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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 165 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019 No. 116 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was some 85 days since the Mueller report find beyond a reasonable doubt that called to order by the Speaker pro tem- was presented wherein Mr. Mueller all something occurred, or that we should pore (Mr. CUELLAR). but indicated that impeachable acts do it by a preponderance of the evi- f occurred. I have my mnemonic notes dence. There is no standard that will be that I shall refer to. given to Members as they cast their DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO The impeachment process itself ballots. It is something that each Mem- TEMPORE starts and ends in the House. The ber does, and it is a vote of conscience. The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- House of Representatives and only the Now, the question can become, fore the House the following commu- House of Representatives can impeach ‘‘Whose conscience will it be?’’ because nication from the Speaker: a President. It is very similar to an in- if you take another person’s rec- WASHINGTON, DC, dictment but not the same as an in- ommendation and you vote based upon July 11, 2019. dictment. Once the impeachment actu- that recommendation, then you could I hereby appoint the Honorable HENRY ally takes place, then the process conceivably vote another person’s con- CUELLAR to act as Speaker pro tempore on moves to the Senate. science. this day. Today, I am going to focus on the I will vote my conscience. I will not NANCY PELOSI, be guided by what others, who may be Speaker of the House of Representatives. House of Representatives. Perhaps we will talk about the Senate on another voting based upon political expediency, f occasion. think. Members can vote based upon MORNING-HOUR DEBATE The impeachment process is not an political expediency if they so choose. I will vote based upon a moral impera- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- appealable process. Once the House gives its verdict, if you will—a major- tive. ant to the order of the House of Janu- I will vote my conscience, and I will ity of persons present voting for im- ary 3, 2019, the Chair will now recog- do this because I believe that in this peachment—there is no appeal. It nize Members from lists submitted by country, the country that I love—I rise doesn’t go to a friendly court that a the majority and minority leaders for because I love my country—that we President might have. It won’t go to morning-hour debate. ought not allow any person to be above the Supreme Court ultimately, where The Chair will alternate recognition the law. between the parties. All time shall be some would contend that the Court is The law of which I speak is Article II, equally allocated between the parties, divided along party lines. Section 4 of the Constitution. No one and in no event shall debate continue I happen to think that judges ought should be above the law, but this is the beyond 11:50 a.m. Each Member, other to vote based upon what they perceive law that governs impeachment. No one than the majority and minority leaders the law to be. I tend to give judges the should be above the law, and I believe and the minority whip, shall be limited benefit of the doubt when it comes to that for some 85 days now since the to 5 minutes. making their decisions, but there are Mueller report, we have evidence that f many who perceive this to be the case. the Chief Executive Officer has been It is not appealable. It is something UNDERSTANDING THE above the law. that is totally within the province of There will be a vote on impeachment. IMPEACHMENT PROCESS the House of Representatives. Each Member of this august body has a The SPEAKER pro tempore. The This vote is a vote of conscience, and preeminent privilege of bringing im- Chair recognizes the gentleman from this is where I would like to focus a peachment before the body. I happen to Texas (Mr. GREEN) for 5 minutes. good deal of my energy today. be a Member, and I want to assure all Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, A vote of conscience means that you that impeachment is not dead. and still I rise. vote based upon what your conscience I read a story today where there was Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I dictates. There will be no instructions an indication that it has stalled or has love my country, and I rise today be- given to persons who will vote. Gen- slowed. I want my colleagues to know cause it is important for us to under- erally speaking, a jury would receive that I may stand alone when I do this, stand this impeachment process. some sort of instructions, indicating as this is what my conscience dictates, Whether you agree with the bringing of that they should make certain find- but I believe that it is better to stand impeachment or not, it is appropriate ings. There will be no instructions. alone than not stand at all. to understand the process. There will be no indication that we I will stand. There will be another Today, I would like to share a few have to do this based upon clear and vote. I am asking that all do what I be- words about the impeachment process convincing evidence, that we have to lieve is expected, and that is to vote b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H5587 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:08 Jul 12, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11JY7.000 H11JYPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H5588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 11, 2019 your conscience, knowing that there is Opportunity zones are an investment Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, no no appeal, knowing that you don’t have in Pennsylvania’s future, our commu- President in the history of our country to worry about the Supreme Court, and nities’ futures, our businesses, and the has ever been subject to as many cred- knowing that there will be history to people who call the Commonwealth ible allegations of illegal conduct as judge us all. home. These zones have great potential Donald Trump. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- when it comes to revitalizing economi- Given the serious nature of these bers are reminded to refrain from en- cally distressed communities all across crimes and the President’s refusal to gaging in personalities toward the the United States. It is my hope that cooperate with congressional inves- President. they can become a catalyst for change tigations, it is time for the House of f and a catalyst for hope in communities Representatives to begin an impeach- across the country. RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF ment inquiry. This facilitates investment by pri- BELLEFONTE OPPORTUNITY ZONE The Mueller report documented com- vate investors who can take their cap- pelling evidence that the President ob- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ital gains that they may have realized structed justice, including numerous Chair recognizes the gentleman from because of business transactions that attempts to shut down the Mueller in- Pennsylvania (Mr. THOMPSON) for 5 they are engaged in. Normally, these vestigation. minutes. aren’t the types of communities where Despite the strong evidence, DOJ Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. these capital gains are invested. These policies prohibited the special counsel Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 8, I had are areas of higher unemployment and from even considering bringing charges the privilege of hosting the White infrastructure issues, maybe housing against a sitting President. So, Con- House Opportunity and Revitalization issues, and a lower median income, not gress has a responsibility to act where Council Executive Director, Mr. Scott prime places for economic investment Mueller left off. Turner, in Bellefonte in Pennsylvania’s by the private sector. For the past several months, Trump, 15th Congressional District. With the incentives of opportunity his Attorney General, and congres- Mr. Turner shared his insight, his ex- zones, where these investors can invest sional Republicans have outright lied pertise, and, I will say, his passion for these capital gains within those com- about the contents and findings of the serving economically distressed com- munities for causes and for needs de- Mueller report. The Trump administra- munities, regarding the recently des- fined by the members of the commu- tion has repeatedly rejected or under- ignated opportunity zone in Bellefonte, nities, they are able to realize tax sav- mined congressional subpoenas and ob- with myself and members of the com- ings. structed the ability of Congress to get munity. It was a productive and engag- It encourages them to maintain that the facts for the American people. ing discussion hosted by the American investment for 10 years, where they Launching an impeachment inquiry Philatelic Society at its headquarters. would pay zero taxes on those capital is a necessary step to ensure that we Joined by officials from the U.S. gains and yield a tremendous return on get to the bottom of Trump’s wrong- Small Business Administration, U.S.

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