAND  
THIS RESPONSE.
THIS IS A SAD MOMENT FOR OUR  
NATION. 
ONLY TWICE BEFORE HAS THE HOUSE 
VOTED TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT. 
NEVER BEFORE ON ACCUSATIONS OF  
COMPROMISING OUR NATION'S 
SECURITY. 
I HOPE THE SENATE -- I HOPE IN  
THE SENATE, PROSECUTION AND 
DEFENSE CAN CALL AND CROSS  
EXAMINE WITNESSES AND THE 
SENATORS WILL HEAR THE EVIDENCE 
AND MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT  
PREJUDICE OR PREJUDGMENT. 
THIS IS A SOLEMN MOMENT BUT OUR 
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES 
WAS DESIGNED FOR TIMES LIKE 
THESE AND I HAVE FAITH THAT OUR 
CONSTITUTION WILL GUIDE US ON 
THE PATH AHEAD. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD THREE  
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, MR. NUNES. 
MR. NUNES: THE DEMOCRATS' 
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT 
BEGAN ON INAUGURATION DAY.
WHEN THE DEMOCRATS' SEMIOFFICIAL
MOUTHPIECE, "THE WASHINGTON 
POST," DECLARED THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
BEGUN.
FOR YEARS THE DEMOCRATS TRIED TO
EXPEL THE PRESIDENT WITH THE  
PREPOSTEROUS ACCUSATION THAT HE 
WAS A RUSSIAN AGENT.
AS DETAILED BY I.G. HOROWITZ, 
DISHONEST INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS
USED FAKE ALLEGATIONS, SPREAD BY
THE DEMOCRATS, TO GAIN APPROVAL 
OF A SPYING OPERATION AGAINST 
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. 
AS THEY FALSELY ACCUSED THE 
TRUMP CAMPAIGN OF COLLUDING WITH
RUSSIANS, THE DEMOCRATS 
THEMSELVES COLLUDED WITH  
RUSSIANS. 
TO MANUFACTURE THESE ALLEGATIONS
IN THE INFAMOUS STEELE DOSSIER. 
THEY EVEN TRIED TO GET NUDE 
PICTURES OF TRUMP FROM RUSSIAN  
PRANKSTERS. 
WITH THE RUSSIAN COLLUSION HOAX,
THE DEMOCRATS HAD EVERYTHING  
GOING FOR THEM. 
FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS RUN BY 
TRUMP HATERS AND ENDLESS SUPPLY 
OF MEDIA CHEERLEADERS, AND A  
GALAXY OF LEFT-WING INTEREST  
GROUPS AMPLIFYING THEIR 
RIDICULOUS MESSAGE. 
AND YET EVEN WITH ALL THOSE 
WEAPONS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, THE  
RUSSIA CONSPIRACY THEORY  
COLLAPSED.
SO THEY QUICKLY CONCOCTED PLAN  
B.
THE UKRAINE HOAX WAS BASED ON A 
SUPPOSED WHISTLEBLOWER WHO  
COLLUDED BEFOREHAND WITH THE  
DEMOCRATS.
THE DEMOCRATS THEN PREVENTED  
CONGRESS FROM INTERVENING --  
INTERVIEWING THE WHISTLEBLOWER  
WHILE CONDUCTING BIZARRE, SECRET
DEPOSITIONS AND SELECTIVELY 
LEAKING TESTIMONY TO DISCREDITED
MEDIA HACKS.
THE DEMOCRATS SHOWCASED THE MOST
USEFUL WITNESSES IN PUBLIC  
HEARINGS, THAT SOMEHOW REDUCED  
SUPPORT FOR IMPEACHMENT.
IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE A COUP  
ATTEMPT BORING, BUT THE 
DEMOCRATS FOUND A WAY.
AS IT TURNS OUT, THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE DON'T THINK A ROUTINE  
PHONE CALL WITH A FOREIGN LEADER
IS A GOOD BASIS FOR OUSTING A 
U.S. PRESIDENT. 
THE DEMOCRATS ALSO PUT FORTH  
EVER-CHANGING ACCUSATIONS 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, INCLUDING
CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS,  
QUID PRO QUOS, ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE, BRIBERY, EXTORTION
. 
EVENTUALLY THEY ENDED UP WITH 
THE RIDICULOUS CHARGES WE 
CONSIDER TODAY. 
ABUSE OF POWER AND, -- ABUSE OF 
POWER, AN UTTERLY MEANINGLESS 
TERM, OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.
ONE DEMOCRAT SAID THE PRESIDENT 
WAS GUILTY BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T  
COOPERATE WITH THIRD PLAN TO  
RAILROAD HIM. 
THE ONLY THING PRESIDENT CLINTON
IS GUILTY OF IS BEAT -- 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GUILTY OF IS 
BEATING HILLARY CLINTON.
THE DEMOCRATS INDICATE THEY'LL  
CONTINUE THEIR IMPEACHMENT  
EFFORTS EVEN AFTER THIS ONE 
FAILS IN THE U.S. SENATE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, AFTER ALL THEIR  
DECEIT, PHONY INVESTIGATIONS, 
INNED-UP CRISES AND -- GINNED-UP
CRISES AND MANUFACTURED OUTRAGE,
THEY NEED A LONG PERIOD OF  
REHABILITATION THEM MUST LEARN  
HOW TO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE  
FOR THE -- REHABILITATION.
THEY MUST LEARN HOW TO DO 
SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE FOR THE  
AMERICAN PEOPLE INSTEAD OF  
RIPPING THE COUNTRY APART IN  
THEIR LUST FOR POWER. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS 
REMARKS AND IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE
TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS, CHAIRMAN NEAL, 
FOR THREE MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES.
MR. NEAL: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
IT IS DEEPLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE
HAVE TO UNDERTAKE THIS  
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING THAT 
UNFOLDS THIS EVENING. 
BUT THE PART WE PLAY IN THIS  
PROCESS IS NOT OPTIONAL.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS THE  
INTELLIGENCE AND JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEES HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY 
DOCUMENTED, THE PRESIDENT HAS 
INDEED ABUSED HIS AUTHORITY AND 
HE HAS INDEED OBSTRUCTED  
JUSTICE.
HE THREATENED TO WITHHOLD 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED  
U.S. TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM AN 
ALLY UNDER ATTACK FROM RUSSIA 
UNLESS THEY AGREED TO INTERFERE 
IN OUR ELECTION ON HIS BEHALF.
HE'S EXPRESSED NO REMORSE AND HE
CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT HIS  
BEHAVIOR WAS, QUOTE, PERFECT. 
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY OBSTRUCTING
LEGITIMATE CONGRESSIONAL  
OVERSIGHT AND SUBPOENAS AND 
BLOCKING MEMBERS OF HIS 
ADMINISTRATION FROM PROVIDING 
TRUTHFUL TESTIMONY TO 
INVESTIGATORS.
HIS ACTIONS ARE SO FAR BEYOND 
THE PALE THAT THEY HAVE LEFT US 
WITH NO REMAINING RECOURSE  
EXCEPT IMPEACHMENT AND SO WE  
SHALL IMPEACH.
BECAUSE AS DRASTIC AND UNWELCOME
AS THIS STEP IS, OUR COUNTRY  
FACES EVEN GREATER LONG-TERM  
RISKS IF WE FAIL TO RESPOND.
WE CANNOT EXCUSE A PRESIDENT WHO
FEELS ENTITLED TO DISREGARD OR  
BREAK THE LAW WITH IMPUNITY.
WE ARE A NATION BUILT UPON THE  
RULE OF LAW, NOT THE LAW OF 
RULERS. 
THE FRAMERS GAVE US THEIR BEST  
EFFORT IN 177, AND INDEED IT WAS
AN EXTRAORDINARY ONE. 
THE CONSTITUTION THEY SET DOWN  
WASN'T PERFECT, BUT IT FOUND A  
REPUBLIC THAT HAS ENDURED AND 
THRIVED WITH EXCEPTIONAL  
STABILITY.
AS THE LATE SENATOR MOYNIHAN  
POINTED OUT, ONLY TWO COUNTRIES 
IN THE WORLD BOTH EXISTED IN  
1800 AND HAVE NEVER HAD THEIR 
GOVERNMENTS CHANGED BY VIOLENCE 
SINCE THEN. 
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN.
ONLY EIGHT GOVERNMENTS HAVE 
EXISTED SINCE 1914 AND HAVE NOT 
HAD THEIR FORM OF GOVERNMENT  
CHANGED BY FORCE SINCE THEN.
THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED 
KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW 
ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, SWEDEN 
AND SWITZERLAND.
THE INNOVATIVE SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES THAT THEY  
CONSTRUCTED WITH THE SEPARATION 
OF POWERS BROUGHT ABOUT AND 
SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED A 
GENERATION OF CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE SUSTAINED. 
IN THE VERY FIRST WEEK THAT THE 
FRAMERS BEGAN CRAFTING THIS 
BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICA'S FREEDOM 
AND STABILITY, AND NEGOTIATIONS 
INDEED IMMEDIATELY STARTED ON 
IMPEACHMENT.
NO GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD AT 
THAT TIME EXPOSED THE HEAD OF 
GOVERNMENT TO IMPEACHMENT, BUT  
AMERICA WAS TO BE DIFFERENT.
IN THE VIEW OF THE FRAMERS, 
IMPEACHMENT IS IN NO WAY A  
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS, IT IS A  
PROCESS THAT THE FRAMERS WISELY 
JUDGED THAT WE WOULD SOMETIMES  
NEED. 
THIS EVENING IS ONE OF THOSE  
RARE MOMENTS. 
MADISON WORRIED THAT ONE DAY THE
COUNTRY WOULD ELECT A PRESIDENT 
WHO, QUOTE, MIGHT PERVERT HIS 
ADMINISTRATION TO A SCHEME OF 
PECKLATION OR OPPRESSION. 
HE MIGHT BETRAY HIS TRUST TO  
FOREIGN POWERS, END OF QUOTE. 
GEORGE MASON ASKED THE  
DELEGATES, QUOTE, SHALL WE SEE  
ANY MAN TO BE ABOVE JUSTICE, AND
ABOVE ALL THAT WILL SHAL THAT 
MAN BE ABOVE IT, THEN WHO CAN 
COMMIT THE MOST EXTENSIVE 
INJUSTICE?
END OF QUOTE. 
OF COURSE NOT, BECAUSE HAVING 
JUST THROWN OFF ONE KING, THEY  
WOULD NEVER CONSENT TO ANOINT 
ANOTHER ONE.
AMERICA FIRMLY REJECTED THE 
NOTION OF DIVINE RIGHT. 
SPEAKER RAYBURN SUMMED IT UP -- 
MAY I HAVE 30 SECOND EXTRA  
SECONDS -- 30 EXTRA SECONDS?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. NEAL: ARTICLE ONE OF THE  
CONSTITUTION DESCRIBES CONGRESS 
AS THE FIRST BRANCH OF  
GOVERNMENT. 
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, LET HE HAD 
QUOTE SPEAKER RAYBURN WHO WAS 
ASKED, HOW MANY PRESIDENTS DID  
YOU SERVE UNDER?
AND SPEAKER RAYBURN ANSWERED, 
NONE. 
I SERVED WITH SEVEN PRESIDENTS  
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
IMPEACHMENT IS RESERVED FOR 
MOMENTS OF GRAVE DANGER, WHEN 
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER BECOMES
DANGEROUSLY OUT OF BALANCE. 
MOMENTS LIKE THIS ONE.
AND THAT'S WHY I WILL VOTE TO 
IMPEACH.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I YIELD A MINUTE AND 45 TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
FERGUSON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE AND 45 SECONDS.
MR. FERGUSON: THANK YOU, MADAM  
SPEAKER.
WELL, HERE WE ARE.
ON THE VERGE OF DOING EXACTLY 
WHAT AMERICA DOESN'T WANT US TO 
DO AND WHAT THEY FEARED THAT YOU
WOULD DO. 
IN 2016 I, ALONG WITH 63 MILLION
AMERICAN VOTERS, REPRESENTING 
304 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES,  
WENT TO THE POLLS AND WE RAISED 
OUR COLLECTIVE POLITICAL MIDDLE 
FINGER TO D.C. AND VOTED FOR  
DONALD TRUMP. 
FOLKS LIKE MY FATHER WHO WATCHED
THIS PLACE DESTROY HIS  
PROFESSION OF COMMUNITY BANKING,
MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE  
TEXTILE INDUSTRY THAT SAW THEIR 
WAY OF LIFE DESTROYED FOLLOWING 
NAFTA.
AMERICANS IN RURAL AREAS WHOSE  
OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE AND VOICE 
HAVE BEEN DROWNED OUT BY THE  
SCREAMS OF SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS. 
OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS LIVING
IN POVERTY AND CRIME, BROKEN  
DOWN PROJECT-BASED PUBLIC 
HOUSING, WHO FOR GENERATIONS  
HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THIS PLACE, 
THIS IS THE BEST THAT WE THINK  
YOU CAN DO, HERE'S YOUR CHECK,  
GOD BLESS YOU, NOW MOVE ALONG.
THOSE VOTERS, AND NOW YOU WANT  
TO REMOVE OUR VOICE FROM OFFICE.
WELL, OUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD 
AND I STAND HERE DETERMINED TO  
MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL BE 
BECAUSE WE WILL FIGHT BACK  
AGAINST THIS CORRUPT AND UNFAIR 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.
HOW DARE YOU, THE LIBERAL 
ELITES, THE CONDESCENDING 
BUREAUCRATS, AND EVERY OTHER  
KIND OF SWAMP CRITTER IN THIS 
GOD-FOR SAKEN PLACE, TELL THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC WHO THE 
PRESIDENT SHOULD BE?
THAT'S THE JOB OF THE AMERICAN  
VOTER, NOT YOURS. 
THIS WHOLE FLIPPING GOAT RODEO  
IS A SHAM AND A SHAME AND IT  
WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WASHINGTON --  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON,  
MR. HECK, FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.
MR. HECK: MADAM SPEAKER, THIS 
WEEK AMERICANS ARE BUSY 
FINISHING UP THEIR CHRISTMAS  
SHOPPING, MOSTLY FOR THEIR  
CHILDREN, OR IF THEY'RE LUCKY 
ENOUGH TO HAVE THEM, THEIR  
GRANDCHILDREN.
IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE -- 
AND HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS ARE TAKING FINAL EXAMS 
AND SWEATING OUT THE RESULTS. 
AND THAT GOT ME TO THINKING 
ABOUT THOSE WHO FOLLOW. 
AND WHAT OUR OBLIGATION IS TO 
THEM. 
THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THOSE
WHO CAME BEFORE AND HOW THEY  
MIGHT HAVE SEEN THEIR OBLIGATION
TO US.
PEOPLE LIKE MY GRANDFATHER, WHOM
OUR FAMILY BELIEVES LITERALLY 
WAS BORN ON THE BOAT ON THE WAY 
OVER HERE FROM GERMANY. 
OR MY FATHER, WHO FOUGHT IN 
WORLD WAR II AGAINST THE VERY 
PEOPLE THAT HIS GRANDFATHER HAD 
LEFT. 
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY, ALL OF 
US, BECAUSE SOMEONE BEFORE US 
SACRIFICED SO THAT THEY COULD 
JOURNEY HERE AND BUILD A NEW  
LIFE IN THIS UNIQUE LAND. 
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE 
THOSE IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR  
CHILDREN WERE DEDICATED NOT JUST
TO THE LAND OF AMERICA, BUT TO  
THE IDEA, FREEDOM AND 
OPPORTUNITY SECURED BY  
SELF-GOVERNMENT, CHOOSING OUR 
OWN LEADERS AND FREE AND FAIR 
ELECTIONS, AND RULE OF LAW. 
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
HAPPY TO YIELD ANOTHER 30 
SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
WASHINGTON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HECK: THIS IDEA OF AMERICA  
IS IN PERIL.
BROUGHT ABOUT SO BY THIS  
PRESIDENT WHO SOUGHT TO CHEAT IN
AN ELECTION.
A PRESIDENT WHO PUTS HIMSELF  
ABOVE THE LAW AND ATTACKS THE 
BEDROCK CONSTITUTIONAL PRECEPT  
OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
THE QUESTION IS, CAN MERCOSUR 
VIVE -- CAN AMERICA SURVIVE THIS
BEHAVIOR? 
WHAT IDEA WILL WE HAND DOWN TO  
THOSE WHO FOLLOW US?
AND FINALLY, WHAT IS OUR  
OBLIGATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD 
FOLLOW? 
IT IS SIMPLY THIS -- TO DO OUR  
DUTY. 
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND  
THE VALUES UNDERPINNING IT. 
BY VOTING YES ON THE ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE, MADAM 
CHAIR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE  
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO YIELD TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM FLORIDA, MRS. DEMINGS, FOR 
TWO MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MRS. DEMINGS: MADAM SPEAKER, WE 
LIVE IN THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY  
IN THE WORLD. 
AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE 
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF  
AMERICANS ARE GOOD, DECENT  
PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD AND PLAY BY
THE RULES.
BUT THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW. 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LITTLE REGARD 
FOR THE RULES.
PEOPLE WHO SPEND A LOT OF THEIR 
TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
GAME THE SYSTEM.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CALL 
THEM HABITUAL OFFENDERS.
AND THE MORE THEY GET AWAY WITH,
THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO 
ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT. 
SOME SAY IT TAKES COURAGE TO  
HOLD POWERFUL PEOPLE  
ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT I SEE IT DIFFERENTLY. 
I SEE IT AS A SENSE OF DUTY.
A REGULAR PART MIGHT HAVE JOB AS
A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. 
HOWEVER, HABITUAL OFFENDERS 
USUALLY DON'T SNEAK UP ON YOU.
THEY USUALLY TELEGRAPH THEIR  
INTENTIONS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 
ON JULY 27 OF 2016, IN MY HOME  
STATE OF FLORIDA, THEN-CANDIDATE
TRUMP SAID, RUSSIA, IF YOU'RE 
LISTENING, I HOPE YOU WILL BE 
ABLE TO FIND THE 30,000 EMAILS, 
THEREBY INVITING FOREIGN  
INTERFERENCE INTO U.S.  
ELECTIONS.
BUT THEN THE DAY AFTER THE  
SPECIAL COUNSEL TESTIFIED BEFORE
CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT, FEELING
UNDETERRED AND EMBOLDENED, SAID,
CALL -- CALLED PRESIDENT  
ZELENSKY AND PRESSURED HIM TO 
RIG THE ELECTIONS.
AND CHOSE TO HOLD MUCH-NEEDED 
MILITARY AID OVER OUR ALLY'S  
HEAD UNTIL THE PRESIDENT'S  
DEMANDS WERE MET. 
NOW, I SERVED 12 YEARS ON THE 
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAM AND I  
KNOW THAT PRESSURE AND DEMANDS  
COME IN MANY FORMS. 
AND IN THIS SCHEME, WE HAD BOTH.
I'VE BEEN FORCE -- I'VE ENFORCED
THE LAWS AND NOW I WRITE THE  
LAWS. 
BUT THE LAWS MEAN NOTHING IF THE
ACCUSED CAN DESTROY EVIDENCE, 
STOP WITNESSES FROM TESTIFYING, 
AND BLATANTLY REFUSE TO 
COOPERATE.
I ASK YOU TO NAME SOMEBODY IN 
YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOUR FAMILY 
WHO CAN DO THAT.
I KNOW THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT  
HE CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING HE
WANTS TO. 
I COME TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT 
NO, HE CANNOT.
BECAUSE NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW 
AND HE SHALL BE HELD  
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS MOMENT I YIELD FOR A  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST, THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CRAWFORD: I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO ENTER MY REMARKS INTO
THE RECORD IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
SHAM IMPEACHMENT. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU. 
MADAM SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME I 
YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WYOMING, MS. 
CHENEY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
FOUR MINUTES. 
MS. CHENEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. COLLINS.
AND, MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY
ON THE FLOOR OF THIS MAGNIFICENT
CHAMBER, THE VERY HEART OF OUR  
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, AND I WOULD
IMAGINE, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT  
EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS CHAMBER,
REGARDLESS OF PARTY,  
UNDERSTANDS, SHARES A COMMON  
VIEW, THAT BEING CITIZENS OF  
THIS GREAT REPUBLIC IS AMONG  
LIFE'S MOST TREMENDOUS  
BLESSINGS.
. 
WE ALL KNOW NO FORCE ON EARTH 
IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE FORCE 
OF FREEDOM. 
IT IS OUR MIRACULOUS  
CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM, MADAM  
SPEAKER, DEFENDED BY OUR MEN  
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM THAT HAS 
SAFEGUARDED THAT FREEDOM FOR  
230 YEARS.
EACH ONE OF US IN THIS CHAMBER  
BEARS A SACRED DUTY.
PASSED DOWN TO US THROUGH 
GENERATIONS AND AFIMMED IN OUR  
OATH OF OFFICE TO PRESERVE AND  
PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION. 
MADAM SPEAKER, OUR NATION'S 
FRAMERS RECOGNIZED THAT THIS  
REPUBLIC IS FRAGILE.
AND THAT EXTREME PARTISANSHIP 
CAN BE AMONG THE MOST SEVERE  
THREATS TO ITS SURVIVAL.
THAT IS WHY IN FEDERALIST 65  
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE, 
QUOTE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE 
GREATEST DANGER THAT  
IMPEACHMENT, THAT IMPEACHMENT 
DECISION WILL BE REGULATED MORE 
BY THE COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF  
PARTIES THAN BY REAL  
DEMONSTRATIONS OF INNOCENCE OR  
GUILT.
HERE, MADAM SPEAKER, OUR  
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN 
WORKING TO REMOVE THIS  
PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAY HE WAS  
ELECTED.
SEARCHING FOR AN OFFENSE ON 
WHICH THEY COULD IMPEACH. 
FAILING TO FIND ONE, MADAM  
SPEAKER, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO 
ASSUME ONE. 
RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO 
ENFORCE THEIR SUBPOENAS IN  
COURT, THEY HAVE ALSO DECIDED 
TO DECLARE IT A HIGH CRIME AND  
MISDEMEANOR WHEN THE PRESIDENT  
OF THE UNITED STATES ASSERTS  
HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGES.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ASKING  
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO IMPEACH 
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE 
PRESENTED NO DIRECT EVIDENCE OF 
ANY IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
LET ME SAY IT ONE MORE TIME,  
MADAM SPEAKER.
THEY HAVE PRESENTED NO DIRECT 
EVIDENCE OF ANY IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE.
IF ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER STILL 
BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
PROVEN THEIR CASE, I WOULD URGE 
THOSE MEMBERS TO ASK THE  
CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE  
COMMITTEE, MR. SCHIFF, WHY HE 
FAILED TO APPEAR TO ANSWER  
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS REPORT. 
BEFORE MEMBERS VOTE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT, THEY MIGHT WANT TO 
KNOW WHY THE AUTHOR OF THE  
IMPEACHMENT REPORT WILL NOT 
DEFEND IT UNDER QUESTIONING.
IF THE HOUSE IMPEACHES HERE,  
MADAM SPEAKER, IT WILL CREATE 
EXACTLY THE TYPE OF RISK THE  
FRAMERS CAUTIONED US TO AVOID.
IT WILL MEAN THAT DIVIDED 
GOVERNMENT CAN IMPERIL A  
DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED  
PRESIDENT BASED ON UNPROVEN 
ALLEGATIONS AND INNUENDO IN THE 
ABSENCE OF DIRECT TESTIMONY.
DESPITE ALL THE RHETORIC YOU  
HAVE HEARD TODAY, MADAM 
SPEAKER, PASSAGE OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT MAY 
PERMANENTLY DAMAGE OUR  
REPUBLIC. 
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD A HYPER 
PARTISAN, FAIR MAJORITY CAN 
CITE THIS PRESIDENT PRECEDENT 
-- I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH 
SIDES OF THE AISLE, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THINK OF OUR REPUBLIC, 
THINK OF THE CONSTITUTION,  
THINK OF THE OATH THAT WE ALL 
SWORE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND 
THAT CONSTITUTION AND VOTE  
WEDNESDAY THESE PARTISAN, 
RECKLESS, AND DANGEROUS 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I'M PROUD TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN, FOR ONE  
MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. LEVIN: MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY 
WE PROCLAIM THAT NO PERSON IS 
ABOVE THE LAW, NOT EVEN THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
JONLED J. TRUMP ABUSED THE  
POWER OF HIS OFFICE AND 
VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE BY  
EXTORTING A NEW AND 
INEXPERIENCED PRESIDENT OF A  
VULNERABLE FOREIGN ALLY TO DIG  
UP DIRT ON MR. TRUMP'S DOMESTIC 
POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
HE THEN OBSTRUCTED THE  
CONGRESS, THIS EQUAL BRANCH OF  
OUR GOVERNMENT, FROM  
UNDERTAKING OUR DUTY. 
OUTLINED IN THE CONSTITUTION  
ITSELF TO INVESTIGATE AND CHECK 
THESE VIOLATIONS. 
TODAY WE DO NOTHING MORE AND  
NOTHING LESS THAN FULFILL OUR 
DUTY TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR  
CONSTITUTION. 
MR. TRUMP HAS ALLOWED FOREIGN 
POWERS TO INTERFERE IN OUR  
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. 
HE HAS ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL  
SECURITY AND OUR DEMOCRACY  
ITSELF. 
FOR THOSE REASONS WE MUST 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT. 
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: IT MADAM SPEAKER,  
AT THIS POINT I HAVE -- I YIELD 
FOR A UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. WALDEN: I POSE THIS 
RESOLUTION -- OPPOSE THIS 
RESOLUTION ON IMPEACHMENT AND 
ASK MY WORDS BE PUT IN THE  
RECORD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. COLLIN: I HAVE A UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT REQUEST TO THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> I OPPOSE THESE RESOLUTIONS 
AND I ASK FOR MY COMMENTS TO BE 
ADMITTED INTO THE RECORD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. COLLINS: I ASK UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT FOR THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
MISSISSIPPI.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I OPPOSE THE ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT AND LIKE COMMENTS 
BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WHO  
SEEKS RECOGNITION?
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
ASK OF THE GENTLEMAN IS HE  
READY TO CLOSE? 
MR. SCHIFF: NO, WE HAVE A FEW 
MORE SPEAKERS.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.  
ESPAILLAT, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
MR. ESPAILLAT: MADAM SPEAKER, 
IF YOU LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF 
HARLEM IN MY DISTRICT, YOU ARE  
NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
IF YOU LIVE ON WEST THIRD 
AVENUE IN THE BRONX PART OF MY  
DISTRICT, YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE 
LAW.
IF YOU LIVE IN WASHINGTON 
HEIGHTS, IN MY DISTRICT, YOU  
ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
SO I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IF YOU  
LIVE AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA 
AVENUE, YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE 
LAW.
AND YOU WILL BE HELD  
ACCOUNTABLE.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ASKED  
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO DO US A  
FAVOR AND LOOK INTO THE BIDENS. 
THAT'S ABUSE OF POWER.
PRESIDENT TRUMP USED THE  
OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE MEETING TO 
EXTORT A UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT. 
THAT'S ABUSE OF POWER.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED WHITE 
HOUSE STAFF TO WITHHOLD $400  
MILLION IN AID TO THE UKRAINE,  
THAT'S ABUSE OF POWER.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS STAFF 
DENY MULTIPLE -- DEFIED 
MULTIPLE SUBPOENAS FROM 
CONGRESS, THAT'S OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
HE BLOCKED WITNESSES FROM 
TESTIFYING BEFORE THIS BODY.
THAT'S OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
I CAST MY VOTE FOR THIP 
PEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
YIELD FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST FOR THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
VIRGINIA. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER MY 
STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD.
RECORDING THAT I AM OPPOSED TO  
THIS ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ON 
THE BASIS THEY DO NOT --  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. 
BROWNLEY, FOR ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. BROWNLEY: MADAM SPEAKER, AS 
THE CHAIR OF THE WOMEN'S  
VETERANS TASK FORCE, I SEE  
EVERY SINGLE DAY THE IMMENSE  
SACRIFICE OUR WOMEN VETERANS  
AND ALL OF OUR NATION'S 
VETERANS HAVE MADE IN SERVICE 
TO OUR COUNTRY, IN CERTIFICATE  
CHRIS TO OUR COMMANDER IN 
CHIEF, OUR CONSTITUTION, TO 
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, AND FOR  
EVERY SINGLE MAN, WOMAN, AND  
CHILD IN OUR COUNTRY. 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES USED $400 MILLION 
MEANT TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY IN ORDER TO CHEAT IN 
OUR ELECTIONS, HE NOT ONLY  
ABUSED HIS POWER, HE TURNED HIS 
BACK ON THE SACRIFICES OF OUR 
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES 
HAVE MADE FOR ALL THAT WE HOLD  
SO DEAR.
THAT ABUSE OF POWER IS  
REPREHENSIBLE, AND IT IS  
EXACTLY WHAT IMPEACHMENT WAS  
DESIGNED TO PREVENT.
WE HAVE A SOLEMN DUTY TO  
PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION, TO  
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, AND TO 
HONOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LAID 
THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR 
THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD FOR A  
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST TO  
THE GENTLELADY FROM INDIANA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MRS. WALORSKI: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO  
ENTER INTO THE RECORD MY  
OPPOSITION TO THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I'M PROUD TO  
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA, MRS. DAVIS, FOR 30  
SECONDS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MRS. DAVIS: MADAM SPEAKER, MAKE 
NO MISTAKE. 
WE ARE NOT IMPEACHING THIS  
PRESIDENT.
HE IS IMPEEFING HIMSELF.
-- IMPEACHING HIMSELF.
IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT AND  
YOU OBSTRUCT JUSTICE, TRY TO  
BRIBE A FOREIGN LEADER AND  
THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY, 
YOU'RE GOING TO GET IMPEACHED.
END OF STORY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA 
FOR A UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER INTO 
THE RECORD MY OPPOSITION TO 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I'M  
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE  
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW MEXICO,  
MS. HAALAND, FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR  
ONE MINUTE. 
MS. HAALAND: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
STAND BEFORE YOU AS A 
REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW MEXICO, A 
PLACE WHERE WE BELIEVE IN 
DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL.
IN CONGRESS I HAVE BEEN 
FIGHTING FOR THEM.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE  
HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE,  
EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE, AND MOVE  
OUR COUNTRY FORWARD FOR THE 
PEOPLE. 
BUT TODAY THIS PRESIDENT HAS  
FORCED US INTO A SERIOUS  
DEBATE. 
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A  
PRESIDENT WHO USED THE POWER OF 
THE PRESIDENCY FOR HIS OWN  
POLITICAL GAIN. 
RISKING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY 
AND PUTTING THE INTEGRITY OF  
THE NEXT ELECTION AT RISK.
IT'S A SAD DAY WHEN A PRESIDENT 
SHOWS COMPLETE DISRESPECT FOR 
CONGRESS AS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH 
OF GOVERNMENT AND FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US. 
WE COLLECTED THE EVIDENCE AND 
THE FACTS ARE IN DISPUTABLE.
WE ALL TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT  
AND DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION.
WE HAVE THE SOLEMN  
RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THIS 
PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE 
IT'S OUR JOB. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO LIVE UP 
TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOW  
OUR FELLOW AMERICANS THAT NO  
ONE, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT, IS 
ABOVE THE LAW.
AND I YIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA FOR A 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
ENTER INTO THE RECORD MY  
OPPOSITION TO THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. COLLINS: I RESERVE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA, 
MS. ADAMS, FOR A UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
MS. ADAMS: THANK YOU. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THE 
RECORD MY STATEMENT IN SUPPORT  
OF THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT  
AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD J. 
TRUMP.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:  
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SCHIFF: I RESERVE THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. COLLINS: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I GIVE FIVE  
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
LOUISIANA, THE MINORITY LEADER  
WHIP, MR. SCALISE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
FIVE MINUTES. 
MR. SCALISE: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IMPEACHING A PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SOME SOLEMN  
DUTY TONIGHT. 
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS 
REALLY ABOUT. 
THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT A POLITICAL 
VENDETTA. 
A POLITICAL VENDETTA THAT 
DIDN'T JUST START WITH THE  
ZELENSKY CALL.
IT STARTED LONG BEFORE THAT.
JUST LISTEN TO SOME OF THE  
QUOTES FROM DEMOCRATS IN THIS 
CHAMBER.
SPEAKER PELOSI, QUOTE, IT'S 
BEEN GOING ON FOR 22 MONTHS.
2 1/2 YEARS, ACTUALLY.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT A SECOND TERM  
FOR DONALD TRUMP. 
WHAT'S MORE SERIOUS IS THAT HE  
CAN'T WIN.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SOME CRIME 
THAT WAS COMMITTED. 
IT'S ABOUT FEAR THAT HE MIGHT 
WIN RE-ELECTION.
THAT'S NOT WHY YOU IMPEACH A  
PRESIDENT.
AL GREEN, QUOTE, I'M CONCERNED  
IF WE DON'T IMPEACH THIS  
PRESIDENT HE WILL GET 
RE-ELECTED. 
THE LIST GOES ON, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME QUOTES  
THAT I CAN'T EVEN READ ON THIS  
HOUSE FLOOR THAT SOME OF OUR  
COLLEAGUES MADE.
KEEP IN MIND, MORE THAN 100 
DEMOCRATS ON THIS HOUSE FLOOR 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT 
BEFORE THE ZELENSKY PHONE CALL. 
JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THESE  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT THEY  
VOTED FOR TWO YEARS AGO.
58 DEMOCRATS VOTED TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT OVER COMMENTS HE  
MADE ABOUT NFL PLAYERS KNEELING 
FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT OVER 
50 DEMOCRATS VOTED TO IMPEACH 
HIM FOR THAT. 
JUST THIS SUMMER OVER 90  
DEMOCRATS VOTED TO IMPEACH THE  
PRESIDENT FOR COMMENTS HE MADE  
ABOUT THE SQUAD.
SO HE MAKES COMMENTS ABOUT SOME 
OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO 
MAKE A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT  
HIM, AND 95 MEMBERS VOTE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE  
UNITED STATES.
THIS IS A POLITICAL VENDETTA. 
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 
CRIME COMMITTED.
THERE WAS NO CRIME. 
. 
WHY DON'T WE LISTEN TO SOME OF  
THE WITNESSS? 
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CALL OF THE  
WITNESSES WE WANTED, BUT THERE  
WERE WITNESSES. 
GORDON SONDLAND, EUROPEAN 
AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN  
UNION, HE'S MENTIONED OVER 600  
TIMES IN THE SCHIFF REPORT. 
HE WAS THEIR STAR WITNESS.
AND WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN ASKED? 
QUOTE, DID PRESIDENT TRUMP EVER 
TELL YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT ANY 
PRECONDITIONS FOR ANYTHING? 
HIS ANSWER, NO. 
ANY PRECONDITIONS FOR THE AID TO
BE RELEASED?
NO. 
ANY PRECONDITIONS FOR A WHITE 
HOUSE MEETING?
UNDER OATH HE TESTIFIED NO. 
ABUSE OF POWER, LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT.
GEORGE WASHINGTON LAW PROFESSOR 
TURLEY, WHO ADMITTED UNDER OATH 
THAT HE VOTED AGAINST TRUMP,  
SPOKE TO THIS CLAIM OF ABUSE OF 
POWER.
IN FACT, HE SAID, QUOTE, IF YOU 
MAKE A HIGH CRIME AND 
MISDEMEANOR OUT OF GOING TO THE 
COURTS, IT IS AN ABUSE OF POWER,
IT'S YOUR ABUSE OF POWER. 
YOU ARE DOING PRECISELY WHAT YOU
ARE CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT OF
DOING.
ABUSE OF POWER. 
THERE'S A HOUSE RULE, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THAT REQUIRES, NOT 
ALLOWS, BUT REQUIRES THAT THE 
MINORITY GET A DAY OF HEARING,  
WHICH WE ASKED FOR MULTIPLE 
TIMES.
THEY BROKE THIS RULE. 
THEY DIDN'T ALLOW US TO HAVE A  
MINORITY DAY OF HEARING.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THE  
FACTS ABOUT THIS CASE.
BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE  
FACTS.
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CRIME. 
IT IS ABOUT A PERSONAL POLITICAL
VENDETTA. 
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT OBSTRUCTION
OF CONGRESS.
AS THEY MAKE UP THESE TERMS TO  
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIND A CRIME
AND THEY WERE LOOKING.
IT'S BEEN AN IMPEACHMENT IN 
SEARCH OF A CRIME.
BUT THEY TALK ABOUT OBSTRUCTION 
OF CONGRESS.
SAYING THE PRESIDENT DEFIED 
SUBPOENAS.
SUBPOENA AFTER SUBPOENA.
LET'S GO THROUGH THE  
DEPARTMENTS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE THEY  
SUBPOENAED. 
DO YOU KNOW THAT LITERALLY JUST 
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE SUBPOENA, 
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF  
RESPONDED TO YOUR SUBPOENA? 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, A  
WEEK LATER RESPONDED TO THE 
SUBPOENA. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY  
RESPONDED TO THE SUBPOENA.
WE CAN GO ON AND ON WITH ALL OF 
THESE AGENCIES. 
THAT'S AN ABUSE OF POWER, THAT'S
AN OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS? 
RESPONDING TO YOUR SUBPOENA?
THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. 
THEY RESPONDED. 
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE LIKED THE  
ANSWER, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY  
THIS WORKS. 
YOU DON'T IMPEACH A PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE HIS  
FOREIGN POLICY. 
AS SO MANY OF THOSE FOREIGN 
POLICY EXPERTS CAME AND 
TESTIFIED.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DONALD
TRUMP.
THEY DON'T JUST HATE DONALD 
TRUMP, MADAM SPEAKER. 
THEY HATE THE 63 MILLION  
AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR THIS  
PRESIDENT.
THE FORGOTTEN MEN AND WOMEN OF  
THIS COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT 
BEHIND. 
MADAM SPEAKER --  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN MAY PROCEED.
MR. SCALISE: THANK YOU, MADAM 
SPEAKER.
IT'S THOSE FORGOTTEN MEN AND  
WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY THAT  
WASHINGTON HAD LEFT BEHIND. 
THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT DOING FOR 
THEM? 
HE'S DELIVERING FOR THEM. 
600 JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
1,000 JOBS, WORKERS IN MINGO  
JUNK, OHIO. 
750 MILLION -- JUNCTION, OHIO.
750 -- $750 MILLION INVESTMENT  
FOR JOBS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. 
DETROIT NEWS, CHRYSLER, 6,500 
NEW JOBS. 
THAT'S WHAT THIS PRESIDENT IS 
DOING TO DELIVER FOR THOSE MEN  
AND WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY WHO 
HAVE  BEEN LEFT BEHIND. 
IT'S ABOUT TIME -- WHO HAD BEEN 
LEFT BEHIND.
IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP
FOR THEM AND PRESIDENT TRUMP  
DID.
IT IS A POLITICAL VENDETTA. 
IT THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH  
WITH THIS, MADAM SPEAKER, 
IMPEACHMENT WILL NOT JUST BE A  
STAIN ON THIS DEMOCRAT MAJORITY,
IMPEACHMENT WILL BE THEIR 
LEGACY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS 
THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
RISE MS. KUSTER FROM NEW  
HAMPSHIRE FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST -- FOR A UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT REQUEST.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
CUST CUST MADAM SPEAKER, I  
REQUEST --  
MS. KUSTER: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
REQUEST THE CONSENT, UNANIMOUS  
CONSENT, FOR ENTERING MY  
STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD 
REGARDING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY  
OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN 
FAVOR OF ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
THANK YOU.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS
NOW MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, THE  
MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, MR. HOYER, FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HOYER: MY COLLEAGUES -- 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND. 
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN'S RECOGNIZED. 
MR. HOYER: MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE
HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING IN THIS
HOUSE FOR OVER 38 YEARS.
I'VE SERVED DURING SIX  
PRESIDENCIES. 
I'VE BEEN HERE THROUGH MOMENTS  
OF TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND  
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. 
I HAVE SEEN PERIODS OF RANK 
PARTISANSHIP AND PATRIOTIC  
BIPARTISANSHIP. 
I'VE SEEN OUR TWO-PARTY SYSTEM  
WORK. 
AND I'VE SEEN IT BREAK DOWN.
NEVER, IN ALL MY YEARS OF 
SERVING IN THIS GREAT 
INSTITUTION THAT I LOVE, AND THE
PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT, DID I  
EVER EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER SUCH AN
OBVIOUS WRONGDOING BY A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NOR DID I EXPECT TO WITNESS SUCH
A CRAVEN RATIONALIZATION OF 
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS. 
WHICH HAVE PUT OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AT RISK, UNDERMINED THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, AND 
DEFIED THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS TO  
CONDUCT OVERSIGHT.
WE'VE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS  
THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT REALLY HAS
TO DO WITH POLICY DIFFERENCES,  
OR HOW WE FEEL PERSONALLY ABOUT 
THE PRESIDENT.
ABOUT HIS TEMPERAMENT.
OR THAT WE SIMPLY DISLIKE HIM.
THROUGHOUT THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY,
DEMOCRATS HAVE RESISTED PURSUING
IMPEACHMENT EVEN AS WE WATCHED  
WITH DISMAY AND DISGUST AT A  
PATTERN OF WRONGDOING.
THAT PATTERN INCLUDED ORDERING  
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO LIE TO THE  
PUBLIC. 
FIRING THE F.B.I. DIRECTOR FOR  
REFUSING TO END INVESTIGATIONS  
OF HIS CAMPAIGN.
SIDING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN  
AGAINST OUR INTELLIGENCE  
AGENCIES. 
TAKING FUNDING AWAY FROM THE  
MILITARY TO PUT TOWARDS AN  
INEFFECTIVE BORDER WALL.
AND SETTING POLICIES THAT HAVE  
LED THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES  
AND CAGING OF CHILDREN. 
WE HAVE TO BE SURE DEEP 
DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE POLICIES 
AND ACTIONS TAKEN BY THIS 
PRESIDENT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
THE 63 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOTED 
FOR MR. TRUMP.
LITTLE TALK ABOUT THE 65 MILLION
PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HILLARY  
CLINTON.
THE POLICY DIFFERENCE OR THOSE  
VOTES, THIS PRESIDENT WAS 
ELECTED LEGITIMATELY. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND. 
THE HOUSE WILL STAY IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN DESERVES TO BE  
HEARD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HOYER: BECAUSE WE HAVE AN 
ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
BUT NONE OF THESE ARE REASONS TO
PURSUE WHAT CHAIRMAN SCHIFF HAS 
CALLED A WRENCHING PROCESS FOR  
THE NATION. 
IN FACT, DEMOCRATS REJECTED THAT
PROCESS EMPHATICALLY IN THREE 
SPECIFIC VOTES. 
IN DECEMBER OF 2017 DEMOCRATS 
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED AGAINST  
PURSUING ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
INCLUDING THE SPEAKER AND 
MYSELF. 
WE DID SO AGAIN IN 2018 WITH  
OVER 60% OF THE DEMOCRATS 
REJECTING PURSUING ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT.
AND AGAIN JUST MONTHS AGO IN  
JULY OF 2019, 60% OF THE  
DEMOCRATS SAID NO TO PURSUING 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
JUST DAYS BEFORE THE INFAMOUS 
JULY 25 TELEPHONE CALL. 
WE DID THE SAME WITH 60% OF 
DEMOCRATS VOTING NOT TO PROCEED.
CREDIBLE WITNESSES, MANY OF WHOM
WERE APPOINTED TO OFFICE BY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE 
CORROBORATED THE DETAILS. 
AND TIMELINE OF HIS ABUSE OF  
PRESIDENTIAL POWER. 
WHICH FORMS THE BASIS OF THE  
FIRST ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT IN 
THIS RESOLUTION.
INSTEAD -- I WILL NOT RECOUNT 
ALL OF THE WITNESSES OR ABUSES  
THAT HAVE OCCURRED. 
I CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES AND
MR. NADLER AND HIS COMMITTEE AND
MR. SCHIFF AND HIS COMMITTEE FOR
SETTING FORTH A COMPELLING CASE.
THEY'VE BEEN LAID OUT FULLY IN  
THE ARTICLES BEFORE US AND BY 
COLLEAGUES IN THEIR REMARKS.
WHAT I WILL DO IS REMIND  
AMERICANS THAT THE HOUSE  
PROVIDED PRESIDENT TRUMP EVERY  
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE HIS  
INNOCENCE.
BUT THE WITNESSES WERE PRECLUDED
FROM COMING FORTH.
THE WITNESSES WHO HAD PERSONAL  
KNOWLEDGE DID NOT COME. 
EITHER AT THE PRESIDENT'S 
REQUEST, IN WHICH HE REFUSED TO 
SHOW UP BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT 
WAS A SHAM, AS SO MANY OF YOU 
HAVE SAID, OR TO THE COMMITTEES.
INSTEAD HE IGNORED CONGRESSIONAL
SUBPOENAS FOR DOCUMENTS AND FOR 
TESTIMONY BY WHITE HOUSE  
OFFICIALS AND ORDERED HIS 
SUBORDINATES NOT TO COOPERATE.
PERHAPS THEY COULD HAVE 
EXONERATED HIM. 
THIS ITSELF, I SUGGEST TO YOU,  
IS UNPRECEDENTED. 
WHEN PRESIDENT NIXON AND CLINTON
WERE ASKED TO HAND OVER 
DOCUMENTS AND ALLOW OFFICIALS TO
TESTIFY, ULTIMATELY BOTH  
COMPLIED. 
BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW.
SUCH ACTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT 
CAN BE TAKEN AS FURTHER EVIDENCE
OF HIS OBSTRUCTION AND ABUSE OF 
POWER.
IT IS IN AND OF ITSELF  
IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT.
THE SUBJECT OF THE SECOND 
ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THESE TWO ARTICLES BEFORE US  
CONCERN TWO VERY PROFOUND 
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.
ABOUT THE ABUSE OF POWER IN OUR 
-- ISSUES ABOUT THE ABUSE OF  
POWER IN OUR REPUBLIC.
FIRST, WHETHER IT IS ACCEPTABLE 
FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES, ANY PRESIDENT, TO 
SOLICIT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN 
OUR ELECTIONS.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AS TO 
WHETHER HE'S DONE THAT AND THE  
PLACE TO TRY THAT IS IN THE 
UNITED STATES SENATE. 
BUT WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THERE IS
PROBABLE CAUSE TO CONCLUDE THAT.
TO UNDERMINE OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY, THE INTEGRITY OF OUR  
ELECTIONS, AND THE INTEGRITY OF 
OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND SECONDLY, WHETHER IT IS 
PERMISSIBLE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO
OBSTRUCT CONGRESS AND ACT AS IF 
HE IS ABOVE THE LAW AND IMMUNE  
FROM CONSTITUTIONAL OVERSIGHT.
ON DECEMBER 4, THE JUDICIARY  
COMMITTEE HEARD THE TESTIMONY OF
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERTS WHO  
WEIGHED IN ON THESE POINTS. 
SOME 1,500 HISTORIANS HAVE SAID 
THE SAME THING. 
AS PROFESSOR NOAH FELDMAN SAID. 
IF WE CANNOT IMPEACH A PRESIDENT
WHO ABUSES HIS OFFICE FOR 
PERSONAL ADVANTAGE, WE NO LONGER
LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY.
WE LIVE IN A MONARCHY OR WE LIVE
UNDER A DICTATORSHIP. 
THE VOTES WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE  
CONCERN THE RULE OF LAW AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY ITSELF. 
LET US NOT FORGET THE WORDS OF  
JOHN LOCK, SO INFLUENTIAL TO THE
FOUNDERS OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
JOHN LOCK A MILLENNIA AGO SAID  
THIS, WHEREVER LAW ENDS, TURNY  
BEGINS -- TIERNEY BEGINS. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT ASKS WHETHER WE
ARE STILL A REPUBLIC OF LAWS AS 
OUR FOUNDERS INTENDED, OR 
WHETHER WE WILL ACCEPT THAT ONE 
PERSON CAN BE ABOVE THE LAW.
IN AMERICA, AS WE HAVE SAID OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW.
BUT ONLY AS LONG AS WE HOLD 
EVERY PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR  
BREAKING THE LAW, EVEN A  
PRESIDENT, WILL THAT BE TRUE.
IF THE HOUSE DOES NOT ACT, IF 
WE WAIT AND DELAY, WE RUN THE 
RISK OF ALLOWING THE  
PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT. 
IF WE BELIEVE IT TO BE SO, TO 
BE REPEATED AT THE EXPENSE OF 
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY, AND OUR  
CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF  
SEPARATION OF POWERS. 
DEMOCRATS DID NOT CHOOSE THIS 
IMPEACHMENT.
WE DID NOT WISH FOR IT. 
WE VOTED AGAINST IT.
WE VOTED AGAINST IT ONCE. 
WE VOTED AGAINST IT TWICE.
WE VOTED AGAINST IT THREE TIMES 
AS RECENTLY AS JULY.
WE DID NOT WANT THIS. 
HOWEVER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
MISCONDUCT HAS FORCED OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC TO  
PROTECT ITSELF. 
THESE VOTES THAT WE ARE ABOUT 
TO TAKE AND THE PROCESS THAT  
WILL FOLLOW IN THE SENATE ARE 
NOT ONLY AN ASSESSMENT OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE 
CONSTITUTION OR TO HIS OATH OF  
OFFICE, IT IS AS WELL A TEST OF 
OUR OWN.
DAMMING EVIDENCE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S HIGH CRIMES --  
DAMNING EVIDENCE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S HIGH CRIMES HAS 
EMERGED.
NEVERTHELESS REPUBLICAN MEMBERS 
OF THIS HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE 
CONTINUED TO DEFEND THE 
PRESIDENT WHOSE ACTIONS SEEM TO 
MANY OF US TO BE INDEFENSIBLE.
ALL OF US FEEL A SENSE OF 
LOYALTY TO PARTY. 
IT'S WHAT MAKES OUR TWO PARTY 
SYSTEM FUNCTION.
IT'S WHAT HELPS HOLD PRESIDENTS 
AND MAJORITIES ACCOUNTABLE. 
BUT PARTY LOYALTY MUST HAVE ITS 
LIMITS, AND AS EVIDENCE OF THE  
PRESIDENT'S IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSES HAVE MOUNTED DAILY AS  
THE WITNESSES TESTIFIED, IT HAS 
BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT  
THE LIMITS OF PARTISANSHIP HAVE 
BEEN REACHED AND PASSED.
NOW DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS 
TOGETHER FACE A TEST BEFORE OUR 
CONSTITUENTS, OUR COUNTRYMEN, 
AND OUR CREATOR.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" ON OCTOBER 
18 SUMMARIZED THE QUESTION NOW  
POSED TO HOUSE AND SENATE.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS,  
COMPROMISE BY COMPROMISE, 
DONALD TRUMP HAS HAMMERED AWAY  
AT WHAT REPUBLICANS ONCE SAW AS 
FOUNDATIONAL VIRTUES. 
DECENCY, HONESTY, 
RESPONSIBILITY, AND, YES, EVEN  
CIVILITY. 
WEPT ON TO SAY WILL THEY COMMIT 
THEMSELVES AND THEIR PARTY  
WHOLLY TO -- WHOLLY TO MR.  
TRUMP, EMBRACING HIS ACTIONS, 
OR TAKE THE FIRST TEP TOWARDS 
SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM HIM  
AND RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE 
RULE OF LAW.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE HAVE SEEN 
REPUBLICAN COURAGE THROUGHOUT 
OUR HISTORY.
FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE COLD  
WAR IT. 
IN 1950 MARGARET CHASE SMITH, 
THE SENATOR FROM MAINE, A 
REPUBLICAN, SPOKE BRAVELY 
AGAINST THE CANCER OF 
MCCARTHYISM IN HER PARTY. 
LEADING SIX OF HER REPUBLICAN 
COLLEAGUES IN A DECLARATION OF  
CONSCIENCE. 
AGAINST THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP. 
WE ARE REPUBLICANS, THEY  
DECLARED, BUT WE ARE AMERICANS  
FIRST.
IN 1974, ONE CONGRESSMAN TOOK 
THE BRAVE AND PRINCIPLELED STEP 
OF BECOMING THE FIRST 
REPUBLICAN ON THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT IMPEACHING 
PRESIDENT NIXON.
HE SAID TO HIS COLLEAGUES, AND  
TO THE COUNTRY, AND I QUOTE, IT 
ISN'T EASY FOR ME TO ALIGN  
MYSELF AGAINST THE PRESIDENT TO 
WHOM I GAVE MY ENTHUSIASTIC 
SUPPORT, ON WHOSE SIDE I STOOD  
IN MANY LEGISLATIVE BATTLES,  
WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN  
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS I  
HAVE CONSISTENTLY APPLAUDED,  
BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, HE WENT 
ON TO SAY, FOR ME TO CONDONE OR 
IGNORE THE LONG TRAIN OF ABUSES 
TO WHICH HE HAS SUBJECTED THE 
PRESIDENCY ANTI-PEOPLE OF THIS  
COUNTRY.
THE CONSTITUTION AND MY OWN 
OATH OF OFFICE, HE SAID, DEMAND 
THAT I BEAR TRUE FAITH AND  
ALLEGIANCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF 
LAW AND JUSTICE UPON WHICH THIS 
NATION WAS FOUNDED. 
AND HE CONCLUDED, AND I CANNOT  
IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TURN AWAY  
FROM THE EVIDENCE OF EVIL THAT  
IS TO ME SO CLEAR AND 
COMPELLING. 
MY COLLEAGUES, THAT 
CONGRESSMAN'S NAME WAS LARRY  
HOGAN SR. 
HE REPRESENTED THE FIFTH  
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND, WHICH I 
NOW REPRESENT.
HIS SON IS PRESENTLY THE SECOND 
TERM REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF OUR 
STATE.
WHEN LARRY HOGAN SENIOR DIED IN 
2017, EVERY OBITUARY LED WITH 
PRAISE FOR HIS ACT OF POLITICAL 
COURAGE.
WHO AMONG US MANY YEARS FROM  
NOW WILL RECEIVE SUCH PRAISE AS 
A MAN OR WOMAN OF COURAGE?
WHO WILL REGRET NOT HAVING  
EARNED IT?
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PARTISAN  
DIFFERENCES.
THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO HAS 
SPOKEN TODAY WHO IS NEITHER A 
MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY  
NOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY T HIS  
NAME IS JUSTIN AMASH WHO  
REPRESENTS A REPUBLICAN 
DISTRICT. 
HE LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY  
AND IN DOING SO HE ADMONISHED 
HIS COLLEAGUES THAT, QUOTE, 
THIS PRESIDENT WILL ONLY BE IN  
POWER FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT 
EXCUSING HIS BEHAVIOR WILL  
FOREVER TARNISH YOUR NAME.
HE SPOKE ON THIS FLOOR IN 
SUPPORT OF THE TWO ARTICLES 
THAT WE WILL CONSIDER THIS  
EVENING.
NEITHER A DEMOCRAT NOR A  
REPUBLICAN. 
REPRESENTATIVE AMASH IS THE 
ONLY MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE WHO 
HAS NO ALLEGIANCE TO EITHER 
PARTY.
-- PARTY, BUT TO HIS COUNTRY. 
HE IS SUPPORTING, AS I HAVE 
SAID, BOTH ARTICLES.
WE NEED NOT ASK WHO WILL BE THE 
FIRST TO SHOW COURAGE BY  
STANDING UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
THE QUESTION WE MUST NOW ASK  
IS, WHO WILL BE THE LAST TO 
FIND IT?
THE PAGES OF OUR HISTORY ARE  
FILLED WITH AMERICANS WHO HAD 
THE COURAGE TO CHOOSE COUNTRY 
OVER PARTY OR PERSONALITY.
BUT AS PRESIDENT KENNEDY WROTE, 
THE STORIES OF PAST COURAGE CAN 
TEACH T. THEY CAN OFFER HOPE -- 
TEACH.
THEY CAN OFFER HOPE.
THEY CAN PROVIDE INSPIRATION. 
BUT THEY CANNOT SUPPLY COURAGE  
ITSELF. 
FOR THIS, PRESIDENT KENNEDY 
SAID, EACH MAN, EACH WOMAN MUST 
LOOK INTO THEIR OWN SOUL. 
I URGE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN  
THE HOUSE AND, YES, IN THE  
SENATE TO LOOK INTO YOUR SOUL.
SUMMON THE COURAGE TO VOTE FOR  
OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR  
DEMOCRACY.
I UNDERSTAND WE WILL ALL NOT  
SEE THE SAME CONCLUSION, BUT TO 
DO LESS BETRAYS OUR OATH AND  
THAT OF OUR FOUNDERS WHO  
PLEDGED THEIR LIVES, THEIR  
FORTUNE, AND THEIR SACRED HONOR 
. 
LET US NEITHER TURN AWAY FROM 
THE EVIDENCE WHICH, TO ME,  
SEEMS SO CLEAR, NOR FROM OUR  
GOOD CONSCIENCE WHICH COMPELS 
US TO DO WHAT IN OUR HEARTS WE  
KNOW TO BE RIGHT. 
LET US NOT ALLOW THE RULE OF  
LAW TO END OR FOR TYRANNY TO  
FIND ITS TOEHOLD. 
WITH OUR VOTES TODAY WE CAN 
BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE  
TO THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS 
AND WE CAN SHOW FUTURE  
GENERATION WHAT IT TRULY MEANS  
TO BE AMERICANS FIRST.
VOTE YES. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE 
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: MADAM SPEAKER, A 
FEW WEEKS AGO JUST OFF OF THIS  
FLOOR I SAID THAT DARK CLOUD  
WAS DESKENDING UPON THIS BODY.
TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CLOCK AND  
THE CALENDAR IT IS CLOSING. 
IT IS AMAZING TO ME WHAT I JUST 
HEARD FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. 
THAT MR. SCHIFF AND MR. NADLER  
PRESENTED A COMPELLING CASE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT.
IF THIS IS A COMPELLING CASE  
FOR IMPEACHMENT, I'M NOT SURE 
WHY WE ARE HERE.
RIGHT NOW.
IT IS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO 
COMPELLING. 
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS  
INTERESTING IS WHAT I HAVE  
HEARD TODAY.
THE MAJORITY LEADER JUST SPOKE  
AND SAID THAT IF THE PRESIDENT  
WAS GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO  
COME PROVE HIS INCENSE -- 
INNOCENCE.
I TELL YOU WHAT, MADAM SPEAKER, 
LET ME HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES  
AND LET ME GO AROUND TO THE 
PRESS CORPS AND EVERYBODY HERE  
AND I'M GOING TO ACCUSE YOU OF  
SOMETHING.
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
NOW PROVE US WRONG. 
YOU DID IT. 
GUESS WHAT? 
YOU DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE DEEP  
DOWN YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S 
TURNING THE ENTIRE  
JURISPRUDENCE OF THIS COUNTRY 
UPSIDE-DOWN.
YOU ARE GUILT -- ARE YOU NOT  
GUILTY UNTIL YOU ARE PROVEN.
YOU ARE INNOCENT. 
TODAY FROM THIS FLOOR WE HAVE 
HEARD THE MAJORITY LEADER SAY 
THIS PRESIDENT IS GUILTY AND  
NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. 
HE IS INNOCENT AND THESE COME 
NOWHERE CLOSE TO PROVING T BUT  
WHAT IS LEFT OF THIS BODY?
LET'S HAVE AN HONEST  
CONVERSATION, MADAM SPEAKER,  
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE 
PAST FEW WEEKS IS THAT IT IS OK 
FOR THE MAJORITY TO TEAR DOWN A 
FOREIGN LEADER BECAUSE THEY 
CAN'T MAKE THEIR CASE.
THEY CALLED HIM A LIAR, A WEAK, 
OR WORSE, OR CALLED IN THE  
COMMITTEE, EVEN LOOKED LIKE A 
BATTERED WIFE.
IT IS BELOW THE DIGNITY OF THIS 
BODY AND THIS MAJORITY TO TEAR  
DOWN A FOREIGN LEADER BECAUSE 
THEY CAN'T MAKE THEIR CASE  
AGAINST THIS ONE. 
WE HAVE BROKEN RULES IN THIS  
HOUSE, EVEN TO THIS MOMENT, 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF AND THE OTHERS  
HAVE BROKEN HOUSE RESOLUTION  
660 BY NOT TURNING OVER THE 
THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE  
TURNING OVER. 
I STILL HAVE NOT GOT A  
TRANSCRIPT. 
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT GOT IN 
THE WHITE HOUSE.
STILL HAS NOT GOT THEIR STUFF.
I GUESS THOSE DON'T MATTER, 
EITHER. 
YOU SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE 
BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO VOTE  
THIS TONIGHT WHILE BREAKING THE 
RULES.
WHAT A SHAMEFUL INCIDENT. 
BUT WE ALSO FOUND A CREATIVE  
INTERPRETATION OF MINORITY  
RIGHTS. 
WE SAW THE RISE OF THE  
PARTISANSHIP BECAUSE OF THINGS  
THAT HAVE BEEN DONE FURTHER.
WE HAVE SEEN MEMBERS SMEARED IN 
REPORTS BY DRIVE BY POLITICAL 
HACKS WHEN THEY MATCH NUMBERS 
OF THE RANKING MEMBER AND THE 
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS. 
THAT OUGHT TO CONCERN EVERY ONE 
OF YOU AS MUCH AS IT CONCERNS 
EVERY ONE OF US.
NOTHING BUT A DRIVE BY HIT. 
YOU KNOW SOMETHING, THIS  
MAJORITY LEADER ALSO SAID,  
WHEREVER LAW ENDS TYRANNY 
BEGINS. 
I WILL SAY THIS, IN THIS HOUSE  
WHEREVER THE RULES ARE  
DISREGARDED, CHAOS AND MOB RULE 
ACTUALLY BEGAN AND THE MAJORITY 
HAS TAKEN THAT TO A NEW LEVEL.
IT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY WHERE'S  
BRAVEY. 
I'LL TELL YOU WHERE BRAVEY IS 
FOUND AND COURAGE IS FOUND, 
IT'S FOUND IN THIS MINORITY WHO 
HAS LIVED THROUGH THE LAST YEAR 
OF NOTHING BUT RULES BEING  
BROKEN, PEOPLE BEING PUT DOWN,  
QUESTIONS NOT BEING ANSWERED, 
AND THIS MAJORITY SAYING BE 
DAMMED WITH ANYTHING ELSE WE  
ARE GOING TO BE TO IMPEACH AND  
DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE WON AN ELECTION. 
I GUARANTEE YOU ONE DAY YOU'LL  
BE BACK IN THE MINORITY AND IT  
AIN'T GOING TO BE THAT FUN. 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WHEN YOU 
ACTUALLY TRASH THE RULES OF 
THIS HOUSE, YOU WANT TO REALLY  
LOOK AT WHAT DID YOU GAIN AT  
THE END BY TRASHING THE 
INSTITUTION YOU CLAIM TO LOVE.
THAT'S THE THINGS WE FOUND OUT  
SO FAR. 
BUT YOU KNOW THEY ARE CAREFUL 
SAYING YOU WANT TO DEAL IN  
PROCESS.
AS I SAID LAST NIGHT IN THE 
RULES COMMITTEE WHERE THEY  
DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN, I WIN ON 
PROCESS AND I WILL WIN ON FACTS 
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TRUTH ON  
OUR SIDE. 
LET ME REMIND YOU THAT HEARINGS 
WHAT THE PROCESS ACTUALLY SAYS. 
THERE WAS NO PRESSURE.
LOOK AT THE CALL. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP, NO PRESSURE. 
THERE WAS NO CONDITIONALITY.
THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO GET 
THE AID.
AND THE AID CAME. 
THERE WERE FIVE MEETINGS. 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW,  
NONE OF WHICH MATTER BECAUSE  
RIGHT NOW THE DARK CLOUD IS 
DESCENDING UPON THIS HOUSE AND  
I'M FEARFUL, MADAM SPEAKER, 
WHEN I LOOK OUT IN THAT ABYSS,  
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SEE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I DO SEE.
I SEE COMING OFF A PRESIDENT  
WHO WILL PUT HIS HEAD DOWN  
THROUGH THIS SHAM IMPEACHMENT 
AND HE WILL DO HIS JOB. 
HE WILL PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
FIRST.
HE WILL TELL THEM THAT I CARE 
ABOUT YOU.
HE WILL STILL PUT THE ECONOMY 
FIRST.
AND HE WILL MAKE SURE THIS  
COUNTRY STANDS STRONG.
THAT'S WHAT I SEE IN THIS 
ABYSS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING.
AND, MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS WITH  
THAT HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT I  
RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW THAT I  
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THIS 
HOUSE, THE REPUBLICAN FROM  
CALIFORNIA, MR. MCCARTHY. 
. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCCARTHY: MADAM SPEAKER, I  
MUST WARN YOU, I'M ABOUT TO SAY 
SOMETHING MY DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES HATE TO HEAR.
DONALD J. TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES.
HE IS PRESIDENT TODAY.
HE'LL BE PRESIDENT TOMORROW.
AND HE WILL BE PRESIDENT WHEN 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS OVER. 
MADAM SPEAKER, WHEN THEY ACCEPT 
THAT, MAYBE THIS HOUSE CAN GET  
BACK TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
TONIGHT I RISE NOT AS THE LEADER
OF THE OPPOSITION TO THIS 
IMPEACHMENT, OR AS THE ELECTED  
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CENTRAL 
VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA. 
I RISE AS KEVIN MCCARTHY, 
CITIZEN.
NO BETTER, NO WORSE THAN THE 435
REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE IN THIS
CHAMBER.
OR THE 330 MILLION AMERICANS  
WATCHING THIS INSTITUTION MAKE  
WHAT I BELIEVE IS TO BE ONE OF  
THE WORST DECISIONS WE HAVE EVER
MADE. 
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE
A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, 
WHETHER YOU'RE LIBERAL OR 
CONSERVATIVE, WHETHER YOU'RE THE
FIRST GENERATION OR THE 10TH, AT
OUR CORE WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.
ALL OF US.
WE CHOOSE OUR FUTURE. 
WE CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF NATION WE
WANT TO BE. 
HERE'S OUR CHOICE TONIGHT.
WILL WE LET IMPEACHMENT BECOME  
AN EXERCISE OF RAW POLITICAL  
POWER, REGARDLESS IF IT DAMAGES 
OUR COUNTRY?
OR WILL WE PROTECT THE PROPER 
GROUNDS AND PROCESS FOR 
IMPEACHMENT NOW AND IN THE  
FUTURE? 
FOR MONTHS DEMOCRATS AND MANY IN
THE MEDIA HAVE ATTEMPTED TO 
NORMALIZE THE IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS THAT WOULD REMOVE A DULY
ELECTED PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.
AFTER THREE YEARS OF BREATHLESS 
AND BASELESS OUTRAGE, THIS IS 
THEIR LAST ATTEMPT TO STOP THE  
TRUMP PRESIDENCY. 
MADAM SPEAKER, SPEAKER PELOSI 
EVEN RECENTLY ADMITTED THAT 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON  
THIS IMPEACHMENT FOR 2 1/2 YEARS
. 
THOSE WERE HER WORDS, THEY WERE 
NOT MINE. 
BECAUSE THEY LOST TO HIM IN 2016
, THEY'LL DO ANYTHING OR SAY  
ANYTHING TO STOP HIM IN 2020. 
THAT'S NOT AMERICA. 
THAT'S NOT HOW DEMOCRATIC 
REPUBLICS BEHAVE. 
ELECTIONS MATTER. 
VOTERS MATTER.
AND IN 11 MONTHS, THE PEOPLE'S  
VOICE WILL BE HEARD AGAIN.
IMPEACHMENT IS THE MOST 
CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION CONGRESS 
CAN MAKE OTHER THAN SENDING OUR 
MEN AND WOMEN INTO WAR. 
YET 85 DAYS AGO, SPEAKER PELOSI 
CHOSE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT  
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
SHE WROTE THE SCRIPT AND CREATED
AN ARTIFICIAL TIMELINE TO MAKE  
THE DETAILS FIT.
WHY ELSE ARE WE DOING THIS JUST 
HOURS BEFORE CHRISTMAS? 
IF THAT'S ALL IT WAS, A RUSH TO 
JUDGMENT, SHE COULD BE FORGIVEN.
BUT BEFORE THE SPEAKER SAW ONE  
WORD OR ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE,  
SHE MOVED TO IMPEACH. 
IN THE PATH, IN THIS BODY, SUCH 
A STEP DEMANDED A VOTE FROM ALL 
OF US FROM THE START. 
BUT NOT ONLY DID SHE MOVE TO  
IMPEACH BEFORE SHE GAVE THIS  
HOUSE AND THE HUNDREDS OF 
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WE REPRESENT 
A SAY IN WHETHER TO PURSUE AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, SHE THREW  
OUT THE BIPARTISAN STANDARDS  
THIS HOUSE GAVE PRESIDENT NIXON 
AND CLINTON.
THAT IS WHY I IMMEDIATELY SENT  
SPEAKER PELOSI A LETTER, ASKING 
HER TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF  
HISTORY, OF TRADITION, AND  
FOLLOW THOSE STANDARDS THAT HAVE
SERVED AMERICA WELL.
WHAT DID SHE SAY? 
SHE REJECTED IT.
SHE REJECTED IT BECAUSE 
DEMOCRATS KNEW A FAIR PROCESS 
WOULD CRUMBLE THEIR CASE. 
A FAIR PROCESS WOULD HAVE 
EXPOSED TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC  
WHAT MANY ALREADY KNEW. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE WANTED TO IMPEACH
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE THE DAY HE
WAS ELECTED.
AND NOTHING WAS GOING TO GET IN 
THEIR WAY, CERTAINLY NOT THE  
TRUTH.
MADAM SPEAKER, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF  
SAID HE HAD EVIDENCE, MORE THAN 
CIRCLE, OF COLLUSION. 
THAT WAS FALSE. 
IN JANUARY, WHERE WE ALL STOOD  
IN THIS BODY, WE STOOD UP, WE 
RAISED OUR HANDS, WE SWORE THAT 
WE'D UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION -- 
AND A FEW MERE HOURS AFTER THAT,
CONGRESSWOMAN TLAIB SAID SHE WAS
GOING TO IMPEACH THE MOTHER-F 
'ER.
THOSE ARE NOT MY WORDS. 
A YEAR BEFORE TAKING THE  
MAJORITY CHAIRMAN NADLER  
CAMPAIGNED TO THE DEMOCRATS THAT
HE WANTED TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHERE 
IMPEACHMENT IS. 
"NEW YORK TIMES" WRITES, MADAM  
SPEAKER, BECAUSE HE IS THE  
STRONGEST MEMBER TO LEAD A  
POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT.
AND CONGRESSMAN RASKIN, A 
LEADING DEMOCRAT ON THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, ONE THAT 
THE DEMOCRATS HAD REPRESENT IN  
THE RULES COMMITTEE, FOR THESE  
ARTICLES JUST YESTERDAY, TOLD A 
CROWD HE WOULD IMPEACH PRESIDENT
TRUMP TWO DAYS BEFORE HE WAS  
EVER SWORN INTO OFFICE. 
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A RIGGED 
PROCESS THAT HAS LED TO THE MOST
PARTISAN AND LEAST CREDIBLE 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HISTORY OF 
AMERICA.
THAT IS THIS LEGACY.
ANY PROSECUTOR IN THIS COUNTRY  
WOULD BE DISBARRED FOR SUCH 
BLATANT BIAS, ESPECIALLY IF THAT
PROSECUTOR WAS THE FACT WITNESS,
THE JUDGE AND THE JURY. 
MADAM SPEAKER, DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T
JUST FAILED ON PROCESS, THEY'VE 
ALSO FAILED -- FAILED ON  
EVIDENCE. 
I HEARD A LOT OF DEBATE ON THIS 
FLOOR TODAY, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD
ONE MEMBER OF THIS BODY DISPUTE 
THIS SIMPLE FACT -- PRESIDENT 
TRUMP PROVIDED LETHAL AID TO  
UKRAINE.
IT CAME BEFORE THE CALL, IT CAME
AFTER THE CALL, AND IT CONTINUES
TO THIS DAY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PROVIDED UKRAINE
TANK-BUSTING BOMBS, THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION, THEY GAVE 
BLANKETS. 
THIS IS THE TRUTH.
MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATS' CASE  
IS BASED ON SECONDHAND OPINIONS 
AND HEARSAY.
SIMPLY PUT, THERE ARE NO GROUNDS
FOR IMPEACHMENT.
AS CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR 
JONATHAN TURLEY, AND I WOULD  
CHALLENGE TO SAY HE'S PROBABLY  
THE MOST RESPECTED AND WE ALL 
KNOW IT, A DEMOCRAT WHO DID NOT 
VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT SAID 
UNDER OATH, THERE WAS NO  
BRIBERY, THERE WAS NO EXTORTION,
NO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND NO
ABUSE OF POWER. 
BASED ON THE FACTS, BASED ON THE
TRUTH, BASED ON THE LACK OF 
EVIDENCE TURLEY CALLED IN THE 
FASTEST, THINNEST AND WEAKEST 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE U.S. HISTORY.
SUCH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER SHOULD 
BE THE END OF ALL OF THIS.
BUT SPEAKER PELOSI IS STILL 
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS  
IMPEACHMENT.
WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF FACTS OR  
TRUTH OR PUBLIC SUPPORT.
THE SPEAKER SAYS IT IS OUT OF 
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FOUNDERS. 
ON THIS I AGREE.
I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER, WE  
SHOULD LISTEN TO THE FOUNDERS.
AND IF ONE DOES, IT'S VERY CLEAR
THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT IS  
UNFOUNDED AND IMPROPER. 
AND THE -- IN THE FEDERALIST  
PAPERS, ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE
, THERE WILL ALWAYS -- THERE  
WOULD ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST  
DANGER, THAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD  
BE DRIVEN BY PARTISAN ANIMOSITY 
INSTEAD OF REAL DEMONSTRATIONS  
OF INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
THAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD BE DRIVEN
BY PARTISAN ANIMOSITY INSTEAD OF
REAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF INNOCENCE
OR GUILT. 
JAMES MADISON, ANOTHER AUTHOR OF
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, WROTE, 
THE DANGER OF LEGISLATIVE ABUSE 
MUST LEAD TO THE SAME TYRANNY AS
IS THREATENED BY EXECUTIVE  
ABUSE.
THE FOUNDERS DID NOT WANT 
IMPEACHMENT TO BE USED FOR  
POLITICAL OR PARTISAN BATTLES.
IF MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT WANT TO 
FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL HIGH  
STANDARDS FOR UNDOING A NATIONAL
ELECTION, PERHAPS YOU COULD HAVE
FOLLOWED SPEAKER PELOSI'S 
STANDARD, AT LEAST THE ONE SHE  
PROMISED TO FOLLOW BACK IN  
MARCH.
IT WAS A VERY SENSIBLE STANDARD.
SHE SAYS, IMPEACHMENT IS SO 
DIVISIVE THAT THE EVIDENCE MUST 
BE OVERWHELMING, COMPELLING AND 
BIPARTISAN. 
NOT ONE OF THOSE CRITERIAS HAVE 
BEEN MET TODAY. 
BASED ON THE FACTS, BASED ON THE
EVIDENCE, BASED ON THE TRUTH, 
THIS IMPEACHMENT EVEN FAILS THAT
PELOSI TEST.
THOSE NOW WHO SAY REMOVING  
PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD PROTECT 
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY  
HAVE IT BACKWARDS.
BY REMOVING A DULY ELECTED  
PRESIDENT ON EMPTY ARTICLES OF  
IMPEACHMENT, CONGRESS WILL ERODE
THE PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR SYSTEM  
OF GOVERNMENT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU DISLIKE THE  
PRESIDENT.
HIS BELIEFS, THE WAY HE GOVERNS,
AND EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED 
FOR HIM.
HOW DO I KNOW THIS? 
BECAUSE YOU SAY SO DAY IN AND 
DAY OUT.
IN 2016 THEY EVEN DISMISSED HIS 
SUPPORTERS. 
REMEMBER CALLING US DEPLORABLES?
NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO  
DISQUALIFY OUR VOICE BEFORE THE 
2020 ELECTION.
THEY WANT TO UNDO THE RESULTS OF
THE LAST ELECTION, TO INFLUENCE 
THE NEXT ONE. 
AS I'VE SAID, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
WILL STILL BE PRESIDENT WHEN  
THIS IS ALL OVER. 
BUT CONGRESS WILL HAVE WASTED 
MONTHS OF TIME AND TAXPAYER 
DOLLARS ON IMPEACHMENT RATHER 
THAN DOING WHAT THE AMERICAN  
PEOPLE WANT US TO DO. 
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
IS THIS WHY WE CAME HERE TO 
SERVE?
TO TRAMPLE ON DUE PROCESS 
RIGHTS? 
TO ISSUE MORE SUBPOENAS THAN  
LAWS? 
TO APPEASE THE NEW DEMOCRAT 
SOCIALIST BASE? 
THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. 
THAT IS RAW POLITICAL POLITICS  
AND YOU KNOW IT.
BY REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE  
TRUTH OR FOLLOW THE FACTS, BY 
SUBSTITUTING PARTISAN ANIMOSITY 
FOR REAL DEMONSTRATION OF 
INNOCENCE OR GUILT, AND BY  
CONTINUING A THREE-YEAR EFFORT  
TO UNDERMINE THE PRESIDENT, THIS
IMPEACHMENT HAS DIVIDED THIS  
NATION WITHOUT ANY CONCERN FOR  
THE REPERCUSSIONS.
MOREOVER, POLITICIZING THIS 
PROCESS HAS DISCREDITED THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND COULD FOREVER WEAKEN THE  
REMEDY OF IMPEACHMENT.
TO AGAIN QUOTE PROFESSOR TURLEY,
IT IS THE DEMOCRATS' RUSH TO  
IMPEACHMENT ON THESE GROUNDS  
WITH UNFAIR PROCEDURES THAT IS  
AN ABUSE OF POWER.
HISTORY WILL WRITE THAT.
MADAM SPEAKER, AS I SAID AT THE 
BEGINNING, WE FACE A CHOICE.
DO YOU TRUST THE WISDOM OF THE  
PEOPLE? 
OR DO YOU DENY THEM A SAY IN  
THEIR GOVERNMENT? 
FORTUNATELY THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP AND 
RENDER THEIR VERDICT IN 11  
MONTHS, TO MY FELLOW AMERICANS. 
TO MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IF YOU  
PROVE OF THE -- APPROVE OF THE  
WAY THIS HOUSE HAS CONDUCTED ITS
BUSINESS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE  
YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO FORWARD END 
TOLESS INVESTIGATIONS, SUPPORT  
THIS IMPEACHMENT. 
-- TO ENDLESS INVESTIGATIONS, 
SUPPORT THIS IMPEACHMENT. 
BUT IF YOU WANT TO RESTORE A  
WORKING CONGRESS LIKE THE 
PREVIOUS CONGRESS THAT LISTENED 
TO YOU AND WORKED TO BRING THE  
BEST ECONOMY IN THIS COUNTRY -- 
THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN AND  
ONE THAT ONCE AGAIN WILL WORK 
WITH THE PRESIDENT TO GET THINGS
DONE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, 
THEN JOIN WITH US IN REJECTING  
THIS BASELESS IMPEACHMENT.
. 
THAT'S WHAT'S WONDERFUL ABOUT 
THIS SYSTEM OF OURS.
WE ARE A GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 
ALWAYS REMEMBER, WE WORK FOR  
YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
NOW I WILL SAY THIS STRONGER AND
WITH MORE CONVICTION THAN I HAVE
EVER SAID IT BEFORE.
IN THIS TIME OF GREAT TRIAL AND 
TRIPLELATION -- AND TRIBULATION,
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK. 
MR. COLLINS: I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS  
RECOGNIZED. 
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I RECOGNIZE MYSELF  
FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SCHIFF: MADAM SPEAKER, MY 
COLLEAGUES, AFTER EIGHT HOURS,  
LET US RETURN TO WHERE WE BEGAN 
WITH THE ARTICLES THEMSELVES. 
ARTICLE ONE CHARGES THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
WITH ABUSING THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE BY COERCING AN ALLY INTO 
CHEATING IN A U.S. ELECTION ON  
HIS BEHALF. 
IT CHARGES THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES -- IT CHARGES THE 
--  
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO  
BE HEARD. 
MR. SCHIFF: IT CHARGES -- 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND. 
THE GENTLEMAN MAY RESUME. 
MR. SCHIFF: IT CHARGES THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES  
WITH ABUSING HIS POWER BY WITH  
HOLDING OFFICIAL ACTS, BY WITH  
HOLDING A WHITE HOUSE MEETING 
THAT THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE 
DESPERATELY SOUGHT, TO ESTABLISH
THE SUPPORT OF HIS MOST 
IMPORTANT BENEFACTOR, THE UNITED
STATES, BY WITH HOLDING HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN 
MILITARY AID TO A NATION AT WAR 
IN ORDER TO GET THAT NATION TO  
INTERVENE IN OUR ELECTION BY  
SMEARING HIS OPPONENT.
THAT IS THEGRAPH MEN OF THE --  
THE GRAVAMEN OF THE CHARGE. 
I HAVE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO MY 
COLLEAGUES FOR THE LAST EIGHT 
HOURS AND IT'S BEEN HARD FOR ME 
TO FOLLOW.
BUT IT AMOUNTS, I THINK, WHEN 
YOU CUT THROUGH IT ALL, WHEN YOU
CUT THROUGH ALL THE SOUND AND 
FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING, WHAT  
IT REALLY AMOUNTS TO IS THIS. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE? 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE WHAT THE 
PRESIDENT DID TO UKRAINE? 
FIRST OF ALL, WE SHOULD CARE  
ABOUT OUR ALLIES. 
WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT UKRAINE. 
WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT A COUNTRY  
STRUGGLING TO BE FREE AND A 
DEMOCRACY.
WE USED TO CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY.
WE USED TO CARE ABOUT OUR 
ALLIES. 
WE USED TO STAND UP TO PUTIN AND
RUSSIA. 
WE USED TO. 
I KNOW THE PARTY OF RONALD  
REAGAN USED TO. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT  
UKRAINE?
OF COURSE IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN  
UKRAINE.
IT'S ABOUT US.
IT'S ABOUR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
THEIR FIGHT SOUR FIGHT. 
THEIR DEFENSE IS OUR DEFENSE. 
WHEN RUSSIA REMAKES THE MAP OF  
EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 
WORLD WAR II BY DINT OF MILITARY
FORCE AND UKRAINE STRIKES BACK, 
IT IS OUR FIGHT TOO.
AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT  
SACRIFICES OUR INTERESTS, OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY, FOR HIS  
ELECTION, HE IS SACRIFICING OUR 
COUNTRY FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN.
THAT IS THE GRAVAMEN OF ARTICLE 
1.
ARTICLE 2.
ARTICLE 2 CHARGES THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES WITH 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS, WITH  
DENYING THE CONGRESS ANY  
WITNESS, ANY DOCUMENT, BY 
TELLING ALL OF HIS  
ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE, YOU WILL 
NOT APPEAR. 
YOU WILLIG FOREA CO-EQUAL BRANCH
OF GOVERNMENT.
WHAT IS THE DEFENSE TO THIS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES?
AGAIN, IT IS WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF OUR  
PARTY, WHY SHOULD WE CARE IF HE 
IGNORE THIS IS CONGRESS.
I REMIND MY FRIENDS THAT HE WILL
NOT BE THE LAST PRESIDENT.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENT.
AND YOU MAY BE ONE DAY, ALTHOUGH
YOU DO NOT ACT LIKE IT, YOU MAY 
ONE DAY BE IN THE MAJORITY. 
AND YOU WILL WANT TO HOLD A 
PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN THAT 
PRESIDENT SAYS, YOU ARE A PAPER 
TIGER, YOU HAVE NO OVERSIGHT IRK
CAN IGNORE YOUR SUBPOENAS, WHAT 
WILL YOU SAY? 
WHAT WILL YOU ARGUE?
NO, NO, THAT WAS DIFFERENT. 
THEN, THEN WE WERE IN THE 
MINORITY. 
THEN IT WAS A REPUBLICAN  
PRESIDENT.
WILL THAT BE YOUR ARGUMENT? 
IS THAT HOW LITTLE FAITH YOU  
HAVE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION? 
IS THAT HOW POORLY YOU DEFEND 
AND UPHOLD THAT CONSTITUTION? 
BUT FINALLY, LET ME ASK THIS  
QUESTION. 
THAT OVERRIDES IT ALL.
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT ANY OF 
THIS? 
AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ONE 
CONVERSATION THAT CAME TO LIGHT.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE MOST 
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BUT IN 
MANY WAYS IT IS THE MOST  
REVEALING.
IT TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 14 IN
UKRAINE WHEN AMBASSADOR VOLKER  
SAT DOWN WITH ANDRE YARMOK, THE 
TOP ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT  
ZELENSKY. 
HE SUPPORTED THE RULE OF LAW. 
HE SAID, YOU SHOULD NOT 
INVESTIGATE THE LAST PRESIDENT. 
PRESIDENT POR SEAN COE. 
FOR POLITICAL REASONS.
YOU SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN  
POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?
LIKE YOU WANT US TO DO WITH THE 
BIDENS AND CLINTONS?
AND IN THAT ABRUPT, BRUTAL  
RETORT, WE SEE WHY WE SHOULD  
CARE. 
BECAUSE WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS,  
YOU, AMERICA, HAVE FORGOTTEN  
WHAT IT MEANS TO UPHOLD THE RULE
OF LAW. 
YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT MEANS
TO SAY THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW.
WE ARE A STRUGGLING DEMOCRACY,  
BUT EVEN WE KNOW BETTER THAN  
THAT. 
WHAT IS AT RISK HERE, WHAT IS AT
RISK HERE IS THE VERY IDEA OF 
AMERICA.
THAT IDEA HOLDS THAT WE ARE A 
NATION OF LAWS, NOT OF MEN. 
WE ARE A NATION THAT BELIEVES IN
THE RULE OF LAW.
WHEN WE SAY WE UPHOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION, WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT A PIECE OF PARCHMENT, 
WE'RE TUCK -- WE ARE TALKING  
ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE  
IN WHICH AMBITION IS SET AGAINST
AMBITION, IN WHICH NO BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT CAN DOMINATE ANOTHER 
THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO UPHOLD 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
IF YOU IGNORE IT IF YOU SAY THE 
PRESIDENT MAY REFUSE TO COMPLY, 
MAY REFUSE LAWFUL PROCESS, MAY  
COERCE AN ALLY, MAY CHEAT IN AN 
ELECTION, BECAUSE HE'S THE  
PRESIDENT OF OUR PARTY, YOU DO  
NOT UPHOLD OUR CONSTITUTION.
YOU DO NOT UPHOLD YOUR OATH OF  
OFFICE. 
I WILL TELL YOU THIS. 
I WILL UPHOLD MINE. 
I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP.
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL  
TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS 
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION -- 
PURSUANT HO TO THE HOUSE  
RESOLUTION 767, THE PREVIOUS  
QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE  
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION --  
THE QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF 
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED SHALL BE  
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO 
ARTICLES. 
THE QUESTION OCCURS ON THE  
ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 1.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: -- 
>> I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE  
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING  
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE  
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,  
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.]
 
THE SPEAKER: ON THIS VOTE, THE  
YEAS ARE 230, THE NAYS ARE 197. 
PRESENT IS ONE. 
ARTICLE 1 IS ADOPTED. 
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF  
ARTICLE 2.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE ADOPTION 
OF ARTICLE 2. 
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT. 
THE AYES HAVE IT. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK SEEK  
RECOGNITION?
>> I ASK FOR -- MADAM SPEAKER, I
ASK FOR --  
THE SPEAKER: FOR WHAT PURPOSE 
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK
SEEK RECOGNITION  
>> I ASK FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
THE SPEAKER: A RECORDED VOTE IS 
REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE  
WILL RISE.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING  
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS 
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
 
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,  
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF  
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE SPEAKER: ON THIS VOTE THE 
YEAS ARE 229.
THE NAYS ARE 198.
PRESENT IS ONE.
ARTICLE 2 IS ADOPTED.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO 
CONSIDER ARTICLE 1 IS LAID ON 
THE TABLE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER ARTICLE 2 IS LAID ON 
THE TABLE.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 7-B OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 758, THE HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED UNTIL 9:00 A.M. 
TOMORROW.
THAT WAS IN THE WASHINGTON POST
EARLIER.
IT'S ALSO BEEN REPORTED BY
POLITICO.
HERE'S A TWEET BY DAVID DRUCKER
OF THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER.
HE GOT A HOLD OF MITCH
MCCONNELL.
"I'M IN NO HURRY," SAID SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER MCCONNELL WHEN
ASKED IF HE CARES IF THE HOUSE
DECIDES TO SIT ON ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT RATHER THAN
IMMEDIATELY SENDING TO SENATE AS
SOME HOUSE HAVE URGED.
THAT'S REPORTING BY THE
WASHINGTON POST AND POLITICO.
WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR SPEAKER
PELOSI TO COME TO THE PODIUM, WE
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
CHARI IN HERCULES, CALIFORNIA,
GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE BEEN WATCHING ALL DAY.
I APPROVE OF EVERYTHING THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT FORWARD WITH
THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD J.
TRUMP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
HE HAS BEEN VERY CORRUPT AND HE
PROVED IT, AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED, WITH WHAT HE DID,
WHICH IS CALLS TO UKRAINE.
IF HE IS SO INNOCENT, RELEASE
