January 29, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H657 been implemented fully. Most Ameri- Each of these communities and the Bond, who is a tireless advocate for in- cans have yet to learn how much more entire region never stopped rallying dividuals with mitochondrial disease money they will see in their pay- around Tim and his family. I am proud and those receiving IV infusions and checks. to honor him and his life in this Cham- tube feeding, whom I have had the Mr. Speaker, tax reform has placed ber, and I ask you to join me in keep- honor of working with on this cause. us on the right course to keep our ing his wife, Casey; and young son, Kanga Roof views their annual Holi- booming economy humming at a good Crew, in your thoughts and prayers. day Roof Giveaway as a way of giving clip and sets the trajectory for even f back to our community and making more significant growth in the future. our community stronger. I would like I predict a very prosperous new year. MOURNING THE LOSS OF PAUL to commend them on their commit- BOOTH f ment to our community and to encour- (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given age all of our constituents to follow STANDING FOR THE PRINCIPLES permission to address the House for 1 Kanga Roof’s lead by being good neigh- OF DEMOCRACY minute.) bors and giving back to our commu- (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I come nity. given permission to address the House before this body today with a heavy f for 1 minute.) heart. A dear friend of mine, Mr. PAUL WITHDRAWAL OF APPOINTMENT Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, Booth, we lost him 12 days ago to leu- OF INDIVIDUAL TO CONGRES- just a couple of hours ago, the Repub- kemia. Mr. Booth was a man who dedi- SIONAL AWARD BOARD licans on the Permanent Select Com- cated his life to the simple idea of fair- mittee on Intelligence voted to release ness—fairness for workers, fairness in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the Nunes report. At the same time, all aspects of life. Chair announces the Speaker’s with- they voted not to allow the rebuttal of- Paul Booth was a leading adviser to drawal of the appointment of the fol- fered by the Democrats to be released. nearly every union president over the lowing individual to the Congressional All I can say, Mr. Speaker, as a Mem- last several years at the American Fed- Award Board on January 25, 2018: ber who has been through impeach- eration of State, County and Municipal Mr. Steve Hart, Washington, D.C. ment of the Federal judiciary and a Employees. He also worked hard to lift f President, not one time did I see any up dignity in all aspects of his life. RELEASE THE FOUR-PAGE MEMO sidetrack opportunities or efforts to He was a student organizer and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under dismantle that ongoing investigation. brought attention to the folly of the We are not in an impeachment pro- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war, ceeding. We have a special counsel that uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from Flor- and he had been active in making is attempting to provide for the Amer- ida (Mr. GAETZ) is recognized for 60 Americans’ lives better his entire life. ican people a detailed and thoughtful minutes as the designee of the major- He understood the very simple idea investigation. ity leader. that working people have dignity and Why the rule of law has been so oblit- Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I come to that they must be treated to reflect erated by our Republican friends and the House this evening with several of that dignity by their government. He the idea of democracy and the protec- my colleagues principally to thank Ju- also understood that the linkage be- tion of the institutions of this Nation diciary Committee Chairman BOB tween hard work and prosperity should have been undermined, I am shocked. GOODLATTE, Oversight and Government The American people are not clam- always be close and tight. He recog- Reform Committee Chairman TREY oring for the destruction of the FBI, nized that, in our country today, you GOWDY, and Permanent Select Com- nor are they clamoring for the destruc- can work very hard and still only make mittee on Intelligence Chairman DEVIN tion and undermining of Special Coun- it. That is why he was one of the first NUNES for their tireless pursuit of the sel Mueller’s report. people to work for a living wage policy truth. Let us stand for the principles of de- in this country. He was fighting for a There is a four-page memo. I have mocracy and the Constitution. This living wage before it was popular. read it. Over 190 of my Republican col- kind of undermining is dastardly and Paul Booth also happened to have a leagues have read it. Some Democrats embarrassing. marvelous partner. Her name is Heath- have read it, and some have boycotted er Booth, and everybody knows Heath- f reading it. It details circumstances er. that are deeply troubling to me and HONORING THE LIFE OF TIM But I just want to say, when people that I believe will be deeply troubling NELSON who make a life of service pass from to many Americans. (Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois this life, it is important that we recog- This memo encapsulates an entire asked and was given permission to ad- nize the tremendous debt we owe them. year of work by these committees and dress the House for 1 minute and to re- I want to thank Paul and Heather by these committee chairmen, and vise and extend his remarks.) Booth for their mentorship of me and they are to be commended for the ex- Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. for their service to our country. cellent job that they have done, for the Speaker, I rise today to honor the life f professionalism that they have under- of Tim Nelson, a beloved father, hus- RECOGNIZING KANGA ROOF IN taken, and for the stunning facts that band, community leader, and football BUCKS COUNTY they have uncovered that will soon be coach who passed away on January 16, available for the American people. after a courageous battle against (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was I will have more to say on this colorectal cancer since 2013. given permission to address the House throughout the hour, Mr. Speaker, but Despite spending weeks receiving for 1 minute.) first I yield to one of my colleagues in treatment in the hospital and going in Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I the Congress who was one of the first and out of remission, Tim’s resolve and rise today to recognize a company in and loudest voices calling for trans- bravery in his battle against this dis- my district that is making a huge im- parency at the highest levels and to ease never wavered. pact by giving back to our community. the maximum extent possible. The support he and his family re- Kanga Roof, a company that has been Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman ceived in the Metro East and the River providing roofing in the Bucks County from New York (Mr. ZELDIN). Bend never wavered either. A member area for over 30 years, celebrated its Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank of the Calhoun High School’s 1992 State 10th Holiday Roof Giveaway this past Mr. GAETZ for organizing this impor- championship football team, Tim December. tant Special Order and all my col- served as head football coach at Mar- Every year for the past 10 years, leagues for coming to the House floor quette Catholic High School in Alton Kanga Roof has held a contest to pro- tonight encouraging the President of and Dupo High School before returning vide a new roof to a deserving family in the United States now to certify the to his home school, Calhoun High our community. This year, they se- release of this memo to the American School, as an assistant in 2013. lected my constituent, Bettemarie public.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Jan 30, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JA7.052 H29JAPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HOUSE H658 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 29, 2018 The American public is a lot smarter mittee for their work to restore faith I am stunned at the previous admin- than a whole lot of other people give with the American people. istration’s underhanded surveillance them credit for. Present them with the As a former Army intelligence officer methods and misuse of power at the facts and the truth, and they can form and JAG officer myself, I understand highest levels of the FBI and Depart- their own independent judgment as to the importance of giving our intel- ment of Justice. This should never what transpired. That was the first ligence agencies the critical tools they have been permitted to happen. thought that came to my mind when I need to protect our homeland, assist Moreover, all Federal agencies, in- went to the basement a week before our troops on the front lines, and sur- cluding the FBI, should be held to a last—the basement of the House Cap- veil our enemies. However, it is critical high standard and always be held ac- itol—to read this classified memo of that we strike a balance between na- countable for their actions. The issues the House Permanent Select Com- tional security and civil liberty to pre- that the memo raises must be brought mittee on Intelligence, that this memo vent any gross violation of individual to light and dealt with responsibly. should be immediately released to the liberties under the guise of national se- I am pleased that the House Intel- American public so that they have all curity. ligence Committee voted tonight to re- of the facts. Congress has the responsibility of en- lease the memo, but our work does not In addition to releasing the memo, I suring an appropriate balance is end there. We must continually strive believe it is important to be releasing struck, and when it is not, to release for integrity and openness within all relevant material sourced in the information we feel is in the national levels of government. memo. interest and of public importance. Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Now, tonight, the House Permanent Today, Congress took an important the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Select Committee on Intelligence step in making this possible. BIGGS), who serves on the Judiciary voted to publicly release this memo to Americans deserve the truth. To pull Committee. He has worked very hard the American public, and, at the same the wool over the eyes of the American from the very beginning to ascertain time, the House Democrats came to the public insults their intelligence and de- the bases of claims made and is a true committee calling for the declassifica- bases the freedoms and liberties on investigator at heart. tion and public release of their memo. which our government was founded. Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my b 1945 Government transparency and account- friend from Florida for leading to- Let me add a little bit more context ability should be neither partisan nor night’s Special Order. It has been an on this memo that the House Demo- divisive. eye-opening year in office for me, and crats came to the floor asking to be re- I would urge my colleagues on either it is an honor to serve with Represent- leased. side of the aisle, especially those who ative GAETZ on the Judiciary Com- They did not allow the voting mem- have voted against its release, to mittee in the pursuit of justice. bers of the House Intelligence Com- evaluate and reflect upon their posi- Exactly 11 nights ago, Mr. Speaker, I mittee to read the memo tonight be- tion and come together united in favor walked into a secure vault, signed one fore voting to declassify and publicly of our belief that the American public of the most detailed nondisclosure doc- release it. is a lot smarter than many give them uments I have ever seen, and viewed Let me repeat that. The House Demo- credit for. Give them the facts, and we ‘‘the memo.’’ Everything I read was crats, led by Ranking Member ADAM have faith they will be able to form what I expected to read. That is what SCHIFF, went to the House Intelligence their own independent conclusions. is outrageous to me. There was not Committee tonight calling for the pub- Now it is up to the President. I would much that I did not expect to find. lic release of their memo, asking for encourage him to release the memo. I I thank Chairman GOODLATTE, Chair- their colleagues to declassify the would also encourage him to release man GOWDY, Chairman NUNES, and memo and to publicly release it imme- relevant material sourced in it. Ameri- members of the House Intelligence diately, without giving them the op- cans have the right know. If we as Committee who have now voted to portunity to read it first. their elected Representatives fail to present that memo to the public. I am I can speak for myself. I haven’t read stand up for them, who will? looking forward to President Trump the memo that the House Democrats The only way forward is to give the shortly declassifying that memo per- offered up tonight. I haven’t been American public more information, not manently. granted any access to read it. I am not less. Release the memo. I have heard people say to me: You aware of any other of my colleagues I thank Congressman MATT GAETZ are eroding trust in government and in who have been able to read it. I can’t for his leadership throughout this en- the finest law enforcement agency in even confirm it exists. tire process and his efforts to make the country, the FBI, with your con- After the committee met, it was fas- sure the American public learns more, tinual attacks. But they don’t under- cinating to watch the minority mem- not less. stand that we are not attacking the bers of the House Intelligence Com- Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the FBI. We are seeking clarity, trans- mittee going straight from the hearing gentleman for his persuasive leader- parency, and an understanding of what room to the cameras to give their nar- ship. The gentleman from New York went on under the leadership of the De- rative. At no point did they mention (Mr. ZELDIN) was one of the first to partment of Justice and the FBI in the whatsoever, when they were saying sign letters to members of the House previous administration. To not reveal that they were outraged that the ma- Intelligence Committee, and particu- that to the public is what erodes trust jority members of that committee larly its chairman, expressing the in their government. didn’t vote to publicly release it, at no sense of this body that we supported Nothing in this memo will impair our point did they mention that they never the transparency that the gentleman national security. But if we are to gave them the opportunity to read it spoke of. withhold this memo from the American first. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman people, I believe that, instead, would What you don’t see, at the same from Colorado (Mr. LAMBORN). harm our national security because it time, are the majority members of the Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank would harm the integrity of those House Intelligence Committee racing the gentleman for his leadership on agencies, and it would further erode off to all those same cameras to give this issue and for putting this hour to- the trust that Americans have in their their same side of the narrative, the gether. government. members of that House Intelligence Mr. Speaker, I have reviewed the se- The American people deserve to see Committee. cret memo in a secure setting. After the information that I have read, that What we are asking for is the Amer- having reviewed the contents of the Mr. GAETZ has read, and that over 100 ican public to get the facts so that classified memo relating to FISA Members of Congress have read. The they can form the judgment of this abuses, I support its full release to the leadership of Chairman DEVIN NUNES FISA abuse for themselves. public. Americans deserve the truth, has made a tremendous difference, and I, too, applaud the leadership of Mr. and Congress should always strive for this truth will be exposed. I congratu- NUNES and the House Intelligence Com- transparency. late him.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Jan 30, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JA7.054 H29JAPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HOUSE January 29, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H659 Mr. Speaker, this memo will provide eventually, what came out and deter- Judiciary Committee to call for special clarity and understanding. This is the mined whether we need to reform that counsel to more broadly investigate all memo, when it gets out, where the peo- process to protect Americans’ rights. of the defugalties that have been tak- ple will say: We need to make changes. Yes, we all have a right to know what ing place in this country, driven by po- We have got to have people in these is going on with our government. Yes, litical partisanship on the other side of law enforcement agencies and that lead I am worried about career bureaucrats the aisle. these agencies and these bodies be or elected officials abusing the power Mr. Speaker, I look back and I think trustworthy, follow the law, and not of the government to get information about what the attitude was of Presi- abuse their power for political gain or on their political enemies, like the dent Trump—actually, even before the purpose. King was doing back in the days of the election and shortly after—when I lis- Mr. Speaker, I trust my constituents. Revolutionary War. This is our oppor- tened to him, and he more or less ex- Frankly, in the last week, I met with tunity to make sure that doesn’t hap- pressed this sentiment, which was that, literally hundreds of my constituents. pen in these United States. with Hillary Clinton and her trans- The most common theme talked about Let’s not lose sight of what the issue gressions and the way she had handled was: When will that classified memo be is here, and that is protecting the peo- the classified material and up to the released so I can read it, so I can make ple not only from foreigners who look secret server next to the bathroom up a determination, so I can understand to do us harm, but also from an oppres- in New York in her place, essentially, what has been going on in our govern- sive government that abuses its power the President’s position was that we ment? to spy on American citizens. need to move America forward. We I am so pleased that the House Intel- I am glad this memo is going to come should not be dug deeply into going ligence Committee voted today to an- out. I urge President Trump to prompt- backwards on this or looking back over swer the question. In short order you ly release it and, in fact, go beyond our shoulder. Let’s move forward. The will be able to read this and make up that: look at some of the sources of the public has litigated this in the elec- tion. your own mind. That is why I encour- material in it, determine that we can Now, I think that is where President age President Trump to quickly declas- reveal some of those sources without Trump wanted it to be, but it wasn’t to sify the memo. jeopardizing our ability to gather intel- be because the left could not accept the Again, I thank my colleague, Rep- ligence, and release the source mate- idea that the American people had spo- resentative GAETZ, and all who have rials so we know what people knew ken. They began to manufacture and been working on this issue to make when they made the decision to pursue continue the manufacture this Russian this memo open and transparent for the material covered in this memo. investigation, these allegations that the people. I think this is a great time for this were collusion allegations with the Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the country. I think this is our opportunity Russians to try to manipulate an gentleman for his service on the Judi- to remind ourselves that we do have a American election. ciary Committee. right to be safe and secure in our per- I don’t think anybody doubts that Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman sons and papers from a government the Russians made some effort at that, from Texas (Mr. FARENTHOLD), another that may be trying to do more than but all of us doubt that they had any of my colleagues on the Judiciary protect us. impact whatsoever on our election. Committee. Maybe some of these folks in the gov- Those of us, at least on this side of the Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I ernment have shifted from what we aisle, have seen zero information and thank the gentleman from Florida; he need to protect America, such as, well, zero evidence that the campaign of has definitely been a leader on this the best way to protect America is to President Trump had any kind of rela- issue. protect ourselves and our jobs and our tionship that went on with the Rus- I have got to tell you that I, too, am political agenda. sians, that promoted it or colluded in happy the Intelligence Committee has That is not what the job of our law any way. But because there needed to agreed to release the memo. When I enforcement and intelligence commu- be some explanation for this phe- was back home in Texas last week, it nity is. It is to protect us from those nomenal Presidential election of Don- was the number one issue people were who want to do us harm, especially for- ald Trump, we had to be drug back into talking to me about. eigners. I want to give them the power this Russian investigation over and I want to take a minute and step to do that, the ability to do that, but I over again. Now, this began within 2 back and do a little bit of a history les- do not want to give them the ability to weeks of the President’s election, after son. affect elections, to go after their polit- about November 8 or so. The Fourth Amendment to our Con- ical enemies, to spy on any one of us Then as that unfolded, Mr. Speaker, stitution arose from some of the abu- because they can. then we saw what was really going on sive practices that were going on in the Human nature is such that, if we give here. We got into about February or Colonies. The King of England would the government too much power, there March of last year. At that point, I send his troops to rifle through peo- are those who will abuse it. So we in said: They are not going to relent on ple’s effects without a warrant. Our Congress have got to keep our eye on this Russian investigation business. Fourth Amendment said we are not the ball at all times and protect the They are going to continue to belabor going to let that happen in these new constitutional rights that our fore- this point. The election has already United States of America. We are going fathers and our Founding Fathers gave been settled and it is not in question, to require the government to get a us and that our men and women in uni- as far as the results of the polls are warrant before they go through peo- form fight for every day that they are concerned. We have a President. Let’s ple’s papers. We are protected from il- in service to this country. honor the President. Let’s honor the legal searches. will of the American people. Let’s re- b 2000 I have been worried since the first spect the decision made at the polls. day I got here in Congress, but in our Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to But, instead, the pressure continued effort to protect ourselves—and per- the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. KING), a on and on, allegations complicit with haps out of fear, some of it, perhaps, fellow member of the Judiciary Com- the mainstream media, the fake news, warranted—we are eroding those mittee, another of the first Members of as we have now finally come to know rights. Congress to demand the appointment them, I think, by habit and fact. At So, as this memo comes out, regard- of a second special counsel to look into that point, I said: If they will not let less of what is in it, we need to be look- matters such as this. up, then it is going to be an obligation ing at the process: how we went to a se- Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I to dig and drill deeply into all of the cret court to get permission to get this thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. things that bring us together, from information, how that information was GAETZ) for yielding to me. I appreciate Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner all gathered, what that information was, the gentleman for taking the lead on the way across the board, from Hillary who vetted it, how thoroughly it was this issue back some weeks or months and the sham investigation, the ques- vetted, how the judges reacted, and, ago to bring a resolution to the House tioning of her on July 2, 2016, on and on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Jan 30, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JA7.056 H29JAPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HOUSE H660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 29, 2018 throughout the whole spectrum of ter than anyone else in this country or rise to so many concerns about bias, things. on this planet, and that is make sense departure from standard practices, fa- It became an obligation to drill to of all of these investigations, seven milial relationships, and the potential the complete bottom of all of the alle- congressional investigations, an IG in- political corrosion of institutions that gations that had been made from the vestigation, and a special counsel’s in- we have to rely on for an effective de- investigation that surely didn’t look vestigation. That adds up to nine, by mocracy. legitimate to us, as Mr. GAETZ and I my estimation. I also want to thank the thousands of and others on the Judiciary Committee Now, people are human. So that says people who work in the FBI and the began to question people from the FBI to me that these assignments of these Department of Justice who are patri- and the people from the Justice De- investigations are either going to over- ots, who go to work every day to pro- partment and, at that time, James lap or there are going to be gaps. When tect us from threats at home and Comey, the Director of the FBI. We put you have nine of them all together, abroad, who really do do a great job in those pieces together. there will be overlapping and there will defense of this country. It is not their Each one of those little incidents be gaps. Where there are overlaps, work that we question; in fact, it is that were testified to kind of stood up there is likely to be some contradic- their work we hope to empower. okay on their own, but when you put tion. When you have circumstances where them together in the string of it had to So the job of the Attorney General is folks at the head shed or the leading be an unbelievable string of coinci- to look at this whole picture and put bureaucrats can rip investigations dences that were presented before the this back together in a way that you away from field offices, can alter the Judiciary Committee and the other can figure out what the contradictions contents of information that is shared committees here on the Hill, it became are, fill in the gaps, investigate the with the American people, it under- clear to us, initiated by Mr. GAETZ, places that haven’t been investigated mines the work that true law enforce- that we need to go much more deeply by the assignments of these various ment members are doing. We want to into this and much more quickly. A committees and the special counsel, highlight and honor that work while, good number of us supported a resolu- and then deliver to the American peo- at the same time, exercising our over- tion to call for special counsel. ple the right kind of view on the jus- sight function to go after the bad con- Now, I support the idea of an addi- tice that needs to come. If there are in- duct and, where we find it systemic, in- tional special counsel to broaden this. I dictments, to make that call for those stitute reforms so that it does not hap- would write the language even more indictments, clearly and unequivo- pen again. broadly than the original resolution. cally, based upon factual evidence. The FBI and the Department of Jus- But we should keep in mind what is That is why I support this memo tice should never be a political weapon going on on this Hill today, that is, being released in the vote of the Select used to go after adversaries. This is an that there are, by my count, at least, Committee on Intelligence today. It is issue where we ought to have more bi- seven different congressional commit- essential that the American people get partisan agreement, Mr. Speaker. tees that are investigating this broad to the truth. They can’t absorb this While I am grateful that the Repub- picture of the subject matter that we truth all in one day. It has to come out licans on the Intelligence Committee are discussing here today. a piece at a time because we are human this evening were able to carry the day On top of that, we have Robert and they are human. in the fight for transparency, I am dis- Mueller’s investigation as a special So I encourage the Attorney General appointed that these issues led to counsel. Additionally, we have an IG to keep his hand on this in the steady party-line votes. investigation going on in the Justice way that he has. I am very confident The reality is that all Americans— Department under Michael Horowitz. that the decisions made on the Select Republican, Democrat, Independent, Michael Horowitz has a good reputa- Committee on Intelligence are the cor- Libertarian, or members of the Whig tion. He has about 450 investigators all rect ones, and I am very confident that Party—have an interest in ensuring together, all of whom are probably not the President will make a decision to that we have systems in place that pro- working on this. I would be surprised if release the memo so the American peo- tect our constitutional rights and lib- they were. So there are seven reports ple can get at the truth. How far the erties. We all have a stake in the ac- from committees that will eventually truth takes us, history will write that tion to ensure that, no matter which come out, Mr. Speaker, and one from book. party wins or loses an election, the po- Robert Mueller that is going to come Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman litical apparatus of intelligence won’t out and one from the IG that is going for putting this all together here this be used to go after enemies or people to come out. evening. we disagree with. This is pretty confusing to try to un- Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the I believe this was an opportunity derstand the subject matter that they gentleman from Iowa (Mr. KING) for missed, but it won’t be the last one. I are addressing. It is defined a little bit being a clarion voice for calling this believe that the President is going to differently from committee to com- Congress and this administration to declassify this information within the mittee and from the assigned inves- act in a way that is consistent with the 5-day window allowed to him. When he tigation groups, but I will envision values and the principles of the Amer- does, all Americans will see why Re- this: ican people. publicans have been concerned with the Our Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how information we have learned. Then the sits there in the Justice Department much time is remaining. opportunity will arise to work to- having, in an honorable way, recused The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- gether, to take these facts, to take himself from the Russian investiga- tleman from Florida has 33 minutes re- what we know, and to liberate our- tion, which keeps his hands off of that. maining. selves from the partisanship of this The recommendation, as I understand Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I will not town and to try to make things better that, came from Rod Rosenstein, the take that full allotment of time. I will so that, in the future, you don’t have a acting U.S. Attorney General in the say, though, that it is worth repeating circumstance where one investigation event that Jeff Sessions isn’t there to the great work that Chairman BOB is called a headquarter special and be the Attorney General. That was in GOODLATTE has done in the Judiciary taken away from the Washington field the recommendation, by the testimony Committee; the excellent work that office, as the Hillary Clinton email that I believe I remember, that Jeff TREY GOWDY has done, the chairman of scandal was. Sessions should recuse himself from the Oversight and Government Reform We certainly don’t want cases where the Russian investigation, and that is Committee; and the excellent work people’s family members—familial re- the man who made the appointment of that Chairman DEVIN NUNES has done. lationships, spousal relationships—in- Robert Mueller. Each of these committees has jurisdic- fluence the outcomes of decisions; and So when I look at this whole picture, tion over a different component part of we also don’t want systems in place our Attorney General’s job is a tough the information that is laid out before that allow leaks to the media within one, but it is one I think he can do bet- the American people that has given the apparatus of intelligence to cloud

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Mr. Speaker, cloud the facts, or to cloud the review the staffs of the CBC, Ms. Caren Street, I thank the gentleman for yielding. of our courts. who has worked very closely with my Mr. Speaker, unions empower work- So, again, while I am proud of the staffer, Ms. Seema Ibrahim, who has ers with the freedom to negotiate for a work of the people who have spent a done a remarkable job. fair return on their work and they pro- year investigating these matters, while Our whole team of many Congress- vide a collective voice to advocate for I am confident in the findings of this men from every sector of this country, policies that benefit working people. report, I still remain disappointed that every part of this country, is going to Union workers, including those in we don’t have more unity to ensure come before this House of Representa- the public sector, have more access to that these types of abuses never hap- tives in these next 60 minutes to ex- paid leave, medical and retirement pen again. plain and expose to the American peo- benefits, and higher pay than workers Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, the Presi- ple two important things. who are not unionized. Children of dent of the United States will walk First of all, we want to illustrate our union members experience more up- down the center aisle. He will address deep understanding of the great value ward mobility than children of workers this floor. There might be a few more of the labor unions to this great coun- who are not covered with union con- folks than there are here this evening. try. tracts, and States with higher union I hope that the first thing he does is We also want to expose the great density have stronger workplace pro- hand to the Speaker of the House his threat that is now being faced by our tections. consent and his agreement to allow labor unions. The first group of our There is a long history of unions transparency to rein, to declassify this labor unions that is facing this threat helping the least powerful secure dig- memo, to put it before the American are the public sector unions, most nity on the job. This is the 50th anni- people, and then let’s have a great de- pointedly because in a matter of a few versary of the Memphis sanitation bate about its consequences and about weeks, the Supreme Court will take up workers’ strike in 1968. After two work- the opportunity that it presents to a case, Janus v. AFSCME. ers were crushed in garbage compac- make things better so that these This Janus case is designed to re- tors, the Memphis sanitation workers things never happen again. move what has already been estab- peacefully protested for better pay and Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance lished as the constitutionality of pub- safer working conditions. They sought of my time. lic service unions to be able to man- representation from the American Fed- eration of State, County, and Munic- f date fees and dues for their member- ship, which will be a catastrophic ipal Employees, or AFSCME. They MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE threat to the survival of these unions. marched with placards that simply A message from the Senate by Ms. So we want to explain that. We want to stated: ‘‘I am a man.’’ Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that also share the greatness of this. So this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., long rec- the Senate has agreed to without is where we are. ognized that the fight for civil rights amendment a concurrent resolution of I want to ask those who are listening was fundamentally linked to economic the House of the following title: over C–SPAN tonight all across this justice and he gave his last public ad- H. Con. Res. 101. Concurrent resolution country to call a neighbor, call a dress before his assassination on behalf providing for a joint session of Congress to friend, tell them to tune in and listen of these workers. receive a message from the President. to these Members of Congress pour out Despite police brutality and the de- f the truth about what is at stake with ployment of 4,000 National Guardsmen, this Janus court case that will be com- the strike was ultimately successful b 2015 ing up before the Supreme Court. and AFSCME negotiated higher wages A THREAT TO LABOR UNIONS The first union that will be dealt and safer conditions. with is AFSCME, but it is far more The unions representing the workers The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under than just AFSCME. It is the public sec- in the public sector continue to em- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- tor unions that will be ruled as to power our workers and communities uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from Geor- whether it is constitutional or not for today. Just this month, when tempera- gia (Mr. DAVID SCOTT) is recognized for them to have dues to be able to play. tures plunged to dangerous lows, the 60 minutes as the designee of the mi- This case comes from an individual, Baltimore Teachers Union fought for nority leader. Mr. Janus, in Illinois who disagreed children who were forced to bundle up GENERAL LEAVE with political endorsements. in coats and hats in their own class- Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. What is important to understand rooms because there was no heat in Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that going forward, Mr. Speaker, is that the their schools. all Members have 5 legislative days to constitutionality has already been Around the country, the SEIU rep- revise and extend their remarks and to upheld. resented hundreds of thousands of include any extraneous material on the On top of that, if there is any union healthcare workers who provide in- subject of this Special Order. member who does not agree with those home healthcare for our Nation’s elder- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there political endorsements, he has a right ly and disabled. In many States, these objection to the request of the gen- to get a financial rebate for that part workers are State employees, and the tleman from Georgia? of the dues that will go to political en- unions play a crucial role in bargaining There was no objection. dorsements. for better wages, better training, and Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. So if Mr. Janus’ concerns have been in advocating for increased Medicaid Speaker, it is with great honor that I dealt with, then why this case? funding so they can deliver services to stand to anchor this special hour be- That is the Achilles’ heel that will the disabled and the elderly. cause this Nation is faced with a very prove the deviousness of what is before Despite the great work these unions serious threat. As a matter of fact, it is us. have done on behalf of working people, a devious threat to the labor unions, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure they are constantly under attack by our great labor unions that have that I bring on our first speaker. This corporate interests determined to crip- played a most fundamental role in es- gentleman, Representative BOBBY ple the labor movement, and we know tablishing the greatness of the econ- SCOTT, is the ranking member of our why. omy of our great Nation. Education and the Workforce Com- Big corporations and the top 1 per- Mr. Speaker, this evening, first I mittee. On top of that, he is a fierce cent have rigged our economy against want to thank the chairman of the fighter for working families and he is a working people. They have gamed the Congressional Black Caucus, Mr. leader in making sure that labor system, including our tax laws, to re- CEDRIC RICHMOND from Louisiana, for unions will continue to have the rights distribute wealth to a select few. They his great leadership. I appreciate him that they fought so hard for. have starved our economy of invest- giving me this opportunity to anchor Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman ments in education, infrastructure, and this special hour. from Virginia (Mr. SCOTT). housing.

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