H94 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER original certificate submitted by the There was no objection. The SPEAKER. To remind both sides State of Arizona will be counted as pro- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing of the aisle, during in the joint session, vided therein. none, this certificate from Con- there are 11 House Republicans, 11 The tellers will now record and an- necticut, the Parliamentarian has ad- House Democrats, 11 House Senate nounce the vote of the State of Arkan- vised me, is the only certificate of vote Democrats, 11 Senate Republicans. 44 sas for President and Vice President in from that State that purports to be a Members on the floor. Please view the accordance with the action of the two return from the State and that has an- proceedings from your offices. Thank Houses. nexed to it a certificate from an au- you. This certificate from Arkansas, the thority of the State purporting to ap- This is not a suggestion. That is a di- Parliamentarian has advised me, is the point or ascertain electors. rection, in the interest of good example only certificate of vote from that Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- to the public of how serious we take State, and purports to be a return from dent, the certificate of the electoral the coronavirus threat and the need for the State, and that has annexed to it a vote of the State of Connecticut seems social distancing. certificate from an authority of that to be regular in form and authentic, Please, my colleagues, if you are not State purporting to appoint or ascer- and it appears therefrom that Joseph participating in the next part of this, tain electors. R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware please return to your offices. Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. received 7 votes for President and I wish to remind Members that we President, the certificate of the elec- KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- have to reduce the number of Members toral vote of the State of Arkansas fornia received 7 votes for Vice Presi- on the floor to the gallery to witness seems to be regular in form and au- dent. the proceedings from there, in a rel- thentic, and it appears therefrom that The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there ative number. So first come, first Donald J. Trump of the State of Flor- any objections to counting the certifi- serve. ida received 6 votes for President and cate of vote of the State of Connecticut f MICHAEL R. PENCE of the State of Indi- that the teller has verified appears to ana received 6 votes for Vice President. be regular in form and authentic? MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there There was no objection. A message from the Senate by Ms. any objections to counting the certifi- b 2345 Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that cate of vote of the State of Arkansas The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing the Secretary of the Senate shall in- that the teller has verified appears to none, this certificate from Delaware, form the House of Representatives that be regular in form and authentic? the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the Senate is ready to proceed in joint There was no objection. the only certificate of vote from that session with the further counting of The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing State that purports to be a return from the electoral votes for President and none, this certificate from California, the State and that has annexed to it a Vice President. the Parliamentarian has advised me, is certificate from an authority of the At 11:35 p.m., the Sergeant at Arms, the only certificate of vote from that State purporting to appoint and ascer- Paul D. Irving, announced the Vice State that purports to be a return from tain electors. President and the Senate of the United the State and that has annexed to it a Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. States. certificate from an authority of the President, the certificate of the elec- The Senate entered the Hall of the State purporting to appoint and ascer- toral vote of the State of Delaware House of Representatives, headed by tain electors. seems to be regular in form and au- the Vice President and the Secretary of Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the thentic, and it appears therefrom that the Senate, the Members and officers certificate of the electoral vote of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of of the House rising to receive them. State of California seems to be regular Delaware received 3 votes for President The Vice President took his seat as in form and authentic, and it appears and KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of the Presiding Officer of the joint con- therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of California received 3 votes for Vice vention of the two Houses, the Speaker the State of Delaware received 55 votes President. of the House occupying the chair on his for President and KAMALA D. HARRIS of The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there left. Senators took seats to the right of the State of California received 55 any objections to counting the certifi- the rostrum as prescribed by law. votes for Vice President. cate of vote of the State of Delaware The VICE PRESIDENT. The joint The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there that the teller has verified appears to session of Congress to count the elec- any objections to counting the certifi- be regular in form and authentic? toral vote will resume. The tellers will cate of vote of the State of California There was no objection. take their chairs. that the teller has verified appears to The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing The two Houses retired to consider be regular in form and authentic? none, this certificate from the District separately and decide upon the vote of There was no objection. of Columbia, the Parliamentarian has the State of Arizona, to which an ob- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing advised me, is the only certificate of jection has been filed. none, this certificate from Colorado, vote from the District that purports to The Secretary of the Senate will re- the Parliamentarian has advised me, is be a return from the District and that port the action of the Senate. the only certificate of vote from that has annexed to it a certificate from an The Secretary of the Senate read the State that purports to be a return from authority of the District purporting to order of the Senate, as follows: the State, and that has annexed to it a appoint and ascertain electors. Ordered, That the Senate by a vote of 6 certificate from an authority of the Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the ayes to 93 nays rejects the objection to the State purporting to appoint and ascer- certificate of the electoral vote of the electoral votes cast in the State of Arizona tain electors. District of Columbia seems to be reg- for Joseph R. Biden, Jr., for President and Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the ular in form and authentic, and it ap- KAMALA D. HARRIS for Vice President. certificate of the electoral vote of the pears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, The VICE PRESIDENT. The Clerk of State of Colorado seems to be regular Jr., of the State of Delaware received 3 the House will report the action of the in form and authentic, and it appears votes for President and KAMALA D. House. therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of HARRIS of the State of California re- The Clerk of the House read the order the State of Delaware received 9 votes ceived 3 votes for Vice President. of the House, as follows: for President and KAMALA D. HARRIS of The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Ordered, That the House of Representatives the State of California received 9 votes any objections to counting the certifi- rejects the objection to the electoral vote of for Vice President. cate of vote of the District of Columbia the State of Arizona. The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there that the teller has verified appears to The VICE PRESIDENT. Pursuant to any objections to counting the certifi- be regular in form and authentic? the law, chapter 1 of title 3, United cate of vote of the State of Colorado There was no objection. States Code, because the two Houses that the teller has verified appears to The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing have not sustained the objection, the be regular in form and authentic? none, this certificate from Florida, the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.038 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H95 Parliamentarian has advised me, is the State and that has annexed to it a cer- Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- only certificate of vote from that State tificate from an authority of the State dent, the certificate of the electoral that purports to be a return from the purporting to appoint and ascertain vote of the State of Indiana seems to State and that has annexed to it a cer- electors. be regular in form and authentic, and tificate from an authority of the State Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. it appears therefrom that Donald J. purporting to appoint and ascertain President, the certificate of the elec- Trump of the State of Florida received electors. toral vote of the State of Hawaii seems 11 votes for President and MICHAEL R. Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the to be regular in form and authentic, PENCE of the State of Indiana received certificate of the electoral vote of the and it appears therefrom that Joseph 11 votes for Vice President. State of Florida seems to be regular in R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there form and authentic, and it appears received 4 votes for President and any objections to counting the certifi- therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- cate of vote of the State of Indiana State of Florida received 29 votes for fornia received 4 votes for Vice Presi- that the teller has verified appears to President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the dent. be regular in form and authentic? State of Indiana received 29 votes for The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there There was no objection. Vice President. any objections to counting the certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there cate of vote of the State of Hawaii that none, this certificate from Iowa, the any objections to counting the certifi- the teller has verified appears to be Parliamentarian has advised me, is the cate of vote of the State of Florida regular in form and authentic? only certificate of vote from that State that the teller has verified appears to There was no objection. that purports to be a return from the be regular in form and authentic? The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing State and that has annexed to it a cer- There was no objection. none, this certificate from Idaho, the tificate from an authority of the State The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing Parliamentarian has advised me, is the purporting to appoint and ascertain none, this certificate from Georgia, the only certificate of vote from that State electors. Parliamentarian has advised me, is the that purports to be a return from the Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the only certificate of vote from that State State and that has annexed to it a cer- certificate of the electoral vote of the that purports to be a return from the tificate from an authority of the State State of Iowa seems to be regular in State and that has annexed to it a cer- purporting to appoint and ascertain form and authentic, and it appears tificate from an authority of the State electors. therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the purporting to appoint and ascertain Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the State of Florida received 6 votes for electors. certificate of the electoral vote of the President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- State of Idaho seems to be regular in State of Indiana received 6 votes for dent, the certificate of the electoral form and authentic, and it appears Vice President. vote of the State of Georgia seems to therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there be regular in form and authentic, and State of Florida received 4 votes for any objections to counting the certifi- it appears therefrom that Joseph R. President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the cate of vote of the State of Iowa that Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware re- State of Indiana received 4 votes for the teller has verified appears to be ceived 16 votes for President and Vice President. regular in form and authentic? KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there There was no objection. fornia received 16 votes for Vice Presi- any objections to counting the certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing dent. cate of vote of the State of Idaho that none, this certificate from Kansas, the The VICE PRESIDENT. For what the teller has certified appears to be Parliamentarian has advised me, is the purpose does the gentleman from Geor- regular in form and authentic? only certificate of vote from that State gia (Mr. HICE) rise? There was no objection. that purports to be a return from the Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. President, The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing State and that has annexed to it a cer- myself, members of the Georgia delega- none, this certificate from Illinois, the tificate from an authority of the State tion, and some 74 of my Republican col- Parliamentarian has advised me, is the purporting to appoint and ascertain leagues and I object to the electoral only certificate of vote from that State electors. vote from the State of Georgia on the that purports to be a return from the Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the grounds that the election conducted on State and that has annexed to it a cer- certificate of the electoral vote of the November 3 was faulty and fraudulent tificate from an authority of the State State of Kansas seems to be regular in due to unilateral actions by the sec- purporting to appoint and ascertain form and authentic, and it appears retary of state to unlawfully change electors. therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the the State’s election process without Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. State of Florida received 6 votes for approval from the General Assembly President, the certificate of the elec- President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the and thereby setting the stage for an toral vote of the State of Illinois seems State of Indiana received 6 votes for unprecedented amount of fraud and to be regular in form and authentic, Vice President. irregularities. I have signed the objec- and it appears therefrom that Joseph The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there tion myself. R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware any objections to counting the certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Sections 15 received 20 votes for President and cate of vote of the State of Kansas that and 17 of title 3, United States Code, KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- the teller has verified appears to be require that any objection be presented fornia received 20 votes for Vice Presi- regular in form and authentic? in writing and signed by a Member of dent. There was no objection. the House of Representatives and a The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing Senator. any objections to counting the certifi- none, this certificate from the Com- Is the objection in writing and signed cate of vote of the State of Illinois that monwealth of Kentucky, the Parlia- by a Member and a Senator? the teller has verified appears to be mentarian has advised me, is the only Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. President, regular in form and authentic? certificate of vote from that State that prior to the actions and events of There was no objection. purports to be a return from the State today, we did, but following the events The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing and that has annexed to it a certificate of today, it appears that some Senators none, this certificate from Indiana, the from an authority of the State pur- have withdrawn their objection. Parliamentarian has advised me, is the porting to appoint and ascertain elec- The VICE PRESIDENT. In that case, only certificate of vote from that State tors. the objection cannot be entertained. that purports to be a return from the Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the This certificate from Hawaii, the State and that has annexed to it a cer- certificate of the electoral vote of the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the tificate from an authority of the State Commonwealth of Kentucky seems to only certificate of vote from that State purporting to appoint and ascertain be regular in form and authentic, and that purports to be a return from the electors. it appears therefrom that Donald J.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.040 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H96 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 Trump of the State of Florida received for President and KAMALA D. HARRIS of The VICE PRESIDENT. In that case, 8 votes for President and MICHAEL R. the State of California received 10 the objection cannot be entertained. PENCE of the State of Indiana received votes for Vice President. Are there any further objections to 8 votes for Vice President. The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there counting the certificate of the vote The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there any objections to counting the certifi- from the State of Michigan that the any objections to counting the certifi- cate of vote of the State of Maryland teller has verified appears to be regular cate of vote of the Commonwealth of that the teller has verified appears to in form and authentic? Kentucky that the teller has verified be regular in form and authentic? There was no objection. There was no objection. appears to be regular in form and au- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing no thentic? The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing none, this certificate from Massachu- further objections, this certificate There was no objection. from Minnesota, the Parliamentarian The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing setts, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from has advised me, is the only certificate none, this certificate from Louisiana, of vote from that State that purports the Parliamentarian has advised me, is that State that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to to be a return from the State and that the only certificate of vote from that has annexed to it a certificate of an au- State that purports to be a return from it a certificate from an authority of the State purporting to appoint and as- thority of the State purporting to ap- the State and that has annexed to it a point or ascertain electors. certificate from an authority of the certain electors. Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- State purporting to appoint and ascer- certificate of electoral vote of the dent, the certificate of the electoral tain electors. Commonwealth of Massachusetts vote of the State of Minnesota seems Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- seems to be regular in form and au- to be regular in form and authentic, dent, the certificate of the electoral thentic, and it appears therefrom that and it appears therefrom that Joseph vote of the State of Louisiana seems to Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware be regular in form and authentic, and Delaware received 11 votes for Presi- received 10 votes for President and appears therefrom that Donald J. dent and KAMALA D. HARRIS of the KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- Trump of the State of Florida received State of California received 11 votes for fornia received 10 votes for Vice Presi- 8 votes for President and MICHAEL R. Vice President. dent. PENCE of the State of Indiana received The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there 8 votes for Vice President. any objections to counting the certifi- any objections to counting the certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there cate of vote of the Commonwealth of cate of the vote from the State of Min- any objections to counting the certifi- Massachusetts that the teller has nesota that the teller has verified ap- cate of vote of the State of Louisiana verified appears to be regular in form pears to be regular in form and authen- that the teller has verified to be reg- and authentic? tic? ular in form and authentic? There was no objection. There was no objection. There was no objection. The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing none, this certificate from Michigan, The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing none, this certificate from Maine, the the Parliamentarian has advised me, is none, this certificate from Mississippi, Parliamentarian has advised me, is the the only certificate of vote from that the Parliamentarian has advised, is the only certificate of vote from that State State that purports to be a return from only certificate of vote from that State that purports to be a return from the the State and that has annexed to it a that purports to be a return from the State and that has annexed to it a cer- certificate from an authority of the State and that has annexed to it a cer- tificate from an authority of the State State purporting to appoint and ascer- tificate of an authority of the State purporting to appoint and ascertain tain electors. purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- electors. Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- tors. Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. dent, the certificate of the electoral Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. President, the certificate of the elec- vote of the State of Michigan seems to President, the certificate of the elec- toral vote of the State of Maine seems be regular in form and authentic, and toral vote of the State of Mississippi to be regular in form and authentic, it appears therefrom that Joseph R. seems to be regular in form and au- and it appears therefrom that Joseph Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware re- thentic, and it appears therefrom that R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware ceived 16 votes for President and Donald J. Trump of the State of Flor- received 3 votes for President, and Don- KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- ida received 6 votes for President and ald J. Trump of the State of Florida re- fornia received 16 votes for Vice Presi- MICHAEL R. PENCE of the State of Indi- ceived 1 vote for President and KAMALA dent. ana received 6 votes for Vice President. D. HARRIS of the State of California re- The VICE PRESIDENT. For what The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there ceived 3 votes for Vice President, and reason does the gentlewoman from any objections to counting the certifi- MICHAEL R. PENCE of the State of Indi- Georgia (Mrs. GREENE) rise? cate of the vote from the State of Mis- ana received 1 vote for Vice President. Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Presi- sissippi that the teller has verified ap- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there dent, I, along with 70 of my Republican pears to be regular in form and authen- any objections to counting the certifi- colleagues, object to the counting of tic? cate of vote of the State of Maine that the electoral votes for the State of There was no objection. the teller has verified appears to be Michigan on the grounds that the error The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing regular in form and authentic? rate exceeds the FEC rate allowed at none, this certificate from Missouri, There was no objection. 0.0008 percent, and that the people who the Parliamentarian has advised, is the The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing signed affidavits at risk of perjury, only certificate of vote from that State none, this certificate from Maryland, their voices have not been heard in a that purports to be a return from the the Parliamentarian has advised me, is court of law. State and that has annexed to it a cer- the only certificate of vote from that b 0000 tificate of an authority of the State State that purports to be a return from The VICE PRESIDENT. Sections 15 purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- the State and that has annexed to it a and 17 of title 3 of the U.S. Code, re- tors. certificate from an authority of the quire that any objection be presented Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the State purporting to appoint and ascer- in writing and signed by a Member of certificate of the electoral vote of the tain electors. the House of Representatives and a State of Missouri seems to be regular Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the Senator. in form and authentic, and it appears certificate of the electoral vote of the Is the objection in writing and signed therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the State of Maryland seems to be regular by a Member and a Senator? State of Florida received 10 votes for in form and authentic, and it appears Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. The objec- President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of tion is in writing, not signed by a Sen- State of Indiana received 10 votes for the State of Delaware received 10 votes ator. Vice President.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.041 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H97 The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there fornia received 6 votes for Vice Presi- Jersey that the teller has verified ap- any objections to counting the certifi- dent. pears to be regular in form and authen- cate of the vote from the State of Mis- The VICE PRESIDENT. For what tic? souri that the teller has verified ap- purpose does the gentleman from Ala- There was no objection. pears to be regular in form and authen- bama rise? The VICE PRESIDENT. This certifi- tic? Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Presi- cate from New Mexico, the Parliamen- There was no objection. dent, I and 55 other Members of the tarian has advised, is the only certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing United States House of Representatives cate of vote from the State that pur- none, this certificate from Montana, object to the electoral vote for the ports to be a return from the State and the Parliamentarian has advised, is the State of Nevada in order to protect the that has annexed to it a certificate of only certificate of vote from that State lawful votes of Nevada and all other an authority of the State purporting to that purports to be a return from the American citizens. appoint or ascertain electors. State and that has annexed to it a cer- The VICE PRESIDENT. Sections 15 Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- tificate of an authority of the State and 17 of title 3 of the United States dent, the certificate of the electoral purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- Code, require that any objection be vote of the State of New Mexico seems tors. presented in writing and signed by a to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Joseph Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the Member of the House of Representa- R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware certificate of the electoral vote of the tives and a Senator. received 5 votes for President and State of Montana seems to be regular Is the objection in writing and signed KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- in form and authentic, and it appears by a Member and a Senator? fornia received 5 votes for Vice Presi- therefrom that Donald J. Trump from Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Presi- dent. the State of Florida received 3 votes dent, it is in writing, but, unfortu- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there for President and MICHAEL R. PENCE nately, no United States Senator has any objections to counting the certifi- from the State of Indiana received 3 joined in this effort. cate of the vote from the State of New votes for Vice President. The VICE PRESIDENT. In that case, Mexico that the teller has verified ap- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there the objection cannot be entertained. pears to be regular in form and authen- any objections to counting the certifi- Are there any further objections to tic? cate of the vote from the State of Mon- counting the certificate of vote from There was no objection. tana that the teller has verified ap- the State of Nevada that the teller has The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing pears to be regular in form and authen- verified appears to be regular in form none, this certificate from New York, tic? and authentic? the Parliamentarian has advised me, is There was no objection. There was no objection. the only certificate of vote from the The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing The VICE PRESIDENT. This certifi- State that purports to be a return from none, this certificate from Nebraska, cate from New Hampshire, the Parlia- the State and has annexed to it a cer- the Parliamentarian has advised, is the mentarian has advised me, is the only tificate of an authority from the State only certificate of vote from that State certificate of electoral vote from that purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- that purports to be a return from the State that purports to be a return from tors. State and that has annexed to it a cer- the State and that has annexed to it a Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. tificate of an authority of the State certificate of an authority of the State President, the certificate of the elec- purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- toral vote of the State of New York tors. tors. seems to be regular in form and au- Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the thentic, and it appears therefrom that dent, the certificate of the electoral certificate of the electoral vote of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the State of vote of the State of Nebraska seems to State of New Hampshire seems to be Delaware received 29 votes for Presi- be regular in form and authentic, and regular in form and authentic, and it dent and KAMALA D. HARRIS of the it appears therefrom that Donald J. appears therefrom that Joseph R. State of California received 29 votes for Trump of the State of Florida received Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware re- Vice President. 4 votes for President; and Joseph R. ceived 4 votes for President and The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware re- KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- any objections to counting the certifi- ceived 1 vote for President; and MI- fornia received 4 votes for Vice Presi- cate of the vote from the State of New CHAEL R. PENCE of the State of Indiana dent. York that the teller has verified ap- received 4 votes for Vice President; and The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there pears to be regular in form and authen- KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- any objections to counting the certifi- tic? fornia received 1 vote for Vice Presi- cate of vote of the State of New Hamp- There was no objection. The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing dent. shire that the teller has verified ap- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there pears to be regular in form and authen- none, this certificate from North Caro- any objections to counting the certifi- tic? lina, the Parliamentarian has advised me, is the only certificate of vote from cate of vote from the State of Nebraska There was no objection. that State that purports to be a return that the teller has verified is regular in The VICE PRESIDENT. This certifi- from the State and that has annexed to form and authentic? cate from New Jersey, the Parliamen- it a certificate from the State pur- There was no objection. tarian has advised, is the only certifi- The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing cate of vote from the State that pur- porting to appoint or ascertain elec- tors. none, this certificate from Nevada, the ports to be a return from the State and Parliamentarian has advised, is the that has annexed to it a certificate of b 0010 only certificate of vote from the State an authority in the State purporting to Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the that purports to be a return from the appoint or ascertain electors. certificate of the electoral vote of the State and that has annexed to it a cer- Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the State of North Carolina seems to be tificate of an authority from the State certificate of the electoral vote of the regular in form and authentic, and it purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- State of New Jersey seems to be reg- appears therefrom that Donald J. tors. ular in form and authentic, and it ap- Trump of the State of Florida received Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. pears therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, 15 votes for President and MICHAEL R. President, the certificate of the elec- Jr., of the State of Delaware received PENCE of the State of Indiana received toral vote of the State of Nevada seems 14 votes for President and KAMALA D. 15 votes for Vice President. to be regular in form and authentic, HARRIS of the State of California re- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there and it appears therefrom that Joseph ceived 14 votes for Vice President. any objections to counting the certifi- R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there cate of vote of the State of North Caro- received 4 votes for President and any objections to counting the certifi- lina that the teller has verified appears KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- cate of the vote from the State of New to be regular in form and authentic?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.043 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H98 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 There was no objection. State and that has a certificate of au- OH–4, Dan Meuser PA–9, Clay Higgins LA–3, The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing thority from the State annexed to it to Tom Rice SC–7, Yvette Herrell NM–2, Alex- none, this certificate from North Da- appoint and ascertain electors. ander Mooney WV–2, Andy Biggs AZ–5, John kota, the Parliamentarian has advised Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the W. Rose TN–6, W. Greg Steube FL–17, Madi- son Cawthorn NC–11, Bill Posey FL–8, Jeff me, is the only certificate of vote from certificate of the electoral vote of the Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, Louie Goh- that State, and purports to be a return State of Oregon seems to be regular in mert TX–1. from the State and that has annexed to form and authentic, and it appears Brian J. Mast FL–18, Warren Davidson OH– it a certificate of an authority of the therefrom that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of 8, Andy Harris MD–1, Doug Lamborn CO–5, State purporting to appoint and ascer- the State of Delaware received 7 votes Kat Cammack FL–3, Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob tain electors. for President and KAMALA D. HARRIS of Good VA–5, Adrian Smith NE–3, Billy Long Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the the State of California received 7 votes MO–7, Jack Bergman MI–1, Michael Cloud certificate of the electoral vote of the TX–27, Byron Donalds FL–19, Rick Crawford for Vice President. AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH– State of North Dakota seems to be reg- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there 7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Richard Hudson NC–8, ular in form and authentic, and it ap- any objections to counting the certifi- Ted Budd NC–13, Barry Moore AL–2, Lee pears therefrom that Donald J. Trump cate of vote of the State of Oregon that Zeldin NY–1. of the State of Florida received 3 votes the teller has verified as regular in Jake LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, for President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of form and authentic? Jason Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, the State of Indiana received 3 votes There was no objection. Paul A. Gosar AZ–4, Chuck Fleischmann TN– for Vice President. The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing 3, Tim Burchett TN–2, Chris Jacobs NY–27, The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Bill Johnson OH–6, Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, none, this certificate from the Com- Lance Gooden TX–5, Randy Feenstra IA–4, any objections to counting the certifi- monwealth of Pennsylvania, the Par- Mary E. Miller IL–15, Diana Harshbarger TN– cate of vote of the State of North Da- liamentarian has advised, is the only 1, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, Neal kota that the teller has verified as reg- certificate of vote from that State that Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, Elise ular and authentic? purports to be a return from the State Stefanik NY–21, Ralph Norman SC–5. There was no objection. and that has annexed to it a certificate Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky Hartzler MO–4, The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing from an authority of the State pur- Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Marjorie Taylor none, the certificate from Ohio, the porting to appoint and ascertain elec- Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa CA–1, Jeff Van Parliamentarian has advised, is the Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, Michael D. Rog- tors. ers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin OK–2, Jeff Dun- only certificate of vote from that Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the can SC–3, Pat Fallon TX–4, Brad R. Wenstrup State, and purports to be a return from certificate of the electoral vote of the OH–2, August Pfluger TX–11, Rob Wittman the State and that has annexed to it a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seems VA–1, Scott Franklin FL–15, David Kustoff certificate of an authority of the State to be regular in form and authentic, TN–8, Sam Graves MO–6, Matt Gaetz FL–1, purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- and it appears therefrom that Joseph Randy K. Weber TX–14. tors. R. Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- received 20 votes for President and further objections to the certificate dent, the certificate of the electoral KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- from the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vote of the State of Ohio seems to be fornia received 20 votes for Vice Presi- vania? regular in form and authentic, and it dent. There was no objection. appears therefrom that Donald J. The VICE PRESIDENT. For what The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair Trump of the State of Florida received purpose does the gentleman from Penn- hears none. The two Houses will withdraw from 18 votes for President and MICHAEL R. sylvania rise? joint session. Each House will delib- PENCE of the State of Indiana received Mr. PERRY. Mr. President, sadly, erate separately on the pending objec- 18 votes for Vice President. but resolutely, I object to the electoral tion and report its decision back to the The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there votes of my beloved Commonwealth of joint session. any objections to counting the certifi- Pennsylvania on the grounds of mul- The Senate will now retire to its cate of vote of the State of Ohio that tiple constitutional infractions that the teller has verified is regular in Chamber. they were not under all of the known The Senate retired to its Chamber. form and authentic? circumstances regularly given; and on There was no objection. this occasion, I have a written objec- b 0020 The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing tion signed by a Senator and 80 Mem- The SPEAKER. Pursuant to Senate none, this certificate from Oklahoma, bers of the House of Representatives. Concurrent Resolution 1 and section 17 the Parliamentarian has advised, is the The VICE PRESIDENT. Is the objec- of title 3, United States Code, when the only certificate of vote from that tion in writing and signed by a Sen- two Houses withdraw from the joint State, and purports to be a return from ator? session to count the electoral vote for the State and that has annexed to it a Mr. PERRY. Yes, Mr. Vice President, separate consideration of objection, a certificate of an authority of the State it is. Representative may speak to the objec- purporting to appoint or ascertain elec- The VICE PRESIDENT. An objection tion for 5 minutes and not more than tors. presented in writing and signed by both once. Debate shall not exceed 2 hours, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. a Representative and a Senator com- after which the Chair shall put the President, the certificate of the elec- plies with the law, chapter 1 of title 3, question, Shall the objection be agreed toral vote of the State of Oklahoma United States Code. to? seems to be regular in form and au- The Clerk will report the objection. The Clerk will report the objection thentic, and it appears therefrom that The Clerk read the objection as fol- made in the joint session. Donald J. Trump of the State of Flor- lows: The Clerk read the objection as fol- ida received 7 votes for President and JANUARY 7, 2021. lows: MICHAEL R. PENCE of the State of Indi- We, a United States Senator and Members JANUARY 7, 2021. ana received 7 votes for Vice President. of the House of Representatives, object to We, a United States Senator and Members The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there the counting of the electoral votes of the of the House of Representatives, object to any objections to counting the certifi- State of Pennsylvania on the ground that the counting of the electoral votes of the they were not, under all of the known cir- cate of vote of the State of Oklahoma State of Pennsylvania on the ground that cumstances, regularly given. they were not, under all of the known cir- that the teller has verified to be reg- JOSH HAWLEY, cumstances, regularly given. ular in form and authentic? United States Senator. JOSH HAWLEY, There was no objection. SCOTT PERRY, United States Senator. The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing Member of Congress. SCOTT PERRY, none, this certificate from Oregon, the MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Member of Congress. Parliamentarian has advised, is the Mo Brooks AL–5, Mike Kelly PA–16, John MEMBERS OF CONGRESS only certificate of vote from that State Joyce PA–13, Fred Keller PA–12, Scott Perry Mo Brooks AL–5, Mike Kelly PA–16, John that purports to be a return from the PA–10, Glenn Thompson PA–15, Jim Jordan Joyce PA–13, Fred Keller PA–12, Scott Perry

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.045 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H99 PA–10, Glenn Thompson PA–15, Jim Jordan Once again, the court not only defied that he was unable to establish with OH–4, Dan Meuser PA–9, Clay Higgins LA–3, the Constitution and the will of the any degree of reasonable assurance Tom Rice SC–7, Yvette Herrell NM–2, Alex- people, but by so doing, they created a that the SURE system is secure and ander Mooney WV–2, Andy Biggs AZ–5, John W. Rose TN–6, W. Greg Steube FL–17, Madi- separate class of voters, thereby vio- that Pennsylvania voter registration son Cawthorn NC–11, Bill Posey FL–8, Jeff lating the Equal Protection Clause pre- records are complete and accurate. Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, Louie Goh- scribed in the Constitution. That is what we are relying on. That mert TX–1. How can we have two legally sepa- right there. This is the very same sys- Brian J. Mast FL–18, Warren Davidson OH– rate classes of voters? Yet, the court tem used to certify the election in the 8, Andy Harris MD–1, Doug Lamborn CO–5, made it so, not the legislature. contest for President of the United Kat Cammack FL–3, Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob The Constitution doesn’t mention States. This is the very same system Good VA–5, Adrian Smith NE–3, Billy Long the court when determining the time, MO–7, Jack Bergman MI–1, Michael Cloud that the State used to certify the 2020 TX–27. Byron Donalds FL–19, Rick Crawford place, and manner of elections because election, even though its figures do not AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH– they are not authorized to make those match more than half of Pennsylva- 7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Richard Hudson NC–8, decisions. Yet, they did it. nia’s 67 counties. Ted Budd NC–13, Barry Moore AL–2, Lee And the U.S. Supreme Court has re- To this day, right now, while we Zeldin NY–1. fused to hear the case, denying the evi- stand here, how can this election be Jake LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, dence and denying the demands for jus- certified using a system that after 2 Jason Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, tice from the people of Pennsylvania Paul A. Gosar AZ–4, Chuck Fleischmann TN– months still displays that over 205,000 3, Tim Burchett TN–2, Chris Jacobs NY–27, and America. more votes were cast in Pennsylvania Bill Johnson OH–6, Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, These aren’t my opinions. These than people who voted in the November Lance Gooden TX–5, Randy Feenstra IA–4, aren’t partisan viewpoints. These are election? Let me say that again: 205,000 Mary E. Miller IL–15, Diana Harshbarger TN– irrefutable facts. more votes than voters. 1, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, Neal Six days before the election, guid- Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, Elise ance emailed from the secretary of in opposition to the objection. Stefanik NY–21, Ralph Norman SC–5. state required that the counties shall Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky Hartzler MO–4, The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Marjorie Taylor not pre-canvass or canvass any mail-in Colorado is recognized for 5 minutes. Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa CA–1, Jeff Van or civilian absentee ballots received be- Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, to my Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, Michael D. Rog- tween 8 o’clock Tuesday and 5 o’clock colleague from Pennsylvania, I will say ers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin OK–2, Pat Friday and that they must be kept sep- this: I carry the same Constitution Fallon TX–4, Brad R. Wenstrup OH–2, August arately. That was 6 days before the that you do. And the Constitution, sir, Pfluger TX–11, Rob Wittman VA–1, Scott election. does not allow you, me, or any Member Franklin FL–15, David Kustoff TN–8, Sam Madam Speaker, 2 days before the of this body to substitute our judgment Graves MO–6, Matt Gaetz FL–1, Randy K. election, counties received new guid- Weber TX–14. for that of the American people. It does The SPEAKER. The Chair will en- ance from the secretary of state, in- not allow us to disregard the will of the deavor to alternate recognition be- forming counties that they shall can- American people. Because under this tween Members speaking in support of vass segregated absentee and mail-in Constitution, under our Constitution, the objection and Members speaking in ballots as soon as possible upon re- Congress doesn’t choose the President. opposition to the objection. ceipt. The American people do. And they The Chair recognizes the gentleman The secretary of state is not elected have chosen in resounding numbers, as from Pennsylvania (Mr. PERRY) for 5 by the people. She is not a member of every single Member of this body well minutes. the legislature. Yet, she, and she alone, understands. Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, this is determined the time and manner of Madam Speaker, I have been at a loss a somber day for the defense of the elections. That was unconstitutional. to explain what happened today, but Constitution. You see, the Constitution In defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court there is a statement that I found that is just a piece of paper. It cannot de- order that all ballots received after largely summarized my thoughts on fend itself. That is why our leaders election day be segregated, the sec- the matter. swear an oath to uphold and defend the retary of state knew, once they were ‘‘The scenes of mayhem unfolding at Constitution, and that is what I am canvassed, that is opened and commin- the seat of our Nation’s government’’ doing here this evening. gled with all the other ballots, they are a ‘‘sickening and heartbreaking The Constitution states: ‘‘The times, would be counted with all the rest. sight. This is how election results are places, and manner of holding elections And what is the remedy for this defi- disputed in a banana republic, not our . . . shall be prescribed . . . by the leg- ance, for this lawbreaking? So far, the democratic Republic. I am appalled by islature’’—not the courts, not the Gov- court has decided there is no remedy. the reckless behavior of some political ernor, not the secretary of state or There is no penalty for this lawless- leaders since the election and by the other bureaucrats or elected officials, ness, this dilution of lawfully cast lack of respect shown today for our in- the legislature. votes, this defiance of the Constitu- stitutions, our traditions, and our law In Pennsylvania, the supreme court tion—no remedy. When the State legis- enforcement. The violent assault on unilaterally extended the deadline for lature requested the Governor to con- the Capitol, and the disruption of a ballots to 3 days after the election. vene a special session to address the constitutionally mandated meeting of They actually wanted 10. The supreme unanswered questions and try to pro- Congress, was undertaken by people court is not the legislature. The su- vide a remedy, he refused. whose passions have been inflamed by preme court mandated un-postmarked When votes are accepted under un- falsehoods and false hopes. Insurrec- ballots to be received, destroying the constitutional means without fair and tion could do grave damage to our Na- validity of all the votes that were cast equal protection for all, the only result tion and our reputation. timely. can be an illegitimate outcome—ille- ‘‘In the United States of America, it The supreme court action defied the gitimate. is the fundamental responsibility of law, the legislature, and the will of the The voters did not create this mess, every patriotic citizen to support the people. but the will of the people is absolutely rule of law. To those who are dis- The supreme court authorized the being subverted by the deliberate and appointed in the results of the election: use of drop boxes, where ballot har- willful actions of individuals defying Our country is more important than vesting could occur. The legislature their oath, the law, and the Constitu- the politics of the moment.’’ never authorized that form of voting, tion. and the court had absolutely no right In Pennsylvania, we use the State- b 0030 to do so. wide Uniform Registry of Electors, or Those are not my words. Those are Responding to the secretary of state, SURE, system as the basis of deter- the words of former Republican Presi- Kathy Boockvar, the supreme court mining who can vote. Unfortunately, a dent George W. Bush. ruled that mail-in ballots need not au- recent attempted audit by the Demo- To my colleagues, it is after mid- thenticate signatures. crat State auditor general concluded night tonight. It has been a long day

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06JA7.023 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H100 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 for our country, a long day for our Re- Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, a day If there is an American ideal that all public. that was intended to debate the impor- citizens, regardless of party affiliation, Let us dispense with this. Let’s do tance of election integrity and the rule can agree upon, it is that we must have the right thing. Let’s honor our oath. of law tragically became a day that election integrity. We should not cer- Let’s certify the results, and let’s get will be a black mark in our Nation’s tify these electors, which were derived back to the work of the American peo- history. Nevertheless, the work of this by unlawful actions and a result of in- ple. House must go on, as America will go accurate vote tallies. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- on. Madam Speaker, I yield the remain- tlewoman from California (Ms. LOF- We must all sincerely thank the Cap- der of my time to the gentleman from GREN). itol Police and Metro Police for their Pennsylvania (Mr. JOYCE). Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, our selfless actions today, putting their Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam duty today is significant but straight- safety and lives on the line to protect Speaker, I rise in support of the objec- forward. We must count the votes of this House. The lawlessness and vio- tion. the electors as cast in the electoral lence of today must be condemned, just Tonight, my heart is heavy as we college and announce the results. as all violent protests must be con- consider the dark acts that transpired As discussed, our roles and respon- demned. in this Chamber today. But, Madam sibilities are established by the Con- Nevertheless, the fact remains, a Speaker, the American people can be stitution and Federal law, and they are large number of Pennsylvanians are assured that violent and irrational at- clear. The facts before us are also enormously frustrated with actions tacks on this body cannot derail the clear. Pennsylvania submitted one taken by elected and appointed offi- constitutional responsibility that lies cials in Pennsylvania, which have led slate of electors, as chosen by the vot- in front of us. ers of the State. The slate was certified to a high level of distrust for this past This has always been about uphold- election. according to State law. Now those law- ing the law. It has always been about ful results must be counted and an- We have the United States Constitu- tion, which is the reason we have been protecting government of, by, and for nounced. the people. Preserving the rule of law Despite disinformation and any num- and will continue to be a great country is more important than ever. ber of false claims that you may have and a country of laws. The U.S. Constitution is unambig- We must acknowledge that unconsti- heard, including here today, as former tutional acts unduly impacted the Attorney General Barr said: ‘‘We have uous, Madam Speaker, in declaring that State legislatures are the entity Presidential election in Pennsylvania. not seen fraud on a scale that could Contrary to law, the supreme court ex- have effected a different outcome in with the authority to set election pro- cedures and to enact any changes to tended the deadline for mail-in ballots the election.’’ for 3 days beyond the election day. This is not simply a conclusory election law. Article I, Section 4, Contrary to law, the secretary of the statement. The results of the election Clause 1 states: ‘‘The times, places, and Commonwealth discarded mail-in bal- have been litigated. The record is manner of holding elections . . . shall lot signature verification safeguards. clear: The lawsuits challenging the be prescribed in each State by the leg- These leaders took advantage of a election results failed. They failed be- islature thereof.’’ deadly pandemic and seized the State cause there is simply no evidence to The authority of election procedures legislature’s rightful authority. support these baseless claims. lies with the State legislature, period. Now, it is one thing to tweet a belief, In Pennsylvania, this authority was I took an oath to uphold the law and indisputably usurped by the Pennsyl- quite another to provide actual evi- defend the Constitution. I pledged to vania Governor’s office, by the Penn- dence. These cases failed because there protect free and fair elections. I can- sylvania secretary of state, and by the is no evidence. Judges ruled in the law- not, in good faith, certify electors that Pennsylvania Supreme Court. were selected under an unlawful proc- suits that the 2020 election was sound. These unlawful actions include, but It should come as no surprise that ess. are not limited to, accepting ballots Republican officeholders have recog- I will object to the electoral college past 8 p.m. on election day; incon- certification to protect the will of nized the election results as legitimate sistent application of verified signa- and accurately determined in an elec- Pennsylvania voters, to uphold the ture requirements for in-person ballots law, to restore trust in our electoral tion that was conducted safely, se- versus mail-in ballots; authorizing the curely, and with integrity. system, and, ultimately, to save our curing of mail-in ballots with less than Constitution. We all take an oath to support and 24 hours’ notice, leading to incon- defend the Constitution. As we near At Gettysburg, which is in my dis- sistent preparedness between counties; trict, President Abraham Lincoln the end of the task before us, let’s re- and authorizing the use of unsecured member the beginning of the Constitu- spoke about the great task of ensuring drop boxes, which is not permitted in government by, of, and for the people tion. Before Article II and the 12th statute. Amendment, which spell out the elec- shall not perish from the Earth. If such unlawful actions are to be ac- Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsyl- toral college, and before Article I, cepted, what do we have to look for- vania. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposi- which creates Congress, the Constitu- ward to next year? The Pennsylvania tion. tion begins with the preamble. The pre- secretary of state allowing online vot- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from amble is short and bold: ‘‘We the peo- ing because it may be raining in Phila- Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- ple.’’ delphia? It was a free-for-all. The people spoke in historic num- Madam Speaker, it was back in 2005 utes. Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsyl- bers. Their votes have been counted. when then-Minority Leader PELOSI, Their choice is clear. It is time, as the while leading 31 Democrats as they ob- vania. Madam Speaker, nearly 7 mil- law requires, to announce the state of jected to the Presidential elector cer- lion Pennsylvanians showed up to vote the people’s vote. tification, as they did in the last three in the 2020 elections. They cast their The violence and disorder inflicted Presidential elections when a Repub- votes for Democrats and Republicans on our democracy by seditious rioters lican won, stated quite well, actually: up and down the ballot, including the today is an indication of why adher- The Members of Congress have entire U.S. House delegation, the en- ence to our Constitution is so vital. brought this challenge and are speak- tire State house, half of the State sen- I urge all of us to stand up for law, ing up for their aggrieved constituents, ate, and other State and local races. for democracy, for our Constitution, many of whom have been disenfran- Since the election, there have been and to stand up for America and reject chised in this process. This is their allegations of widespread election this objection. only opportunity to have this debate fraud in Pennsylvania; but, remark- Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, I rise while the country is listening, and it is ably, the 20 suits filed by the Trump to support the objection. appropriate to do so. campaign, Pennsylvania Republicans, The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Thank you for those words, Madam and others challenging the results in Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- Speaker. They were appropriate then, Pennsylvania have never claimed that utes. as they are now. there was voter fraud.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.050 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H101 b 0040 illogical and inconsistent, colleagues, thority of the State legislature. Fur- Perhaps that is because attorneys and I am pleased to note that the Su- thermore, the chief law officer of the could lose their licenses when they preme Court rejected it as well. Commonwealth sat idly while this make unsubstantiated claims in court. The fact is, the election has received process unfolded. That is where the rubber really meets unprecedented scrutiny in the courts. I Now, I joined many of my colleagues the road. believe it is irresponsible and undemo- in Pennsylvania requesting the legisla- So if these lawsuits didn’t claim elec- cratic to argue today that the U.S. tors in Harrisburg conduct an inves- tion fraud, what did they claim? Congress ought to relitigate the 2020 tigation and audit to ensure such neg- Most of the legal challenges to the Presidential election and second-guess ligence will be prevented in future elec- Presidential election in Pennsylvania the will of the voters in multiple tions. question relatively small numbers of States, the decisions of numerous I have serious concerns about how ballots that were allegedly tainted by State and Federal courts, including the these irregularities in the application technical violations. Even assuming Supreme Court, and the counts and re- of the Commonwealth’s election laws that all of these ballots had been cast counts conducted by State election of- will play in future elections. Only with for Joe Biden, throwing them out ficials. equal application of law will the voters wouldn’t have changed the result of the There were 20 lawsuits filed in Penn- of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania election. sylvania challenging aspects of the have certainty in their election proc- Now, one exception is the lawsuit Presidential election. In 19 of them you esses. filed by one of our colleagues from got laughed out of court. The one case Now, I remain committed to ensuring Pennsylvania, Kelly v. Commonwealth, you won affected roughly 100 votes. Joe the voters receive an electoral system which would have thrown out all the Biden and KAMALA HARRIS won by over they deserve and where equal applica- mail-in votes cast in the 2020 general 80,000. tion of law is guaranteed. If our elec- election on the grounds that Act 77, the Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. tion integrity is compromised, we have State law allowing those votes, was un- Madam Speaker, I rise to support the failed the very voters who have sent us constitutional. That suit would have objection. here to defend the Constitution. disenfranchised 21⁄2 million Pennsylva- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- nians. Let’s let that sink in, 21⁄2 million Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- tleman from Maryland (Mr. HARRIS). Pennsylvanians would have had their utes. Mr. HARRIS. Madam Speaker, I votes nullified. Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. thank the gentleman for yielding. Now, I want to provide my colleagues Madam Speaker, I rise this evening The oath I took is very simple. with some background about the State with a heavy heart. The violence that Madam Speaker, you administered it. law at the heart of this challenge. In occurred today at the U.S. Capitol was It is to support and defend the Con- 2019, the Republican-controlled State senseless, destructive, and counter to stitution. legislature approved Act 77, a bipar- our American values. Now, as you walk back to the office tisan bill to reform the State’s election This past Sunday, each Member of buildings, you will walk by that wall laws, which instituted no-excuse mail this body took an oath to uphold the that has when the various States ac- balloting. Act 77 was supported almost United States Constitution. And while cepted that Constitution. Remember, unanimously by Republicans in the the path of least resistance, particu- when a State accepts the Constitution, State House and State Senate. In fact, larly following today’s events, would it agrees to accept every part of the it was unanimous in the State Senate be to remain silent, my oath to uphold Constitution. It doesn’t get to pick and and all but two Republicans in the the Constitution does not permit me to choose. Pennsylvania was there when it was State House. maintain silence. Moreover, once this Act was passed, While systemic voter fraud was not written. They were so enthusiastic Act 77 had a 120-day period where chal- something proven, we witnessed a sys- about the Constitution, they approved lenges could be filed against the Act if temic failure in the application of it in 1787. My State, Maryland, is a little fur- people thought it was unconstitu- Pennsylvania’s voting law when it ther down the wall, 1788. They were tional. Well, 4 months went by, nobody comes to the 2020 general election. there when it was written. files a challenge. On June 3, Pennsyl- In late 2019, the Commonwealth re- The clause that gave the legislature vania had their primary under this new visited and modernized its election law the power over the elections was there system. Nobody challenged the pri- with the bipartisan Act 77. Granted, in when they accepted it. It has been mary election. It was only challenged late 2019, the Commonwealth’s legisla- there since. How dare the judicial in November, when Republicans didn’t ture did not have the foresight to an- branch or the executive branch of that get the result they wanted at the top of ticipate how COVID–19 would present State usurp the legislative authority. the ticket. Not surprisingly, this case challenges to voting. Despite that, it is That is a clear violation of the Con- was dismissed by the Pennsylvania Su- not up to the Governor, the secretary stitution. preme Court and an appeal to the U.S. of the Commonwealth, nor the State Now, we heard there is no evidence. Supreme Court was denied. supreme court to unilaterally create Evidence? Another exception is Texas v. Penn- law. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sylvania. They asked the court to re- The election abuses to Pennsylvania unilaterally extended the deadline to ject the results of the Pennsylvania Act 77 taken by the Pennsylvania exec- receive absentee and mail-in ballots. Presidential contest in Pennsylvania utive branch and upheld by the Penn- Does anybody contest that over here? and several other States, sylvania judicial branch were clearly Does it say the legislature did that? disenfranchising tens of millions of the unconstitutional and had an obvious, if No, it doesn’t. It says the court did voters. Seven Republican members of not major, impact on the 2020 election, it. the Pennsylvania U.S. House delega- particularly when it comes to the citi- That is a violation. That is what the tion signed the U.S. House Republican zens’ faith in the electoral process. Texas lawsuit was all about. We dis- brief in support of Texas v. Pennsyl- Irregularities in Pennsylvania in- advantage other States when States vania. cluded: Uneven application of the law; like Pennsylvania, the executive While I feel compelled to point out to ballot curing; ignoring signature vali- branch and judicial branch, cheat on my colleagues that the same voters dation requirements; using unsecured the Constitution; and that is what they who sent them to the 117th Congress drop boxes; accepting ballots beyond did here. cast their votes for the President by the deadlines; and interfering with cer- But there is more evidence. But wait, marking the very same ballots, which tified poll watcher access, among oth- there is more. The Democrat secretary were read by the very same ballot scan- ers. of the Commonwealth eroded integrity ners and monitored by the very same These actions were taken by the by dismissing signature authentication election workers. Yet our colleagues Commonwealth’s Governor and sec- on a ballot. who signed the brief only want to in- retary of state where the Pennsylvania Does anyone here believe the Penn- validate the Presidential votes. This is Supreme Court circumvented the au- sylvania legislature would have agreed

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.052 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H102 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 to create a separate system for mail-in are as clear as they are overwhelming. Russian collusion are the same people ballots and in-person ballots? That if The only question that remains is this: trying to discredit hardworking Amer- you mail it in, you don’t need a signa- Will this House reaffirm our fidelity to ican poll watchers who are risking per- ture? But if you vote in person, you do our democracy, or will we end it? jury by signing affidavits confirming and it has to be authenticated? I must concede, Madam Speaker, I massive voter fraud in multiple States. Of course not. The legislature clearly have been naive about one subject. I al- The same fake news who took the wouldn’t have agreed to that. But that ways just assumed our democracy word of Christine Blasey Ford against didn’t stop the usurpation of constitu- would naturally endure, almost as if it Justice Kavanaugh, who her own tional authority. was predestined, I never even ques- friends denied happened, also dismissed Madam Chair, I vigorously support tioned it until the last several years. the sworn under penalty of perjury ac- this objection, and I include in the Two centuries ago, one of our Found- counts from people who witnessed the RECORD the objection to counting the ing Fathers cautioned against this no- election fraud. electoral votes for the State of Arizona tion. John Adams wrote, ‘‘Remember, The same fact-checkers who told you additional signers. democracy never lasts long. It soon that Dominion machines weren’t con- OBJECTION TO COUNTING THE ELECTORAL wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. nected to the internet and couldn’t be VOTES FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA There was never a democracy yet that hacked are the same people telling you ADDITIONAL SIGNERS did not commit suicide.’’ that there has been no voter fraud and Jeff Duncan SC–3 I now realize the wisdom of his no violations of election law. But it has Matt Gaetz FL–1 words. Never again will I take for been proven that these machines are granted our democracy. It must be connected and that they can be hacked. b 0050 jealously defended by every generation. We have heard repeatedly argued Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsyl- Always. that objecting to these ballots is un- vania. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposi- But, Madam Speaker, despite the constitutional and violates the rights tion. alarm, I feel that our democracy has of State legislatures. They would rath- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from been brought to this breaking point, as er us affirm fraud and pass the buck Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- we have seen today. Nonetheless, I still back to States rather than following utes. maintain hope. the process Madison, Hamilton, Jeffer- Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsyl- Growing up in Philadelphia, raised in son, and the Framers of the Constitu- vania. Madam Speaker, tonight, we an immigrant family, I was often tion designed. will not be picking the President, for brought down to visit the historic When States fail to do their job, we the people did that on November 3. sights. Every summer, without fail, we are the last line of defense. Congress is Rather, tonight, in this House, we will would spend a day seeing Independence here for this exact situation. We are decide whether American democracy Hall, Congress Hall, the Liberty Bell. here to be the fail-safe when States survives. Let us be under no illusion. It was at Independence Hall where refuse to protect the people’s votes. These are the stakes. If this objection our Nation was declared free and our By objecting today, we are telling succeeds and the will of 7 million Penn- Constitution born. At the Constitu- the thousands of witnesses who signed sylvania voters is cast aside, it will be tional Convention, the oldest and most affidavits that we have their back, and the end of our representative democ- widely accomplished delegate was Ben- we will not allow local officials who racy. jamin Franklin, one of our greatest violate their own election laws to steal Now, there is no reasonable debate Founding Fathers and my city’s great- this election from those who lawfully about what happened in this election in est citizen. voted. Pennsylvania. Seven million Penn- On the final day, as the last delegates I yield to the gentleman from South sylvanians voted. Joe Biden won by were signing the Constitution, Frank- Carolina (Mr. NORMAN). over 81,000 votes. This was certified in lin pointed to the painted Sun on the Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise 67 counties by bipartisan local-elected back of the Convention chair. Observ- today to support the foundation of our officials, including Republicans. And ing the painters had found it difficult democracy, the Constitution of the every single court, whether the judge is to distinguish a rising Sun from a set- United States of America. This docu- a Democrat or a Republican, has re- ting Sun, Franklin went on to say: ment is the fabric and the solid founda- affirmed this outcome. I have often, during the course of this ses- tion of a nation we call America, which The objectors, however, claim we do sion, looked at that Sun without being able has been a beacon of hope and a shining not know the will of the people because to tell whether it was rising or setting. But city on the hill for over 230 years. the election in Pennsylvania was some- now, at length, I have the happiness to know The words of our Constitution, as how conducted corruptly. Much of it is a rising Sun. spelled out in Article II, Section 1, are their objection centers around the Madam Speaker, on a day like today, very clear when it comes to our elec- State law passed in 2019 known as Act when a mob has stormed the Capitol, tions: mandating, not suggesting, not 77 that gives voters the option of ex- and some Members are threatening the implying, but mandating that State panded mail-in voting. Objectors are core of our democracy, it can be hard legislatures, not secretaries of State, alleging that this law was somehow a to tell whether for American democ- not State commissions, not county of- brilliant plot by Democrats to dis- racy the Sun is rising or setting. But I ficials, not Governors, but State legis- advantage Republicans and rig elec- maintain my faith that tonight, by an lators prescribe the time, place, and tions. This is laughable. overwhelming bipartisan majority in manner of holding elections. Here are the facts. Act 77 was a Re- Congress, we will uphold the will of This mandate was not followed in the publican-led effort in a Republican- ‘‘We the People,’’ and our democracy great State of Pennsylvania. If we controlled legislature. Literally, every will live. allow this fraud to go on—in a football single Republican in the Pennsylvania Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Madam analogy, the moving of the goalpost Senate voted for it. And in the state- Speaker, I rise to support the objec- after the ball has been kicked and in house, the vote among Republicans was tion. the air—the preview of coming attrac- 105–2. The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman tions will be future elections that do Here is what the Republican speaker from Georgia is recognized for 5 min- not adhere to honest and open voting of the Pennsylvania House had to say utes. by ‘‘We the People’’ and the loss of our about Act 77: This bill does not benefit Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. I would great Republic. one party or the other or any one can- like to point out that all the cases that As a lady told me not long ago, don’t didate or single election. It serves to have been thrown out have been spit in my face and tell me it is rain- preserve the integrity of every election thrown out on standing, not the evi- ing. This is exactly what has happened and lift the voice of every voter in the dence of voter fraud. I would also like to the American people in this elec- Commonwealth. to point out the same people who, for 4 tion. In the words of Winston Church- So there is no question as to the years, have failed to find a shred of evi- ill, when Great Britain was under siege facts surrounding this election. They dence to convict President Trump of by Germany, he said: There will be a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.053 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H103 time when doing your best is not good In fact, contrary to the assertion of the Pennsylvania Constitution and fol- enough. We must do what is required. my colleague from Georgia across the lowed the letter of the law; but, unfor- And we must do what is required to aisle, not a single lawsuit in Pennsyl- tunately, that sentiment is not shared save this great Republic. vania alleged fraud. The gentlewoman across the Commonwealth. Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise in may not be aware of this, but allega- Today, my objection is not about opposition. tions of fraud require specificity and voter fraud; it is grounded on unconsti- The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman detail, and no lawyer could risk his or tutional measures taken by bureau- from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 her license to make such false claims. crats and partisan justices in the Com- minutes. I am heartened that several of the monwealth of Pennsylvania that have Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, as terri- country’s leading Republicans, includ- unlawfully changed how this election fying as today was here in the people’s ing Senate Republican Majority Leader was carried out. This potentially House, it was, thankfully, fairly short MCCONNELL, Senator MITT ROMNEY, changed the outcome and certainly in duration. In contrast, the pain and and former Republican Speaker of the caused millions of our States’ voters to fear that so many Americans are expe- House Paul Ryan, have spoken out question the election results. Other riencing this year has been long and against this political stunt. speakers have outlined this issue. continuous to this very moment. Senator ROMNEY said: ‘‘The egregious In brief, the Pennsylvania State Leg- Rather than pitting Americans ploy to reject electors may enhance the islature, in 2019, passed a bipartisan against Americans, as we are here, we political ambition of some, but dan- election law reform bill, and then the should be working to ensure rapid dis- gerously threatens our democratic Re- partisan Pennsylvania Supreme Court tribution of vaccines and adequate re- public.’’ took it upon themselves to rewrite lief to Americans who are struggling And as former Republican Represent- that law just 7 weeks before the elec- economically because of this horrific ative Charlie Dent from my district tion. They unlawfully legislated from pandemic. But we are not doing that. said, the claim by the President of the bench and made substantive Instead, we have witnessed a stunning voter fraud in our State ‘‘was simply changes to the law, including allowing assault on our democracy itself. reprehensible; the truth is that he sup- for unsecured drop boxes and ordering This challenge is not an act of patri- pressed his own vote by discouraging that ballots received after the election otism. The position of the objectors is mail-in voting.’’ be counted, among other things. completely incompatible with patriot- And as Pennsylvania State Senator The Pennsylvania Secretary of State ism. Our country is defined by her great Gene Yaw, also a Republican, has said: took it even further. Her unilateral, people, and our democracy is defined ‘‘My question is, if the mail-in voting unconstitutional changes resulted in above all else by our Constitution, a of Act 77 was so bad, why did The counties treating ballots differently so Constitution that these individuals Trump Organization send out a mail-in that some voters had the opportunity want to ignore because they have de- ballot application to every registered to change mail-in ballots to correct de- cided that their judgment, the judg- Republican in the State?’’ ficiencies, while in other counties, Today, I am thinking of all of the ment of a small minority of partisan their ballots simply were not counted. people who took the time to do their As Members of Congress, we serve as elites, should somehow override that of civic duty and vote, many standing in a voice for our constituents. This is the the more than 155 million Americans long lines or painstakingly researching one time I have a voice in this process, who participated in this election. That, how to vote by mail correctly. and I cannot simply look away when my friends, is not democracy. We reject these disgraceful attacks tens of thousands of my constituents b 0100 on the voters of Pennsylvania and this have real and legitimate concerns We should all remember this coun- attempt to throw out their votes. about how this election was conducted try’s founding was a rejection of mon- To those in this Chamber who may in Pennsylvania. archy, a rejection of the notion that cynically believe that stoking the In fact, I think an inadequate re- any one person could be all-powerful. forces of disinformation and division sponse to those concerns by Pennsyl- Our commitment to self-determination may be worth a short-term benefit to vania officials is one of the major prob- is what gave rise to our Declaration of their political careers, I would urge se- lems. Simple measures like audits Independence and our Constitution. It rious self-reflection. should be routine and random and sup- is why our Founders made the choice Our democracy is one of the most ported by both parties, and I believe to build a country anchored in respect precious resources of the American they are critical for restoring faith in for the rule of law rather than one tied people, protected against enormous Pennsylvania’s elections moving for- to the whims of men. It is why we have odds and at great sacrifice by each gen- ward. free and fair elections that allow us to eration of servicemembers and every- The bottom line for my constituents vote out those who hold office. day citizens who put their lives on the is that Pennsylvania’s officials, at all I am proud to join the vast majority line to build a freer and more equitable levels, failed to conduct a uniform and of my colleagues in both Chambers, Re- nation. They deserve better than what legal election, and for that reason, publicans and Democrats alike, in is happening in this Chamber today. they inappropriately and unlawfully making it clear that our democracy is Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I certified the State’s electors. bigger than any of us. rise today in support of the objection. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance Let’s be clear: Joe Biden and KAMALA The SPEAKER. The gentleman from of my time to the gentleman from HARRIS won a victory of 306 electoral Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- Pennsylvania (Mr. KELLER), my col- votes in the electoral college, the same utes. league. margin that President Trump won by Mr. SMUCKER. Madam Speaker, I Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I in 2016 when he called it a landslide. would like to start by making two thank the gentleman from Pennsyl- Nearly 7 million of my fellow Penn- basic points: vania (Mr. SMUCKER) for yielding. sylvanians braved this devastating Number one, individual States who Madam Speaker, the violence that pandemic and economic crisis to cast administer elections must ensure that occurred in the Capitol today was their ballots, culminating in a total they are conducted fairly, uniformly, shameful, unacceptable, and un-Amer- turnout of more than 70 percent, the and in accordance with the law; and ican. We are a nation of laws, not law- highest in the history of the Common- Number two, every American wants lessness, and we will never give in to wealth of Pennsylvania. And nation- to be, and deserves to be, confident the mob. wide, we saw record-breaking turnout. that our elections are secure and that Thank you to the men and women of Both in Pennsylvania and nationally, all eligible legal votes are counted ac- our Capitol Police and other law en- the President’s efforts to overturn the curately and in a transparent manner. forcement agencies who heroically de- election results in the courts failed re- And I will say this. In my district in fended this building. soundingly, with many of the strongest Lancaster and York Counties, I think The criminal behavior we witnessed rebukes coming from judges the Presi- that occurred. I am very proud of my today does not erase the facts before dent himself appointed. county election officials, who upheld us.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.056 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H104 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 I am objecting to the certification of Instead of using this time to dispute b 0110 Pennsylvania’s electoral votes because the results of our fair and lawful elec- Together, they exceeded their au- Governor Tom Wolf, Secretary of State tion, we should be spending this time thority by extending the deadline for Kathy Boockvar, and the Pennsylvania making sure vaccines are quickly given absentee ballots and by waiving signa- Supreme Court violated the State leg- to essential workers and our most vul- ture requirements for those ballots. islature’s clear constitutional author- nerable communities, that people are In their haste to make these changes, ity to set election proceedings. getting housing. the secretary and the court created Under the Pennsylvania Constitu- We should look at rental assistance. two different and unequal standards for tion, only the General Assembly has We should ensure that that is avail- voters. Pennsylvanians who chose to the power to set election law. able. vote in person still had to have their Additionally, Article II of the U.S. Small businesses, the engines of our signatures verified at their polling Constitution explicitly grants State economy, should be getting needed place, but those who chose to vote by legislatures, not the Governor acting grants and loans. mail did not. How is this process fair? alone and not the courts, the explicit That should be our focus. This objection is about Pennsylvania, power to determine the manner of ap- Hospitals desperately need support but it affects every State. As a State pointing Presidential electors. and help. We should be paying atten- Representative of New Mexico, Penn- Pennsylvania’s court unlawfully ex- tion to the needs of hospitals. sylvania’s unconstitutional actions dis- tended the deadline to receive absentee We are in the middle of a pandemic enfranchised my constituents and the and mail-in ballots. Governor Wolf’s where hundreds of thousands of people constituents of my colleagues. It is my administration dismissed signature au- are dying, and we are in a recession duty to give my constituents a voice. thentication procedures for absentee that is putting millions of Americans and mail-in ballots, allowed for the un- Signing these objections raises their at risk of hunger, homelessness, or concerns to the fullest extent my office even administration of the election both. It is time we start legislating for across counties, and unilaterally allows. the people. I, again, condemn in the strongest changed Pennsylvania’s election code One last person I want to mention is terms the violence that took place here without the State legislature’s con- our junior Senator, Senator TOOMEY. yesterday. We have many issues to sent. There are very few things that he and The Constitution is clear and the solve, including reforms to restore all I agree on, but he has stated very Americans’ faith in the fairness of our facts are indisputable. clearly that Joe Biden has won this This past weekend, each Member of elections. I look forward to those seri- election. He has stood up on the Senate this body stood in this Chamber and ous civil and peaceful debates. floor and he has stated that. swore an oath to protect and defend Madam Speaker, I yield the balance So it needs to be very clear that the our Constitution. I intend to fulfill my of my time to the gentleman from late Governor Thornburgh; Albert constitutional oath which the people of South Carolina (Mr. DUNCAN). Schmidt, the commissioner; and our Pennsylvania have entrusted in me. My Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, this current junior Senator all have one objection is grounded in the Constitu- process we are going through today tion and rule of law. thing in common: democracy first, par- isn’t about personalities. This isn’t If we allow the Governor to violate tisanship second. Let’s keep that in about Joe Biden or Donald Trump. As the constitutional rights of the Gen- mind. hard as some try to paint it that way, eral Assembly, what is stopping him Ms. HERRELL. Madam Speaker, I let me say that names and personal- from violating the constitutional rise in support of the objection. ities don’t matter. This is, gravely, rights of the 12.8 million Pennsylva- The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes about the Constitution of the United nians our State legislators were elected the gentlewoman from New Mexico for States. to represent? 5 minutes. Almost 20 years ago, after the at- Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise Ms. HERRELL. Madam Speaker, this tacks on 9/11, Americans were per- in opposition to the objection. is not how I imagined my first speech suaded to give up some of their con- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from in the House of Representatives or my stitutional liberties. Using the jus- Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- first week to be in Washington. tification of that global crisis, the ter- utes. The violence that occurred in this rorist attacks on that fateful day, Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rep- building yesterday is reprehensible and America saw the erosion of their lib- resent the Third District of Pennsyl- inexcusable. I am appalled by anyone erties for the safety and security many vania, which includes part of Philadel- who assaults our Nation’s law enforce- felt they may receive through the USA phia, the birthplace of America. It was ment officers. PATRIOT Act and other resulting in Philadelphia that the Constitution I swore an oath on Sunday to support processes too many felt would keep us of the United States was written and and defend the Constitution of the safe from another attack here on our signed, the very Constitution that we United States. We are here today de- shore. are all sworn to uphold as Members of layed, but not deterred, to debate a This year, using the justification of the House of Representatives. constitutional question and follow a the global pandemic, COVID–19, we We are elected to serve our constitu- constitutional process. once again saw our Nation’s Constitu- ents, and it is our job to represent The Constitution gives State legisla- tion violated. You see, the Constitu- them and their interests in Congress. tors, not State executives or judges, tion is clear in Article II, Madam Yesterday, I spoke to the son of the the sole authority to determine how Speaker, that the power and duty to late Dick Thornburgh, who is a two- their State selects Presidential elec- set the manner of national elections time Republican Governor of Pennsyl- tors. rests solely with the State legislatures. vania and was Attorney General under Nobody disputes that in Pennsyl- That power doesn’t rest with us. That President Ronald Reagan and Presi- vania, as well as in other States, rules power didn’t rest in the hands of dent Bush. His son stressed to me that and regulations were changed by execu- unelected county election officials, sec- his father would have wanted the rule tive fiat or judicial edict. retaries of state, or a supreme court of law to prevail regardless of the polit- These changes were significant and but, rather, in the hands of the State ical outcome, because he cared more irregular. They included changes to legislatures, which pass laws setting about the safeguarding of democracy vote-by-mail deadlines, identity verifi- the manner of elections held in their than partisanship. cation requirements, and other ballot States. In addition, Al Schmidt, who was a handling practices. This year, using the extraordinary Republican commissioner of elections, In Pennsylvania specifically, the circumstance of the COVID–19 pan- said, when Philadelphia certified its re- Democrat Secretary of the Common- demic, we witnessed these duly passed sults on November 23: ‘‘I’m proud that wealth and the Democrat-controlled laws circumvented and usurped time the birthplace of our Republic held the Pennsylvania Supreme Court usurped and again, not by having the laws most transparent and secure election the constitutional authority of the changed in the respective State legisla- in the history of Philadelphia.’’ State legislature. tive bodies, but those laws arbitrarily

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.058 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H105 and unilaterally changed by county so too must the votes for President- truth. They inspire confidence and clerks; secretaries of state; and, in this elect Biden. unity rather than sowing division and case of Pennsylvania, an elected su- We have also heard today concerns strife. There is a striking parallel be- preme court, which is supposed to in- about mail-in ballots. I am not a law- tween our nascent country and what terpret the law, not make law. yer, but I am an engineer and, there- they endured in Valley Forge and what When those nonlegislative entities fore, a student of numbers. It wasn’t we are enduring right now: A hard win- change the laws without getting the just Democrats who voted by mail. It ter of division, illness running ramp- general assemblies to change the law, was not a free-for-all, as it was de- ant, and an uncertain future. in my opinion, the resulting ballots scribed earlier. Madam Speaker, 600,000 Today, our country’s resolve is being cast, either by mail or in person, those Republicans in Pennsylvania across the tested, and I know that we will pass ballots were illegal under the law. State voted by mail. By questioning this test together and be made strong- Illegal ballots should not be counted. the election results, you are telling er. We now have the opportunity and Therefore, the resulting electoral votes those Pennsylvanians that the hours the responsibility to do that tonight by should be considered invalid. they spent in line to cast their ballot upholding the will of the people, by What bothers me is that so many of or the trip they took to the post office voting to certify the results of this you are okay with that, that so many in the middle of a pandemic just didn’t electoral college and by moving for- Americans, because their person won, matter. ward with a servant heart and a com- you are okay with the manner in which Alan Novak is a man who served as mon resolve to preserve this great ex- that victory was gained. the chair of the Republican Party in periment that is the United States of It is politics. Look, I get it. But we Pennsylvania for nearly a decade. I will America. didn’t swear an oath to play politics. say that again. The Chair of the Repub- Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in We swore an oath to the United States lican Party of Pennsylvania for a dec- support of the objection. Constitution. As George Washington ade is one of those voters I am talking The SPEAKER. The gentleman from said: The Constitution is the guide about in Pennsylvania. He lives in my Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. which I will never abandon. district, and he split his ticket. He Mr. BABIN. It is with great pride and Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Speaker, I voted for me as his Member of Congress a profound sense of responsibility that rise in opposition to the objection. and also for President Trump. And he I object to the 2020 election in the The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman eloquently said: State of Pennsylvania. from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 What makes America great, exceptional, I am very proud to stand alongside minutes. and enduring is our commitment to our gov- fellow patriots who have pushed back Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Speaker, ernment of laws, our orderly constitutional against a fraudulent and criminal elec- first, I do want to acknowledge the process that settles our election disputes, tion process—a process that was the devastating events of the last 12 hours and our peaceful transfer of power with re- antithesis to the very rule of law that spect and civility. It is easy when it is pretty governs these United States. and to express my deep appreciation and the outcome is not controversial. But for those who have worked to secure when it is not pretty and there is con- At the same time, standing here to- this building and safeguard our democ- troversy, then it is even more important night is surreal because this is a crit- racy. On behalf of my colleagues, we that we respect, honor, and abide by our re- ical juncture that will undoubtedly de- are all grateful for your service. vered and tested process for the orderly termine the survivability of this great I ran for this office on a platform of transfer of power. Perhaps that may be all Republic. civility and decency, and many of my that we can agree on, and it is the need for Our free and fair election process— colleagues and constituents know that grace, respect, and civility. and by extension, the people’s trust in I am a third-generation veteran, and I So I ask my colleagues across the its legitimacy—is what has separated grew up in a military household. aisle: Are you willing to disenfranchise us as a nation. A process that we have people like Mr. Novak and the more shared with the world, its moral force. b 0120 than 400,000 people in Pennsylvania’s A process that now, sadly, has been Madam Speaker, what you may not Sixth District? bastardized by those more interested in know, though, is that I grew up in a di- Perhaps some of the independent and the maintenance of power than they vided household. Throughout my child- pragmatic spirit that is so prevalent are in the free and open voice of the hood, one parent voted Democrat and among voters in my community comes American people. the other Republican. In my purple from the history of the place that we If I remember correctly, Democrats household, I learned that duty to coun- call home. Many Americans have vis- were calling for transparency in 2000 try was far more important than party ited Philadelphia and our historic and 2004, when George W. Bush was allegiance. With each election, my fa- sites, but very few make it out to my elected; and again in 2016, when Presi- ther would say: ‘‘And when the election community, which is the home of Val- dent Trump took office. is done, we salute smartly and we carry ley Forge. Here, General George Wash- Where are you now? on.’’ ington led the Continental Army to I ask this, Madam Speaker: What do Now I live in and I serve in a commu- winter quarters. The war had not been you have to lose by having a thorough nity that has a lot in common with the going well for our young soldiers, and investigation to determine the validity home that I grew up in. It, too, is a that winter was harder still. It was bit- of these votes? purple place that honors civility and terly cold, and food shortages and Why not encourage an investigation decency. Pennsylvania’s Sixth District smallpox were abundant. Many people to relieve the concerns of half of the is, in many ways, a microcosm of the died. people in this country? Commonwealth and of our Nation. Our We remember what happened there If you are so convinced that Biden voter registration in Chester County is because it was a test of our endurance, was elected legitimately, what do you 40–40–20, R, D, and I. Voters across my a demonstration of devotion to mission have to fear? district commonly split their ticket, and to our country over ourselves. If there was no fraud, simply show us some voting for President-elect Biden Coming out of that awful winter expe- the proof. Investigate it. Validate it. while also voting down the ballot for rience, our troops emerged better This isn’t about one candidate versus Republicans for our State legislature. trained, united, and ultimately vic- another. This is about upholding the What some of my colleagues are ar- torious. In those harsh, dark times, principles that are indispensable to the guing today is that those very ballots they found their common ground and existence of the democratic Republic are illegitimate. My colleagues cannot their fortitude. that we are so fortunate to call home. honestly believe that. In fact, just this Just like then, it is in these trying I have no doubt that there was wide- week they joined me on the House floor moments when we learn who our lead- spread election fraud this past Novem- to be sworn in to this hallowed body, ers truly are. They are the ones who ber, and I am not alone. I stand here and they trusted that the votes cast in don’t just represent the people or give today speaking for 75 million Ameri- their favor were legitimate. And they orders or ready us for a fight. They are cans whose voice was unconstitution- are right. If those votes counted, then those who educate and who speak ally silenced.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.060 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H106 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 To you, the silenced, I say this: I will Ms. DEAN. Madam Speaker, this is a The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman continue to fight for you. You have sad day for America—a day of shame, a from Florida is recognized for 5 min- been heard. For more than 240 years, day of ignominy, an attack on this utes. tyranny has sought to extinguish the Capitol, an attack on our country. Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, as light of freedom. Madam Speaker, our words matter. a new Representative here, I did not As Ronald Reagan said before: Free- Mobs, thugs, insurrectionists, domestic envision my first speech on the House dom is a fragile thing, and it is never terrorists attacked our government floor to be this, here tonight, but rath- more than one generation away from with the aim of attacking our free and er, a tribute to our first responders and extinction. fair elections. frontline workers who have been a The Constitution and the Bible on Make no mistake, these terrorists shining light in an otherwise tough which it stands is stronger than the came armed, armed with false flags; year for us all. cheap tyrannical tactics of those who armed with hate; armed with weapons; After the events tonight, I am espe- seek to destroy it. and, tragically, armed with lies force- cially grateful for our men and women Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- fed to them by those at the highest who put service above self, confronting tleman from North Carolina (Mr. level of government, including some lawlessness and danger while pro- BUDD). from the legislative and, yes, the exec- tecting this very Chamber, its Mem- Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, mob vio- utive branches. Incited by the one at bers, and our constitutional Republic. lence is not representative of our coun- the highest level of government, they As a Member of the people’s House, try or of this building. The American attacked people, property, this Capitol, and the wife of a first responder, thank people—at least the ones who are still this cathedral of democracy. you to our law enforcement here today. up watching right now—have seen this Words matter. In his last words to But, especially, after tonight’s unac- body return to a peaceful debate. And our Nation and to all of us here, our ceptable breach of the people’s House, I that is the American way. So let’s get dear colleague, John Lewis, wrote last am furthermore resolved in the fact back to that debate and let’s talk for a July: ‘‘Democracy is not a state. It is that we, as representatives of the peo- moment about Pennsylvania. an act.’’ And each generation has an ple, must take a stand for every Ameri- For decades, absentee voting was re- obligation to preserve its institutions. can’s right to a free and fair election as served for members of the military and Democracy is a series of acts, acts by guaranteed by the Constitution. citizens who are medically or phys- you and by me, by citizens, one build- Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the ically unable to get to the polls. But in ing upon the other and another—not Constitution explicitly rests the time 2019, Pennsylvania dramatically in- acts that we have heard and seen and and manner of our elections in the creased the amount of ballots that suffered today, words and acts to incite hands of our State legislatures. How- would be cast in the Presidential elec- violence, acts that tear at the very fab- ever, State law in the 2020 election was tion through expanded, no-excuse, ric of our democracy. modified or circumvented without ap- mail-in voting. Madam Speaker, yet, I have hope. proval of the State legislature. These On September 17, Pennsylvania’s We, too, are armed. We are armed with actions are in clear violation of the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court the facts. We are armed with the truth. Constitution, specifically Article II, violated the Constitution by extending We are armed with the love of our Section 1, Clause 2, which grants State the deadline to receive mail-in ballots. country. We are armed with our sworn legislatures the sole authority to es- Article II states that legislatures, not oaths. And we are armed with our pre- tablish how State Presidential electors the courts, determine the time, man- cious Constitution. are appointed. ner, and place of their States’ elec- We have faced tyranny and insurrec- These changes, along with other elec- tions. But Pennsylvania’s high court tion before. We are here tonight to her- tion irregularities throughout the 2020 directed the State officials to assume ald to America and to the world: We election, require me, as a Member of that non-postmarked ballots were re- will defend our democracy, and we will this body, to object to the certification ceived on time without any evidence endure. of these electoral votes, just as my col- that they were sent before election Madam Speaker, when I came into leagues across the aisle have objected day. work this morning, as I was preparing to every Republican Presidential elec- On October 23, while early voting was to come to the floor, I read Tom Fried- tion over the last 20 years. already underway, the State supreme man’s op-ed, which began with the Tonight, as we undertake the very court ruled that election officials did words from the Gospel of Mark: For serious responsibility of debating these not have to authenticate signatures for what shall it profit a man if he gain State electoral certifications, I urge mail-in ballots. the whole world but lose his soul? my colleagues to listen earnestly and To sum it up, Pennsylvania officials For what shall it profit any man. with an open mind, remembering that illegally did three critical things: Madam Speaker, I urge my Repub- just 3 days ago, we swore an oath to One, they radically expanded vote by lican colleagues to have the courage to the United States Constitution, not a mail for virtually any reason. uphold their oath, courage like that of political party. Two, they removed restrictions when Congresswoman Margaret Chase Our constituents are counting on us. a ballot can be sent in. Smith, a lifelong Republican and the Our country is counting on us. Our Three, they removed signature verifi- cation on those very ballots. first in her party to speak out against children are counting on us, and we Just this week, the Pennsylvania McCarthyism. Putting duty over fear, cannot let them down. Senate pleaded with Members of this she said: ‘‘I do not want to see the Re- Madam Speaker, in December, 25 of body to delay certification until the publican Party ride to political victory my freshman colleagues and I sent you Supreme Court resolves these disputes. on the Four Horsemen of Calumny— a letter imploring you to investigate The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear. these election irregularities. To date, violated their own constitution. They Surely, we Republicans are not that we have not received a response. That violated the U.S. Constitution. They desperate for victory.’’ brings us to today. My colleagues across the aisle have opened the door for thousands of un- Madam Speaker, for today, we have verifiable ballots. seen the cost of victory by such means. repeatedly invoked our Founding Fa- Because they failed to guarantee the It shook the very walls of this building. ther, Benjamin Franklin, who fa- integrity of their votes, I cannot con- Our colleagues know there is no truth mously said: We have a republic, if we sent to accepting Pennsylvania’s elec- to this challenge. can keep it. toral votes. For what shall it profit a man. I say, let’s keep it. Madam Speaker, it has been my sol- Madam Speaker, it is with that senti- b 0130 emn honor to participate in this sad ment in mind that I ask my colleagues Ms. DEAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in day. I pray for our country. to defend the power vested in this leg- opposition to the challenge. Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I islative branch by the U.S. Constitu- The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman rise to support the objection of the tion and reject the certification of the from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 electoral certification of the Common- electoral votes of the State in ques- minutes. wealth of Pennsylvania. tion. It is our responsibility to have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.062 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H107 courage in the face of adversity and Madam Speaker, I wanted to point Mr. GRIFFITH. Yes, ma’am. The bring integrity back to this process. out to all these great lovers and sup- point of order would be that the gen- Madam Speaker, I yield the balance porters of the Pennsylvania legislature tleman said that there were lies on this of my time to the gentleman from the that it was the Republican Pennsyl- floor here today, looking over in this great State of Texas (Mr. ARRINGTON). vania legislature that passed a Repub- direction. I ask that those words be Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I lican bill that they all voted for and taken down. thank the gentlewoman from the great supported that set up the system under We may have a disagreement on mat- State of Florida (Mrs. CAMMACK), my which we just ran the election, and ters, but— friend. that the reason the President lost was The SPEAKER. Madam Speaker, as Americans, we because he was not as popular as other The gentleman’s demand is not time- believe governments receive their just Republicans in our State. He got fewer ly. powers from the consent of the gov- votes than all of them. The gentleman from Pennsylvania erned. That sacred transaction can Madam Speaker, I wanted to lay out will proceed. only happen legitimately in a free and all this evidence because I thought it Mr. LAMB. Madam Speaker, the fact fair election. was a sign of respect for my colleagues is, at the end of the day, it hurts. It Election integrity is the very life- and for all the Americans out there hurts them; it hurts this country. It blood of our unrivaled system of self- who don’t know who to trust. I was hurts all of us. But the fact is that the government. The law and the Constitu- raised on that. I was raised on that re- people have made this country work by tion gave Congress not only the au- spect, which makes this a hard speech not giving in. thority but, I believe, the responsi- for me to give. Because to do this with Go ahead. Shout it out. bility to serve as the last check on the One last thing to say, Madam Speak- any kind of honesty means admitting integrity of our Presidential elections. er. And I thank you for your patience. and declaring in this House that these We either believe, according to statute, All people need to know tonight, objections don’t deserve an ounce of re- that every elector was ‘‘lawfully cer- Madam Speaker— spect—not an ounce. tified’’ and ‘‘regularly given,’’ or we Madam Speaker, the truth hurts. But don’t. b 0140 the fact is this: We want this govern- States certainly have broad dele- A woman died out there tonight, and ment to work more than they want it gated powers to administer Federal you are making these objections. to fail. elections, but they still must operate Let’s be clear about what happened After everything that has happened within the bounds of the Constitution. in this Chamber today. Invaders came today, we want that more than ever. Despite receiving numerous peti- in for the first time since the War of Know that. Know that, the people tions—to the detriment of the country, 1812. They desecrated these Halls and watching at home. We want this gov- I might add—the Supreme Court failed this Chamber and practically every ernment to work. We will make it to answer the most important question inch of ground where we work. For the work. They will not make it fail. of the 2020 election: Can entities out- most part, they walked in here free. A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY side of the State legislatures make lot of them walked out free. There Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, par- election law? wasn’t a person watching at home who liamentary inquiry. The plain language of Article II of didn’t know why that was—because of The SPEAKER. The gentleman will the Constitution answers the question the way that they look. state his parliamentary inquiry. unequivocally no. My point, Madam Speaker, is this: Mr. PERRY. When is the appropriate The decisions made today in these Enough has been done here already to time to ask that the words be stricken, Chambers are of the utmost con- try to strip this Congress of its dignity, be taken down? sequence, and the horrible precedent and these objectors don’t need to do The SPEAKER. Immediately after that will be established if we don’t act anymore. the words are uttered. For what purpose does the gentleman will have lasting impact on our beloved We know that that attack today from Louisiana seek recognition? Republic. didn’t materialize out of nowhere. It Madam Speaker, this proceeding is Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam was inspired by lies, the same lies that not just about the integrity of this Speaker, I rise in support of the objec- you are hearing in this room tonight. election. It is about ensuring the integ- tion. And the Members who are repeating rity of all future elections. The SPEAKER. The gentleman is I take no pleasure or pride in making those lies should be ashamed of them- recognized for 5 minutes. my objection today, nor do I wish for selves. Their constituents should be Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam any State electors to be disqualified. ashamed of them. Speaker, my, my, my. Let us take a However, based on the law, the Con- We know what is going to happen as deep breath, shall we? stitution, and my conscience, I cannot soon as I walk away, what has hap- Madam Speaker, the cornerstone of support certifying votes from any pened all night tonight, what will con- the strength of our American Republic State that violated the Constitution. tinue to happen. They will take these is not only the peaceful transition of Madam Speaker, this decision is not same symbols, these same concepts, power; it is the peaceful transition of a about loyalty to a President. It is smuggle them into their arguments, lawful power. It is within the param- about my fidelity to the Constitution and make the same arguments. I want eters of our oath, indeed, is our duty to and the oath that I swore. people at home, anyone who is still inquire if we suspect that perhaps our Mr. LAMB. Madam Speaker, I rise in watching, to know that these argu- elections have been compromised. opposition. ments are not for them; they are for Much has been said about what we do The SPEAKER. The gentleman from you. not know. What we do not know calls Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- None of the evidence we wanted to for investigation. utes. discuss here tonight will change their What we do know is that, in the dis- Mr. LAMB. Madam Speaker, I came opinions or what they are about to say. puted States, Governors, secretaries of here tonight prepared to talk about the But you need to know that is not the state, or local election commissions place I represent and how well the end. It is not as if there is nothing we acted in violation of the Election Democratic and Republican county of- can do because of that. And if there Clause of the U.S. Constitution, where- ficials ran our election. I wanted to was, I don’t think this Nation would in State legislatures are granted the point out that in my home county of have made it to almost 250 years. sole authority to determine how Presi- Allegheny County, in the place they The fact is, Madam Speaker, that at dential electors are appointed. It is were counting the votes, there were 31 the end of the day, people— that simple. State executive officials video cameras—31—in the same place, POINT OF ORDER usurped the constitutionally vested au- just showing people counting votes, Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, thority of State legislatures within every single one of them on paper, with point of order. several of the sovereign States. representatives from both campaigns The SPEAKER. The gentleman will Now, why we are involved in Con- watching. state his point of order. gress? Because the Founders gave us a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.064 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H108 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 narrow role. If we suspect that an elec- The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman how claims of election misconduct are tion was compromised in a sovereign from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 made. It is easy to make wild claims of State, then we have a role in the seat- minutes. election fraud on cable television or ing of those electors and the counting. Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I Twitter, but those claims are not facts. America is not a confederacy of started this day disheartened that our And while there may be no immediate States. We are a union of States. We colleagues were going to drag us consequences for misleading the public are a representative republic. There- through this cynical political charade with such statements, there is cer- fore, each sovereign State has a deep of objecting to duly certified electoral tainly a penalty for misleading the obligation to follow the writ of its own college votes, but I was ready and courts. election law during a Federal election. eager to defend Pennsylvania’s elec- A lawyer faces fines, jail, and loss of We would not be having this con- tions and the will of Pennsylvania’s his or her license for making frivolous versation if our objections were solely voters. or false claims. The lawyers for the rested upon the elections of sovereign Never did I expect to be answering Trump campaign never alleged wide- State Governors or State senators and calls from family and friends concerned spread fraud or illegal voting had im- representatives. It is a Federal election for my safety or to have to barricade pacted Pennsylvania’s elections be- for the President and Vice President of myself in an office. But most impor- cause those claims are false. the United States. We certainly have a tant of all, never did I expect to see our When our colleagues indulge in this role, and we should investigate and Capitol overrun by armed insurrection- political theatre and endorse fringe support that role. ists intent on disrupting our govern- conspiracy theories, they may think Madam Speaker, America is an ment at the urging of the President. there are no consequences because they anointed nation, born of imperfect men What happened here today has made know that this time the majorities of driven by perfect intent. May we be me heart-sick for our country, but it the House and Senate will overrule worthy of what it is to be an American, only strengthens my resolve to uphold them. But as the entire world saw what it is to be a representative of the the rule of law and to protect the deci- today, their baseless claims of election American people. sion of Pennsylvania’s voters. fraud do have consequences. They un- May I ask, may we seek the quiet Earlier this week, we raised our dermine faith and respect for our elec- whisper of God’s own voice within us. hands and swore an oath to bear true tions and our government. They chip And I ask my colleagues to consider faith and allegiance to the Constitu- away at the foundation of our constitu- supporting this objection. tion of the United States. But, today, tional Republic and they take a sledge- I yield the balance of my time to the those who are blocking the counting of hammer to the peaceful transfer of gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. VAN electors from Pennsylvania are show- power. It is our job to respect the rule DREW). ing that their allegiance lies not to the Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, be- of law and reject this political charade. Constitution or to their constituents, Finally, I want to offer my deepest fore I start, something I didn’t plan on and many would argue not even to the respect to our Republican colleagues in saying. This is a debate. It is a discus- Republican Party, but to their own po- both the House and the Senate who sion. Everybody has a right to an opin- litical fortunes and the outgoing Presi- have withstood intense political pres- ion. That is American. Because some- dent. sure, and today honor their oath in the one doesn’t agree with your view or Pennsylvania’s voters, not Members rule of law by rejecting these un- your ideas does not mean that they are of Congress, are tasked with choosing founded objections. liars. It means they have a different Pennsylvania’s Presidential electors, Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam view, a different opinion. and particularly not congressmen from Speaker, I rise in favor of the objec- And I think, for God’s sake, as people other States. The people have spoken, tion. watch this or see it or hear it, they ex- and Pennsylvania certified our elec- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from pect more from us than that. We can tors. We must respect our oath here by Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. disagree at a certain level. There is rejecting this unfounded objection to Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam nothing worse than moral pomposity. Pennsylvania’s electoral votes, and not Speaker, I would first like to say to my You know, today was an amazing and substitute Congress’ judgment for that colleagues on the other side of the aisle terrible day. But one thing that we do of the people of Pennsylvania. who said we should be ashamed over know is that our law enforcement pro- Legal challenges to elections are se- here, I am not ashamed, and neither tected lives, and they protected and rious matters, and that is why there is are my colleagues over here. We are ac- preserved our democracy. I watched a place to consider those challenges: In tually proud of what we are doing and firsthand, as I always have, just as I do courtrooms before impartial judges. what we are standing for. So I hope the back home in south Jersey, these brave And Pennsylvania’s legal process has RECORD will show that. men and women put their lives on the worked. The pseudo-legal arguments Yesterday’s cowardly attack on our line to defend all of us. that are being raised by the objectors American democracy was a horrible May God bless the woman who lost here today are not new. Over the past act. While Congress attempted to exe- her life today, and may God bless what 2 months, the President and his allies cute their constitutional duty to de- will always be the greatest Nation in have filed more than 20 lawsuits to bate and vote on this certification of the history of the world: the United challenge the Pennsylvania election. States of America. the electoral college, violence inter- At the core of our country’s great- Those challenges have been rejected in rupted the proceedings in an attempt ness is our democratic system of gov- Federal courts, State courts, appellate to stop the democratic process. ernment. Without faith in the integrity courts, and the United States Supreme Those who committed these acts are of our elections, Americans will not Court. Challenges have been rejected domestic terrorists and should be pros- have faith in our democracy. by judges who are registered Demo- ecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The United States of America is the crats, Republicans, Independents, and And I thank the Capitol Police and all international embodiment of freedom who have been appointed by Demo- of the law enforcement organizations and opportunity, the shining city on a cratic and Republican Presidents. that pushed back against this mob. hill. Free and fair elections have al- And why did they lose all those I can’t help but be reminded of the ways been a hallmark of America’s cases? bravery during the baseball shooting greatness. As Third Circuit Judge Bibas, a on myself and my Republican col- After this past Presidential election, Trump appointee, wrote, ‘‘Free, fair leagues in June of 2017. I thank God approximately 60 million Americans elections are the lifeblood of our de- every day for their presence. have serious doubts about the outcome. mocracy. Charges of unfairness are se- The American people deserve full That is a number that we cannot ig- rious. But calling an election unfair transparency in the electoral process, nore. does not make it so. Charges require with confidence that any irregularities specific allegations and then proof. We and inconsistencies in that process will b 0150 have neither here.’’ be fully investigated. Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I What the Court said points to an im- As a former Texas secretary of state, rise in opposition to the objection. portant distinction about when and I know the electoral process well. And

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.065 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H109 above all, I know what the courts, the What unites each and every genera- ing about Act 77, how the Republicans executive branch, and the elections of- tion of Americans is the idea that in Pennsylvania were falling all over ficials can and cannot do without ap- those who submit themselves to the themselves to pass this law for mail-in proval of the State legislature. During authority of government ought to have voting because they thought it would my tenure, I knew that my authority a voice in that same government. help them. was confined to the powers the legisla- We are Americans here in this Cham- You heard Representative SCANLON ture provided me. If States fail to abide ber and in this country. But what does explaining why there were no allega- by the Constitution and follow their it really mean to be an American? It tions of fraud made in court because a owns laws, it calls into question wheth- means believing in the rule of law. It lawyer going into court and lying to er the votes in Texas, or any other means speaking up in defense of our the court gets his or her ticket to prac- State, are fairly represented. founding principles and in defense of tice law punched. They can be dis- And now, as a duly elected Member of the Constitution. barred. Congress, the Constitution outlines my Being an American means that you Politicians can say anything on cable rights to speak and voice my constitu- are proud of your country but that you TV, but they have to be darn careful ents’ concerns with my vote. It is piv- never beat your chest. And being an when they are in court. So all these big otal that we have free and fair elec- American means that sometimes you TV talkers never alleged fraud in tions in our representative democracy must stand alone while others sit. court. and, more importantly, that we trust Now, obviously, I can’t stand, but Let me tell you about one court case. in the results of those elections. trust me, if I could stand, I would stand It was a case where they brought on In no way is voicing an objection an in defense of our Constitution today. their best legal talent. It was a case attempt to overturn an election. And Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, where they drew as a judge a staunch, when this process is complete and all I rise in opposition. principled, conservative Republican, objections have been heard, I acknowl- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Judge Matthew Brann. He called this edge that we will have a peaceful trans- Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 min- case ‘‘strained legal arguments without fer of power on January 20. utes. merit’’ and ‘‘speculative accusations.’’ Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, Faith in our system must be restored He called it ‘‘like Frankenstein’s mon- I completely agree with my colleague and Americans must be confident that ster,’’ a ‘‘haphazardly stitched to- Representative DWIGHT EVANS, and I their vote matters, and only lawful gether’’ case. remind this Chamber that Pennsyl- votes will be counted. This is a sad day Judge Brann said he ‘‘has no author- vania is the cradle of American democ- in our Nation’s history, but a solemn ity to take away the right to vote of racy. even a single person, let alone millions reminder that our country will not fal- We can’t claim to be the birthplace ter and will not fail. In God we trust. of citizens.’’ of American democracy. That would be On appeal Judge Bibas, a Trump ap- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- a disservice to James Otis, Jr., who, in pointee writing for the Third Circuit, tleman from North Carolina (Mr. 1761, stood up in a Massachusetts agreed. He said: ‘‘Calling an election CAWTHORN). courtroom and argued against the unfair does not make it so. Charges re- Mr. CAWTHORN. Madam Speaker, as King’s writs of assistance. quire specific allegations and then I said in my convention speech, I want But Pennsylvania is the cradle of de- proof. We have neither here.’’ a new generation of Americans to be mocracy. It is where we hosted the So, we have judges—dozens and doz- radicals—to be radicals for freedom signing of the Declaration of Independ- ens of them, Federal judges, State and for liberty, but not radicals for vio- ence and the American Constitution. judges, Democrats, Republicans—turn- lence. I am bitterly disappointed by the It was Pennsylvanians who imme- ing away these challenges. All they protest that happened yesterday. The diately went to battle to defend this ever wanted was evidence. actions of a violent few were cowardly idea of democracy. They went right Here is the number-one rule when and pathetic, and I am not afraid to after Bunker Hill to the Siege of Bos- you go to court: Don’t forget to bring call it out. ton. American riflemen were instru- the evidence with you. The Republican Party is a party of mental at the transformational Battles This objection, in all seriousness, re- limited government. It is the big tent of Trenton and Saratoga in victory. flects the most profound disrespect to party. It is not the party of destruc- And it is Independence Hall where our American judiciary. We Pennsylva- tion. these documents got signed, the Dec- nians understand democracy. It was in Madam Speaker, the oath I took just laration of Independence and the Con- Pennsylvania that our Founders signed days ago demand that I speak out in stitution. the Constitution, and Article II makes defense not of one President or an- You heard my colleagues. You heard it plain as day: We elect our President. other, but in defense of a hallowed doc- Representative HOULAHAN talking We don’t have a king. ument that has safeguarded this Re- about the privations at Valley Forge, If you can undo a Presidential elec- public for over 200 years. The Constitu- all in support of creating democracy. tion simply by alleging that something tion grants power solely to State legis- You heard Representative BRENDAN was amiss, then we don’t have a democ- latures to determine how elections are F. BOYLE quoting John Adams, that de- racy at all. We have something else en- carried out. When other officials who mocracy only dies by suicide. tirely. are not vested with constitutional au- You heard Representative DEAN And if we vote to sustain this objec- thority usurp their role and grind the quoting John Lewis, our hero, who tion, we are not upholding our Con- Constitution under their heel, I must said: Democracy is not a state. It is an stitution at all. We are doing some- object. act. thing else entirely. You heard Representative WILD talk- b 0200 Let’s vote ‘‘no’’ on this objection. ing about this stunning assault on our Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Madam Our Nation is a nation of resilience. democracy. Speaker, I rise in support of this objec- In Valley Forge, George Washington If it seems like we get a little prickly tion. prayed for a republic to be formed from in Pennsylvania about assaulting de- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from the ashes of a monarchy. At Gettys- mocracy, you are right. We do. Penn- Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes. burg, Americans gave their lives to de- sylvania is the cradle of democracy. Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Madam fend a very simple idea, that the Amer- You heard how foolish and empty Speaker, every one of us swore an oath ican democracy that had been earned these challenges are. Representative to support and defend the Constitution with the blood of their forefathers LAMB said it: 31 cameras filming the of the United States against all en- would not perish due to internal divi- place where the count was happening, emies, both foreign and domestic. I sion. resulting in thousands of hours of vid- swore that oath in uniform, and the Then, on the islands of Iwo Jima and eotape—you can see it on YouTube— first part of that oath is the same as Okinawa, American servicemen gave proving there was no fraud. what we swear here in Congress. their lives to defend this Nation’s free- You heard Representatives MICHAEL The last time we needed to defend dom from fascism. F. DOYLE and BRENDAN F. BOYLE talk- our Constitution against a domestic

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The future of telling them the truth: the emperor means one person gets one vote. It our Republic depends on it. has no clothes. doesn’t mean that other citizens can Benjamin Franklin, in the summer of I know many are disappointed in the dilute the votes of other citizens and 1787, during the heated debate to create result, but what legacy are we leaving? deprive them of equal protection. And our sacred Constitution, said these fa- Have our kids seen the day where Ron- it doesn’t mean that a State can do mous words: ‘‘I have lived long, sir, a ald Reagan and Tip O’Neill had a beer that by law or by practice. long time . . . and the longer I live, the over their differences, or have they So whether the law was changed and more convincing proofs I see of this learned that to lead, you must tweet, made it such that there is no way to truth . . . that God governs in the af- and sometimes all in caps, because now provide equal protection—one person, fairs of men. this is Hollywood, fame is the ultimate one vote—or the practice was cor- ‘‘And, if a sparrow cannot fall to the goal? rupted, it cannot stand. Frankly, last- ground without His notice, is it prob- But the first step that we can take to ly, it must guarantee that there is a able that an empire can rise without restore this is to reject the charade, proof that it was equal protection His aid? We have been assured, sir, in and what happens next is up to us. under the law. the sacred writing that ‘Except the We get threatened with primaries; we None of that happened in a number of Lord build it, they labor in vain that worry about the political implications. States. The people of America, tens of build it.’ ’’ But our names will long be forgotten; millions of them who came out to vote, Madam Speaker, I pray that we the legacy of now will exist. have been unheard by this body and by would turn to the God Almighty that The bottom line: If we ask men and far too many courts. We need to show ordained our Nation into being to help women to be willing to give their lives them the respect they are due by the us in our time of need. for this Nation and we talk about their Constitution of the United States of Mr. KINZINGER. Madam Speaker, I service with tears in our eyes, America, the Constitution that we rise in opposition to the objection. shouldn’t we be willing to give up our fought to sustain to end the era of Jim The SPEAKER. The gentleman from jobs to uphold that Constitution? Crow to pass civil rights legislation, Illinois is recognized for 5 minutes. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Mr. KINZINGER. Madam Speaker, as tlewoman from Washington (Ms. HER- Act, and so many other pieces of juris- a student of foreign policy, if somebody RERA BEUTLER). prudence. described to me the actions that we Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Madam Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Will the gen- saw, I would have assumed we were in Speaker, is this a country, is this an tleman yield? a failed nation or a banana republic. Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. I yield to America that we want to give to our Storming past police, some carrying children, a country of lawlessness, of the gentleman from Ohio. the flag of the Confederacy, the mob The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- might makes right, of mob rule? breached this House. Previous generations of Americans tleman needs to maintain his position But there is good news: The democ- have laid down their lives to answer and control of the time. racy held today. ‘‘no’’ to that question. I do not want to Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam For the last few years, misinforma- be the first generation of Americans so Speaker, I rise in support of this objec- tion and fear has been fed into people selfish as to answer ‘‘yes.’’ Nothing is tion and to give voice to the 249,386 for profit and power, and for too many more important to me than preserving men and women of Ohio’s Sixth Con- years, leaders around the country said this constitutional Republic as a Rep- gressional District who have had their nothing and sometimes echoed those resentative. voices silenced by the rogue political messages because of the belief that Article II of the Constitution states: actors in Pennsylvania who unilater- winning, no matter the cost, was worth ‘‘Each State shall appoint, in such ally and unconstitutionally altered everything. voting methods to benefit the Demo- Today, we saw the result of ignoring manner as the legislature thereof may cratic candidate for President. these warning signs. direct, a number of electors,’’ meaning Secretaries of state and State su- People look to Washington to give that it is the duty of the State legisla- preme courts cannot simply ignore the hope. Instead, we simply amplify fears. tures to select their electors in a man- rules governing elections set forth in People look to us for expertise on ner they stipulate. It is right here. the Constitution. They cannot choose what can and can’t be possible. Some- The Founders of our Republic did not to usurp their state legislatures to times it is easier to say what makes want to federalize elections, which is achieve a partisan end, Constitution be people feel good instead of the hard why they reserved the selection of elec- damned. facts. tors to the State legislatures. Madam Speaker, this is a sad day for Today, some Members of Congress Historically, when Congress inter- America. We have seen too many sad argue that we can unilaterally pick the vened in the electoral process, it was in days like this recently: assaults on next President, that with our glorious the Civil War. It was when States were courthouses, police stations, and now wisdom, armed with Twitter, we know sending multiple slates of electors. But the U.S. Capitol. People who disagree better than the American people. Some that is not the case today. with the results of police work and have shown that, if conspiracies are re- Of the six States actively being con- court decisions are wrong to respond peated enough, they become facts and tested, five have Republican legisla- violently. And people who disagree they aren’t disputed. tures; five are controlled by one party; with the results of an election are also Even here in this Chamber after the five have the authority to get together wrong to respond with violence. Thank events today, some speeches have been and to vote to change the elector that you to the Capitol Police and all the shockingly tone-deaf. I have seen peo- they sent to us. law enforcement involved for pro- ple applaud cheap political lines that How many of the six did? Not one. tecting the people’s House today. are embarrassing. Pennsylvania did not get together Madam Speaker, some may question Power and cultural fights have di- and vote as a body and send us a new our motives for raising these objec- vided us so much that they are the ul- slate of electors. They did not send us tions, but other than the Bible, our timate goal now, and sometimes the a bill or a resolution citing injustice at Constitution is the most sacred docu- oath we swear to uphold feels like a the State level. ment known to man because it created prop. None of them. the most free and prosperous nation in People have been lied to by too many Are they cowards? Do they not know human history. for too long. the Constitution? Have they not read

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All the rest of the trim- doomed. at the State level, not throw out the mings you can set aside and just de- According to this propaganda, the electoral college. We do not want to ab- cide: Was it constitutional or unconsti- voters can no longer decide who shall solve the responsibility of the people in tutional? be President. The Congress must decide those States to hold their own law- Act 77 changed Pennsylvania’s voting for them. makers accountable. law and Pennsylvania’s Constitution. At a time when our Nation faces an I, as a Washington State Congress- Now, Pennsylvania could change that unprecedented health crisis, with thou- woman, don’t know better than the law, but it is done through an amend- sands dying every day, with Americans people in Pennsylvania and Georgia. ment to the constitution. It is not just struggling to put food on the table and Folks, we can’t vote to undermine done because somebody would like to keep a roof over their head, who are we the electoral college today. We have to see that done. to say that the man America chose to uphold it. We had a mail ballot that was avail- lead us out of this calamity shall not Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise able. It was an absentee ballot. We did take office? in support of the objection. not have a no-excuse ballot. The coronavirus will claim more The SPEAKER. The gentleman from What did Pennsylvania have to do to American lives than all of the casual- Florida is recognized for 5 minutes. get to the point where they would have ties in World War II. To meet that mo- Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, as you a no-excuse mail-in ballot? ment will require unity, not discord; have heard from both sides of the aisle Number one, in two successive ses- will require an abiding faith in our over and over and over today and to- sions of the Pennsylvania Legislature, country, in our democracy, in our gov- night, Members of Congress take an that had to be passed in that legisla- ernment’s ability to function and pro- oath to protect and defend the Con- tion, one session after the other. If it vide for the needs of its citizens. stitution. passed both times, then it had to be The Members of this body cannot Clearly, the Constitution says State published in every one of the 67 coun- continue to challenge the merits of an legislatures make voting laws, period, ties of Pennsylvania, twice. When that election that was fairly conducted and end of subject. And, clearly, in Penn- was finished, it then had to go before overwhelmingly won by Joe Biden. It sylvania and some other States, non- the Pennsylvania voters to decide must stop. legislators changed those voting laws. whether they wanted the constitution Look at the damage that was No matter who wins or who loses, amended. wrought in this House today, to this those are violations of the Constitution Pennsylvania did the first one. They country today. Is that not enough? whether you, me, or anyone else likes actually did take a vote, and it was Roosevelt said: ‘‘This Nation has it or not. overwhelming. But then they scrapped placed its destiny in the hands and As Congressman DAVIDSON pointed it, and they put it in an omnibus bill. heads and hearts of its millions of free out, over a dozen FBI agents were im- That is an unconstitutional change. men and women. . . . Our strength,’’ he mediately dispatched to fully inves- You cannot do it. It is that simple. concluded ‘‘is our unity of purpose.’’ tigate Bubba Wallace’s garage door. So I love the idea about Washington Let us unite once again in defense of But, sadly, the FBI never responded to crossing the Delaware. I love the idea the greatest hope of freedom-loving my request to investigate massive vot- about Washington going through a ter- people around the world, this precious ing irregularity accusations, like the rible winter. democracy. video footage from Georgia that we all I hate the idea of what we had to go Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- wished we didn’t see. through today. But if oaths don’t mat- tleman from Maryland (Mr. RASKIN). Neither has the Department of Home- ter, and we have all taken them, and if Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, the land Security, the Department of the Constitution doesn’t matter, why baseless attack on Pennsylvania and State, the Postal Inspector General, do we even do it? Why go through this its electors brought to mind, for me, the Director of National Intelligence, charade that somehow we are really the great Tom Paine, the champion of the CIA, and, saddest of all, the U.S. close friends, except when it comes to popular democracy, who came over to Department of Justice. the really important things? America to fight with us in the Revolu- The right to vote is not only a con- We have driven this country apart tion against the king. He lived in stitutional right, it is also a civil right, through the people’s House, and we Philadelphia, where he wrote ‘‘Com- and we must protect it. Running a fair wonder what happened? mon Sense’’ and ‘‘The Age of Reason.’’ and transparent election is not some- The biggest loss on November 3 was And Paine said: In the monarchies, the thing America should run away from. not by Donald Trump; it was the faith king is the law; but in the democracies, It is something we must live up to. and trust that the American people the law will be king. Every eligible American has a right lost in this voting system because we When you think about it, the peace- to have their vote counted and the have allowed it to happen. It is uncon- ful transfer of power is the central con- right to feel confident that his or her stitutional. dition of maintaining democracy under vote was counted, not neutralized by Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise the rule of law. That is why the famous an illegal vote. in opposition. election of 1801 was such a big deal. The SPEAKER. The gentleman from When John Adams relinquished the b 0220 California is recognized for 5 minutes. Presidency to his passionate adversary Otherwise, I fear our Republic is Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, 80 and lifelong friend Thomas Jefferson, doomed. That is why I implore you to years ago today, Franklin Roosevelt it was the first peaceful transition of support a full investigation. delivered his third inaugural address. power between democracies in a demo- Madam Speaker, I yield the balance ‘‘Every realist knows,’’ he said, ‘‘that cratic republic in the history of the of my time to the fine gentleman from the democratic way of life at this mo- world. Pennsylvania (Mr. KELLY). ment is being directly assailed in every And he said, as he rode back to Mas- Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam part of the world—assailed either by sachusetts from Washington, Adams Speaker, this has been an interesting arms, or by the secret spreading of poi- said that he did this because we are a day. And I know we want to debate sonous propaganda by those who would government of laws and not of men. We this, and we brought up all kinds of seek to destroy unity and promote dis- will betray this principle if we trade a things, all kinds of points of history cord in nations still at peace.’’ government of laws for a government and what happened and where it hap- Today, the principal threat to our de- of men or, even worse, a single man, or pened and all the rest of this, and we mocracy comes from a different but an impressionable and dangerous mob

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It cannot Walberg Wenstrup Miller (IL) Rogers (KY) Smith (NJ) Tonko come from abroad. If destruction be Walorski Westerman Miller (WV) Rose Smith (WA) Torres (CA) Weber (TX) our lot, we must, ourselves, be its au- Mooney Rosendale Soto Torres (NY) Wexton thor and its finisher. Moore (AL) Rouzer Webster (FL) Spanberger Trahan Wild Williams (TX) Williams (GA) Madam Speaker, my family suffered Mullin Rutherford Spartz Turner Murphy (NC) Scalise Wilson (SC) Speier Underwood Wilson (FL) an unspeakable trauma on New Year’s Nehls Schweikert Wittman Stanton Upton Womack Eve a week ago. But mine was not the Norman Sessions Wright Stauber Vargas Yarmuth only family to suffer such terrible pain Nunes Smith (MO) Zeldin Steil Veasey Young Obernolte Smith (NE) in 2020. Hundreds of thousands of fami- NOT VOTING—11 lies in America are still mourning NAYS—282 Bilirakis Hastings Steel their family members. Many families Brady Joyce (OH) Tlaib Adams Espaillat Lieu Buck LaTurner Trone represented in the Congress are still Aguilar Evans Lofgren Granger Scott, David mourning their family members who Allred Feenstra Lowenthal have been taken away from us by Amodei Ferguson Luria b 0308 COVID–19, by the opioid crisis, by can- Armstrong Fitzpatrick Lynch Auchincloss Fletcher Mace Ms. CLARKE of New York changed her cer, by gun violence, by the rising fa- Axne Fortenberry Malinowski vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Bacon talities associated with the crisis in Foster Maloney, So the objection was not agreed to. mental and emotional health. Balderson Frankel, Lois Carolyn B. Barr Fudge Maloney, Sean The result of the vote was announced Enough, my beloved colleagues. It is Barraga´ n Gallagher Manning as above recorded. time for America to heal. It is time for Bass Gallego Massie A motion to reconsider was laid on Beatty Garamendi Matsui our families and communities to come the table. together. Let us stop pouring salt in Bera Garbarino McBath Beyer Garcı´a (IL) McCaul The SPEAKER. The Clerk will now the wounds of America for no reason at Bishop (GA) Garcia (TX) McClintock notify the Senate of the action of the Blumenauer all. Let us start healing our beloved Golden McCollum House, informing that body that the land and our wonderful people. Blunt Rochester Gomez McEachin Bonamici Gonzales, Tony McGovern House is now ready to proceed in joint The SPEAKER. All time for debate Bourdeaux Gonzalez (OH) McHenry session with the further counting of has expired. Bowman Gonzalez, McKinley the electoral vote for the President and Boyle, Brendan Vicente McNerney The question is, Shall the objection Vice President. submitted by the gentleman from F. Gottheimer Meeks Brown Green, Al (TX) Meijer f Pennsylvania (Mr. PERRY) and the Sen- Brownley Grijalva Meng ator from Missouri (Mr. HAWLEY) be Buchanan Grothman Mfume FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE agreed to. Bucshon Guthrie Miller-Meeks Bush Haaland Moolenaar SENATE The question was taken; and the Bustos Harder (CA) Moore (UT) A further message from the Senate Speaker announced that the noes ap- Butterfield Hayes Moore (WI) peared to have it. Carbajal Herrera Beutler Morelle by Ms. Byrd, one of its clerks, an- Ca´ rdenas Higgins (NY) Moulton nounced that the Secretary of the Sen- Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Carson Hill Mrvan Speaker, on that I demand the yeas ate shall inform the House of Rep- Cartwright Himes Murphy (FL) resentatives that the Senate is ready and nays. Case Hinson Nadler The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section Casten Hollingsworth Napolitano to proceed in joint session with the fur- Castor (FL) Horsford Neal 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and ther counting of the electoral votes for Castro (TX) Houlahan Neguse President and Vice President. nays are ordered. Cheney Hoyer Newhouse Members are reminded to vote when Chu Huffman Newman (By unanimous consent, Mr. HOYER Cicilline Huizenga Norcross their group is called and to leave the Clark (MA) Jackson Lee O’Halleran was allowed to speak out of order.) Chamber after they have voted. Clarke (NY) Jacobs (CA) Ocasio-Cortez HONORING SHUWANZA GOFF The vote was taken by electronic de- Cleaver Jayapal Omar Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, this vice, and there were—yeas 138, nays Clyburn Jeffries Pallone Cohen Johnson (GA) Panetta would not be the time I would have 282, not voting 11, as follows: Comer Johnson (SD) Pappas chosen, but it may be the last time [Roll No. 11] Connolly Johnson (TX) Pascrell Cooper Jones Payne that we are in session before the new YEAS—138 Correa Kahele Pelosi administration comes in. Aderholt Cole Green (TN) Costa Kaptur Perlmutter We are losing an extraordinary young Allen Crawford Greene (GA) Courtney Katko Peters Arrington Davidson Griffith Craig Keating Phillips woman who has been with me for over Babin DesJarlais Guest Crenshaw Kelly (IL) Pingree a decade and who is our floor leader, Baird Diaz-Balart Hagedorn Crist Khanna Pocan our floor director. All of you know her. Banks Donalds Harris Crow Kildee Porter Her name is Shuwanza Goff, and she Bentz Duncan Harshbarger Cuellar Kilmer Pressley Bergman Dunn Hartzler Curtis Kim (CA) Price (NC) has been with me for a significant pe- Bice (OK) Estes Hern Davids (KS) Kim (NJ) Quigley riod of time. Biggs Fallon Herrell Davis, Danny K. Kind Raskin Shuwanza is a wonderful person. And Bishop (NC) Fischbach Hice (GA) Davis, Rodney Kinzinger Reed Boebert Fitzgerald Higgins (LA) Dean Kirkpatrick Rice (NY) the problem with having wonderful, Bost Fleischmann Hudson DeFazio Krishnamoorthi Richmond talented, good staff is that at an ad- Brooks Foxx Issa DeGette Kuster Rodgers (WA) ministration change, they steal your Budd Franklin, C. Jackson DeLauro LaHood Ross people. It is just a terrible thing that Burchett Scott Jacobs (NY) DelBene Lamb Roy Burgess Fulcher Johnson (LA) Delgado Langevin Roybal-Allard happens. Two of my staff, Shuwanza Calvert Gaetz Johnson (OH) Demings Larsen (WA) Ruiz Goff and Mariel Saez, will be going to Cammack Garcia (CA) Jordan DeSaulnier Larson (CT) Ruppersberger the administration as well, and I have Carl Gibbs Joyce (PA) Deutch Latta Rush Carter (GA) Gimenez Keller Dingell Lawrence Ryan asked the administration to please do Carter (TX) Gohmert Kelly (MS) Doggett Lawson (FL) Sa´ nchez not take any more of my people. Cawthorn Good (VA) Kelly (PA) Doyle, Michael Lee (CA) Sarbanes But Shuwanza Goff has just been ex- Chabot Gooden (TX) Kustoff F. Lee (NV) Scanlon traordinary. Those of you who have Cline Gosar LaMalfa Emmer Leger Fernandez Schakowsky Cloud Graves (LA) Lamborn Escobar Levin (CA) Schiff dealt with her understand how bright Clyde Graves (MO) Lesko Eshoo Levin (MI) Schneider she is.

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