H76 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 software developed or controlled by RECESS of people be on the floor, may I ask Chinese companies. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- how one would make an objection or The pace and pervasiveness of the ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair make a parliamentary inquiry in the spread in the United States of certain declares the House in recess until ap- future if you are not on the floor but in connected mobile and desktop applica- proximately 12:55 p.m. today. the gallery. tions and other software developed or Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 6 min- The VICE PRESIDENT. Under sec- controlled by persons in the People’s utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. tion 18 of title 3, United States Code, Republic of China (PRC), to include debate is not permitted in the joint Hong Kong and Macau (China), con- f session. tinue to threaten the national secu- b 1255 Mr. GRIFFITH. Further parliamen- rity, foreign policy, and economy of tary inquiry. the United States. By accessing per- AFTER RECESS Mr. Vice President, I am not at- sonal electronic devices such as The recess having expired, the House tempting to debate. I am trying to find smartphones, tablets, and computers, was called to order by the Speaker at out how a parliamentary inquiry or a Chinese connected software applica- 12 o’clock and 55 minutes p.m. parliamentary point of order would be made in following with the Speaker’s tions can access and capture vast f swaths of information from users, in- request that most of us not be on the cluding sensitive personally identifi- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER floor. How do you make one of those able information and private informa- The SPEAKER. As the House comes points of order when you don’t know tion. The continuing activity of the to order for this important, historic what is going to happen later? PRC and the Chinese Communist Party meeting, let us be reminded that each The VICE PRESIDENT. Respectfully, to steal or otherwise obtain United side, House and Senate, Democrats and the gentleman’s parliamentary inquiry States persons’ data makes clear that Republicans, each have 11 Members al- constitutes debate, which is not per- there is an intent to use bulk data col- lowed to be present on the floor. Others mitted in the joint session under sec- lection to advance China’s economic may be in the gallery. This is at the tion 18 of title 3, United States Code. and national security agenda. To deal guidance of the Attending Physician Madam Speaker, Members of Con- with this threat, additional steps are and the Sergeant at Arms. gress, pursuant to the Constitution and required against those who develop or The gentlemen on the Republican the laws of the United States, the Sen- control certain Chinese connected soft- side of the aisle will please observe so- ate and House of Representatives are ware applications to protect our na- cial distancing and the agreement to meeting in joint session to verify the tional security. have 11 Members on each side so that certificates and count the votes of the The Executive Order prohibits cer- we can honor the responsibility to this electors of the several States for Presi- tain future transactions, as determined Chamber of this House of Representa- dent and Vice President of the United by the Secretary of Commerce (Sec- tives. States. retary), involving the following Chi- Please exit the floor if you do not After ascertainment has been had nese connected software applications: have an assigned role from your leader- that the certificates are authentic and Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, ship. You can share with your staff if correct in form, the tellers will count SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat you want to have a few more, but you and make a list of the votes cast by the Pay, and WPS Office. The Secretary is cannot be that close together on the electors of the several States. The tellers on the part of the two also directed to: floor of the House with that many peo- ple in here. Houses will take their places at the (i) continue to evaluate Chinese con- Clerk’s desk. nected software applications that may I thank the Senate, and the Demo- The tellers, Mr. BLUNT and Ms. KLO- pose an unacceptable risk to the na- crats and Republicans, for following BUCHAR on the part of the Senate, and tional security, foreign policy, or econ- the rules. Ms. LOFGREN and Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of omy of the United States, and to take f Illinois on the part of the House, took appropriate action in accordance with their places at the desk. Executive Order 13873; and COUNTING ELECTORAL VOTES— JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE The VICE PRESIDENT. Without ob- (ii) in consultation with the Attorney AND SENATE HELD PURSUANT jection, the tellers will dispense with General and the Director of National TO THE PROVISIONS OF SENATE the reading of the formal portions of Intelligence, provide a report to the CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1 the certificates. Assistant to the President for National There was no objection. Security Affairs with recommenda- At 12:59 p.m., the Sergeant at Arms, The VICE PRESIDENT. After tions to prevent the sale or transfer of Paul D. Irving, announced the Vice ascertaining that the certificates are United States user data to, or access of President and the Senate of the United regular in form and authentic, the tell- such data by, foreign adversaries, in- States. ers will announce the votes cast by the cluding through the establishment of The Senate entered the Hall of the electors for each State, beginning with regulations and policies to identify, House of Representatives, headed by Alabama, which the Parliamentarian control, and license the export of such the Vice President and the Secretary of has advised me is the only certificate data. the Senate, the Members and officers of vote from that State, and purports I have delegated to the Secretary, in of the House rising to receive them. to be a return from the State, and that consultation with the Secretary of the The Vice President took his seat as has annexed to it a certificate from an Treasury and the Attorney General, the Presiding Officer of the joint con- authority of that State purporting to the authority to take such actions, in- vention of the two Houses, the Speaker appoint or ascertain electors. cluding adopting appropriate rules and of the House occupying the chair on his Senator BLUNT. Mr. President, the regulations, and employing all other left. Senators took seats to the right of certificate of the electoral vote of the powers granted to the President by the rostrum as prescribed by law. State of Alabama seems to be regular IEEPA, as may be necessary to imple- The joint session was called to order in form and authentic, and it appears ment the Executive Order. The heads of by the Vice President. therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the all executive departments and agencies PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES State of Florida received 9 votes for are directed to take all appropriate Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Vice President, President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the measures within their authority to im- parliamentary inquiry. State of Indiana received 9 votes for plement the provisions of the Execu- The VICE PRESIDENT. The gen- Vice President. tive Order. tleman from Virginia will state his The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there I am enclosing a copy of the Execu- parliamentary inquiry. any objections to counting the certifi- tive Order I have issued. Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Vice President, cate of vote of the State of Alabama DONALD J. TRUMP. in order to follow the Speaker’s in- that the teller has verified appears to THE WHITE HOUSE, January 5, 2021. structions that only a limited number be regular in form and authentic?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06JA7.005 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H77 There was no objection. SENATORS the Chair will put the question, Shall The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing Mike Braun, John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, the objection be agreed to? none, this certificate from Alaska, the Steve Daines, James Lankford, Bill Hagerty, The Clerk will report the objection Parliamentarian has advised me, is the Marsha Blackburn. made in the joint session. only certificate of vote from that State MEMBERS OF CONGRESS The Clerk read the objection as fol- that purports to be a return from the Mo Brooks AL–5, Andy Biggs AZ–5, Jim lows: State and that has annexed to it a cer- Jordan OH–4, Madison Cawthorn NC–11, OBJECTION TO COUNTING THE ELECTORAL tificate from an authority of the State Scott Perry PA–10, Mike Kelly PA–16, Clay VOTES OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA purporting to appoint and ascertain Higgins LA–3, John W. Rose TN–6, Bill Posey We, a Member of the House of Representa- electors. FL–8, Jeff Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, tives and a United States Senator, object to Louie Gohmert TX–1, Brian J. Mast FL–18, Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. President, the the counting of the electoral votes of the Warren Davidson OH–8, Andy Harris MD–1, State of Arizona on the ground that they certificate of the electoral vote of the Steven Palazzo MS–4, Doug Lamborn CO–5, were not, under all of the known cir- State of Alaska seems to be regular in Kat Cammack FL–3. cumstances, regularly given. form and authentic, and it appears Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob Good VA–5, Adrian PAUL GOSAR, therefrom that Donald J. Trump of the Smith NE–3, Billy Long MO–7, Jack Bergman Representative, State of Arizona. State of Florida received 3 votes for MI–1, Michael Cloud TX–27, Rick Crawford TED CRUZ, President and MICHAEL R. PENCE of the AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH– Senator, State of Texas. State of Indiana received 3 votes for 7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Ted Budd NC–13, Barry SENATORS Moore AL–2, Lee Zeldin NY–1, Jake Mike Braun, John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, Vice President. LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, Jason The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Steve Daines, James Lankford, Bill Hagerty, Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, Chuck Marsha Blackburn. any objections to counting the certifi- Fleischmann TN–3, Tim Burchett TN–2, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS cate of vote of the State of Alaska that Chris Jacobs NY–27. the teller has verified appears to be Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, Lance Gooden TX– Mo Brooks AL–5, Andy Biggs AZ–5, Jim 5, Diana Harshbarger TN–1, Mary E. Miller Jordan OH–4, Madison Cawthorn NC–11, regular in form and authentic? Scott Perry PA–10, Mike Kelly PA–16, Clay There was no objection. IL–15, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, Neal Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, Higgins LA–3, John W. Rose TN–6, Bill Posey The VICE PRESIDENT. Hearing FL–8, Jeff Duncan SC–3, Brian Babin TX–36, none, this certificate from Arizona, the Ralph Norman SC–5, Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky Hartzler MO–4, Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Mar- Louie Gohmert TX–1, Brian J. Mast FL–18, Parliamentarian has advised me, is the jorie Taylor Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa Warren Davidson OH–8, Andy Harris MD–1, only certificate of vote that the State CA–1, Jeff Van Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, Steven Palazzo MS–4, Doug Lamborn CO–5, purports to be a return from the State Michael D. Rogers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin Kat Cammack FL–3. Tracey Mann KS–1, Bob Good VA–5, Adrian OK–2, Pat Fallon TX–4, Randy K. Weber TX– and that has annexed to it a certificate Smith NE–3, Billy Long MO–7, Jack Bergman 14. from an authority of that State pur- MI–1, Michael Cloud TX–27, Rick Crawford porting to appoint or ascertain elec- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there AR–1, Roger Williams TX–25, Bob Gibbs OH– tors. further objections to the certificate 7, Russ Fulcher ID–1, Ted Budd NC–13, Barry Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Presi- from the State of Arizona? Moore AL–2, Lee Zeldin NY–1, Jake dent, the certificate of the electoral There was no objection. LaTurner KS–2, David Rouzer NC–7, Jason vote of the State of Arizona seems to The VICE PRESIDENT. The two Smith MO–8, Lauren Boebert CO–3, Chuck be regular in form and authentic, and Houses will withdraw from joint ses- Fleischmann TN–3, Tim Burchett TN–2, Chris Jacobs NY–27. it appears therefrom that Joseph R. sion. Each House will deliberate sepa- Andrew S. Clyde GA–9, Lance Gooden TX– Biden, Jr., of the State of Delaware re- rately on the pending objection and re- 5, Diana Harshbarger TN–1, Mary E. Miller ceived 11 votes for President and port its decision back to the joint ses- IL–15, Mark E. Green TN–7, Ron Estes KS–4, KAMALA D. HARRIS of the State of Cali- sion. Neal Dunn FL–2, Ronny Jackson TX–13, fornia received 11 votes for Vice Presi- The Senate will now retire to its Ralph Norman SC–5, Joe Wilson SC–2, Vicky dent. Chamber. Hartzler MO–4, Scott DesJarlais TN–4, Mar- The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there jorie Taylor Greene GA–14, Doug LaMalfa The Senate retired to its Chamber. CA–1, Jeff Van Drew NJ–2, Ben Cline VA–6, any objections to counting the certifi- b 1315 Michael D. Rogers AL–3, Markwayne Mullin cate of vote of the State of Arizona OK–2, Pat Fallon TX–4, Randy K. Weber TX– that the teller has verified appears to ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 14. be regular in form and authentic? The SPEAKER. The Chair will re- The SPEAKER. The Chair will en- Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Vice President, I, mind Members of the need to adhere to deavor to alternate recognition be- PAUL GOSAR from Arizona, rise for my- the decorum requirements of the tween Members speaking in support of self and 60 of my colleagues to object Chamber as laid out in the Speaker’s the objection and Members speaking in to the counting of the electoral ballots announced policies of January 4, 2021, opposition to the objection. from Arizona. in accordance with the guidance of the The Chair recognizes the gentleman The VICE PRESIDENT. Is the objec- Attending Physician. from Louisiana (Mr. SCALISE) for 5 tion in writing and signed by a Sen- Members are advised to remain in the minutes. ator? Chamber only if they are participating Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I rise Mr. GOSAR. Yes, it is. in debate and must wear a mask at all today to object to a number of States Senator CRUZ. It is. times, even when under recognition for that did not follow the constitutional The VICE PRESIDENT. An objection debate. requirement for selecting electors. presented in writing and signed by both Members must also practice proper Madam Speaker, this is something a Representative and a Senator com- social distancing while present in the that is clear that our Founding Fathers plies with the law, chapter 1 of title 3, Chamber. debated about as a fundamental deci- United States Code. Please, in the interests of your own sion of how we choose our President. The Clerk will report the objection. health and as an example to the Amer- There was a lot of back and forth, if The Clerk read the objection as ican people, abide by the numbers, now anyone reads the founding documents follows: up to 25 on each side of the aisle, to of our country, about the different OBJECTION TO COUNTING THE ELECTORAL participate in this stage of the debate. versions they went through to ulti- VOTES OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Reso- mately come up with a process where We, a Member of the House of Representa- lution 1 and 3 U.S.C. 17 governing the each State has elections; each State tives and a United States Senator, object to procedure for counting the electoral has a process for selecting their elec- the counting of the electoral votes of the votes, when the two Houses withdraw tors and sending them to Washington. State of Arizona on the ground that they from the joint session to count the Madam Speaker, in a number of were not, under all of the known cir- electoral vote for separate consider- cumstances, regularly given. those States, that constitutional proc- PAUL GOSAR, ation of objection, a Representative ess was not followed, and that is why Representative, State of Arizona. may speak to the objection for 5 min- we are here to object. TED CRUZ, utes, and not more than once. Debate If you look at what the requirement Senator, State of Texas. shall not exceed 2 hours, after which says, nowhere in Article II, Section 1

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.006 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H78 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 does it give the secretary of state of a In fact, on our first full day of this ate, to do only this: open the sealed en- State that ability; nowhere does it give Congress, many of us brought legisla- velopes and then the votes shall be the Governor that ability; nowhere tion onto the House floor to start fix- counted. Simple. It doesn’t say counted does it give a court that ability. It ex- ing the problems with our elections, to in a manner that some Members of clusively gives that ability to the leg- restore integrity to the election proc- Congress or the Vice President might islatures. In fact, in most States, that ess, which has been lost by so many prefer. No. The votes are simply to be is the process that was followed. But millions of Americans. And we had a counted as certified and transmitted by for those States, this wasn’t followed. vote. Every single Republican voted to the States. Unfortunately, this is not new. We reform the process. Every single Demo- b 1130 have seen over and over again more crat voted against it. They don’t want States where the Democratic Party has During reconstruction after the Civil to fix this problem. War, more than one slate of electors gone in and selectively gone around But the Constitution is our guide, this process. That has to end, Madam were appointed by States. Dueling lists and it is time we start following the were sent and protracted processes Speaker. We have to follow the con- Constitution. It is time we get back to stitutional process. were undertaken in Presidential elec- what our Founding Fathers said is the tions. And, as a result, to make an or- Now, there might be reasons why process for selecting electors: that is some people don’t like the process laid derly process, Congress enacted the the legislatures in public view, not be- Electoral Count Act of 1887. This law out by a legislative body. hind closed doors, not smoke-filled Madam Speaker, I served on one of governs our proceedings today. The act rooms, not bullying somebody that provides dispute resolution mecha- those legislative bodies when I was in might give you a better ruling. the State legislature for 12 years. I nisms. Let’s get back to rule of law and fol- Under the ECA, if a Governor cer- served on the House and Governmental low the Constitution, Madam Speaker. Affairs Committee, where we wrote the tifies a slate of electors and there are The SPEAKER. For what purpose no competing slates in that State, the laws for our State’s elections. And I does the gentlewoman from California can tell you, when we had to make Governor-certified must be counted. (Ms. LOFGREN) seek recognition? Today, every single slate of electors changes, those were extensively nego- Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I tiated. We would have people on both won by Joe Biden, or won by Donald rise to strike the last word. Trump, got their Governor’s certifi- sides come. The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman Republicans and Democrats, Madam cation. Not a single State submitted a from California (Ms. LOFGREN) is recog- Speaker, would get together to work competing slate. There is no dispute to nized for 5 minutes. resolve. through those changes, any minute Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, this change to how a precinct would func- The 2020 election was the most secure day marks a crossroads for American tion, to how a change would be made in election conducted in modern history. democracy. Those who object to the the time of an election, signature re- Challenges were resolved by lawful re- counting of the electoral college votes, quirements, all the many things that counts and audits. which reflect the votes of the American involve a clerk carrying out the duties The result? people, want to substitute their pref- Vice President Biden won the 2020 in each parish, in our case. You would see people come and give erences for the voters’ choice. That is election. More than 60 lawsuits were filed con- testimony, Madam Speaker. Both sides not what our Constitution requires, testing elements of the election proc- could come. Clerks of court were there and it is at odds with our American ess. None of these lawsuits prevailed. in the hearing rooms. democratic Republic. If Congress selects the next President Why? It was an open process, by the way, As even President Trump’s own judi- not behind closed doors in a smoke- instead of the American voters, we would have no need for an electoral cial appointees ruled, there was no evi- filled room where somebody might dence of any wrongdoing that would want to bully a secretary of state to college. In fact, we would have no need for Presidential elections at all. We change the outcome. get a different version that might ben- The people spoke. It was not a close efit them or their party or their can- would be moving from a government elected by the people to a government election. The margin of victory for didate. That is not what our Founding Biden in 2020 was larger than Trump’s Fathers said is the process. Maybe it is selected by those already governing. That is not America. In the United margin in 2016. In fact, the Biden vic- how some people wanted to carry it tory is one of the most decisive in mod- out. But they laid out that process. States, we abide by the choices of the people, not by an elite few. ern times, exceeding the margin en- So when we would have to make joyed by Reagan when he defeated Car- those changes, they were in public The Framers of our Constitution con- sidered to have Congress select the ter in 1980. view; they were heavily debated; and Congress has gathered in a joint ses- President and specifically rejected it. then, ultimately, those laws were sion to count electoral votes every four Instead, they wrote Article II and the changed in advance of the election so years since 1789. I understand the dis- 12th Amendment. everybody knew what the rules were. appointment people feel when their Article II creates the electoral col- People on both sides knew how to play candidate for President loses. I have lege, where each State appoints elec- by the rules before the game started, felt the same several times in my vot- tors. Laws of all 50 States and D.C. re- not getting somewhere in the process ing life. and saying, well, you don’t think it is quire electors to vote for the winner of When that happens, it is not an invi- going to benefit you, so you try to go the State’s popular election. Each tation to upend the Constitution and around the Constitution. State provides for the orderly conduct the laws of the United States. It is an That is not how our system works. It of elections, including lawful chal- invitation to work with the new Presi- has gotten out of hand. So President lenges, recounts, and the like. dent for the good of the country and to Trump has called this out, and Presi- The 12th Amendment is what brings wait for the next election in 4 years if dent Trump has stood up to it. So us to today. It says the electors meet you are dissatisfied. many of us have stood up to it. in their States. That happened Decem- In that spirit, I urge my colleagues In fact, over 100 of my colleagues, ber 14. to uphold the American democracy and Madam Speaker, asked the Supreme The amendment says the electors reject the objection. Court to address this problem just a shall cast their votes, sign and certify Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, I rise few weeks ago, and, unfortunately, the them, and transmit them to us, sealed. to support the objection. Court chose to punt. They didn’t an- That has been done. The sealed enve- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from swer it one way or the other. They lopes containing the signed and cer- Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes. didn’t want to get in the middle of this tified ballots from each State’s elec- Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, discussion. tors reflecting the votes of the people Americans instinctively know there We don’t have that luxury today. We are in those mahogany boxes. was something wrong with this elec- have to discuss this. We have to fix The 12th Amendment directs the Vice tion. During the campaign, Vice Presi- this. President, as the President of the Sen- dent Biden would do an event and he

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.009 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H79 would get 50 people at the event. Presi- the election 3 days; not the legislature, That we are here, with a substantial dent Trump, at just one rally, gets the partisan Supreme Court. number of our Members seeking to 50,000 people. President Trump in- Pennsylvania law says mail-in bal- overturn an election is remarkable, creases votes with African Americans; lots require signature verification. tragic, and all too predictable, for it is increases votes with Hispanic Ameri- Democrat secretary of state said: the natural result of a locomotive set cans; won 19 of 20 bellwether counties; Nope. I am going to decide by myself in motion months ago with a myth. won Ohio by 8; Iowa by 8; and Florida that it doesn’t, for 2.6 million ballots. For weeks and weeks, before, during, by 3. President Trump got 11 million Pennsylvania law says mail-in bal- and after our election, a dangerous more votes than he did in 2016, and lots can’t be processed until election falsehood was propagated: That our House Republicans won 27 of 27 toss-up day. Some counties said no. And you election would be marred by massive races. can imagine which counties they were. fraud. But somehow the guy who never left Democrat-run counties said no and al- Never mind it was the same election his house wins the election? lowed ballots to be cured and fixed be- which brought the very men and Eighty million Americans, 80 million fore election day. women to this Chamber who would of our fellow citizens, Republicans and They did an end-run around the Con- challenge its results. What value has Democrats, have doubts about this stitution in every State that Repub- consistency when measured against election; and 60 million people, 60 mil- licans will object to today. Every sin- ambition? lion Americans think it was stolen. gle one. It was a pattern. It was their A former Senator from Georgia, re- But Democrats say: No problem. No template. They did it in Arizona. They marking on a contested election over a worries. Everything is fine. did it in Georgia. They did it in Michi- century ago, said: ‘‘Able men, learned We asked for an investigation. We gan. They did it in Pennsylvania. They men, distinguished men, great men in asked Chairman NADLER, Chairwoman did it in Nevada. They did it in Wis- the eyes of the nation, seemed intent MALONEY for an investigation. They consin. only on accomplishing a party tri- Yet, some of our Members say: Don’t said no. They wouldn’t want to inves- umph, without regard to the con- worry about it. We shouldn’t do any- tigate something that half the elec- sequences to the country. That is thing. Just let it go. It was just six torate has doubts about. It is just the human nature. That is,’’ he said, ‘‘un- Presidency of the United States. States who violated the Constitution. What if it is 10 States next time? fortunately, party nature.’’ Why? Why not one single investiga- Was he right? tion? Why not even one single hearing What if it is 15? What if, in 2024, 2028, it is 26 States? What if it is half the We stand in a House which was once over the last 9 weeks in the United the place of giants. Have we become so States House of Representatives? Why? States that do an end-run around what the Constitution clearly spells out? small? Does our oath to uphold the Because all the Democrats care about Constitution, taken just days ago, is making sure President Trump isn’t We are the final check and balance. The authority rests with us, the United mean so very little? President. For 41⁄2 years that is all they I think not. I believe, to quote our have cared about. States Congress, the body closest to the American people, right where the dear departed friend, Elijah Cummings, July 31, 2016, before he was elected that we are better than that. I think the first time, Jim Comey’s FBI takes Founders wanted it. We should do our duty. We should object to and vote for Elijah would be proud that the debate out the insurance policy; opens an in- here today is not between Democrats vestigation on the President based on this objection to the Arizona electors. Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise and Republicans, and that some Repub- nothing. licans, including the Republican leader May 17, 2017, Bob Mueller was named in opposition to the objection. The SPEAKER. The gentleman from of the Senate, remain devoted to the special counsel. Two years they inves- principle that we are a nation of laws, tigate the Russia hoax. Nineteen law- California is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, a little not individuals, let alone a single indi- yers, 40 agents and $40 million of tax- more than 2 months ago, America per- vidual. payer money for nothing. It may seem unfair to the new Mem- December 18, 2019, Democrat House formed an extraordinary feat. Under some of the most trying circumstances bers who have only just taken the oath Members vote to impeach President for the first time, that they should be Trump based on an anonymous whistle- in our history, our fellow citizens con- ducted a free and fair election, vindi- so soon tested with one of the most blower with no firsthand knowledge, consequential votes they may cast, no who was biased against the President cating our Founders’ belief once again, that we were capable of self govern- matter how long they serve. But it is and who worked for Joe Biden. so, and none of us can shrink from that But none of that worked. As hard as ment and a peaceful transition of responsibility. Nor can we console our- they tried, none of that worked. They power. selves with the intoxicating fiction threw everything they had at him. On November 3, the American people So what did they do next? chose Joe Biden to be their next Presi- that we can break that oath without They changed the rules. They dent by an enormous margin. The suc- consequence because doing so will not changed the election law and they did cessful conduct of that election, among succeed in overturning the election. An it in an unconstitutional fashion, and the most secure in American history, oath is no less broken when the break- that is what we are going to show over was not an accident. It was the result ing fails to achieve its end. the next several hours of debate. of the dedicated work of thousands of We must be mindful that any who The Constitution is clear, as Whip volunteers, canvassers, poll workers, seek to overturn an election will do in- SCALISE just said. State legislatures electors, and State and local election jury to our Constitution, whatever the and only State legislatures set election officials. result. For just as the propagation of law. When the conduct of any State elec- that dangerous myth about this elec- In Arizona, the law says voter reg- tion was challenged, the courts, tion made this moment inevitable, our istration ends on October 5. through judges appointed by Demo- actions today will put another train in Democrats said: We don’t care what crats and those appointed by Repub- motion. This election will not be over- the law says. licans, heard unsubstantiated claims of turned. They went to a court, got an Obama- fraud, found they had no merit, and But what about the next? Or the one appointed judge to extend it 18 days. said so. after that? No debate, as Steve talked about. No But most important, the American What shall we say when our demo- debate. No discussion. They just did it. people persevered. In the midst of the cratic legacy is no more substantial Pennsylvania, same thing. Pennsyl- worst pandemic in a century, America than the air, except that we brought vania laws says mail-in ballots have to had one of the most impressive elec- trouble to our own house and inherited be in by 8 p.m. election day. tions in a century, with historic voter the wind? Democrat Supreme Court said: Nope. turnout. This isn’t the first time we have had We are going to extend it. Our fellow citizens did their civic a contentious election, and it won’t be Election day doesn’t end on Tuesday duty. The question we face today is: the last. In 1800, John Adams lost a now. They took it to Friday. Extended Will we do ours? closely contested election to Thomas

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.011 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H80 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 Jefferson, in the first peaceful transi- sion, the bypassing of the deadline to mittee, I write to you with upmost urgency tion of power from one party to an- 10 days. to communicate to you several occurrences other in our history. Adams was hardly The appellate court, without legal that thwart our ability as legislators to in- pleased with the result, choosing to justification, also decided that every- vestigate legitimate and concerning allega- one who registered after the legal dead- tions of election fraud in the most recent skip the inaugural activities, but he general election. On December 14, 2020, Ari- did what leaders are required to do in a line, but before the deadline created by zona sent an alternate slate of electors, democratic government when they judicial fiat, could still vote. along with a resolution from 21 current and lose. He went home. He went home. Note that the Arizona legislature was 8 newly elected legislators asking you to re- Jefferson would later refer to his vic- no longer in control of determining the frain from accepting the Biden electors until tory as the Revolution of 1800, but mar- manner of appointing Presidential we could adequately investigate these claims veled that the Revolution had occurred electors because the court had set a of fraud. ‘‘by the rational and peaceful instru- new deadline, even though the appel- Soon after the election, I requested an late court found the legislature’s dead- Elections Committee discovery hearing in ments of reform, the suffrage of the order to use subpoena power to acquire the people.’’ line was constitutionally sound. During that window, more than 32,000 voting machines and ballots in order to do a It has never been our place to over- voters registered in Maricopa County comprehensive and forensic audit. I was told turn an election, and if we hope to re- that it was not a good idea and was denied alone. Here are copies of those voter main a democracy, it never will be. the ability. I continued to request the hear- registration records. In going around Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I rise in ing with the Speaker of the House, asked the deadline set by the legislature, the publicly, and tried every avenue to no avail. support of the objection. court ignored the Arizona legislature’s The SPEAKER. The gentleman from A full month later on December 9th, the Sen- obligation and right to direct the man- ate President authorized a hearing via the Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes. ner of choosing Presidential electors as Judiciary committee, and that did result in Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I join set forth in Article II, Section 1. subpoenas to the Maricopa County Super- the objection to counting votes of elec- As a consequence of that judicial visors (who oversee the elections process) tors from my home State of Arizona, as usurpation, more than 32,000 people that have yet, as of the writing of this letter, well as Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wis- were allowed to unlawfully cast ballots been complied with. consin, Michigan, and Nevada, because in Arizona’s Presidential election in Court cases have been dismissed due to not having evidence, however our efforts to do an election integrity is the heart of our 2020. American constitutional republic? audit to obtain such evidence have been sup- The Arizona legislature seeks an pressed. We held a hearing on 11/30/2020 with In a representative form of govern- independent audit of the election. The Rudy Giuliani to at least hear testimony ment, we must be able to trust that our Governor refuses now to call them into from citizens who experienced irregularities, elections accurately represent the will a special session. The Maricopa County along with subject matter experts who re- of the American voter. This is the ap- Board of Supervisors has refused to ported severe irregularities and probable propriate forum anticipated and pro- comply with legislative subpoenas. In tampering with the machine apparatus. On vided for by our Founders to debate Arizona, the people who control the 11/30/2020, a group of Arizona citizens re- whether this election complied with evidence related to the election have ported publicly that they had uncovered the Constitution that we have all done everything possible to prevent an with great confidence a minimum estimation of 160,000 fraudulent voters, based on over sworn to protect. independent audit directed by the leg- 1000 declarations/affidavits collected. This Every particular of the Constitution islature. supports an earlier document submitted to is to be protected, including Article II, Arizonans have used the limited the Attorney General and would largely im- Section 1. The debate as to the legit- amount of records available to inves- pact the outcome of the election. imacy of the 2020 Presidential election tigate the 2020 Presidential election. Of We have experienced obstruction at every has been suppressed by the left and its a limited sample of 1,000 addresses of turn. For your reference, I have itemized, in propagandists in the media until today. voters, they found 539 voters did not Exhibit A, many of the various ways we have State legislatures are required to de- live at the addresses on the voter rolls. been stopped from investigating claims of fraud and gross irregularities. It is my hope termine the manner in which electors Here is a stack of 1,000 declaration of affidavits supporting that. that you will see that the Arizona Presi- are chosen. Arizona names its electors dential election is still in dispute and unre- on the general election ballot and iden- I object to counting the votes of Ari- zona electors because the Federal solved. We call on you to take this into con- tifies what candidate those electors are sideration as you perform your duties on required to vote for should that can- courts went around the legislatively January 6th, and not accept the electors constructed mechanism for choosing didate obtain the majority of votes in until we have resolution to these matters. Arizona’s Presidential electors, allow- the general election. With utmost respect, ing tens of thousands of voters to un- As part of the manner for deter- KELLY J. TOWNSEND, lawfully cast votes. The court usurped Senator-Elect. mining electors, Arizona also estab- a key component of the Arizona legis- EXHIBIT A lishes deadlines for voter registration. lature’s manner of selecting Presi- The deadline has been in place for 30 1. Requests from the House Elections dential electors, thus violating Article Chairwoman (myself) and the House Federal years. II, Section 1. The legislature is being Relations Chairman (Mark Finchem) to hold b 1345 obstructed in its efforts. And what lit- an evidentiary hearing were repeatedly de- nied and have yet to be honored. Multiple This year, that voter registration tle evidence we have and what little in- formation we have has produced this Chairmen of various committees requested a deadline was October 5. Early voting hearing in order to investigate claims, to no commenced 2 days later. Five days be- kind of evidence, which indicates a sig- nificant problem with the integrity of avail. We were forced to hold an unofficial fore the deadline, a group filed a law- hearing on November 30th where many came suit demanding that Arizona election the Presidential election. forward with very concerning evidence and Madam Speaker, I include in the officials not enforce the deadline. claims. RECORD my written comments, to- 2. The Senate Judiciary Committee hear- The Federal District Court decided gether with the voter registration that since other States have a deadline ing was not held until 41 days after the elec- records that reflect the 32,000 registra- tion on 12/14/2020, the same day as the Elec- later than Arizona’s and some even tions permitted in contravention of tors were to cast their votes. This delay ren- allow for registration when voting, State law; letters and resolutions from dered the hearing of little effect regarding that Arizona’s new deadline would be a Arizona legislators pertaining to the having confidence in the correct votes cast. time he chose, not the legislature’s count of votes from electors; along The Chairman thus issued a subpoena for the timeline. with approximately 1,000 affidavits and equipment and ballots, but the Maricopa The appellate court effectively over- Board of Supervisors has countersued and declarations pertaining to potential refuse to comply. They will not release any turned the lower court ruling and voter fraud in Arizona in the 2020 Pres- noted that the Arizona deadline estab- machine or ballot info, even though within idential election; and the statement of the RFP for the Dominion machines, it is lished by the State legislature was Congressman RANDY WEBER of Texas. stated that their key features are their abil- sound and appropriate and complied DECEMBER 31, 2020. ity to conduct hand counts, perform risk with the Constitution. But the appel- DEAR VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: As the Chair- limiting audits, and publish ballot images late court merely shortened the exten- woman of the Arizona House Elections Com- and adjudication records with markings on a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.012 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H81 public website, calling it their open data ini- 10. The Maricopa County Recorder at- zona electoral votes. Our election is still in tiative. Now that they are being asked for it, tended more than one DefCon conference dispute, and we have obfuscation and at- they are refusing to make it available, citing that focused on the ability to hack voting tempts at running out the clock to prevent voter confidentiality. There is no voter in- machines. The Legislature was never in- discovery of the facts. We believe it is impos- formation contained in the machine or on a formed that the outcome of these con- sible to conclusively declare a winner in Ari- ballot, however, so that reasoning is insuffi- ferences recommended that elected officials zona and pray that you would refrain from cient. Their inaction and nonfeasance pre- be notified due to unprotected ports on the counting the electoral votes from our state, vent us from proper discovery. machines, passwords left unset or left in de- and consider the alternate slate should we be 3. I, along with several others, requested fault configurations and security features of able to establish validity to the various the Governor to call us in for special session the underlying commercial hardware were claims of election fraud on such a scale that to be able to deal with the issue. It is our un- left unused or even disabled. It was rec- would change the outcome. derstanding that we cannot enforce the sub- ommended that to improve election security, Thank you, kindly, for your attention to poena for equipment and ballots unless we paper ballots should be used, and a rigorous these matters. are in session. His ongoing unwillingness to post-election audit be performed. We learned call us into session to address these issues about this issue via social media, and it was A RESOLUTION TO CONGRESS obfuscated by the Election officials. had kept us from adequate discovery. On 12/ Whereas, it is the constitutional and legal 02/2020, Governor Doug Ducey was asked by 11. Arizona Republican State Chair Kelli Ward reports the following malfeasance and obligation of the Legislature of the State of the media if he was going to honor the Legis- Arizona to ensure that the state’s presi- lator’s request for a special session. He pro- obstruction: a. No allowed review of the digitally adju- dential electors truly represent the will of ceeded to incorrectly name Monday January dicated ballots—over 200,000. the voters of Arizona; and 13th as our first day back in regular session. b. Only 100 of the duplicated ballots re- Whereas, pursuant to the direction of Con- In response, the reporter asked, ‘‘So you see viewed—3% error rate in favor of President gress as set forth in United States Code, title no need for a special session to look at any Trump. Maricopa County refused to look at 3, section 1 as authorized by Article II, sec- of these issues or the issue of Presidential the other 28,000 ballots. tion 1, clause 4 of the Constitution of the electors...,’’ to which the Governor inter- c. No meaningful signature verification. United States, and state law adopted pursu- rupted and said, ‘‘I’ll see the Legislature in County employees doing signature ant thereto, Arizona conducted an election January.’’ verification offsite, over the internet, with- for presidential electors on the Tuesday next 4. The House leadership attempted to deter out oversight, and at times at a rate of 30 after the first Monday in November of 2020– Representative Bret Roberts from sending a signatures or more per minute. that is, on November 3, 2020; and letter to Attorney General Brnovich and the 12. The Secretary of State took 24 days to Whereas, that election was marred by Maricopa County Board of Supervisors re- answer a public records request by Merissa irregularities so significant as to render it garding the accurate performance of a hand Hamilton, asking them to deliver the meet- highly doubtful whether the certified results count based on the statutory requirement to ing minutes from their technical committee accurately represent the will of the voters; do so by precinct, versus vote center. By to certify the Dominion voting equipment. and doing a hand count based on voting centers, Only after four requests and the involvement Whereas, Congress has further directed in it renders it impossible to tell if there was a of the Ombudsman did she obtain the infor- U.S. Code, title 3, section 2 that when a state rogue precinct involved in fraud. Neverthe- mation. The results of that request showed ‘‘has held an election for the purpose of less, Rep. Robert’s efforts to enforce statute that despite the voting equipment not being choosing electors, and has failed to make a were thwarted by House leadership. able to calculate the votes properly, which 5. One week prior to the Electors voting, was never addressed, the machines were still choice on the day prescribed by law, the elec- on December 7th, the House and Senate lead- certified. The Maricopa County RFP for the tors may be appointed on a subsequent day ership closed the buildings in the name of Dominion equipment did not give the public in such manner as the legislature of such COVID–19, preventing any in-person hearings a chance to give input on the procurement. State may direct’’; and or work to be performed. This greatly hin- There was never any discussion or an offer of Whereas, that provision implicitly recog- dered our ability to push for discovery re- various options to choose from. The Board of nizes that Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of garding election integrity during the last Supervisors went straight to a vote with no the U.S. Constitution grants to each state days before the Elector’s votes were cast. discussion and approved the machines unani- legislature, with stated limitations, the sole 6. The Maricopa County Board of Super- mously. authority to prescribe the manner of ap- visors held a closed meeting on 11/20/2020 in 13. There are multiple/numerous examples pointing electors for that state; and order to certify the election results, where of how on election day observers and poll Whereas, the United States Supreme Court the public was not allowed to participate and workers were prevented from overseeing the and other courts have explained that when a ask questions. Prior to that meeting, on 12/ various procedures, thereby undermining state legislature directs the manner of ap- 08/2020, Merissa Hamilton (a data integrity confidence that there was no illegal activity pointing electors, it does so pursuant to a expert) delivered to the Attorney General a and violating Arizona’s statutes regarding grant of authority from the U.S. Constitu- statistically significant listing of deceased election integrity. We have had no formal in- tion rather than by reason of any state con- voters that received a ballot and those de- vestigation into the vast majority of these stitutional or other legal provision; that this ceased who actually returned a ballot. At the accusations. authority may be exercised by the legisla- aforementioned meeting, the Maricopa Coun- SUMMARY ture alone without other aspects of the nor- ty Elections Director Ray Valenzuela stated Arizona has many unresolved issues that mal lawmaking process; and that the state that the list of deceased voters casting a bal- we would like to have investigated in order legislature’s authority over the appointment lot was mere folklore and dismissed it as a to confidently say our electors voted for the of presidential electors is plenary and may nonissue. This accusation is still pending an true victor in the 2020 Presidential election. be resumed at any time; and investigation. We still have outstanding issues left unre- Whereas, because U.S. Code, title 3, section 7. After submitting a public records re- solved and are being stopped at nearly every 7 mandates that all presidential electors quest for the Federal only voters who cast a turn from investigating. For example, the vote for President and Vice President of the ballot in the 2020 General election, I was told Maricopa County Recorder’s office started United States on December 14, 2020, it is im- by a staff member that the Elections Direc- counting early ballots 14 days before election possible to pursue the Legislature’s preferred tor was ‘‘vetting the list’’ before he gave it day. During that time, the backup server course of action, which would be for Arizo- to me. I did not request a cleaned-up list of was removed each night by a Dominion em- na’s voters to participate in a new and fair voters, but the list in its entirety. This di- ployee. This is of significant concern because and free presidential election before that minished my confidence in that list, that I the information on those servers could have date; and have a true representation of persons who been manipulated and/or provided to nefar- Whereas, in view of the facts heretofore re- cast a ballot that cannot establish their ious people as to how many ballots/votes cited, the Legislature is required to exercise identity or citizenship. were needed to change the results of the its best judgment as to which slate of elec- 8. Arizona State House leadership pre- election as time went on. tors the voters prefer; and vented Legislators from issuing press re- Many in the Legislature believe that if we Whereas, legal precedent exists where in leases having to do with the election that did are able to do a forensic audit, we could in- 1960 the State of Hawaii sent an alternate not conform to their own opinion. This di- vestigate these and other serious claims slate of electors while the Presidential elec- minished our ability to communicate to the brought forward to us. However, as you can tion was still in question in order to meet public our concerns about how the election see by the list above (not exhaustive but the deadline of selecting electors, and upon and post procedures were being handled. brief for your benefit) we have many entities recount the alternate slate of electors’ bal- 9. On 12/01/2020, I requested the Attorney who appear to be blocking our efforts to get lots were ultimately counted; and General’s Elections Integrity office to inves- to the bottom of the issue. One can only ask, Whereas, the undersigned have an obliga- tigate the claims made at the November 30th in a supposedly secure and fair election, why tion to find the truth. For this reason, on Giuliani hearing and provided them the link. discovery is being quashed. several occasions since November 3, we state I was told that none of the items listed at CONCLUSION lawmakers have requested fact-finding hear- the Giuliani hearing would be investigated It is asked that all of these issues be con- ings to include a comprehensive and inde- by that office. sidered when contemplating the eleven Ari- pendent forensic audit. At this time, no such

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06JA7.013 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H82 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 audit has been authorized. This leaves the Today we are in the people’s House to Trump last year. He rejected President uncertainty of the election results in a state complete the people’s process for Trump’s prayer to block certification that requires further investigation and reso- choosing the people’s President. We as- of Biden’s victory in Georgia, saying it lution; and Whereas, ongoing election irregularity liti- semble into joint session for a solemn ‘‘has no basis in fact or law.’’ gation is currently active, and there are un- purpose that we have all sworn a sa- Take U.S. District Judge Brett Lud- resolved disputes by both the Legislature cred oath to faithfully discharge. The wig, another Trump nominee who took and at least one Presidential campaign, ren- 12th Amendment obligates each and the bench in September. He dismissed a dering the election inconclusive as of date of every one of us to count the electoral lawsuit seeking to overturn the results signing of this letter, votes to recognize the will of the peo- in Wisconsin, calling it ‘‘extraor- Therefore, be it ple in the 2020 Presidential election. dinary.’’ Resolved by the undersigned Legislators, He said: ‘‘A sitting President who did members of the Arizona House and Senate, We are not here, Madam Speaker, to request that the alternate 11 electoral votes vote for the candidate we want. We are not prevail in his bid for reelection has be accepted for to Donald J. Trump or to here to recognize the candidate the asked for Federal Court help in setting have all electoral votes nullified completely people actually voted for in the States. aside the popular vote based on . . . until a full forensic audit can be conducted. Madam Speaker, the 2020 election is issues he plainly could have raised be- Be it further resolved that the United States over and the people have spoken. Joe fore the vote occurred. Congress is not to consider a slate of electors Biden received more than 80 million ‘‘This court allowed the plaintiff the from the State of Arizona until the Legisla- votes. Seven million more than Presi- chance to make his case, and he has ture deems the election to be final and all lost on the merits.’’ irregularities resolved. dent Trump. A number larger than any Signed this day, 14 December, 2020. other President has received in U.S. Trump has asked for the rule of law Senator Elect Kelly Townsend, Legislative history. The sweeping popular victory to be followed, Judge Ludwig observed, District 16; Representative Kevin Payne, translated into an electoral college vic- and he said definitively: It has been. Legislative District 21; Representative Mark tory of 306–232, a margin which Presi- I have been a constitutional law pro- Finchem, Legislative District 11; Senator fessor for 30 years, and if I were to test Sonny Borrelli, Legislative District 5; Rep- dent Trump pronounced a landslide when he won by those exact same num- my students on these decisions, it resentative Bret Roberts, Legislative Dis- would be the easiest test in the world trict 11; Representative Bob Thorpe, Legisla- bers in 2016. tive District 6; Senator David Farnsworth, So now we count the electoral votes because the plaintiffs have lost nearly Legislative District 16; Representative Leo that were just delivered to us in the every case and every issue in the most Biasiucci, Legislative District 5; Representa- beautiful mahogany cases brought by sweeping terms. That is all they would tive Anthony Kern, Legislative District 20; those hardworking Senate pages. These have to remember. There is no basis in Senator Sylvia Allen, Legislative District 15; mahogany cases contain only the 538 fact or law to justify the unprece- Senator Elect Nancy Barto, Legislative Dis- dented relief that is being requested of trict 15; Majority Leader Warren Petersen, electoral votes that were sent in by the States, not the 159 million ballots that nullifying these elections. Legislative District 12; Representative Steve We are here to count the votes. Let Pierce, Legislative District 1; Representative were cast by our constituents. Those us do our job. Tony Rivero, Legislative District 21; Senator were counted 2 months ago by hun- Mrs. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, I David Gowan, Legislative District 14; Rep- dreds of thousands of election officials resentative David Cook, Legislative District rise to support the objection. and poll workers across America who The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman 8; Representative John Fillmore, Legislative risked their health and even their lives District 16; Representative Travis Grantham, from Colorado is recognized for 5 min- Legislative District 12; Representative Wal- in the time of COVID to deliver what utes. ter Blackman, Legislative District 6; Rep- our Department of Homeland Security Mrs. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, to resentative Shawnna Bolick, Legislative Dis- called the most secure election in ease everyone’s nerve, I want Members trict 20; Representative Noel Campbell, Leg- American history. Many of these offi- to all know that I am not here to chal- islative District 1; Representative Elect Jac- cials have endured threats of retribu- lenge anyone to a duel like Alexander queline Parker, Legislative District 16; Rep- tion, violence, and even death just for resentative Elect Beverly Pingerelli, Legis- Hamilton or Aaron Burr. doing their jobs. Madam Speaker, my primary objec- lative District 21; Representative Elect Jake Just as the popular vote was for Hoffman, Legislative District 12; Senator tion to the counting of the electoral Elect Wendy Rogers, Lt Col, USAF (ret), Biden, so was the electoral vote. On votes of the State of Arizona is based Legislative District 6; Representative Elect December 15, Senate Majority Leader on the Constitution and the direction Steve Kaiser, Legislative District 15; Rep- MITCH MCCONNELL recognized it. ‘‘The of State legislatures through State resentative Elect Brenda Barton, Legislative electoral college has spoken,’’ the Sen- law, as spelled out in the following two District 6; Representative Elect Joseph ator said from the Senate floor. clauses of Article II, Section 1, Clause Chaplik, Legislative District 23; Representa- ‘‘Today I want to congratulate Presi- 2: ‘‘Each State shall appoint, in such tive Elect Judy Burges, Legislative District dent-elect Joe Biden.’’ 1; Representative Elect Quang Nguyen, Leg- manner as the legislature thereof may islative District 1. Yet, we have seen escalating attacks direct, a number of electors.’’ on our election with unfounded claims Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I And the election clause of the Con- of fraud and corruption. More than 60 claim the time in opposition to the ob- stitution provides State legislatures lawsuits have been brought to date jection. with explicit authority to prescribe The SPEAKER. The gentleman from seeking to overturn the results. They ‘‘the times, places, and manner of hold- Maryland is recognized for 5 minutes. have failed repeatedly and they have ing elections.’’ Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I failed spectacularly. For more than three decades, Arizona thank you first and all my dear beloved Every objection we hear today ma- law, set by the State legislature, has colleagues for your love and tender- ligning our States and their officials— required that voter registration end no ness, which my family and I will never both Republican and Democrat—has later than 29 days before an election. forget. been litigated, adjudicated, and oblit- This is clear. It is law, unless amend- Abraham Lincoln, whose name is a erated in both Federal and State ed by the State legislature. This is the comfort to us all, said: ‘‘We have got Courts. The President has not just had way it needs to be carried out. the best government the world ever his day in court, Madam Speaker, he In Arizona, the deadline for voter knew.’’ has had more than 2 months in court registration for the 2020 Presidential It is best because the first three looking for a judge to embrace these election was October 5, 2020. Using words of the Constitution tell us who arguments. In more than 50 cases, COVID as a reasoning, Democrats filed governs here: We the People. Madam Speaker, at least 88 different a lawsuit to extend this deadline by 18 Watch this proceeding today and tell judges, including many appointed by days. An injunction was made by an the world with pride, as Lincoln did, the President himself, have meticu- Obama-appointed judge preventing the about the brilliant meaning and prom- lously rejected the President’s claims Arizona secretary of state from enforc- ise of our country. Our Government be- of fraud and corruption. ing the constitutional deadline set by longs to the people. Take Georgia U.S. District Court the State legislature. As President Ford said: Here the peo- Judge Steven Grimberg, who was As a result of this frivolous, partisan ple rule. named to the bench by President lawsuit, 10 extra days were added via

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06JA7.014 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H83 judicial fiat to allow voter registra- over legal observers not being able to They met their duty, and they once tion. These 10 days were added after observe and inspect signatures, that again rose to the occasion and certified voting had already begun. This is com- the laws and Constitution of Arizona the election. And the question now is, pletely indefensible. You cannot were not violated to change voting out- will we do ours? change the rules of an election while it comes? Now, I know there are many is underway and expect the American And I will wait for a response. textualists among us, many of my col- people to trust it. The SPEAKER. The time of the gen- leagues who would understand that the Now, in this 10-day period, at least tleman has expired. Constitution must guide our work today. And the Constitution is crystal 30,000 new voters were registered to b 1400 vote in Arizona. All of these votes are clear: Our duty today is a narrow one. Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise unconstitutional. It does not matter if Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 reads: in opposition to the objection. ‘‘The President of the Senate shall, in they voted for President Trump or if The SPEAKER. The gentleman from they voted for Vice President Biden. the presence of the Senate and House Colorado is recognized for 5 minutes. of Representatives, open all the certifi- They did not register in time for the Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today election. The law states October 5. Ei- cates, and the votes shall then be is an important day. In 1862, during the counted. The person having the great- ther we have laws or we do not. depths of the Civil War, President Lin- If we allow State election laws as set est number of votes for President shall coln submitted his annual message to be the President.’’ forth by the State legislatures to be ig- Congress, to this body, and in it, he That is it, period. Our job is not to nored and manipulated on the whims of wrote the following: ‘‘Fellow citizens, replace the judgment made by the partisan lawsuits, unelected bureau- we cannot escape history. We, of this American people with our own. Yet, crats, unlawful procedures, and arbi- Congress and this administration, will that is precisely what so many of my trary rules, then our constitutional Re- be remembered in spite of ourselves. House and Senate Republican col- public will cease to exist. . . . The fiery trial through which we leagues ask this body to do, to sub- The oath I took this past Sunday to pass will light us down, in honor or dis- stitute their judgment for the ex- defend and support the Constitution honor, to the latest generation. . . . We pressed will of the American people. makes it necessary for me to object to shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the In America, we don’t do that. In the this travesty. Otherwise, the laws last best hope of Earth.’’ United States, we accept the results of passed by the legislative branch merely Madam Speaker, we gather today to free and fair elections. become suggestions to be accepted, re- ensure the survival of our grand Amer- Madam Speaker, we don’t ignore the jected, or manipulated by those who ican experiment, the greatest democ- will of the voters and attempt to in- did not pass them. racy this world has ever known, and stall a preferred candidate into power. Madam Speaker, I have constituents there are millions of people watching That doesn’t happen here. outside of this building right now. I today’s proceedings. The eyes of the Madam Speaker, I will close with promised my voters to be their voice. world are on us now, my colleagues, this. Our duty, our task, is a very sim- In this branch of government in which wondering if we will keep the faith, ple one: to honor the voice of the peo- ple, to honor our Constitution, to I now serve, it is my separate but equal wondering if our constitutional Repub- count the votes, to certify this elec- obligation to weigh in on this election lic will hold. and object. Will we adhere to our Constitution, tion, and begin to heal this great coun- Are we not a government of, by, and that solemn visionary document that try of ours. I pray each of us may find the cour- for the people? has guided us so well for so long and age to do so. They know that this election is not enabled the peaceful transfer of power right; and as their Representative, I Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam for the last 230 years? Speaker, I rise in support of the objec- am sent here to represent them. I will Will we continue to be a country pre- not allow the people to be ignored. tion. mised on the consent of the governed, a The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Madam Speaker, it is my duty under Congress that respects the will of the the U.S. Constitution to object to the Louisiana is recognized for 5 minutes. people, and a Republic that will en- Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam counting of the electoral votes of the dure? Speaker, we have a solemn responsi- State of Arizona. The Members who Madam Speaker, those are the ques- bility today. We must vote to sustain stand here today and accept the results tions before us today. With respect to objections to slates of electors sub- of this concentrated, coordinated, par- my new colleague from Colorado, the mitted by States that we genuinely be- tisan effort by Democrats, where every question is not whether Joe Biden was lieve clearly violated the Constitution fraudulent vote cancels out the vote of elected the 46th President of the in the Presidential election of 2020. an honest America, has sided with ex- United States. He clearly was. The peo- This is the threshold legal question tremists on the left. ple of Arizona, like so much of the before us, and it is an issue before us The United States Congress needs to country, spoke clearly and resound- for the State of Arizona. We have to re- make an informed decision, and that ingly. They voted in record numbers, peat this for emphasis because a lot of starts with this objection. and over 81 million Americans selected people seem to be confused. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Joe Biden as the next President. Because judges and not the State leg- tleman from Florida (Mr. MAST). Now, today, we hear from some in islature changed the rules of the elec- Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I rise as this Chamber—not all, but some of my tion, Arizona clearly violated the plain well to support the objection, and I rise colleagues on the other side of the language of Article II, Section 1 of the with the simple question: Can the aisle—vague claims of fraud. Constitution in its selection of Presi- Chair honestly tell Americans, with a No substance. dential electors. pending Supreme Court case over legal No evidence. The Framers of our Constitution rec- observers not being allowed to observe No facts. ognized that elections were susceptible and inspect signatures, that the laws No explanation for why over 88 to corruption. We all know that. So, and the Constitution of that State judges across this land have rejected how did they fix it? How did they pro- were not violated to change voting out- the very same claims. vide for that? They created the elec- comes? Madam Speaker, the bottom line is toral college as a safeguard, and they Madam Speaker, I will wait for a re- this. As my colleague, Representative expressly empowered State legislatures sponse. RASKIN, so eloquently put it, the people to ensure the integrity of our unique The SPEAKER. The gentleman from have spoken, and that is why, on De- election system. Florida (Mr. MAST) has 25 seconds re- cember 14, the electoral college met to Only the State legislatures, because maining. certify the election of a duly elected they are a full body of representatives Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I will re- President, just as they have done for and not rogue officials, were given the peat my question. centuries during terrible world wars, authority to direct the manner of ap- Can you honestly tell Americans, recessions, depressions, plagues, and pointing Presidential electors because with a pending Supreme Court case pandemics. it was so important.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.016 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H84 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 The Supreme Court has acknowl- Court spoke to this. They plainly ac- administered with integrity, trans- edged this over and over. They pre- knowledged this important delibera- parency, and in accordance with State viously affirmed in Article II, Section tive role of Congress. It was the famous laws.’’ 1, Clause 2: ‘‘The appointment of these Bush v. Gore litigation that everybody Arizonans showed up to the polls in electors is thus placed absolutely and remembers from 2000. record numbers. More than 3.4 million wholly with the legislatures of the sev- In a per curiam opinion—meaning all people voted, with increases in every eral States.’’ That authority can never nine Justices, that it was unanimous— county, and 65 percent of all eligible be taken away or abdicated. they noted strict adherence to the pro- voters in Arizona voted in the 2020 elec- The Arizona Legislature did enact de- visions of the Electoral Count Act may tion. Arizonans cast their ballots up tailed rules and procedures that the create ‘‘a ‘safe harbor’ for a State inso- and down for Republicans and Demo- State was supposed to follow to choose far as congressional consideration of crats, and 11 electoral votes were its electors. But in the months pre- its electoral votes is concerned.’’ granted to Joe Biden and KAMALA HAR- ceding the 2020 election, as we have However, unanimously, the Court RIS based on their victory in Arizona. heard—and by the way, a thousand said since title 3, section 5 contains a That is the story. pages of evidence have just been sub- principle of Federal law that would as- Arizonans voted in hundreds of races mitted on the facts on this—those well- sure finality of the State’s determina- this year. In addition to the Presi- established rules and procedures were tion if they followed all the proscrip- dency, these races include nine mem- deliberately changed. tions there, if the will of the legisla- bers of the State’s congressional dele- They weren’t changed by the legisla- ture is attempted to be changed by a gation that are with you—four of them, ture, friends. They were changed by State court, that is a problem. That, my Republican colleagues. These Mem- judges. And those actions taken by the they said, Congress might deem to be a bers have already been seated in the judiciary were not limited to mere in- change in the law. 117th Congress. They do not question terpretations of existing law. No, they That is precisely why we are here the accuracy of Arizona’s 2020 elections were substantive, wholesale changes to right now. Go read Bush v. Gore, and to select the congressional delegation, those statutes. you will see this. yet my four Republican colleagues Madam Speaker, that is a usurpation Chief Justice William Rehnquist and question the Presidential election. of the authority that the legislature Justices Scalia and Thomas joined in a Our colleagues may say they are only had. That usurpation was repeated concurring opinion 8 days later, and asking questions and seeking to reas- across the country this year. It is the they reiterated this point. sure voters, but let us be clear: These primary reason—it is one of the rea- A significant departure from the leg- questions have been answered by the sons why the election of 2020 became islature’s scheme for appointing Presi- voters and by the courts. Rather than riddled with an unprecedented number dential electors presents a Federal accepting the answers and the results of serious allegations of fraud and question. It is a big problem for us, and of the election, they are fanning the irregularities all over the country. it is one we cannot get around. That is flames of unfounded suspicion and once National polls, it has been said, indi- why we are here. again creating a threat, a very real and cate that a huge percentage of Ameri- Madam Speaker, I urge my col- dangerous threat to our democracy. cans now have serious doubts about not leagues today to look at the facts, to Again, our friends do not question just the outcome of this Presidential follow the law, and to follow our con- the outcomes of their own elections. contest but also the future reliability gressional oath. We are supposed to That is because they have no reason to, of our election system itself. support and defend the Constitution. just as they have no legitimate reason Since we are convinced that the elec- That is what we do here today. I urge to question the results of the Presi- tion laws in Arizona and some other everyone to do the right thing. dential election in Arizona. key States were changed in this uncon- Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues stitutional manner, we have a responsi- rise in opposition to the objection. to reject this objection, to respect the bility today. The slates of electors pro- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from will of the voters in the State of Ari- duced under those modified laws are Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes. zona and throughout this country, and thus unconstitutional. They are not Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, to fundamentally add some preserva- ‘‘regularly given’’ or ‘‘lawfully cer- this exercise in futility that Congress tion to our democracy from any future tified,’’ as required by the Electoral is undertaking is at the behest of Re- damage, that this effort that we are Count Act, and they are invalid on publican Members of Congress. The ef- undertaking in this House and in the their face. That is just the conclusion fort to overturn the Presidential elec- Senate today does not further damage that you have to reach. tion and grant Donald Trump 4 more our democracy. Madam Speaker, given these inescap- years is the motivation behind it. And Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise able facts, we believe we have no to continue a baseless conspiracy- in support of my objection. The SPEAKER. The gentleman from choice today but to vote to sustain ob- fueled threat to our democracy makes no sense because there is no viable con- Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes. jections to those slates of electors. Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I filed Mr. RASKIN and others today have stitutional or legal path to overturn my challenge on the slate of electors cited the 12th Amendment, and they the election that will make Vice Presi- from the State of Arizona that was ac- cite Article II, Section 1, Clause 3—re- dent Biden and Senator HARRIS Presi- tually put forward by Governor Ducey member that, Clause 3. And they have dent and Vice President of the United of Arizona. asserted that Congress has only one States after January 20. My ask to you, the Speaker, through narrow role today; we are just supposed One certain outcome of this whole the Vice President, is simple. Do not to count the electoral votes that have process is the weakening of our democ- count these electors until and unless been submitted. But those advocates racy and the threatening of our democ- the secretary of state allows a forensic have overlooked a critical first prin- racy. Beginning with Arizona, Congress audit of the election, a request she has ciple. is being asked to chase down a rabbit denied repeatedly. Their assertion is only true so long hole baseless, discredited, and judi- We have been told over and over that as Congress first is convinced that the cially discarded fringe conspiracy theo- even though this was a public election electoral votes were not produced by a ries. using public money and public ma- process that violated the Constitution Madam Speaker, for the record, let’s chines utilizing public employees, the is there. We have to get through Clause talk a little bit about Arizona. Arizona public today has no ability to simply 2 of Article II, Section 1, before we get and State and local officials did an un- double-check the veracity of these re- to Clause 3 is the point. believable job to ensure that the 2020 sults. Look, in our unique system, Congress elections ran smoothly. Mr. Hickman, is positioned as the last bulwark in a the Republican chairman of the Mari- b 1415 Presidential election to ensure the copa County board, the largest county If the Presidential election was a Constitution has been followed. Indeed, in the State of Arizona, said: ‘‘No mat- football game, we would get a slow-mo- just two decades ago, the Supreme ter how you voted, this election was tion review from multiple angles and a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.017 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H85 correction of a controversial decision. You have a letter from the Arizona We always knew that this responsi- But not so, we are told by our sec- Legislature stating its intent to review bility would take us into the night, and retary of state, for the Presidential the issue on January 11. Our Governor we will stay as long as it takes. Our election, no review for you. has refused to allow the State to prop- purpose will be accomplished. We must, No access to the Dominion voting erly convene to do its proper oversight. and we will, show to the country, and machines with a documented history of Mr. Speaker, I ask you one question indeed to the world, that we will not be enabling fraud through its now discred- today: Are you a ceremonial figurehead diverted from our duty, that we will re- ited adjudication system, a system in your current role, or did the drafters spect our responsibility to the Con- that literally allows one person to of the 12th Amendment and Congress, stitution and to the American people. change tens of thousands of votes in in the Electoral Count Act of 1887, en- On Sunday, it was my great honor to mere minutes. vision a role where you made discre- be sworn in as Speaker and to preside In the only audit done in Arizona, a tionary decisions about ballot fraud over a sacred ritual of renewal as we court found 3 percent error rate and fair elections? gathered under the stone of the temple against President Trump. Vice Presi- If you are merely ceremonial, then of democracy to open the 117th Con- dent Biden’s margin of error was one- let’s be done with this. Let’s eat our gress. I said, as we were sworn in then, tenth of that, at 0.03 percent. By the tea and crumpets and witness our na- we accept a responsibility as daunting way, a 3 percent error rate at minimum tional decline. and demanding as any previous genera- is 90,000 ballots. After finding the 3 per- But if you are not merely ceremonial tion of leadership has ever faced. cent error rate, the court stopped the but vested with discernment, ration- We know that we are in difficult audit and refused to go further. ality, and legal authority to not just times, but little could we have imag- In Arizona, as my attachments make count from 1 to 270, then do not accept ined the assault that was made on our clear, mail-in ballots were altered on Arizona’s electors as certified. Remand democracy today. the first day of counting as shown in the slate back to the secretary of state, To those who stoked deterrence from data graphs we have provided, as con- back to the Governor, with the fol- our responsibility, you have failed. To cluded by data analysts. Over 400,000 lowing instructions: Until a full, com- those who engaged in the gleeful dese- mail-in ballots were altered, switched plete electoral forensic audit is allowed cration of this, our temple of democ- from President Trump to Vice Presi- by the secretary of state, the electors racy, American democracy, justice will dent Biden, or completely erased from currently certified will not be counted. be done. It will then fall on the State of Ari- President Trump’s totals. Today, January 6, is the Feast of the zona to decide are its electors in the The proof is in the counting curves, Epiphany. On this day of revelation, let game or not. Anything less is an abdi- the curves that cannot occur except us pray that this instigation to vio- cation of our constitutional Republic with odds so rare and unlikely that lence will provide an epiphany for our and our ethos: one man, one vote. winning the Mega Millions lottery is We ask: Why? What is there to hide? country to heal. In that spirit of healing, I invoke the more probable. Shouldn’t the lawful victor of an elec- song of Saint Francis. I usually do. Mr. Speaker, can I have order in the tion be proud, open, and transparent Saint Francis is the patron saint of my Chamber? about an election audit? I would. In- city of San Francisco, and the ‘‘Song of RECESS stead, we are met with denials, cover- Saint Francis’’ is our anthem. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ups, and contempt of subpoenas. MCGOVERN). Without objection, pursu- There is too much evidence of fraud, Lord, make me a channel of thy ant to clause 12(b) of rule I, the Chair demonstrated by statistical anomalies peace. declares the House in recess subject to that experts have determined cannot Where there is darkness, may I bring the call of the Chair. happen in the absence of fraud, to ac- light. Where there is hatred, let us bring There was no objection. cept such a slate. I am not asking these love. Accordingly (at 2 o’clock and 18 min- electors never be counted; it is just Where there is despair, let us bring utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. that they need to be certified the prop- hope. b 1426 er way. Our beloved Constitution is but a We know that we would be part of AFTER RECESS mere piece of paper if we do not follow history in a positive way today, every The recess having expired, the House the law, upholding the law. But now, 4 years when we demonstrate again the was called to order by the Speaker pro alas, we find ourselves lawless, destroy- peaceful transfer of power from one tempore (Mr. MCGOVERN) at 2 o’clock ing the very thread that binds us to- President to the next, and despite the and 29 minutes p.m. gether. But we need to get back to the shameful actions of today, we still will The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- rule of law. That is what has been vio- do so. We will be part of a history that tleman from Arizona (Mr. GOSAR) has lated, truly, by the actions in these shows the world what America is made 3 2 ⁄4 minutes remaining. States. of, that this assault, this assault is just The gentleman may proceed. that. It shows the weakness of those RECESS Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, as I was who have had to show through violence The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without saying, the probability of these ectopic what their message was. objection, pursuant to clause 12(b) of curves, you have a better likelihood of My colleagues, it is time to move on. rule I, the Chair declares the House in winning the Mega Millions lottery than I wear this pin quite frequently. Actu- recess subject to the call of the Chair. you do having statistical issues here. There was no objection. ally, I gave it to our beloved JOHN Over 30,000 illegal aliens voted in Ari- Accordingly (at 2 o’clock and 29 min- LEWIS just the weekend or so before he zona using the Federal ballot, yet our utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. left us. It is the flag of our country, a secretary of state refused the public ac- flag of the United States of America. cess to review the ballots. b 2102 On it, it says, ‘‘One country, one des- Over a thousand residences were vis- AFTER RECESS tiny.’’ ited for proof of residency and address; The recess having expired, the House ‘‘One country, one destiny’’ is writ- 456 failed that test. They were vacant was called to order by the Speaker at 9 ten on the flag. That was also what was lots. Even the Recorder’s office was o’clock and 2 minutes p.m. embroidered in Abraham Lincoln’s used as an address. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER coat that he had on that fateful night— What are they hiding? If the process The SPEAKER. The Chair will ad- Lincoln’s party, Lincoln’s message: was fair, these would be improbable. dress the Chamber. One country, one destiny. These would be once-in-a-lifetime-type Today, a shameful assault was made So on this holy day of Epiphany, let applications. on our democracy. It cannot, however, us pray. I am a big believer in prayer. So let’s look at the ballots, the sig- deter us from our responsibility to Let us pray that there will be peace on natures, and the adjudicated records. validate the election of Joe Biden and Earth and that it will begin with us. Until this is done, Mr. Speaker, we KAMALA HARRIS. For that reason, Con- Let us pray that God will continue to should not count this slate. gress has returned to the Capitol. bless America.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.020 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H86 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 With that, let us proceed with our re- after court have dismissed out of hand, by the country—they voted, and they sponsibilities to the Constitution to not because there was a little evidence, voted pretty decisively. which we have just, within 72 hours, but because there was no evidence. We, the people, together, must turn taken the oath to uphold. That is why we are the longest-last- away from division and its dangers. Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise ing constitutional democracy in the The senior Member of our body, DON in opposition to the objection. world. I hope all of us in this body are YOUNG from Alaska, spoke the other The SPEAKER. The gentleman from proud of that and understand why that day when we were sworn in and said: Maryland is recognized for 5 minutes. is the case. Because, as Dick Gephardt Ladies and gentlemen of this House, we Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, it is a said on this floor many years ago, de- are so divisive that it is going to de- sad day in America. It is a wrenching mocracy is a substitute for war to re- stroy our country. We need to reach day in America. It is a day in which solve differences. It proved once more out and hold one another’s hands. our words and our actions have had the ever-beating strong heart that We all have a title that we honor consequences of a very, very negative gives life to our Republic and our free- more than any other—perhaps parent, nature. We ought to watch our words doms. perhaps husband. But we are all Ameri- and think what it may mean to some. That strength, Madam Speaker, is cans. Not Americans-R; not Americans- My remarks were written before the derived in part from our institution D. We are Americans. tragic, dangerous, and unacceptable ac- and our laws, but most importantly, it Let us hope tonight that we act like tions—and ‘‘unacceptable’’ is such a is powered by citizens’ and leaders’ Americans. Not as Ds and Rs, but as tame word. My remarks started with, commitment to our Constitution. Not Americans, just as Al Gore, just as Hil- ‘‘Madam Speaker, the American people just us. We swear an oath. But it is all lary Clinton, just as Adlai Stevenson, today are witnessing one of the great- of America. just as Abraham Lincoln, who had won est challenges to our democracy in its Barack Obama spoke from that that election, of course. But he had de- 244-year history.’’ Chamber, and he said: I am going to be feated people, and he said that is not Little did I know that this Capitol taking another title next year—citizen. the issue; the issue is to reunite. would be attacked by the enemy with- And he was proud to take that. And We, the people, must again be the in. I was here on 9/11 when we were at- every citizen needs to protect, pre- strong heart of our American democ- tacked by the enemy without. serve, and uplift our democracy. racy. We need to all work together to tame Some today did not do that, many We, the people, on this day in Con- and reduce the anger and, yes, the hate today. gress, must be agents of unity and con- that some stoke. What some—not all, Sixty-eight years ago in Springfield, structive action to face the grave Madam Speaker, but some—in this Illinois, Governor Adlai Stevenson threats that confront us and tell those House and this Senate are doing today gracefully conceded his loss to General who would assault our Capitol: That is will not change the outcome of the Dwight Eisenhower. He said this: ‘‘It is not the American way. election, which is the clear and insur- traditionally American,’’ he told his We, the Members of Congress, who mountable victory of President-elect deeply disappointed supporters, ‘‘to swore an oath before God to preserve Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris. fight hard before an election.’’ and protect the Constitution of the Instead, all they will accomplish is to United States and our democracy, b 2115 further the dangerous divisions. must do so now. This was written before this Capitol But then he added, it is equally tradi- I don’t usually read Senator MCCON- was assaulted, before this democracy tional to close ranks as soon as the NELL’s speeches, but I am not speaking was put aside by thousands, encour- people have spoken—not the Congress, as a Democrat, nor was he speaking as aged by the Commander in Chief. not the electors, the people have spo- a Republican just a few hours ago. Instead, all they will accomplish is to ken. ‘‘We’re debating a step that has never further the dangerous divisions, as I That which unites us as American been taken in American history, said, among our people and energize citizens is far greater than that which whether Congress should overrule the conspiracy theories stoked by our for- divides us as political parties. voters and overturn a Presidential eign adversaries, which seek to erode It was another man from Springfield, election.’’ America’s confidence in our democracy fourscore and 8 years earlier, who won He went on to say that he supports a and our system of free and fair elec- reelection to the Presidency in the na- strong State-led voting reform. tions. tional crisis that tested our country ‘‘The Constitution,’’ he said, ‘‘gives I was here in 2000. I was strongly in and its democratic institutions, who us here in Congress a limited role. We favor of Al Gore for President, and my pleaded even in his hour of victory for cannot simply declare ourselves a na- candidate got more votes than the the same spirit of reconciliation. That tional board of elections on steroids. other candidate. His name was George was the party of Lincoln. That hasn’t The voters, the courts, and the States Bush, of course. And one of the saddest happened to this hour. have all spoken.’’ days was January 20th of 2001 when our Lincoln said: ‘‘. . . now that the elec- Five people said the election of 2000 candidate, who won the election, in my tion is over,’’ he asked, ‘‘may not all, was over. We didn’t agree with them. view, was not elected. But it was also having a common interest, reunite in a But Al Gore said: We are a nation of one of the proudest moments of my ca- common effort to save our common laws. Five people—yes, they were mem- reer because the greatest power on country?’’ bers of the Supreme Court, but they Earth passed peacefully from Bill Clin- Such is the duty of an American who were five people—said the election is ton to George W. Bush. stands for elections, or participates in over. I sat on that podium and saw that Not a shot was fired. Nobody as- our politics, to be either humble in tri- power transfer to George W. Bush. saulted this Caucus or this Congress or umph or gracious in defeat. MCCONNELL went on to say: ‘‘If we this Chamber. Because we were not dis- I have lost some elections—not too overrule them, it would damage our appointed? No. Because we were not many—and I have won a lot of elec- Republic forever.’’ angry? No. Because we believe in de- tions. I hope that I have been gracious He said that, MCCONNELL, the Repub- mocracy. We believe in ‘‘We the peo- in defeat and humble in victory. I hope lican leader of the Senate, about 2 ple.’’ that I put my State and my country hours ago, 3 hours ago, now 4 hours. One of the speakers, I think it was first, not myself. He went on to say: ‘‘If this election the Senator from Texas, expressed: We It is clear to all that the outgoing were overturned by mere allegations are here for the people. President has not followed the path from the losing side, our democracy If those were the people, we are in a that Stevenson and Lincoln urged. So, would enter a death spiral.’’ lot of trouble. we, the people—each one of us rep- He concluded: ‘‘It would be unfair Our electoral system, our democratic resents about 750,000 to 800,000 people, and wrong to disenfranchise American system, however, did not break under some a few less. The people, they have voters and overrule the courts and the the strains of the misinformation, the spoken in the way that our Constitu- States on this extraordinarily thin claims of fraud, which court after court tion set for them to be heard by us and basis. And I will not pretend such a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.022 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H87 vote would be a harmless protest ges- things I may not see fair or just, but b 2130 ture . . .’’ that is the way we should handle We will respect your opinion, we will How presciently he spoke. People things. respect what you say, and we are will- who think that the election has been The majority leader is right: We are ing to listen to it. I think the Nation stolen with some fraud, why do they all Americans first. will be better for it on both sides of the think it? Because the Commander in But we should also think for a mo- aisle. Let’s show the country the mob Chief said so, and they respect him and ment: What do we put on social media? did not win. We have a job to do. Let’s they follow him. And words matter. What do we convey to one another? do it with pride and let’s be better ‘‘Pete,’’ as he ended, ‘‘I will not pre- Just because you have a personal opin- when the sun rises tomorrow. tend such a vote would be a harmless ion different than mine, you have a Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I protest gesture while relying on others right to say it, but nobody has a right rise in opposition to the objection. to do the right thing. I will vote to re- to become a mob. And we all should The SPEAKER. The gentleman is spect the people’s decision and defend stand united in condemning the mob recognized for 5 minutes. our system of government as we know together. Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, over it.’’ We solve problems before our Nation, the last few hours, we have seen the I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘no’’ on not through destruction, but through consequences of dangerous un-Amer- this objection, as MCCONNELL said, a debate. That is the heart of this democ- ican rhetoric; an armed insurrection danger to our democracy. racy. I know what we debate today is against the seat of government of the Mr. MCCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I tough, but it is just; it is right. most powerful country on Earth; a rise for a point of personal privilege to This isn’t the first side of the aisle breach of this Capitol building to at- address the House for 5 minutes. that has ever debated this issue. I tack Congress, something that has not The SPEAKER. The gentleman from thought of what Madam Speaker said taken place since the British occupied California is recognized for 5 minutes. back in 2005, ‘‘this is democracy at its this building during the War of 1812; an Mr. MCCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I best,’’ when they talked about a Presi- attempted coup spurred by rhetoric rise to address what happened in this dential election in Ohio. coming from those who are looking out Chamber today and where do we go These are the moments that we for themselves, not country. from here. should raise the issue about integrity It is stunning, Madam Speaker, that The violence, destruction, and chaos and accountability and accuracy in our there are some in this House who have we saw earlier was unacceptable, un- elections. But you know what we voiced support for what happened. It democratic, and un-American. It was should do, the next difference? Not just was not a protest. It was treason. It the saddest day I have ever had serving raise the issue, but work together to was sedition. And it should be pros- as a Member of this institution. solve the problems. ecuted as such. The Capitol was in chaos. Police offi- Now is the moment to show America At its root is a disease that has in- cers were attacked. Guns were drawn we can work best together. I will tell fected our politics, one that will make on this very floor. A woman tragically you, the size of the majority is slim, so some political leaders do anything, in- lost her life. it gives us the opportunity to make cluding lie and incite violence to hold No one wins when this building and that happen. The only thing that can on to power. That is what we are seeing what it stands for are destroyed. Amer- hold us back is the will of one another before our very eyes. ica, and this institution, is better than to do it. In contesting the outcome of this that. This side of the aisle always believes election, my Republican colleagues We saw the worst of America this in working with anybody who wants to make a contradictory argument that afternoon. Yet, in the midst of violence move it forward. That does not mean puts party and power before country. and fear, we also saw the best of Amer- that we are going to agree 100 percent They argue the election results were ica. of the time. That does not mean our valid when it showed they won their It starts with our law enforcement— voice cannot be heard. That does not races, but the same ballots were some- the Capitol Police, the National Guard, mean we cannot be treated fairly; we how fraudulent when it produced a re- the FBI, and the Secret Service—who should be. That may mean on the size sult President Trump did not like. faced the most difficult challenges but of committees, that means on our abil- Keep the results we like, they de- did their duty with confidence and ity to offer an amendment, that means mand, cancel the one we don’t. strength. Many of them are injured on our ability to have our voice. But at That is not how democracy works, right now. the end of the day, it helps us come to and neither is armed insurrection. It also extends to this Chamber, a better conclusion. Here is the truth: Arizona has a long where both Democrats and Republicans By returning here to complete the bipartisan record of conducting safe, showed courage, calm, and resolve. work we were sent to do, we are prov- secure, and fair elections. And I say I would like to recognize the Mem- ing that our democracy cannot be dis- that as someone whose party has more bers now who helped to hold the line: rupted by criminal behavior. We will often than not been on the losing end MARKWAYNE MULLIN, TONY GONZALES, not falter; we will not bend; and we of those elections. This last election JASON CROW, PAT FALLON, and TROY will not shrink from our duty. was, once again, safe and secure. And I NEHLS. Working with the Capitol Po- Let me be very clear: Mobs don’t rule commend our State and county elec- lice, they ensured the floor of this America. Laws rule America. It was tion officials, public servants on both Chamber was never breached. These are true when our cities were burning this sides of the aisle, for making Arizona the heroes among us. Thank you for summer, and it is true now. proud once again. the show of courage. When Americans go to bed tonight, We are here because the case that Re- Looking back on the past few hours, their lasting memory should not be a publicans have brought before us has it is clear this Congress will not be the Congress overrun by rioters. It must be failed in court over and over and over same after today, and I hope it will be a resolute Congress conducting healthy again. the better. I hope not just this institu- debate. My colleagues say: Let’s go back to tion, but I hope every American pauses We may disagree on a lot in America, the State, let them decide. for that moment and thinks among but tonight we should show the world My friends, Arizona has spoken. They themselves that we can disagree with that we will respectfully, but thor- have sent the correct electors. one another but not dislike each other; oughly, carry out the most basic duties Arizona’s Republican attorney gen- we can respect the voices of others. of democracy. eral, one of the most partisan in the There are many times we debate in We will continue with the task that country, said: ‘‘There is no evidence, this body, and we should. There are we have been sent here to do. We will there are no facts that would lead any- many times we can get heated. I still follow the Constitution and the law one to believe the election results will consider STENY HOYER a very good and the process for hearing valid con- change.’’ friend. There are times I get upset, and cerns about election integrity. We will The Republican speaker of our State I will call him at home to express the do it with respect. house has told us he doesn’t like the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.024 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H88 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 results of the election, but they are the This hallowed temple of democracy is of late ballots, and hand-stamping bal- right results. Joe Biden has won Ari- where generations of Americans have lots with the previous day’s date. zona. peacefully come together to face our My North Country constituents and The State supreme court, made up Nation’s greatest challenges, bridge the American people cherish the Con- entirely of justices appointed by Re- our deepest fissures, and create a more stitution. They know, according to the publican Governors, has spoken, too. perfect system of government. This is Constitution, elected officials closest The court said the President’s chal- the appropriate place we stand to re- to the people in State legislatures have lenge ‘‘fails to present any evidence of spectfully and peacefully give voice to the power of the pen to write election misconduct, illegal votes, or that the the people we represent across our di- law, not unelected bureaucrats, judges, Biden electors did not in fact receive verse country. Governors, or secretaries of state. the highest numbers of votes for of- The Representatives of the American To the tens of thousands of constitu- fice.’’ people in this House are standing up ents who have reached out to me, Look to the words of one of the for three fundamental American be- thank you. Please know that I am lis- President’s own campaign chairs in my liefs: The right to vote is sacred, that tening and I hear you, both those who State, our Governor, Doug Ducey. Our a Representative has a duty to rep- agree and those who disagree. Our Con- Governor loves the President. He has resent his or her constituents, and that stitutional Republic will endure this been so loyal. He made sure the Presi- the rule of law is a hallmark of our Na- tragic day because the Founding Fa- dent could hold large rallies in our tion. thers understood Congress and the State in the middle of a pandemic. The And in the spirit of healing—those American people would face unprece- Governor personally attended them. are not my words—those are the words dented and historic challenges by de- They spoke so often that the Governor of you, Madam Speaker, from this very bating them on this very floor. gave the President a special ‘‘Hail to Chamber, when some of my colleagues I believe that the most precious foun- the Chief’’ ring tone on his phone. and friends across the aisle objected to dation and the covenant of our Repub- After election day, as the legal chal- the 2005 electoral college certification. lic is the right to vote, and the faith in lenges played out, the Governor kept In fact, there were objections on this the sanctity of our Nation’s free and quiet; but when the truth became floor to the certification of nearly fair elections. We must work together clear, even he acknowledged ‘‘Joe every Republican President in my life- in this House to rebuild that faith so Biden did win Arizona.’’ time: In 1989, in 2001, in 2005, and in that all our elections are free, fair, se- I am grateful that, in this instance, 2017. cure, safe and, most importantly, that the Governor put law, not partisan pol- So history is our guide that the peo- they are according to the United itics, first. And I urge my colleagues in ple’s sacred House is the appropriate States Constitution. the House to follow his lead. venue for a peaceful debate. And this Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I rise in Each and every one of us in this peaceful debate serves as a powerful opposition to the objection. House, the people’s House, swore an condemnation to the violence that per- The SPEAKER. The gentleman is oath to preserve, protect, and defend petrated our Capitol grounds today. recognized for 5 minutes. our Constitution against all enemies, The violence that was truly un-Amer- Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, today, the foreign and domestic. Over the last few ican. people’s House was attacked, which is hours, we have gained a better under- Today’s discussion is about the Con- an attack on the Republic itself. There standing of what that means. stitution and it is about the American is no excuse for it. A women died. And The future of the Constitution, the people, but it must also be about clear- people need to go to jail. And the Presi- most precious of the founding docu- ly and resolutely condemning the vio- dent should never have spun up certain ments of the greatest democracy lence that occurred today. Americans to believe something that human kind has ever known, is in our I am honored each and every day to simply cannot be. hands. Defending democracy is not, and represent New York’s 21st Congres- I applaud House leadership of both should not be, a partisan task. It is a sional District, and I believe it is my parties for bringing us back to do our sacred one. Right here, right now, we solemn and sacred duty to serve as job, which is to count the electors and must recognize that fidelity to the their voice and their vote in the peo- no more. founding principles of our Nation are ple’s House. The problem we face, though, is even not about loyalty to one man, but rath- Tens of millions of Americans are bigger. We are deeply divided. We are er to ensure that government of the concerned that the 2020 election fea- divided about even life, liberty, and the people, by the people, and for the peo- tured unconstitutional overreach by pursuit of happiness. The words which ple shall not perish from the Earth. unelected State officials and judges ig- used to bind us together now, at times, The world is watching us all right noring State election laws. We can and tear us apart because we disagree now. We must get it right. Reject this we should peacefully and respectfully about what they even mean. ill-conceived attack on our democracy. discuss these concerns. My constituents at home in Texas Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I In Pennsylvania, the State supreme are genuinely upset. I say to my col- rise to support the objection. court and secretary of state unilater- leagues on the other side of the aisle, The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman is ally and unconstitutionally rewrote we have a constant barrage of those recognized for 5 minutes. election law eliminating signature who wish to remake America into a so- Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I matching requirements. cialist welfare State, efforts to attack rise with a heavy heart. This has been In Georgia, there was constitutional our institutions, tear down statues, a truly tragic day for America. We all overreach when the secretary of state erase our history, defund our police. join together in fully condemning the unilaterally and unconstitutionally We have seen the debasing of our lan- dangerous violence and destruction gutted signature matching for absentee guage. We teach our children that that occurred today in our Nation’s ballots and, in essence, eliminated America is evil. We destroy our sov- Capitol. voter verification required by State ereignty, empower cartels. We attack Americans will always have their election law. our Second Amendment. We destroy freedom of speech and the constitu- In Wisconsin, officials issued illegal small businesses through lockdowns. tional right to protest, but violence in rules to circumvent a State law, passed We divide ourselves by race. We can’t any form is absolutely unacceptable. It by the legislature as the Constitution even agree that there is man and is anti-America, and must be pros- requires, but required absentee voters woman. We extinguish the unborn be- ecuted to the fullest extent of the law. to provide further identification before fore they even have a chance to see Thank you to the heroic United obtaining a ballot. daylight. States Capitol Police. And thank you In Michigan, signed affidavits docu- But at the heart of our path forward to the bipartisan professional staff of ment numerous unconstitutional irreg- lies the essence of our Republic, its the United States Capitol for pro- ularities: Officials physically blocking cornerstone. That we are a union of tecting the people’s House and the the legal right of poll watchers to ob- States bound together for common de- American people. serve vote counts, the illegal counting fense and economic strength, and more

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.026 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H89 so bound together through federalism Many States made poor policy deci- As an aside, I have seen higher per- in which we may live together peace- sions. Whether these poor policy deci- centages in other studies. fully as citizens in this vast land agree- sions violate State laws is a contested Exhibit E. The 2010 Census counted 11 ing to disagree, free to live according matter and a matter for the States to million illegal aliens in America. to our own beliefs and according to the resolve for themselves. Exhibit F. A 2018 Yale study esti- dictates of our conscience. More, five of the six legislatures are mated as many as 22 million illegal Now, many of my colleagues were controlled by Republicans. Not one aliens in America. poised this afternoon to vote to insert body has sent separate electors. Not Exhibit G. The math means between Congress into the constitutionally pre- one body has sent us even a letter by a 880,000 and 1.72 million illegal aliens il- scribed decisionmaking of the States majority of its whole body. The only legally voted in the 2020 elections. by rejecting the sole official electors body, the Pennsylvania Senate, who Exhibit H. In 2014, Old Dominion Uni- sent to us by each of the States of the managed to come up with a majority of versity and George Mason University Union. I hope they will reconsider. Republicans to complain only did so professors surveyed noncitizens and il- I can tell you that I was not going to, yesterday in an eleventh-hour face-sav- legal aliens and found they vote Demo- and I will not be voting to reject the ing political statement. Not one GOP crat roughly 80 percent of the time. electors. And that vote may well sign statewide official has formally called Exhibit I. The math is again my political death warrant, but so be on us to change. Not one law enforce- straightforward. The 60 percent Biden it. I swore an oath to uphold the Con- ment organization, State or Federal, advantage times the illegal alien vot- stitution of the United States, and I has presented a case of malfeasance. ing number means Joe Biden gained will not bend its words into contor- History will judge this moment. roughly 1,032,000 votes from illegal tions for personal political expediency. Let us not turn the last firewall for alien voting. That is the high number. Number one, rejecting the electors liberty we have remaining on its head Exhibit J. While no one knows for certified to Congress by sovereign in a fit of populist rage for political ex- sure how massive the illegal alien vot- States violates the 12th Amendment pediency when there is plenty of look- ing bloc is, we do know Joe Biden and and the entirety of the Constitution it ing into the mirror for Republicans to his campaign believed it large enough amends, notwithstanding claims that do for destroying our election systems and critical enough to winning the you must read certain sections first. It with expansion of mail-in ballots. Presidential race that, at the October is clear, it is black and white, we I may well get attacked for this, but 22 Presidential debate, Joe Biden pub- count. It is ministerial. And our only I will not abandon my oath to the Con- licly solicited the illegal alien bloc job is to count the electors before us. stitution. And I will make clear that I vote by promising: ‘‘Within 100 days, I We have only one slate of electors per am standing up in defense of that Con- am going to send to the United States State sent to us under color of law, and stitution to protect our federalist order Congress a pathway to citizenship for no more. and the electoral college, which em- over 11 million undocumented people.’’ Number two, to the extent you be- powers the very States we represent to Ladies and gentlemen, Madam lieve we do have constitutional author- stand athwart the long arm of this Speaker, that is the pot of gold at the ity to reject, we are arguing using in- Federal Government by its very design. end of the rainbow for illegal aliens. complete and often misleading data Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Joe Biden knew exactly what he was points to prove it. I am not afforded Speaker, I rise in support of the objec- doing by seeking the illegal alien bloc time to go point by point, but there are tion. vote. After all, on May 11, 1993, then- more misleading claims than legiti- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Senator Joe Biden voted for the Na- mate ones. Alabama is recognized for 5 minutes. tional Voter Registration Act, which Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam makes it illegal to require proof of citi- b 2145 Speaker, for years, Democrats and zenship from illegal aliens and other Three, rejecting the electors ignores their media allies deceived America noncitizens when they seek to register the Founder’s specific admonition that about Trump-Russian collusion and the to vote. Congress not choose the President, as extent of foreign interference in the Madam Speaker, the evidence is com- articulated in Federalist No. 68. 2016 elections. Yet, in 2020, Democrats pelling and irrefutable. Noncitizens Four, indeed, the Founders drafted promoted massive foreign interference overwhelmingly voted for Joe Biden in the inclusion of a phrase specifically in American elections by helping ille- exchange for the promised amnesty and putting Congress into the manner of gal aliens and other noncitizens vote in citizenship and in so doing helped steal the election process then specifically American elections, thereby canceling the election from Donald Trump, Re- rejected it. the votes of and stealing elections from publican candidates, and American Five, if more than a trivial bloc of American citizens. citizens across America. this body votes to reject a sovereign Want evidence? Exhibit A. In 1993, Madam Speaker, in my judgment, if State’s electors, it will irrevocably em- Democrats rammed through Congress only lawful votes cast by eligible power Congress to take over the selec- the National Voter Registration Act, American citizens are counted, Joe tion of Presidential electors, and doing making it illegal—illegal—to require Biden lost and President Trump won so will almost certainly guarantee fu- proof of citizenship that prevents ille- the electoral college. ture Houses will vote to reject the elec- gal aliens and noncitizens from reg- As such, it is my constitutional duty tors of Texas or any of our States for istering to vote. to promote honest and accurate elec- whatever reason. Why did Democrats do that? Simple. tions by rejecting electoral college Six, voting to reject the electors is To steal elections, of course. vote submissions from States whose not remotely consistent with our vote Exhibit B. How bad is the noncitizen electoral systems are so badly flawed on Sunday, a vote I forced to highlight voting problem? In 2005, Democrat as to render their vote submissions un- the very hypocrisy: to accept the out- President Jimmy Carter’s Commission reliable, untrustworthy, and unworthy come of the election of ourselves on Federal Election Reform warned of acceptance. through elections conducted under the that ‘‘noncitizens have registered to Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, as a same rules, by procedures put in place vote in several recent elections’’ and proud Republican, I rise in opposition by the same executive branch officials, recommended that ‘‘all States should to the objection to the electorate. impacted by rulings from the same use their best efforts to obtain proof of The SPEAKER. The gentleman from judges, State and Federal. To do so is citizenship before registering voters.’’ New York is recognized for 5 minutes. entirely inexplicable on its face. Exhibit C. A June 2005 General Ac- Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, I come Seven, the argument for rejection countability Office report discovered to this side of the aisle as a proud Re- most given by my colleagues is based that up to 3 percent of people on voter publican but, most importantly, as a on the allegations of systemic election registration lists are not U.S. citizens. proud American. abuse by executive or judicial branch Exhibit D. In 2008, Electoral Studies Today, we saw an assault on our de- officials interfering with the ‘‘legisla- surveyed 339 noncitizens. Eight percent mocracy. I love this institution. I love tures thereof’’ in Article II. admitted voting in American elections. the United States Congress, and I love

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Let us pause that our poenas post-election to get information power that says we settle our dif- tenure in this Congress will far surpass from the Maricopa County board on ferences not with mob rule; we settle the time that we stay here. And let us various election matters, but the board our difference through elections. And pause and cast our votes today recog- and the courts refused to help at all to when those elections are over, we have nizing that what we do here today will let the State senate complete its con- a peaceful transition of power. set the course of this institution for stitutional duties. Now, make no mistake to my col- years to come. In Pennsylvania, where State legisla- leagues on the Democratic side of the This institution, Madam Speaker, tors wrote us about their powers being aisle, I will be passionate in my dis- shall not fail because the United States usurped, the Democrat majority on the agreement with you. I will be pas- of America shall forever be the beacon State supreme court changed signa- sionate in my ideas for the future of of hope, the inspiration to all. ture, signature matching and postal this country, and I will fight for my May God bless our great country. marking requirements. The date to Republican ideas that I hold near and Mr. ZELDIN. Madam Speaker, I rise submit mail-in ballots was extended dear. But I will stand with you tonight in support of the objection. contradictory to the date set by State and send a message to the Nation and The SPEAKER. The gentleman from law. all Americans that what we saw today New York is recognized for 5 minutes. The State legislature expanded no- was not American, and what we see to- Mr. ZELDIN. Madam Speaker, my excuse mail-in balloting without a con- night in this body shall be what we do constitutional oath is sacred, and I stitutional amendment. Constitutions in America, and that is to transfer have a duty to speak out about con- apply to the acts of all branches of gov- power in a peaceful way. firmed evidence-filled issues with the ernment. Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Will the gen- administration of the 2020 Presidential The issue was magnified by the voter tleman yield? election in certain battleground rolls being so inaccurate that more Mr. REED. I yield to the gentleman States. voters submitted ballots than there from New Jersey. Signature verification, ballot obser- were registered voters. Signature au- Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, vation, voter roll integrity, voter ID thentication rules for absentee and I thank my friend for yielding and for requirements, and ballot collection mail-in ballots were weakened by the standing with me and with all of us. protections were weakened on top of Democrat secretary of the Common- TOM REED is my co-chair of the Prob- the millions of mailboxes that were wealth without authorization. Ballot lem Solvers Caucus. He is a Repub- flooded with unrequested mail-in bal- defects were allowed to be cured in lican, and I am a Democrat. When it lots. some counties but not others. There comes to policy views, we often dis- Many of my constituents have been were poll watchers denied the ability agree. But at the end of the day, we are outraged and demanding that I voice to closely observe ballot counting oper- united as Americans. My good friend, their objections here today. ations. like me, always puts country first. This debate is necessary because In Georgia, the secretary of state Today, a group of lawless thugs rogue election officials, secretaries of unilaterally entered into a settlement sought to upend the Constitution and state, and courts circumvented State agreement with the Democratic Party, the peaceful transition of power be- election laws. They made massive changing statutory requirements for cause they didn’t like the outcome of changes to how their State’s election confirming voter identity. Challenging the Presidential election. So, they would be run. These acts, among other defective signatures was made far more tried to nullify it using improvised ex- issues, were unlawful and unconstitu- difficult, and the settlement even re- plosives, shattering windows, breaking tional. quired election officials to consider down doors, injuring law enforcement, Congress has the duty to defend the issuing training materials drafted by and even tearing down the American Constitution and any powers of State an expert retained by the Democratic flag that rises above this beacon of de- legislatures that were usurped. Party. mocracy. Some claim today’s objections set In Wisconsin, election officials as- But their attempt to obstruct democ- new precedent by challenging State sisted voters on how to circumvent the racy failed. Their insurrection was electors. That claim, of course, ignores State’s voter ID laws and signature foiled. The American people and the that Democrats have objected every verification laws, while also placing greatest democracy the world has ever time a Republican Presidential can- unmanned drop boxes in locations known won. didate has won an election over the picked to boost Democrat turnout. The Abraham Lincoln, who served in this past generation. If you don’t have any Democracy in the Park event in Wis- very body, famously said: ‘‘A house di- observations today, that is your call, consin had over 17,000 ballots trans- vided against itself cannot stand.’’ but don’t lecture about precedent. ferred that shouldn’t have been. That is why, for the sake of this coun- Over the past 4 years, Democrats These are all facts and certainly not try, we must stand together, united, boycotted President Trump’s inaugura- ‘‘evidence free.’’ and celebrate a peaceful transition of tion and State of the Union Addresses, Americans deserve nothing less than power. pushed the Trump-Russia collusion full faith and confidence in their elec- In 14 days, President-elect Biden will conspiracies and investigations and tions and a guarantee that their vote— be sworn in. And despite all of our dif- knowingly lied about it, voted to im- their voice—counts and that their con- ferences, I have faith that, for the peach the President before even know- cerns are being heard. That is why we American people, we will come to- ing what to impeach him for, and then need to have this debate today, wheth- gether, Democrats and Republicans, actually passed Articles of Impeach- er you like it or not. committed to unity, civility, and ment before Senate Democrats voted to This isn’t about us. This is about our truth. We will recognize our higher remove him from office. Constitution, our elections. This is purpose to help America through these Today’s debate is necessary, espe- about our people and our Republic. dark days. cially because of the insistence that Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I That is the only way we will beat everything President Trump and his rise in opposition to the objection. COVID, rebuild our economy, and stand supporters say about the 2020 election The SPEAKER. The gentleman from up to threats at home and abroad. is evidence-free. That is simply not Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes. Working together as Democrats and true. Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I Republicans, I know our best days will No one can honestly claim it is evi- am the proud son of immigrants. Grow- always be ahead of us. dence-free. When I say that, in Arizona, ing up, I heard stories about parties,

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In the fourth circuit, dissenting I never thought I would have to do Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. judges Wilkinson and Agee said this: that on the floor of Congress, but here Madam Speaker, it has been quite a ‘‘Let’s understand the strategy that is we are. The people have spoken, and day. And in contrast to the gentle- being deployed here . . . Our country is the power of the people, the Constitu- man’s comments just now, I couldn’t now plagued with a proliferation of tion, will be preserved. get over this text that I received from preelection litigation.’’ And as they Madam Speaker, I left my youth, I the mayor of Charlotte, Vi Lyles, put it, 385 election year cases to that left my sanity, I left it all in Iraq for about 30 minutes ago. She is a progres- point on October 20, and they referred this country because there is this one sive Democrat, a political opponent for to the website healthyelections.org to precious idea that we all had, that we years, a tremendous and graceful per- verify that. ‘‘Around the country,’’ they wrote, all believed: that this country was son. She said: going to protect everyone’s individual ‘‘courts are changing the rules of the Representative Bishop, I hope you are safe rights, that you were going to be able upcoming elections at the last minute. and well. It must have been a day of anguish It makes the promise of the Constitu- to vote, that you were going to be able for the world to see our Capitol buildings to preserve democracy and pass it on as under siege. I know you have a long night tion’s Elections and Electors Clauses a legacy, as an inheritance to every ahead and want you to know I was thinking into a farce.’’ American. about you, your family, and staff. This was a political operation But today—today—there was treason God bless. masquerading as a judicial one. And in in this House. Today, there were trai- Vi. keeping with that, it featured gross tors in this House. Back home, the generosity of spirit breaches of litigation ethics: forum So I am not asking my Republican still exists. shopping, repetitive suits after losses, colleagues to help me and stop this ob- And I understand the sharp words and collusive settlements with cooper- jection to Arizona; I am asking you to and feelings on the other side tonight, ating Democratic officials of State and get off all these objections. It is time but there are also good people back local governments. That is what led to officials changing for you to save your soul. It is time for home, and I have heard from many, the rules in State after State, mainly you to save your country. many, many of them. through consent orders, or the prelimi- That man at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave- News would suggest there are mil- nary, unreviewed decisions of State nue will forget you. He will use you lions of Americans—that is a big num- and Federal trial judges inclined by and he will dump you to the side, but ber—millions, tens of millions, who be- what will be left will be the stain—the partisanship or having limited experi- lieve something went awry in this elec- ence with the Electoral Clause. stain—on democracy that you are en- tion. And they aren’t dumb. They gaging in right now. In turn, the displacement of rules set aren’t mindless. They don’t believe by State legislatures led to chaotic Listen to yourselves. I consider most things simply because the President of you very smart, believe it or not, conditions on the ground, about which says them. There were problems. so many Americans are angry and dis- but the idea that we would rig an elec- I know that Joe Biden will be Presi- tion for the President but not preserve heartened. dent, but I don’t know that it hurts or I think we can do better. I think that the congressional seats for all of our would hurt any of us to have the gen- strategy was unwise, and I think, par- friends that we just lost in the last erosity of spirit to continue to reflect ticularly in light of what has happened election is absurd. on what might be better or what might here today, we should. The idea that we would help Vice seriously have gone wrong here, even if Mr. O’HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, President Biden win but wouldn’t make you reject the notion that the result I rise tonight in opposition to the ob- sure that we got enough Senators in was wrong. jection. the Senate for us to pass a full agenda I would like to offer a slightly dif- The SPEAKER. The gentleman from is absurd. ferent perspective, a distinct perspec- Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes. The idea that there was somehow ne- tive. Perhaps it will be rejected. I Mr. O’HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, farious border registration in Arizona think if I were sitting on the other side as a nation, we have endured trying that tipped the scale when, during that of the aisle, it would be very difficult times and overcome many challenges, same time of border registration, there for me to listen to tonight, but you all and now we face an unprecedented ef- were more registered voters that were have heard it said, and it certainly is fort to ignore the will of the American Republicans than Democrats is absurd. people and the people of Arizona. Given You are better than this. Many of true, that many executive branch offi- cials around the Nation departed from the facts and the unprecedented events you did serve, many of you have never of tonight, this effort must be finished, served, but there is an opportunity and State legislatures’ enacted laws. I know it is less understood how this and America can be united again. That a time for courage. I hope you never is going to take leadership. came to pass. have to face fire or bullets or bombs for We are all leaders. your country, but right now—right It was not a spontaneous, inde- We are elected to be leaders. And if now—this country is asking you to be pendent decisionmaking, but it re- we are going to do that, we have to do better. Right now, this country is ask- sulted, I would argue, from a coordi- it from respect to others, the idea that ing you to show courage. nated, nationwide partisan plan. And truth is important, that factual con- That man will leave. Your soul will the fact and scope of the plan really tent is important, that we are going to stay with you for the rest of your life. isn’t disputed. tell the American people what is going You owe it to democracy. You owe it If you go to democracydocket.com, it on in this country and not what we to the hundreds and thousands of men is the website of Marc Elias, the na- hope they hear from a 30-second sound and women that have sacrificed their tional Democratic election lawyer who bite. life. appeared in hundreds of cases across I used to be a homicide investigator. You know better. You are better. Be the country in the course of the elec- My job was to follow the facts, develop the good American. Be the American tion year. a case, make decisions and rec- you want. Preserve this democracy; re- This plan was not a response to ommendations based on where those ject this movement; and stop this ter- COVID, by the way. It preexisted that. facts led me. Following the process rorism that is happening from the And his website shows that as well. He means that decisions cannot be made White House. explained that in January of 2020. on rumors and innuendos alone. The SPEAKER. Members are re- It was a chaos strategy, a plan to I am proud to say that Arizona has minded to address their remarks to the flood State and Federal courts with used mail-in voting for over two dec- Chair. hundreds of simultaneous election year ades. Both Republicans and Democrats

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.031 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H92 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 6, 2021 have long been proud of how our State American public only serves to weaken that some of the people who breached has administered elections. us and make us vulnerable to foreign the Capitol today were not Trump sup- In 2020, over 65 percent of eligible Ar- actors who do us harm. For the good of porters. They were masquerading as izonans voted, a record number. Our our country, this must stop. Now is the Trump supporters, and, in fact, were Republican Governor, Republican at- time to come together to preserve our members of the violent terrorist group torney general, Democratic secretary democracy and to protect our national antifa. of state, and our State’s election ad- security. Now, we should seek to build Amer- ministrators and volunteers worked I know my constituents are looking ica up, not tear her down and destroy with integrity to administer a fair to Congress to move past its divisions, her. And I am sure glad that, at least election. find common ground, and pass legisla- for one day, I didn’t hear my Democrat We saw turnout increases in both Re- tion to improve the lives of struggling colleagues calling to defund the police. publican and Democratic areas, and, in families. We must stay focused on Now, I appreciate all the talk of com- fact, more Republicans registered in fighting the pandemic. We must work ing together, but let us not pretend this election than any other party. I to ensure all Americans can be vac- that our colleagues on the left have am proud that many of our Tribal, cinated as soon as possible so we can been free of some antidemocratic im- rural, and underserved communities save American lives, safely reopen pulses. Just because we signed on to voted in record numbers, all during a schools, get people back to work, and legal briefs and asked courts to resolve pandemic. In 2020, Arizonans made visit loved ones again. I urge my col- disputes, there were some on the left their voices heard. leagues to follow this. who said that we should not even be The fact is, multiple Federal and Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise seated in the body, that we ought to be State judges, agencies, and State elect- in support of the objection. prosecuted, maybe even jailed. Those ed officials concluded the winner was The SPEAKER. The gentleman from arguments anger people. Joe Biden. Florida is recognized for 5 minutes. But people do understand the con- In Arizona, this process was adminis- Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, one of cepts of basic fairness, and no competi- tered and overseen by officials from the first things we did when the House tion, contest, or election can be both parties. Election officials con- convened today was to join together to deemed fair if the participants are sub- ducted random, hand-counted audits of extend our grace and our kindness and ject to different rules. many precincts that confirmed there our concern for a colleague who has ex- Baseball teams that cheat and steal were no errors that would change the perienced just an insurmountable signs should be stripped of their cham- result of the election. amount of grief with his family. And I pionships. Russian Olympians who The fact is that the Republican want all of our fellow Americans cheat and use steroids should be chairman of Maricopa County, the watching to know that we did that be- stripped of their medals. And States largest Republican county in the State, cause we care about each other and we that do not run clean elections should the biggest population county, stated: don’t want bad things to happen to be stripped of their electors. ‘‘More than 2 million ballots were cast each other, and our heart hurts when This fraud was systemic; it was re- in Maricopa County, and there is no they do. peated; it was the same system; and, I evidence of fraud or misconduct or Now, I am sure there are plenty of dare say, it was effective. We saw cir- malfunction.’’ folks over there who don’t like me too cumstances where, when Democrat He concluded: ‘‘No matter how you much and there are few of them that I operatives couldn’t get the outcomes voted, this election was administered don’t care for too much. But if anybody they wanted in State legislatures, with integrity, transparency, and in had been hurt today, it would have when they couldn’t get the job done accordance with State laws.’’ been even more of a catastrophe than there, they went and pressured and liti- The fact is, the President, his cam- we already saw, and I think that is an gated and usurped the Constitution paign, and several Republican-led important point for the country. with extra-constitutional action of groups filed eight election lawsuits, all Another important point for the some officials in some States. They of which were dismissed. The Arizona country is that this morning, President fraudulently laundered ballots, votes, Supreme Court, a body where all jus- Trump explicitly called for demonstra- voter registration forms, and then they tices have been appointed by Repub- tions and protests to be peaceful. He limited review. lican Governors, unanimously dis- was far more—you can moan and In 2016, Democrats found out that missed the case. groan, but he was far more explicit they couldn’t beat Donald Trump at about his calls for peace than some of the ballot box with voters who actually 2215 b the BLM and leftwing rioters were this show up, so they turned to impeach- The justices found that the party had summer when we saw violence sweep ment and the witness box. And when ‘‘failed to present any evidence of ‘mis- across this Nation. that failed, they ran to the mailbox, conduct,’ or ‘illegal votes’ . . . let Now, we came here today to debate, where this election saw an unprece- alone establish any degree of fraud or a to follow regular order, to offer an ob- dented amount of votes that could not significant error rate that would un- jection, to follow a process that is ex- be authenticated with true ID, with dermine the certainty of the election pressly contemplated in our Constitu- true signature match, and with true results.’’ tion; and for doing that, we got called confidence for the American people. After these judicial rulings, the Gov- a bunch of seditious traitors. Our Article III courts have failed by ernor said: ‘‘I trust our election sys- Now, not since 1985 has a Republican not holding evidentiary hearings to tem. There’s integrity in our election President been sworn in absent some weigh the evidence. We should not join system.’’ Democrat effort to object to the elec- in that failure. We should vindicate the The fact is, Joe Biden is the certified tors; but when we do it, it is the new rights of States. We should vindicate winner of Arizona’s 11 electoral votes. violation of all norms. And when those the subpoenas in Arizona that have Arizona’s elected and appointed offi- things are said, people get angry. been issued to get a hold of these vot- cials from both parties followed the Now, I know there are many coun- ing machines, and we should reject facts and came to this conclusion. I tries where political violence may be these electors. urge my colleagues to do the same. necessary, but America is not one such Ms. DEGETTE. Madam Speaker, I To my colleagues across the aisle, I country. rise in opposition to the objection. know we may disagree on who we want Madam Speaker, it was wrong when The SPEAKER. The gentlewoman as President, but what we personally people vandalized and defaced your from Colorado is recognized for 5 min- want is not what matters here. Rather, home. It was wrong when thugs went to utes. the people’s influence, as reflected in Senator HAWLEY’s home. And I don’t Ms. DEGETTE. Madam Speaker, I am the certified electoral college results, know if the reports are true, but The very pleased to yield my time to the is what matters. Facts matter. Washington Times has just reported gentleman from Arizona (Mr. GRI- Undermining faith in our election some pretty compelling evidence from JALVA), the dean of the Arizona delega- process by attempting to mislead the a facial recognition company showing tion.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:07 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.033 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE January 6, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H93 Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, on Johnson (TX) Moolenaar Sewell thank the gentlewoman from Colorado that I demand the yeas and nays. Jones Mooney Sherman Joyce (OH) Moore (UT) Sherrill for yielding time. The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section Kahele Moore (WI) Simpson I will be very brief, Madam Speaker. 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and Kaptur Morelle Sires There is really nothing left to say. This nays are ordered. Katko Moulton Slotkin Keating Mrvan challenge brought by Members of this The vote was taken by electronic de- Smith (NJ) Keller Murphy (FL) Smith (WA) House, Republican Members from this vice, and there were—yeas 121, nays Kelly (IL) Murphy (NC) Smucker House from Arizona and a Senator 303, not voting 7, as follows: Khanna Nadler Soto from Texas, the whole discussion Kildee Napolitano Spanberger [Roll No. 10] Kilmer Neal today, this challenge to the 11 electoral Spartz YEAS—121 Kim (NJ) Neguse Speier votes that are designated for President Kind Newhouse Aderholt Gaetz Mast Stanton Kinzinger Newman Biden and Vice President Harris, the Allen Garcia (CA) Stauber McCarthy Kirkpatrick Norcross Arrington Gibbs Stefanik discussion today proves there is no McClain Krishnamoorthi O’Halleran Babin Gimenez Steil merit to denying those electoral votes. Miller (IL) Kuster Ocasio-Cortez Baird Gohmert Stevens Miller (WV) Kustoff Omar There is no legal standing. The courts Banks Good (VA) Stewart Moore (AL) LaHood Owens have proven that in Arizona time and Bergman Gooden (TX) Stivers Mullin Lamb Pallone Bice (OK) Gosar Strickland time again. There is no precedent. Nehls Langevin Panetta Biggs Graves (MO) Suozzi There was no constitutional violation. Norman Larsen (WA) Pappas Bishop (NC) Green (TN) Swalwell Nunes Larson (CT) Pascrell But we are here today, Madam Boebert Greene (GA) Takano Obernolte Latta Payne Bost Griffith Taylor Speaker, because of one man and those Palazzo Lawrence Pelosi Brooks Guest Thompson (CA) who are desperate to please him. Palmer Lawson (FL) Pence Budd Hagedorn Thompson (MS) Perry Lee (CA) Perlmutter So what do we have to show for this Burchett Harris Pfluger Lee (NV) Peters Thompson (PA) process today? Fear, a lockdown, vio- Burgess Harshbarger Posey Leger Fernandez Phillips Titus Calvert Hartzler lence, and, regrettably and sadly, Reschenthaler Levin (CA) Pingree Tonko Cammack Hern Torres (CA) death, arrests, present and real danger, Rice (SC) Levin (MI) Pocan Carl Herrell Torres (NY) Rogers (AL) Lieu Porter threats, an assault on our institution, Carter (GA) Hice (GA) Trahan Rogers (KY) Lofgren Pressley Carter (TX) Higgins (LA) this House, this Congress, and the very Lowenthal Price (NC) Trone Cawthorn Hudson Rose democracy that we practice here. Luria Quigley Turner Cline Issa Rosendale And to what end? What did we ac- Lynch Raskin Underwood Cloud Jackson Rouzer Mace Reed Upton complish? Clyde Jacobs (NY) Rutherford Malinowski Rice (NY) Van Duyne Cole Johnson (LA) Scalise The reality is that the challenges Maloney, Richmond Vargas Crawford Johnson (OH) Sessions will be defeated. Come January 20, Carolyn B. Rodgers (WA) Veasey Davidson Jordan Smith (MO) Maloney, Sean Ross Vela President Biden and Vice President DesJarlais Joyce (PA) Smith (NE) Manning Roy Vela´ zquez Harris will be the President and Vice Diaz-Balart Kelly (MS) Steube Massie Roybal-Allard Wagner Donalds Kelly (PA) Tiffany President of the United States. Matsui Ruiz Waltz Duncan LaMalfa Timmons So what have we accomplished? To McBath Ruppersberger Wasserman Dunn Lamborn Van Drew McCaul Rush Schultz further divide this Nation? To continue Estes LaTurner Walberg McClintock Ryan Waters Fallon Lesko Walorski to fan the same rhetoric of division and McCollum Sa´ nchez Watson Coleman Fischbach Long Weber (TX) us versus them? To paralyze and dis- McEachin Sarbanes Welch Fitzgerald Loudermilk Webster (FL) McGovern Scanlon Wenstrup mantle our democracy? Is that what we Fleischmann Lucas Williams (TX) McHenry Schakowsky Westerman attempted to accomplish today? Franklin, C. Luetkemeyer Wilson (SC) McKinley Schiff Wexton Scott Malliotakis Wright The mob that attacked this institu- McNerney Schneider Wild Fulcher Mann Zeldin tion, I hold no Member specifically re- Meeks Schrader Williams (GA) sponsible for that madness that was NAYS—303 Meijer Schrier Wilson (FL) Meng Schweikert Wittman around us, but we do share a responsi- Adams Cicilline Fortenberry Meuser Scott (VA) Womack bility, my friends, to end it. It is past Aguilar Clark (MA) Foster Mfume Scott, Austin Yarmuth time to accept reality, to reaffirm our Allred Clarke (NY) Foxx Miller-Meeks Scott, David Young Amodei Cleaver Frankel, Lois democracy and move on. Armstrong Clyburn Fudge NOT VOTING—7 I would urge my colleagues from Ari- Auchincloss Cohen Gallagher Bilirakis Hastings Tlaib zona who filed this challenge to with- Axne Comer Gallego Brady Kim (CA) draw their challenge to this, to Arizona Bacon Connolly Garamendi Granger Steel Balderson Cooper Garbarino and to the electors that have been cho- Barr Correa Garcı´a (IL) b 2308 sen to give their 11 votes to the win- Barraga´ n Costa Garcia (TX) ners in that election. Bass Courtney Golden Messrs. MOONEY, WITTMAN, Beatty Craig Gomez VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas, But if that doesn’t happen, then I Bentz Crenshaw Gonzales, Tony would urge my colleagues to reject this Bera Crist Gonzalez (OH) YOUNG, and GROTHMAN changed challenge and defend all voters, defend Beyer Crow Gonzalez, their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ the voters of Arizona and that democ- Bishop (GA) Cuellar Vicente Messrs. JOHNSON of Ohio, Blumenauer Curtis Gottheimer racy that we practice daily in the rep- Blunt Rochester Davids (KS) Graves (LA) RESCHENTHALER, and Mrs. resentation of our constituents. That is Bonamici Davis, Danny K. Green, Al (TX) WALORSKI changed their vote from what is at stake today. Bourdeaux Davis, Rodney Grijalva ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Bowman Dean Grothman E So the objection was not agreed to. Ms. D GETTE. Madam Speaker, on Boyle, Brendan DeFazio Guthrie Sunday, every Member in this Chamber F. DeGette Haaland The result of the vote was announced took an oath to uphold the Constitu- Brown DeLauro Harder (CA) as above recorded. tion, and there is only one vote tonight Brownley DelBene Hayes A motion to reconsider was laid on Buchanan Delgado Herrera Beutler for those who took that oath, and that Buck Demings Higgins (NY) the table. vote is to reject this challenge. Bucshon DeSaulnier Hill Stated against: The SPEAKER. All time for debate Bush Deutch Himes Mrs. KIM of California. Madam Speaker, I has expired. Bustos Dingell Hinson was unavoidably detained. Had I been Butterfield Doggett Hollingsworth The question is, Shall the objection Carbajal Doyle, Michael Horsford present, I would have voted ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall to the Arizona electoral college vote Ca´ rdenas F. Houlahan No. 10. count submitted by the gentleman Carson Emmer Hoyer The SPEAKER. The Clerk will now Cartwright Escobar Huffman from Arizona (Mr. GOSAR) and the Sen- Case Eshoo Huizenga notify the Senate of the action of the ator from Texas (Mr. CRUZ) be agreed Casten Espaillat Jackson Lee House, informing that body that the to. Castor (FL) Evans Jacobs (CA) House is now ready to proceed in joint The question was taken; and the Castro (TX) Feenstra Jayapal session with the further counting of Chabot Ferguson Jeffries Speaker announced that the noes ap- Cheney Fitzpatrick Johnson (GA) the electoral vote for the President and peared to have it. Chu Fletcher Johnson (SD) the Vice President.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jan 08, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06JA7.035 H06JAPT1 sspencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE 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

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