Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives Articles Of Impeachment Debate 20240713

Three consecutive days in july tells so much of the story. Three consecutive days in july of 2019. July 24, the day that special counsel mueller testified before congress, and President Trump thought he was finally in the clear, july 25, the day that President Trump got on the phone with ukrainian president and in the context of a discussion about military support for that embattled nation, that the president has recently frozen said, i would like you to do us a favor, though. And asked ukraine to do two investigations to help his reelection efforts in 2020. That was july 25. And then we come to july 26. The day Gordon Sondland called President Trump on his cell phone from a restaurant in ukraine. Gordon sondland, not some anonymous never trumper but a Million Dollar donor to the president s inauguration and handpicked ambassador to the European Union, what does President Trump ask sondland, the day after this call . What does President Trump ask . What does the president want to know . Did he ask about ukraines efforts to battle corruption . Of course not. Did he ask how the war with russia was going . Not a chance. On the phone his voice loud enough for others to hear President Trump asked sondland, so hes going to do the investigation, and the answer was clear. Sondland assured trump that the ukrainian president was going to do it. And that he would do anything you asked him to. If that wasnt telling enough, my colleagues in a conversation that followed, an american diplomat dining with sondland asked if it was true that President Trump didnt give a blank about ukraine. Sondland agreed, saying, the president cared only about big stuff. The diplomat noted that there was big stuff in ukraine like a war with russia. And sondland replied that the president cared only about big stuff that benefits him personally. Like the biden investigation that mr. Giuliani was pushing. In that short conversation, we learned everything we need to know about the 45th president of the United States. He doesnt care about ukraine. Or the impact on our National Security caused by with holding military aid to that country fighting for its democratic life. All that matters to this president is what affects him personally, an investigation into his political rival and a chance to cheat in the next election. As professor gear hart testified before the committee two weeks ago if what were talking about is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable. Even as this body uncovered the facts of this ukraine scheme, even as we opened an impeachment inquiry, even as we gathered evidence, President Trump continued his efforts to seek foreign help in the next election. I would think, he said from the white house lawn on october 3, that if theyre being honest about it, theyd start a Major Investigation into the binds. Its a very simple answer. He said. And he made it clear its an open invitation to other nations as well, saying, china should start an investigation into the bidens too. President trump sent his chief of staff to the white house podium and he told the world that of course they had linked aid to investigations. And that we should just get over it. And even as these articles have made their way to this house floor the president s personal attorney has continued pursuing these sham investigations on behalf of his client, the president. The president and his men plot on. The danger persists. The risk is real. Our democracy is at peril. But we are not without a remedy, prescribed by the founders for just these circumstances. Impeachment. The only question is, will we use it . Or have we fallen prey to another evil hat founders forewarned, the excess of factionalism, the elevation of party over country. Many of my colleagues appear to have made their choice to protect the president , to enable him to be above the law, to empower this president to cheat again, as long as it is in the service of their party and their power. Theyve made their choice. Despite this president and the white house stonewalling every subpoena, every request for witnesses, and testimony from branch qual, coequal of government. They have made their choice. Knowing that to allow this president to obstruct congress will empower him and any other president that follows to be as corrupt, as negligent, or as abusive of the power of the presidency as they choose. They have made their choice. And i believe they will rue the day that they did. When donald j. Trump was sworn in on january 20, 2017, he repeated these words. I do solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States. And will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States. Has he lived up to that sacred obligation . Has he honored his oath of office . Has he preserved, protected and defended the constitution of the United States, the uncontested evidence provides the simple yet tragic answer, he has not. In america, no one is above the law. Donald j. Trump sacrificed our National Security in an effort to cheat in the next election. And for that, and his continued efforts to seek foreign interference in our elections, he must be impeached. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman fromed in. Madam chair. Its nice to see you here, chairman schiff. It would have been nice to have either you or the whistleblower present in either the judiciary or oversight hearings. I think were continuing to neglect the four key facts of. This the transcript is out. Everybody can read it. The American People can redditt. Theres no conditionality or aid discussed on that call. The two principals on that call, President Trump and president zelensky said theres no pressure. President zelensky screamed from the rooftops on numerous occasions that there was no pressure, no bribery, no quid pro quo. He didnt the the aid was being paused no investigation was announced, a meeting with the president took place, and the aid was released. With that i yield the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is reminded to address remarks chair. Mr. Armstrong i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from missouri, mr. Smith. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith i come from a state that raises corn and cotton. Cookleburrs and democrats. Your frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. Im from the showme state. You have to show me. The only thing that you all have shown so far is that youre about to impeach a duly elected president who has done nothing wrong. Democrats are not impeaching the president because they are scared of our republic or that he has committed a crime. They are impeaching him because they fear the president s policies. And how well they are working for the American People. Most of all, they fear the election because they know they cant beat them. In fact, one of my democrat colleagues is quoted saying, im concerned if we dont impeach him, he will get reelected. Impeachment is not a political weapon. Anyone who votes for impeachment should be ashamed. You cannot undo the election because your flawed candidate did not win. And thank god she didnt. Over the last three years, unemployment has dropped to the lowest point in generations. We are seeing better trade agreements with our trading partners and record numbers of taxes and regulations to stifle Economic Growth have been rolled back, all thanks to President Trumps leadership and commitment. But we shouldnt be surprised. Democrats have introduce mr. Es of impeachment armstrong i yield the gentleman 15 seconds. Mr. Smith we shouldnt be surprised, democrats have introduced articles of impeachment in five out of our last six republican president s. They are the party of impeachment. The democrats are the party of impeachment. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Once again, members are admonished to address their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff it is my pleasure to yield two minute those gentleman, mr. Swalwell. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Swalwell donald trump is using the presidency to put his own personal gain above our National Interests. He is using our taxpayer dollars and foreign interference to cheat the next election and it jeopardizes our National Security and integrity at the ballot box. And not a single fact in this case is seriously in dispute. I ask my colleagues, who sent his personal lawyer to ukraine to investigate his political rival . Who fired an ambassador who stood in his way . Who conditioned a white house meeting on investigations that only personally benefited him and not the National Interest . Who cut off military aid to an ally that desperately needed it . Who pressured president zelensky to conduct those investigations . Who stood on the white house lawn and asked not only ukraine to investigate his rival but also china . Who has buried evidence and blocked witnesses from testifying . And who is still, today, sending us personal sending his personal lawyer to ukraine to dig up dirt and rig an election . The answer to all of these questions is President Donald Trump. This is a crime spree in progress but we know how to stop it. Courage. Yes, this investigation has shown us how corrupt President Trump is but its also shown us the courage of some of our fellow patriotic Civil Servants who have used their colonel to not only stand up around the world to extinguish corruption but also to extinguish it at the white house. How . My colleagues argue no harm, no foul, ukraine got the aid. Wrong. Trump cheated. Patriots caught him. Then ukraine got the aid. Standing up turns out works. Now is the time to summon the courage of those patriots and to summon the courage they showed against donald trump. If they can risk their careers, even their lives, to do the right thing, can my colleagues also do the same . After all, more is on the line than just military aid to an ally. Our National Security is at stake. Stand up for that. Our Election Integrity is at stake. Stand up for that. Our constitution is at stake. Stand up for that. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from north dakota. Mr. Armstrong may i inquire as to the time remaining on each side. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has one hour and 23 and a fourth many minutes remaining. The gentleman from california has one hour and 18 minutes remaining. Mr. Armstrong i appreciate the detailism yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Johnson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one and a half minutes. Mr. Johnson madam speaker, this s a sad day for america. This partisan impeachment sham seeks to disenfranchise 63 million American Voters. So i want to use my time to call on this chamber, for members to rise and observe a moment of silent reflection. To give every member here the chance to pause for a moment and remember the voices of the 63 illion American Voters the democrats today are wanting to silence. Mr. Johnson madam speaker, disenfranchising 63 million voters gives me 63 million reasons to vote no. And i urge my colleagues to do the same. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff its my pleasure to yield two minutes to ms. Sewell, the gentlelady from alabama. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Sewell madam speaker, it is with a heavy heart and profound sense of the gravity of this moment that i rise today in support of the impeachment of president donald j. Trump. To be clear, i did not run for congress to impeach a president. I came to work every day on behalf of the hardworking people of alabamas seventh congressional district. But the facts are uncontested. The truth is clear. And i have been left no other choice. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, i sat in shock, in awe, as witness after witness came forward, their stories painting a clear picture of the president s abuse of power. They testified that the president had directed orers to withhold vital military aid for ukraine and a white house visit in exchange for investigation into the bidens. To date, all the military aid has not been released and theres still been no white house meeting. The bottom line is clear. President trump endaged our National Security and the very essence of our democracy for his own personal political gain. Then, President Trump sought to cover it up by subverting the Oversight Authority of congress. If president ial abuse of power is left unchecked, we all become accomplices when he does it again. This cannot become the new normal. Not on our watch. While President Trumps indefensible action set in motion this event, my vote for impeachment today is not about the president. It is about my oath to defend and protect the constitution of this United States of america. And to make sure that i uphold and honor the sacred trust that my constituents gave me. President trump has betrayed his oath of office. Let us not betray ours. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from north dakota. Youre back. From georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. Im back. Also noted some changes around here since we left. I notice i have a new manager on the other side who as i came back in noticed gave an eloquent defense of his side of the story we are telling. I wish we could have have that had before the Judiciary Committee where we could ask questions instead of giving one side. With that i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Keller. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Keller thank you. Madam speaker, today will forever be remembered as a stain on our republic. These impeachment proceedings are not based upon facts, evidence, reason, or any inappropriate or impeachable actions by our president. Instead, the actions being taken by those favoring impeachment are a product of their disdain for President Trump, his America First agenda, and particularly disdain by the other party for the 63 million americans that elected him as president. Again, these articles of impeachment are not based on any facts but rather on hearsay, presumptions, innuendo, and feelings. Feelings by democrats and career bureaucrats that wanted President Trump removed from office since the day he was elected. In defense of the constitution i urge all members to oppose both articles of impeachment. It is unclear who will judge those voting for impeachment today more harshly, history or voters. So i want democrats voting for impeachment today to know thail be praying for them. From the gospel of luke, the 23rd chapterers verse 234, and jesus said, father, forgive them. For they know not what they do. Thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, my colleagues have referred to patriotic americans who testified before the Intelligence Committee as career bureaucrats. I want to remind people just who those career bureaucrats are. They are people like ambassador bill taylor who has served this country for decades, graduated top in his class at west point, served during vietnam in combat, rned a bronze star earned a bronze star. People like kohl member vindman, served in iraq, a purple heart. Ambassador yovanovitch served in dangerous places all over the world. One of the most respected all all our Foreign Service overs. These are the people my colleagues would label as career bureaucrats. Why . Because they have the courage to do their lawful duty to answer a subpoena, to come and testify. And for this they are called career bureaucrats. Well, we should have more career bureaucrats of that caliber. Im pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. Kosta. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Costa madam speaker, i rise with a heavy heart the two most difficult votes any member of congress ever has to cast is to vote to go to war or to impeach. Today i will vote for the articles of impeachment. Over the last few months i have listened carefully to my constituents. I weighed all the available information to determine whether or not the president committed any wrongdoing. There are disturbing facts from this administration that inform my decision, including the president s own words. His ambassador to the European Union testified there was a quid pro quo to withhold aid to the ukraine for investigation to former Vice President biden and everyone was in the loop. His own National Security advisor, john bolton, said he wanted nothing to do with this drug deal, as he called it. Then the president openly acknowledged that china and ukraine should investigate mr. Biden. There is much more evidence pointing to the president violating his own oath of office. I have not made this decision lightly but i must uphold my own oath of office because i believe the president has failed to uphold his oath of office. The weight of history and my belief in the constitution of the United States and our own National Security interests have led me to this vote. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. It is interesting to say, and i appreciate anybody who come and give testimony, but it is interesting to see that these same chairmen who spoke eloquently about those who testified would have to dismiss completely almost anything by mr. Volcker or mr. Morrison. I will say at least they had the ability and willingness to come and testify. Unlike the chairman who wrote a report, sent it to judiciary, and didnt w that i yield a minute and a half to the the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Granger. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for a minute and a half. Ms. Granger i rise today in strong opposition to the politically driven articles of impeachment that have been brought before the house of representatives today. For the past three years, democrats have been unable to accept the voters choice to elect President Trump. They have used any and all undemocratic and unfair means necessary to try and remove him from oofs. My vote today not only against illegitimate impeachment of our president , which began not with facts but with a foregone conclusion, it is against House Democrats making a mockery of due process and the rule of law. This will not go anywhere in the senate so all democrats have accomplished is post opponenting the important work of the American People is postponing the important work of the American People. This endless crusade of democrats to remove the president of the United States has put partisan politics above the issues americans face today. Its time democrats stop playing partisan games that hurt hardworking taxpayers. Its time for the American People to be Congress Priority again. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff thank you, madam speaker. I am more than delighted to refer to the testimony ambassador volcker and mr. Morrison. Am bass door volker who acknowledged in retrospect he should have recognized when they were calling for investigations it meant the bidens and to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political rival was wrong. Happy to refer to his testimony as well as mr. Morrison who went to the National Security council lawyer immediately after he listened to that telephone call. And who also testified that he was informed by ambassador sondland that the president wanted zelensky in a public box. That he wanted him to be forced to go to the mike and announce these sham investigations. Happy to refer to their testimony as well. Happy to recognize the gentlewoman from california for two minutes, representative speier. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Speier thank you, madam speaker. My father fled nazi germany for america. Because he saw what happened when a despot became untethered. He fled because he believed in democracy. And the rule of law. And the right to vote. Before he died, he asked to be buried in a simple pine box with an American Flag to symbolize his love of this country. Today we are called upon to do our duty out of love of country. The president stands accused. We must judge him as we judge any of our fellow citizens. On the facts and on the law. The facts show that the president s north star is russia. Not the constitution. There is no question that President Trump delayed military aid to ukraine, our ally, as they were under attack by russia, our adversary. There is no question the president withheld a meeting with president zelensky at the white house, giving russia the upper hand in peace negotiation was ukraine. There is no question that President Trump promoted the russian hoax that ukraine attacked our election in 2016. A cue nard that has been proven cuneard that has proven to be a lie, a russian lie. The only question is his mowive. His conduct and crimes reprehensible and impeachable. When i vote today my fathers legacy is deep, very deep within me. My father loved america and i love america. And that is why i will vote to impeach the president of the United States. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i see how this is playing out. Instead of testifying and answering all questions well do it in potshots. Lets talk about mr. Volcker again. He never testified anyone wanting to investigate Vice President widen. What he did testify to which was left out they wanted to that the ukrainians doing bad things placed hunter biden on the board to avoid anything, that needed to be investigated and found out. Lets at least tell the story. Had plenty of time to do this in an actual hearing, not here. This is what they want. This is what they have been wanting, the majority has played this the whole time. Well play this out as long as they want to. It would have been better if they had a case to have made it in the proper setting instead of not coming and not testifying. With that i yield a minute and a half to gentleman from texas, mr. Weber. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Weber its very interesting to see the socialistic left democrats that have a newfound appreciation for the constitution and our founders principles. Would that those same socialists, madam speaker, would afford unborn babies the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as well. Madam speaker, history tells us the first three impeachments in this country crimes in involved. Johnson violated law Congress Passed over his sleet joe. Nixon was involved in a coverup. Clinton lied to a federal grand jury tore falsify an affidavit. Crimes. All instances of crimes. Now comes a socialistic leanings, madam speaker, a sensibly readling the president s minds knowing what his intent was and dictating to us and the witnesses that were in the hearings what his mind set was. And that quite frankly they didnt believe he had the right to be in charge of foreignpolicy. We heard ambassadors, and yes, we heard career bureaucrats, career diplomats, they get to ride the bus. They dont get to drive the bus. The president is in charge of Foreign Policy. We had they said the president had the audacity to use his judgment on Foreign Policy instead of theirs. Opinions. Opinions. Suppositions, indeed. The very swamp he is draining is objecting. Who knew. Who knew. Today now during the earlier rule debate somes the floor manager from the other side from massachusetts citing not facts, but newspaper articles, cnn, usa opinions, editorials. Unbelievable, madam speaker. Americans are watching. E deleterious, and in deep yogurt. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i just remind my colleagues that ambassador volcker said the attacks on joe biden were meritless and he tried to perfect said mr. Giuliani there was no factual support for them. Proud to recognize the gentleman from georgia, mr. Lewis, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Madam speaker, i want to thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam speaker, i rise with a heavy heart to support this resolution. I came to washington in 1961 to go on the freedom rides, we chose that day. When we came here on august 28, 1963, for the march on washington, it was joyful. We met with a young president , president John Fitzgerald kennedy. When we came here on august 6, 1965 for the signing of the Voting Rights act, we were excited, hopeful. We met president lyndon johnson. But today, this day, we didnt ask for this. This is a sad day. T is not a day of joy. Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings. We have president s. And the constitution is our compass. When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. Our children and their children will ask us what did you do . Say . Id you for some this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history. I yield back the balance of my ime. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i always like to be polite. I do appreciate the gentleman from california confirming everything i said in my statement a moment ago. With that i yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Wenstrup. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Wenstrup madam speaker, since 2016 america has seen a pattern of failed and disproven attacks and allegations against President Trump. Today is the fourth impeachment related vote since President Trump took office. Its yet another attempt to reach a predetermined conclusion of impeachment, conclusion build on political bias, accusations, and innuendo. These repetitive repeal a political obsession disguised as some kind of righteous oversight. When they didnt win at the ballot box, they pursued a russian collusion narrative, special Counsel Robert Mueller had to waste time and taxpayer dollars to prove false. When that didnt work they sought a new path forward to get impeachment. They held made for tv hearings, complete with secret meetings in the basement of the capitol. The charges today lack evidence to support them. There wasnt one witness that said a crime or Impeachable Offense was committed. Madam speaker, i remind my colleagues, no crime, no Impeachable Offense. Thats a pretty good defense, if you ask me. I will work diligently to further reveal the truth and further reveal the abuses of power, madam speaker that democrats paid for and enacted in the last three years. Abuses of power from the other side of the aisle within this body and within our f. B. I. Americans deserve the truth. All in all, history will remember today as the political impeach thament set the precedent for president s to be impeached every time theres a divided government. I oppose the articles before us today and i yield back to the other side and their superior imaginations. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff proud to recognize the gentleman from illinois, mr. Quigley, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Quigley thank you, madam speaker. Indeed we are here today because the president of the United States eabused his power and betrayed his oath of office. He laid siege to the electoral process. These actions pose a direct threat to the freedom and fairness of the upcome 20g20 election. The very day after Robert Mueller testified that russia had systematically and relentlessly attacked the 2016 election, the president picked up the phone and made his nowinfamous july 25 call to ukrainian president zelensky asking the president zelensky on that call, quote do, us a favor though, and announce investigation into his political rival joe biden. We have learned from numerous National Security council and state Department Officials the president did not expect ukraine to open the investigations, he just wanted them announced so he could smear his rival. Rather than trusting voters to decide who should hold the white house he again sought the aid of the foreign country to tip the scales in favor again. After russias unprecedented interference a dark cloud hung over the 2016 election and instead of leading the American People out from under the cloud, the president instead emboldened by perceived lack of consequence, attempted to pressure zelensky to interfere in the 2020 election. After a courageous whistleblower came forward and warned congress and the public about the president s scheme, the president stood on the white house lawn in front of tv cameras broadcasting around the world and called for china to interfere too. Smoffer my colleagues have asked why not wait . Why are we proceeding . Thats very simple. Because nothing could be more urgent. We are on the precipice of the 2020 election and congress has ultimate responsibility to protect the sacred equalizer, our right to vote. To defend the integrity of our elections and to fulfill our duty to the constitution, i will be voting in favor of impeachment today and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i yield one minute to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Lamb born. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Lamborn madam speaker, in inwatching this impeachment sound and fury signifying nothing should look for three misrepresentations the democrats are making. One, trump endangered National Security. No. The 55day delay did not stop ukrainians from defending themselves hsm egave them lethal aid which obama never did. During obamas negligence, democrats said nothing. Two, trump is not above the law no one is. But why dont the democrats tell us what law he broke . They cant, because he didnt break any. So democrats have resorted to two vague and subjective articles, abuse of power and obstruction of justice. Three, the evidence is not in dispute. The evidence is very much in us dispute. For every statement the democrats cherry pick to indict trump, more statements back up the president. This is nothing but a partisan employee by ploy by democrats toover turn an election. This charade will fail and the senate will exonerate trump and everyone knows it. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, im proud to recognize the gentleman from texas, mr. Castro, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Castro as my colleagues said, the evidence of the president s abuse of power and obstruction of congress is uncontested. But lets outline a few events. The 55 million in military aid held up by President Trump, for President Trump, in spite of congressional mandate. The sum ore of 2019 was a sum over shame for the white house. They blocked Security Assistance money for ukraine with no explanation osmen july 10, Gordon Sondland states in a white house meeting with ukrainian officials that they will get a white house meeting only after announcing an investigation into President Trumps political rival. On july 18, a white house staffer announces the freeze on ukrainian aid per direct president ial order. And just one day after Robert Muellers testimony before congress, President Trump makes the nowinfamous phone call to zelensky, asking him to investigate the bidens. Then, things start to fall apart. See, the white house learns that a whistleblower has reported President Trumps phone call with president zelensky in a complaint. On september 9, Congress Starts to investigate the president s actions. And then the jig is up. On september 11, the aid is suddenly released without explanation other two months later. When you read the call transcript and follow the timeline i laid out, guilty is guilty. Nothing changed during that time regarding the president s supposed concerns over corruption. Lets be clear. The military aid was released because the president got caught. But getting caught doesnt get you off the hook. And i ask my colleagues, is attempted murder a crime . Is attempted robbery a crime . Is attempted extortion and bribery by a president a crime . Yes, it is. The only question now is whether we will find the moral courage to stand up for our country and impeach the president of the United States. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. At this time i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from alabama, mr. Palmer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Palmer i rise in opposition to the impeachment of President Trump. Today is a day that diminishes the reputation and stature of the United States house of representatives, a day i never dreamed id see. Today my democrat colleagues seek to overturn an election by forcing a vote that will forever be a stain on this congress. They are not just voting to impeach President Trump, my colleagues are voting to impeach the judgment of every person who voted for him and the process by which we elect the president and by which we will govern our nation. My democrat colleagues claim the russians influenced the outcome of the 2016 election but based on their corrupt impeachment proceedings, it appears my colleagues have been influenced by how russia conducts trial no real evidence, no crime, no due process, no justice. The democrats have failed to show any justification for the impeachment of President Trump. When they couldnt find evidence they made it up. They conducted most hearings in secret. Instructed witnesses not to answer republican members questions and denied our right to call witnesses, making it absolutely clear their objective was from the beginning pathetically political. We all understand that elections have consequences. To all my colleagues, democrat and republicans alike, this day will surely have consequences as well. As we descend into more disrespect, distrust and even contempt that will eventually be destructive of this chamber and i fear eventually our republic. I urge all members to vote no on impeachment i have yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i thank the speaker. Very quickly, my colleagues have made repeated reference to some secret proceedings and secret star chamber. This is apparently what they call depositions. I remind my colleagues when they were in the majority they conducted depositions but they were different in this respect. In the depositions we conducted in the Intelligence Committee over 100 members were able to participate. Thats how secret they were. We revealed all of the transcripts of those depositions. The repetition of this falsehood does not make it true. It only makes the falsehood that much more deliberate. With that im pleased to recognize the gentleman from michigan, mr. Amash, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Amash thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in support of these articles of impeachment. I come to this floor not as a democrat, not as a republican, but as an american. Who cares deeply about the constitution, the rule of law, and the rights of the people. Under our system of government, impeachment is not about policy disagreements or ineffective governance. Nor is it about criminality based on statutes that did not exist at the time our constitution was written. Impeachment is about maintaining the integrity of the office of the presidency. And ensuring that executive power is directed toward proper ends in accordance with the law. The constitution grants the house the sole power of impeachment and the senate the sole power to try all impeachments. We in the house are empowered to charge impeachable conduct. The constitution describes such conduct as high crimes and misdemeanors because it pertains to high office and relating to relates to the misuse of that office. We need not rely on any other branch or body to endorse our determinations. We have the sole power of impeachment. In federalist number 65, Alexander Hamilton wrote, the high crimes and misdemeanors, quote are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men or in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. Theyre of a nature which may, with 3e kuhliar propriety, be denominated political as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself. End quote. President trump donald j. Trump has abused and violated the public trust by using his high office to solicit the aid of a foreign power, not for the benefit of the United States of america, but instead for his personal and political gain. His actions reflect precis precisely the type of conduct the frames of the constitution intended to remedy through the power of impeach and impeachment and it is our duty to impeach him. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins undoubtedly House Resolution 660 doesnt matter to the majority and the manager of this bill because the Inspector General transcript has not been release. There were documents not transferred and were not sure we were we got everything we were supposed to get in the Judiciary Committee. When you want to be transparent and open you hold it in the scif and do whatever you want. I yield though gentleman. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. This impeachment did not start with the whistleblower. It started 19 minutes after the president took the oath of office. 19 minutes after the inauguration, the Washington Post published a story saying the campaign to impeach President Trump has begun. The first day of congress, day one, a democratic member of my class called for the impeachment of the president , then obstruction of justice, quid pro quo. None of which are included in these articles before us today. The first article of impeachment crafted is a fiction not an enumerated basis in the constitution for impeachment. The majority would have you believe abuse of power is a high crime or misdemeanor. Its not. Unlike president s clinton and nickson who were tried for actual crimes, this president is being tried on vague phrases that appear nowhere in the constitution. The second article doesnt appear in the constitution as a basis for impeachment and is attempting to impeach a cuely elected president for asserting constitution ll abased privileges assert odden a bipartisan basis by both Political Parties throughout the nations history. This house is impeaching the president over a phone call to another world leader. A few lines of a phone transcript thats been cleatly and utterly misrepresented by the majority. The process was anything but open, bipartisan or equitable, abandoning all past historic due process afforded the minority and the president. The democrats ran a partisan investigation, refusing the rights of the minority, refusing the right for the president s counsel to call witness, refusing to a minority hearing day just to name a few. The majority waves around a report draft that the democratic staff concocted as a matter of fact. When they needed backup for their approach they paraded out liberal professors with animus against the professors who gave them license to impeach for any reason they wish. House democrats are making themselves kings in a manner far worse an more obvious than what theyre accusing the president of doing. The only abuse of power here is the democratled congress. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, im proud to yield one minute to mr. Cisneros, the gentleman from california. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cisneros i took the oath to support and defend the constitution for the first timeful i took that oath again earlier this year as a member of congress. Every day, i work hard to live by that oath and give the 39th district the representation it deserves. I have always maintained that impeachment is a serious undertaking and must be done with incredible care. When the unprecedented allegations against the president and his interactions with ukraine were first reported, i felt it was Congress Duty to investigate and find out the truth. And now the facts are before congress and the American People. The president betrayed his oath to support and defend the constitution by attempting to undermine the integrity of our elections for his own personal benefit. He asked a Foreign Government to investigate a political rival and endangers our National Security by with holding military aid to an ally. For me, its not about personal poll toirks party affiliation, its about upholding my oath to put our country and constitution first and protect our National Security. This is why i will vote to move forward with the impeachment of the president. I hope all my colleagues will join me in recognizing this great threat and stand up to this administration in defense of our country and our constitution. With that, i yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Kustoff madam speaker, going back almost three years to when the president was sworn into office, we have seen some members on the other side of the aisle pledging and promising to impeach President Trump. Prior to the start of this inquiry, Speaker Pelosi claimed that the impeachment must be compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan. The impeachment inquiry was announced less than three months ago. And what we know is that the process has been fast, faulty, and flawed. What we have witnessed since september 24 when the inquiry was announced is that the evidence we have seen is not compelling, its not overwhelming, and the process is undoubtedly and unquestionably not bipartisan. Im viewing this through the lens of a former United States attorney. As we take this vote heres the bottom line for the American People. There was no bribery. There was no extortion. There was no quid pro quo. There were no high crimes and misdemeanors committed by the president. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i now recognize the gentlewoman from california, ms. Chu, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Chu madam speaker, we know that President Trump withheld needed military aid to ukraine. We know that he used it to demand ukraine interfere in the 2020 election for his own benefit. And we know that ukraine knew. None of these facts have been disputed. Instead, the white house has tried to hide the truth. But the president is not above the law. Nobody is. Corruption and obstruction. The president is guilty of both. The blatant abuse of power was made clear from over 100 hours of testimony before three committees and was clear in the call summary released by the white house. The obstruction has been made clear by the president s refusal to cooperate at every turn, even when ordered by a court. Setting a precedent that any president can abuse their power to interfere in our elections is an existential threat to our democracy. Its also a betrayal of the oath of office and the constitution. Twhrfer therefore in fulfillment of my own oath of office its with solemn purpose today that i vote to impeach President Donald Trump. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. At this time i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from ohio. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Madam speaker, democrats started with quid pro quo, that didnt work well. Then it was bribery, extortion of the then they brought their witnesses in and not one could answer if they saw any evidence of bribery, extortion, or any crime when questioned. It was just silence. Then the witnesses testified they heard this, heard from so and so. When the democrats brought their star witness in, ambassador sondland, when asked he said i presumed the aid was held up. I presumed. Testimony was hearsay, conjecktureks and assumptions. Now its abuse of power with no underlying crime. Mr. Gibbs abuse of power to the democrats is they dont like his policies or he treated a reporter harshly. Obstruction of congress. There are three coequal branches of government. When executive branch eanch legislative branch have an impasse, thats when the Judicial Branch intervenes. They didnt do that. The democrats didnt sought out that route. Every president , including george washington, could have been impeached based on these factless articles. There is no crime. As ukraine received their aid before the deadline and no witness witnessed anything. This isnt about the rule of law. Its politics at its worse. Its disgraceful. Its time to end this charade and scam on the American People. I urge everybody to vote no on these articles of impeachment. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff happy to remind my colleagues of ambassador sondlands testimony. He posed the question was there a quid pro quo . The answer is yes. When he was asked about a quid pro quo involving the military aid, he said it was as clear as two plus two equals four. Im pleased to yield one minute to ms. Schakowsky, the gentlewoman from illinois. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Schakowsky it is my adult son whom i will always credit for my decision last june to support an impeachment inquiry. It had never been my goal to impeach a president , but ian made such a compelling case. He reminded me of the oath i have taken 11 times now to support and defend the constitution of the United States. He said, mom, this is not about politics. This is not about party. And pushing back against my arguments he said, this has nothing to do with the final outcome. Its about doing the right thing. Even if others dont. He made me see that it was about my legacy, my modest place in history. I want to thank you, my son son, for helping me do the right thing today. To vote to impeach the president of the United States, donald trump, because no american is above the law. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. I also would like to remind the gentleman from california, mr. Sondland said he had no direct evidence. He presumed that was going on. Back to presumption again. With that a minute and a half to the gentleman from texas, mr. Flores. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Flores the speaker of the house the following said in an interview in the Washington Post, quote, impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there is something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan i dont think we should go down that path because it divides the country, unquote. I think most americans would agree with that statement because it sounds thoughtful and reasonable. So here we are today to vote on the articles of impeachment. How did the Majority Party do in meeting the objectives set forth by the speaker . Here are the answers. First, the only compelling attribute about this sham is the lengths of majority has gone to appease the radical socialist wing of their party. Second, the only overwhelming feature about this sham is the abuse of power by the majority and the reckless disregard for fairness throughout this sir cufments finally, the only bipartisan activity will be the votes against these flimsy articles of impeachment. I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing these deplorable articles of impeachment and demand the house get back to working on the priorities that hardworking families care about the most. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff prior to recognizing mr. Ruppersberger for one minute, the gentleman from maryland. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for mun one minute. Madam speaker, i spent 12 years on the house Intelligence Committee, including as ranking minority member. Mr. Ruppersberger my bipartisan cooperation with republican chairman was widely recognized. When it comes to National Security, there is no room for bipartisan politics. All 17 witnesses, mostly trump appointees, told the same story during the Intelligence Committee hearings. Each testifying that our commander in chief jeopardized american National Security for the sake of his reelection. The president held hostage military aid for the fight against a common enemy, russia. He willfully obstructed Congress Actually proscribed impeachment powers. Over the last two years i resisted calls to begin itch peachment proceedings and i resent those who say this is about reversing the election. This is not about whether or not you like trump. Its about upholding our constitution. Allowing this to go unquestioned sets a dangerous precedent and permanent damages our system of checks and balances. No one is above the law. President trumps actions are clear threat to our National Security and democracy. We must uphold our oath of office and support these articles. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from michigan, mr. Walberg. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Walberg thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in strong opposition to these baseless articles of impeachment. Our Founding Fathers never intended impeachment to be a onesided political weapon. Sadly the majority has reduced this serious constitutional action to a purely partisan tactic to take down President Trump. History will not be kind to the vote today. It will be remembered as a rushed process that lacks credibility or transparency with a predetermined outcome that puts a premium on political theater instead of facts. By any objective standard, the democrats impeachment case is the thinnest imaginable. There is no Impeachable Offense before us today. Its a complete and total sham. I close not by quoting a president from the past. But rather from the duly elected President Donald Trump. To my democrat colleagues through you, madam speaker, you are the ones interfering in americas election. You are the ones subverting americas democracy. You are the ones obstructing justice. You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our republic for your own selfish personal, political, and partisan gain. These are hard words, i know. But that is the sad reality of this entire process. I will proudly vote no today. A vote that uphold our constitution. Defends our president. And preserves the pillars of our nations democracy and now i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i recognize the gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Grijalva i will vote in favor of impeachment today. The facts are irreputable antiongoing obstruction and coverup is shameful. My parents came here as immigrants and im proud to live in a nation that rewarded their hard work by providing a Better Future for my sisters and i. And as a first generation american and now a member of congress, a story like mine is only made possible by a nation that upholds the rule of law and truly lives out the values enshrined in our constitution. I am blessed with three daughters and five grandkids. Because of this living legacy and the legacy i intend to pass on to my grandchildren, my goal today is rooted in protecting their future. The underpinnings for impeachment are real and historic. Trump has subverted the rule of law, abused his power, and engaged in coverup. No a misdirection lies disinformation, tantrums, and cries of victimization by trump and others can undo the abuse of power and obstruction of congress. The president leaves us no choice but to vote to impeach so we can protect our democracy and correct the damage thats already done. I are vote in favor of impeachment of donald j. Trump not as a partisan act but as a serious, urgent, and necessary one. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, mr. Braidy. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Brady 21 years ago this week i spoke here on impeachment. In this sadly history will not treat democrats well. Theyll be forever remembered as the senator Joe Mccarthys of our time. So blinded by their hatred of President Trump they abandoned american rights of due process and fairness and just decency. Reminiscent of joe mccarthy they assaulted the constitution, took secret hearings, blocked evidence and switched charges like rogue prosecutors. Ultimately they chose abuse of power because they practice it so well. President trump committed no crime or Impeachable Offense. None. His legacy wont be stained. Democrats will. Theyll look back at these days in shame because trump haters in Congress Like red haters of the past are willing to plunge america into darkness for raw political gain. This impeachment betrays the nation, the constitution, and the American People. I vote no. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i recognize the gentleman from texas, mr. Doggett, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Tyranny rarely appears full born. It arises, it encroaches as freedomence. Our nations great founders sought to protect us from tyranny with carefully crafted system of checks and balances. But now along comes a president who actually says hes actually empowered to do whatever he wants. He can neither be prosecuted nor even investigated for any crime. And that he can totally ignore any impeachment proceeding of which he disapproves. These are the claims of a wannabe tyrant who has extoled the virtues of tyrants and auto contracts from manila to mouse cow. To advance tyranny, he adopts an open border policy, inviting foreigners to come in to our country and intrude in our elections. Foreign nations have their own agendas, especially adversaries like russia and china. American citizens should be the only ones determining the fate of our elections. If there continues to be foreign interference we will never have free elections and we will not be free. We act today to safeguard our constitution. We pledge allegiance to the flag and the republic for which it stands not to one man who would be king. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. Before i call my next speaker can i get a time check from the speaker . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia has one hour, three and a quarter minutes remaining. The gentleman from california has 57 and a quarter minutes remaining. One hour, three and a quarter minutes. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. I noy now yield one minute to the gentleman from one minute and a half to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Allen. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Allen thank you to my friend from georgia and thank you for your great work in dealing with this very sad day in our country. Today for the third time in our nations history, a president will be impeached. This will be, however, the first time impeachment has been entirely partisan and without merit. This charade is not because President Trump is guilty of a high crime or misdemeanor but because one Political Party doesnt like him or his policies of America First. The facts are, we have a divided government and House Democrats are at war with the executive branch. Fact two, they have been planning for this day since President Trump took office. Fact three, they accuse the president first and then have spent months looking for a crime. Fact four. But no evidence has been presented of an Impeachable Offense. During one of the partisan hearings, a member of this body asked if President Trump had evidence of his innocence, why didnt he bring it forward . The democrats want americans to believe our president is guilty until he proves himself innocent . This whole process is unconstitutional. Today weve heard both sides. We need to get the truth and the truth is, the decision of who should be our president should be made by the American People. Not Speaker Pelosi, adam schiff and House Democrats. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i recognize the gentleman from new york, mr. Engel, chairman engel, for three mins. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. I thank my friend, mr. Speaker. As chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee i have to say that this is a sad day. No one is gleeful that the president s actions have brought us to this point but when you boil it down, were here today because the president abused the power of his office to help his chances of reelection. He used the enormous weight of the presidency and american Foreign Policy to push a Foreign Government to smear a political rival. And he got caught. Why is this conduct so serious . Why has the president s behavior pushed the house of representatives to exercise one of its most consequential onstitutional responsibilities the president being in ka hoots with a foreign power means corrupting american democracy. Our elections are at the heart of our democracy, the foundation of what makes our system of government great our republic, if we can deep it, as benjamin franklin, once said. If our elections are unfair our republic cannot stand. Anyone who tries to fix an election is taking away the power of the American People to choose their leaders. If it happens at any level of government its toxic to our democracy. This came from the highest level. In this case, its even more serious. Because what with the what was the president willing to give up for this advantage . What price was he willing to pay . The price is our National Security and the president divides the shadow Foreign Policy that undermine ours diplomacy and diplomats when he held back assistance to the ukraine who is embroiled in a war against russia when he pressured a Foreign Government to interfere in our elections again. He sacrificed our security. He shook the faith of our loyal ally. He played into the hands of vladimir putin. He weakened our country all because he thought it might help his reelection bid. Only the president has that power. To corrupt our Foreign Policy for political gain. And the moment he chose to do so, the moment he undermined our security in his scheme to undermine our democracy, whether he succeeded or not and thank god he did not, at that moment it became an abuse of power and a president who abuses his power for personal gain is exactly what the framers feared. Its why impeachment is in the constitution. We need to pass these articles. The president s actions have left us no choice. He cannot be allowed to undermine our democracy and tear apart the fabric that holds our country together so i will vet for impeachment and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from dwea. Mr. Collins i yield two minutes to the gentleman from florida, mr. Geats, member of the Judiciary Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is reck naysed for two minutes. Ms. Geats mr. Geats this is not about the ukraine. Its about power. The president has it, House Democrats want it. With no crime, no evidence, no proof, no ayen da for america, this impeachment charade marches on, having no rules and adhering to no sense of honor. American people are not fooled by dirty tricks. The American People wont forget that democrats are triggered into impeaching the president because they dont like him and dont like us. Those who vote yes on todays articles of impeachment must carry the heavy burden of shame and guilt for as long as they serve in congress which wont be long because the American People will remember in november. Democrats would rather trip the president just to see him stumbling than see america succeed. Theyd rather impeach the president than Work Together for the common good of our country and our citizens. Democrats may have won the house in 2018 but they havent foregiven donald trump for having the audacity to win the presidency. And they havent foregiven you, the American People, for voting for him. The day before she was sworn into congress, a member of the body said she promised to impeach the motherfer. Is was plotted and planned before he was sworn, in possibly before some democrats could point to ukraine on a map. The gentleman from new york said he was the strongest member to lead a potential impeachment. Democrats may not have known why they would impeach a president , but they knew it was an nevittability. This impeach suspect a slap in the face to the millions of americans who voted for President Trump, the same americans democrats in washington have mocked as smelly walmart shoppers and deplorables. This impeachment isnt legitimate, its the radical lefts insurance policy. But we have an insurance policy too. Its the next election and we intend to win it. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i recognize the gentleman from vermont, mr. Elch, for two minutes. Mr. Welch we the people have a common tie that binds us together now as it has since the founding of our country. Its our shared respect for the constitution of the United States. Let us all step back from the maelstrom of the moment to recall that our countrys inception 243 years ago, the concept of a democratic selfgoverning rule was a breathtaking and idealistic aspiration. When the 13 american colonies boldly rejecked the rule of a british monarch, our rejected the rule of a british monarch, our founders were determined to create a government that would rule with consent of the governed. Ensuring that this endured through the ages was an enormous exiss ten rble challenge. It was met with the adoption of the constitution in 1788. T its heart, our two bedrock principle are two bedrock principles that have served as touchstones for our couldnt since. First it established america as a nation of laws where no person is above the law. Second it established the concept of a separation of powers where three coequal branches of government would check each other. Less power be concentrated in one at the expense of liberty to all. Madam speaker, when President Trump abused the power of his office by soliciting foreign interference in the upcoming election for his personal benefit, he willfully infringed upon the right of citizens to decide who will lead our nation and in doing so he placed himself above the law and in violation of his oath. When he denounced, denied and defied the Clear Authority of congress to investigate his conduct, he repudiated our constitutional system of checks and balances and further violated his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution. It is for these reasons i will cast my vote in favor of impeaching president donald john trump. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Biggs. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Biggs thank you, madam chair. Some of my colleagues across the aisle have said where are the facts . As if we have the burden of proof. Its your burden of proof, madam chair. Its the democrats burden of proof. But the facts are unchanged. The ukraine received aid that they were promised and appropriated for it. The aid was lawfully disbursed. In fact it was disbursed within the time limits set by this congress. If you wanted it sent to them before september 30, 2019, should have put that in the legislation. You did not. Ukrainians gave nothing in return. Ukrainians president said he felt no pressure no coercion, no duress no conditionality. But what changed . On the day that the aid was released, two anticorruption measures were signed into law by the ukrainian president , mr. President zelensky. Democrats have manufactured this sham and argue that refusing to cooperate is impeachable. The Supreme Court is currently considering the extent of executive privilege when fighting dubious subpoenas. But instead of taking their process to court, or waiting for the court to rule on the pending case, the democrats chose to press forward because simply they said, we dont want to wait. We dont have time, they say. But failing to do so is an abuse of power of this institution that will have grave consequences for our republic. When the other side claims they proceed with soberness, im bemused by media reports that indicate theyve been admonished not to do a jig today when they win the vote, which we know they will. I am struck that solemnnyity of process shouldnt need to have an admonition against levity. This process has been part sab. Vindictive. Depiss honest. Dishonest. Democrats are lied about the content of the july 25 call, met secretly with the whistleblower, held sovietstyle hearings behind closed doors where the committee of jurisdiction couldnt attend, blocked the president s counsel from attending, its been a sham from start to finish. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i recognize mr. Scott for a unanimous consent request. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is exniced. Mr. Scott i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in favor of both articles of impeachment. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Schiff i recognize mr. Carson, the congressman from indiana for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Carson sp mr. Carson thank you, chair, thank you, madam speaker. As we continue and consider this historic impeachment vote, lets be clear that the president s actions seriously jeopardize not only americas National Security, but the security of our closest allies. His actions threaten the goals of the u. S. Led nato alliance. You see, ukraine is a nation working hard to make its democracy stronger. And make no mistake, ukraine is on the front lines of russian aggression. Thankfully, u. S. Military aid helps ukraine defend itself against russia and integrate itself into the european community. When our european allies are stronger, america is stronger. We are better equipped to promote democracy and put a stop to tyranny. But the president but to President Trump, strengthening this valuable National Security objective, madam speaker, was not as important as smearing a political rival. Madam speaker, we know that he held nearly 400 million of aid to ukraine until president zelensky agreed to help him dig up dirt on his potential will potential 2020 opponent. This aid was approved by congress with strong bipartisan support. President trumps actions hurt american diplomacy and undermined the integrity of our nations promises to our allies. We will not allow our leaders to trade away our National Security. We cannot allow russias continued threats to democracy go unanswered. We must not allow our own president of these United States to get away with breaking his own oath of office. Madam speaker, that is why we take the solemn, necessary vote to impeach. Thank you, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Latta. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Latte thank you, madam speaker. Thank you, madam speaker. We have watched this illegitimate impeachment process while making a mockery of our constitutional duties. House democrats have conducted polarizing impeachment process in our history and the and women are tired of putting political games above interests. Al House Democrats held secret eetings, withheld important developments, did not give due process to the president. This investigation was unfair and the American People expect more out of congress. The articles of impeachment are not based on facts but instead re entirely politically motivated. The truth is there was no pressure put on president the transcripts confirm there was no conditionality. His inquiry has been rigged from the start, lacking fairness, transparency, and truth. Waste of n a taxpayers dollars and based off unnamed on of an whistleblower and hearsay. The accusations in todays not align with the facts. This impeachment process is out f step with existing precedent for president ial impeachment proceedings, and is not a process i will support. Urge my colleagues to put Country First and vote in of sition to the articles impeachment. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Schiff i thank the gentleman. Its now my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from new york. Mrs. Maloney is recognized for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the is lewoman from new york recognized. Ms. Maloney mrs. Maloney mr. Speaker, i in support of the impeachment of president donald j. Trump. His used the power of office for his own personal and political gain at the expense of our National Security. President trumps wholesale bstruction of congress is unprecedented, indisputable, and impeachable. President trump is the first president in history to openly completely defy all aspects f the constitutional impeachment process. In an attempt to cover up his ordered the r, he to re executive branch not participate in the inquiry and irected it to defy lawful subpoenas from congress. As chairwoman of the committee i find ight and reform, his obstruction particularly offensive. Even even president nixon ccepted Congress Impeachment authority and allowed his aides and advisors to produce the congress. To and president nixon allowed current and former staff to both the house impeachment and the Senate Watergate investigations, of staff and chief white house counsel. President trump, without any legal basis, former current and officials not to cooperate with inquiry, which resulted in nine of Administration Officials defying subpoenas for testimony and in response to the houses inquiry, to ident trump refused turnover even one single not single document to congress subpoenas. To lawful put simply, President Trumps are even worse than nixons. Let me repeat. Actions are mps even worse than nixons. Fathers established a system of checks and balances between ad out power the branches of government. They decided that no one would that no one is above the law, including the president. And they gave the responsibility of impeachment solely to the peoples house. When President Trump defies our subpoenas and obstructs our inquiry, he seeks to place himself above the and above the law. Stand. Ot let that and if we do, then thats the a coequal ess as branch of government. And weve allowed president himself above e the law. Under the olemn duty constitution to impeach President Trump for his blatant and his power obstruction of congress. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the entlewoman from new york yields. The gentleman from california reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins thank you, mr. Speaker. Minute to the gentleman from arkansas, mr. Womack. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arkansas is recognized. I thank the gentleman for giving me this moment. Years or, mr. Speaker, from now history books will tell of this day. It will tell of a purely remove the ort to president of the United States. An effort not built on a high misdemeanor, not on a process and keeping with the igh American Standard of due process and equal treatment. In effort is rooted only the governing partys hatred of a man elected president of the states. Members on the other side of the aisle have been in pursuit of 2016. Oment since they are consumed by it. One of in this debate, our colleagues referred to our enemy. Nt as a domestic our founders warned us about this day. Hat is why our nation has entrusted the future of the country with the outcome of elections, be not the will of a with contempt for a duly elected president. The historians write about this day, it is not context of a nation that lost its way, members ts elected chose hateful partisanship over protected oath thats this Great Republic since its founding and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the yields. N from arkansas the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Speaker, its im proud to recognize the gentleman from new jersey, minute. Nowski, for one the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. R. Malinowski mr. Speaker, in america when we call the Fire Department or enroll our not ren in school, we do expect a Government Official to say to us, i need you to do us a favor, though. Why would we tolerate a president using his awesome policy make foreign when the safety of our country the people not for but for himself . I will vote to impeach today did justresident trump that when he shook down a to criminally , investigate his political rival. If we fail to say that this was then any president will be free to ask a foreign power, china, or iran, to help him hurt his political home, and every foreign tyrant and clept owe that creplepto kratt will anything. They can do search your conscience and ask do you want our future president s to behave as this one has done . Do not whisper in the shadows of the capitol that you disapprove defend that conduct here today. Do your duty. Oath. Our depend your country. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. California n from reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins thank you, mr. Speaker. Yield one minute to the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Wilson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from South Carolina is recognized. Mr. Wilson thank you, mr. Speaker. Over a month ago on november 14, i spoke on the impeachment hoax with points true then and still today. After over a month of secret investigations into the democrats have now decided to open these controlled hearings to the public. The deception by democrats to mislead the American People. Its insulting. No republican witnesses, no counsel by the president to and full e, exoneration by courageous president zelensky of ukraine. Its said instead of focusing on funding our military through the National Defense authorization only last week or pass United Statesmexciocanada to create jobs that democrats have millions on the russian hoax now proceeding with a ukrainian hoax. Partisan witchhunt diverts the president s successes. There is record job creation. The stock market, again, today, that iving, showing President Trump keeps his promises. In conclusion, god bless our forget nd we will never september 11 and the global war on terrorism. The peaker pro tempore gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Schiff mr. Speaker, im to recognize the gentleman from california, mr. Gomez, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized. Were ez mr. Speaker, here at this moment in our nations history because the president abused the power of office. Bribing a Foreign Government to in our democracy and engage in obstruction of it up. S to cover our credibility in the Global Community has been compromised. Ur character and motivations are questioned. We know where the president s loyalties lie. Not with our constituents, not with our allies, but with our himself. Es and Abraham Lincoln once said, nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a mans power. Ter, give him donald trump has failed this test, and now our test is will be a check on that power. Therefore, we must hold anyone account, regardless of party or politics, be who sets fire to definey institution that our nation and our values. And with this in mind, i will yes to impeach donald j. Trump. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the california om yields. The gentleman from california reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins thank you, mr. Speaker. A half to inute and the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. You, mr. Thank speaker. I rise in strong opposition to he process and to the resolution. When Congress Sees fit to of ine its solemn power impeachment, it is imperative hat it does so in genuine pursuit of justice, fairly, objectively. And anything less is unacceptable. His partisan impeachment has fallen far short of that. Adly, Alexander Hamiltons prediction in federalist number 65 has come true where he warned that, in many cases it will connect itself with the preexisting factions and will nlist all their animosities, partialities and interests on one side or the other and in such cases there will always be danger that the decision will be regulated more y the comparative strength of parties than by the real or nstrations of innocence guilt. After years of investigations, hearings, and millions of democrats llars, found no proof that the a crime, no mitted vague accusations in these articles clearly reflect. Prerequisite of impeaching for high crimes and misdemeanors is a charge that an committed. E was these empty, baseless articles for the American People what this is, a desperate avenge the empt to laws of the democrats preferred candidate in 2016. Voters respect american and reject these articles. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From georgia the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Schiff thank you, mr. Speaker. Before iick fact check yield to the gentleman from massachusetts. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that no epublican witnesses were allowed to testify. That is, of course, not correct. In the Intelligence Committee, of the republican requested witnesses testified. Thats one out of every four of were tnesses republicanrequested witnesses. That they incriminated the any dent did not make them less requested by the minority. I am now proud to recognize the massachusetts, mr. Keating, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Keating today i reflect on impair tiffs of two imperatives of two sons of massachusetts, john adams, who one sentence captured the very foundation of our country saying, we are a government of laws, not men. Translation, no one is above the law. And john f. Kennedy who in his iconic city upon a hill address anyone of us Holding Public office would be judged by the high court of on whether we were truly men and women of courage. Stand up to age to ones enemies and the courage to tand up as well to ones associates. The courage to resist public ressure as well as private greed. And on whether we are truly men and women of integrity who never in out of the principles which we believe. Gain om neither financial or political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of trust. Red President Donald Trump, in disdainful of this trust, conspired to extract personal benefit from his office. Dishonored his oath. I refuse to abandon mine. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from north dakota. Armstrong thank you, madam speaker. Id like to point out that the only republican witnesses llowed in the intelligence hearings were on the democrats preapproved list. Ith that i yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Rice. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. I rise madam speaker, in opposition to this partisan ham of an impeachment resolution that is ripping our country apart. Beginning before he etch took office, President Trump has been attacked by a never ending barrage of lies, corruption and deceit by the liberal political elite including james comey, peter strzok, lisa page, Hillary Clinton and the impeachment se lots in this congress. Democrats colewded with russia and ukraine by to the interfere in our 2016 election by prodewsing the nowfamous steele dozzyay and now they accuse the president of interfering in an election. They used wiretaps to spy on the president s campaign and now accuse him of abusing his office. They structure these proceedings to deny the president and republicans in congress a fair hearing then accuse the president of obstructing congress. Look in the mirror, folks. The reaction of the American People that this is contrive anden corrupt was entirely predictable and is entirely correct. The polls that turned against them and the democrats are desperate to stop the bleeding. Thats why were cramming this vote in just before leaving for congress to dispose of impeachment as quickly and painlessly as possible. The actions of the democrats are staying on this chamber. Are a stain on this chamber. I urge imy colleagues in joining to join me in fighting this abuse of power and vote no on this sham of a resolution. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i didnt think id have to do another fact check so quickly but of course there was no preapproved witness list. Im proud to recognize the gentleman from new york, mr. Meeks, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. The decision to impeach a president of the United States is of enormous magnitude and utmost significant. There are few issues that so deeply reflect upon the the constitution and american system of governance. As a Senior Member of the United States house Foreign Affairs committee, ive spent years trying to promote American Values of democracy and the rule of lew and other in other parts of the world including eastern europe. Because i have been so steeped in ukrainian issues for so long, i know how damaging President Trumps actions were. But the president s damage does not end there he has consistently obstructed at every turn of this investigation. This nations Founding Fathers fought to end unaccountable rule. Did not free ourselveses from a king to turn think president into a monarch. But the camera of history is rolling. And i will cast my vote consistent with the principles of democracy, the rule of law and our constitution for the impeachment of president donald y. Trump. I do so because i could not look my granddaughter or any member of future generations in the eye having condoned actions that undermine our democratic system. I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. May god bless the United States of america. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. I yield one minute to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Bacon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Bacon i am strongly opposed to this im350e67ment. No law was broken. No high creerms crimes or misdemeanors. The ukrainians rereseved aid, aid previously rejected by the administration before it. There was no investigation and president zelensky said he receive nod pressure from the Trump Administration ever. Simply put theres no quid pro uo and no bribe. Elections are in 10 month bus the majority doesnt trust the American People too many have said that the impeachment of the president is not corrected in 2020 and thats shameful. Todays vote sets a new precedent for america. In the future, the majority will use impeachment as a tactic to remove a president. Our founders feared this i strongly oppose it. I want my statement in the record until the end of time to show i was on the side of the constitution by opposing the majority taking down a duly elected president who commit nod crime. Madam speaker, i yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff my colleagues continue to make the argument that the ukrainians got the money. Yes, the president got caught but they got the money, no harm, no foul. Its equivalent of saying if youre pulled other by a cop and you attempt to bribe the cop, and the cop doesnt take the money but arrests you, where to is the crime in that . They cant get the money. This is what my colleagues would have you accept. This is what my colleagues would have you accept. That because the president got caught in the act, we must look the other way. But of course thats not the way the law works. Thats not the way the constitution works. Thats not the way our oath of office works. Our oath of office requires us to impeach a president that abuses his power whether he gets away with it or he gets caught. And in this case, he got caught. Im now proud to recognize the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Norcross, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Norcross madam speaker, i rise today a time of grave concern for all americans. This past weekend i joined a bipartisan delegation traveling to bell jam, luxembourg, for the 75th anniversary of the battle of the bulge. A battle that over 19,000 americans gave their lives. Today, were called to preserve that democracy that they so bravely defended. Over two years ago, i was one of the first members in congress to vote to advance the inquiry. Since then, i have with held final judgment as i review the facts and heard the testimony. I believe theres overwhelming evidence well beyond reasonable doubt that President Donald Trump is guilty in both articles of impeachment. Abuse of power and obstruction of congress. Therefore, i willup hold my oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States in favor of impeachment. It is our solemn responsibility to honor all those who have fought and given their lives. Toup hold the truth. In america, in one, no one is above the law. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expire. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i love this, remember, quit pro quo didnt work out real well, supposedly it was pressure on mr. Zelensky. You had to poll test it. The majority didnt work out, focus groups didnt like it so we throw in a bribe. Its in the report. If they had a bribe or had a crime it would be in the articles. Guess what . He doesnt have it he cant put it in there. This is all fluff and circumstance because they cant get to the president and thats whats killing them. A minute and a half to the gentleman from indiana. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Bucshon the House Democrats have been obsessed with impeaching President Trump since he was elected. He wasnt supposed to win how much could voters support him . The American People were told the only way the speaker would move forward with impeachment was if the case was compel, overwhelm, and bipartisan. Yet the case for impeachment thats been rushed forward by House Democrats is anything but that. To be clear, neither of these articles of impeachment prove any wrongdoing or Impeachable Offense has actually taken place. Instead, House Democrats case rests solely on hearsay testimony and presumptions from cherrypicked witnesses. The frames of the constitution never intended impeachment to be used as a tool to settle political and policy differences. Thats what elections are for. This is a sad and dangerous moment in our history as impeachment is being used to undo the will of the American People and silence the voices of millions of americans in the process. Alexander hamilton would be ashamed. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this partisan impeachment sham and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i yield one minute to the gentleman from colorado. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. Years ago i took my first oath to the country, went to war, fought alongside our nations finest men and women. Some of them gave their lives for our nation. Not a day has passed that i dont reflect on those sacrifices. I learned during that time that our nation is built on sacrifice. We have overcome challenging times because people have decided to put aside their personal interests, their livelihoods, and yes, even give their lives to do what is best for our nation. Mr. Crow our founders created a system to ensure we would have no kings or dictator a system that vests power in the people to ensure that no man or woman is above the law. Generation after generation this system has survived because people have fought for it. Today, it is our turn. The president s abuse of power and scorn for our constitutional checks and balances is unprecedented. Unless we stand up against these abuses, we will set the country on a dangerous new course. My oathing, my love of our country and my duty to honor the sacrifices who came before us require me to act. To my colleagues, it is time to put aside our personal and political interests and honor those who have come before us. Thank you, madam speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Hice. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognize if recognized for 35 seconds. Mr. Hice the democrats new definition for evidence is allegations. Allegations based on hearsay, i might add. They hurl allegations against the president and then say to him its not their responsibility to prove guilty but the president s response to believe the prove his innocence. This has been a sham and an act of injustice against the president and against 93 million americans who voted for him and all those although this process was rigged from the beginning, democrats never produced a single true piece of evidence. Its time for us to stop this hoax and vote against these articles of impeachment. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i want to recognize the gentlewoman from virginia, ms. Lure yasm the speaker pro tempore for what period of time . Mr. Schiff for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Luria madam speaker, i rise today in support of our constitution. In support of the military members in harms way, who defend our constitution. In support of gold star families who keep faith that their loved ones sacrifice was justified. I rise in support of the oath i first took at 17 upon entering the naval academy. And took five more times in my 20year naval career. An oath that comforted me in the years i spent away from my family, deployed around the globe. An oath that encouraged me to remain vigilant on the bridge of the ship at night. An oath that strengthened me when in command as i sent my fellow sail sailors into harms way. And today an oath that gives me resolve. Resolve to do what is right and not what is politically expedient. Resolve to stand with the president at the white house last week and resolve to stand up to the president in this house today. I ask my colleagues to have the same strength and the same resolve. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you madam speaker. I yield 35 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Walker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Walker when emotion supersedes the facts, the conclusion is cataclysmic. Were wrapping up not a threemonth process but a threeyear process with democrats disdain so much its led to the abuse of this house. These are the same democrats who promised america they saw evidence of russian collusion. Did American People trust them . They dont. A growing number of people have condemned this impeachment process and thats what democrats setting the rules and then bending and breaking the rules to fit their narrative. The majority of americans see ther is cus for what it is, i wonder how many more will join them. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff i recognize the gentlelady from california for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Eshoo i rise today to defend our constitution and our democracy by voting for the two articles of impeachment. The words of our sacred oath define our duty and those words must be kept. Our founders primal fear was that powerful members of our government would become, in hamiltons words, mercenary instruments of corruption. President trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring National Security and other vital National Interests to obtain an improper personal benefit. He also betrayed our nation by abusing his high office to enlist the foreign power in corrupting democratic elections. Article 2 i agree with because its detail because it details the obstruction of congress by the president by directing unprecedented, cat gorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by this house of representatives and abused the powers of the presidency in a manner subversive to the constitution. I believe the constitution is the sole soul of our nation an by defending it we are saying we will not be soulless. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins i yield 35 seconds to the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Barr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 35 seconds. Mr. Barr dont be fooled. Democrats are not impeaching the president to protect National Security. Democrats are impeaching the president for following a law that they themselves voted for. No less than five times in the last sick years. Bipartisan congresses imposed on the executive branch an affirmative duty to ensure that the government of ukraine was countering corruption and for good reason. Ukraine is the third most corrupt nation on earth. The president not only had the Legal Authority to temporarily pause Security Assistance to ukraine, he had a mandate from congress to do it and as a result president zelenskys government made historic anticorruption reforms making them a more reliablall lie, counterering russian aggression. Far from the president defends National Security, oppose this i78 peachment. This impeachment. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expyred. Mr. Schiff my colleagues would have us believe the president held up aid to ukraine because he was concerned abcorruption ching there not a shred of evidence for that all National Security experts testified that ukraine met the criteria to receive the aid. So what was the real motivation here . One thing is telling. In 2017, the president had no problem with aid to ukraine. Raise nod issue of corruption. In 2018 he had no problem with the military aid for ukraine. So what changed in 2019 . Owe biden announced he was running for president and all of a sudden, donald trump held up aid for ukraine. As ambassador sondland testified, the president didnt care about ukraine. He cared about was the big stuff, the investigation of the bidens that giuliani was pushing. My pleasure to recognize the gentlelady from virginia, ms. Spanburger, for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Mr. Spano spanburger i rise in House Resolution 755. As a c. I. A. Case officer i used with foreign nationals who were providing foreign intelligence to help inform our ardest National Security decisions and keep our country safe. These individuals from countries abused their power and defied the rule of law imprisonment and often their very lives in order to provide the United States with to informn to help us us. Ms. Spanberger but why . T was their belief in the United States, their belief in our country, the longest standing democracy in the world, country a beacon of hope in republic, a democratic founded on a document and the belief in the rule of law and a belief in its people. I am proud to serve in the peoples house, representing serving wn and, again, our country, that beacon of hope in the world. And today, especially today, i founding the documents that have set us apart in the world, leading people across enerations and the world to risk everything beliefs in our great nation. Today, especially today, i to rm my commitment upholding and protecting the law, tution, the rule of and the people it governs. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. 35 second to the gentleman from texas, mr. Arrington. The speaker pro tempore the for 35 n is recognized seconds. Firstever n the completely partisan impeachment of the president of the United States. Madam speaker, i am deeply disturbed that history will this be made today in Hallowed Chamber but for all of the wrong reasons. Not for love of country but political foe. Not to pursue justice but to punish a political adversary. Seek truth but to seize political power for the love of country. My colleagues to oppose political ruse. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Yield to the gentlelady from california, chairwoman waters, for three minutes. The peaker pro tempore gentlelady is recognized for three minutes. Waters ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, the of debate wont allow me why te all of the reasons this president should be impeached. There are many. However, ladies and gentlemen of angelo. E, to quote maya whenever shows them who they are, believe them the first time. This day was not inevitable but predictable because this has shown himself time and time again to believe that he is above the law. He has no respect for our constitution or our democracy. Based on all that we know about donald trump, we could have redicted he would have abused the power of the president by corruptly soliciting the and the t of Ukraine Ukrainian president zelensky to publicly announce investigations political opponent, former Vice President joseph r. Biden. This impeachment resolution includes evidence that this withheld 391 million of taxpayer funds that congress of opriated for the purpose providing vital military and ecurity assistance to ukraine to oppose russian aggression. Another blatant abuse of power. Investigations revealed that this president advanced a theory, promoted by russia, alleging that ukraine, russia, interfered in the 2016 United States election for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal, political benefit. Never before in our history have president who a has so clearly conducted himself in a manner offensive to and ubversive of the constitution nd directed his cabinet executive brafrm Branch Members and agencies to subpoenas. This president has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to security and the constitution if allowed to office and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible ith selfgovernance and the rule of law. Because at every turn, he has he is. S who it is no secret that this president could have been time ago. A long today, we stand here with an an futable case and indisputable set of facts that abusedesident absolutely his power and obstructed congress. Any other individual who would conducting ught themselves in the way this president has would have been to the full extent of the law. T is shameful that any member of this house is willing to disregard the constitution, turned a blind eye to hard ignore a confession from the president himself. History will remember those who truth to ng to speak power. Yes, i called for trumps impeachment early. Is our country. Our foremothers and forefathers and their blood to build defend this democracy. I refuse to have it undermined. Wholeheartedly support this resolution. Im proud that in the final analysis, justice will have been served in america and donald trump will have been impeached. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentleman from georgia. Speaker madam ms. Waters i yield back. In collins the house is not order. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins reclaiming my time that the gentlelady did not 35 seconds to the gentleman from louisiana, mr. Abraham. The speaker pro tempore the entleman is recognized for 35 seconds. Is shameful what this that Speaker Pelosi has allowed witchhunt and we hould remove her from the house. The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are they know so hat much that isnt so. Democratic extreme partisanship ill set a dangerous precedent for this nation. And mark my words, madam peaker, this sinister attempt to remove this lawful president will not go unnoticed. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from california. Recognize the gentlelady from nevada, ms. Titus, for unanimous consent request. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Titus thank you, madam speaker. I ask unanimous consent to enter record ment into the supporting the impeachment of donald trump. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Schiff and i now recognize the gentleman from connecticut, mr. Himes, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Himes thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in anger and hope. Angry that President Donald Trump has treated his oath and disrespectfully that now we must hold him to account. Nottruth is clear to anyone deliberately looking away. The president withheld military in a white house meeting unless and until a vulnerable a ainian president announced nakedly political investigation. T didnt matter if the ukrainians uncovered any wrongdoing. Mere announcement would damage his political opponent. Mr. Trump didnt care about corruption in ukraine. Never mentioned the word infamous once in the july 25 call. This was not an attempt to ukrainian corruption. T was an attempt by donald j. Trump to aim ukrainian corruption straight at the heart election of ential 2020. The president knows this which has not given this congress a single email, phone or document. That is not the behavior of a man with nothing to hide. It is simply an undeniably congress. F this but what makes this impeachment essential is that the power has abuse of not stopped. S we speak, he continues to urge foreign interference in our emocracy, beseeching china to investigate the bidens, sending giuliani overseas. Morning, i did nothing wrong, all caps. He believes it too. Sees nothing by sending influence r chinese in our election. He continues to do it. Hell wake up tomorrow and do it again if we dont stop him today. Lies ies our therein our hope. I am proud to answer the call of democracy and urge my colleagues to do the same and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. Or things i dont understand i yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from mississippi, mr. Kelly. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds. Kelly madam speaker, i spent two christmass defending and i get aoverseas measly 30 seconds to speak in this laughable process. Ur president made a Campaign Promise to drain the swamp. And there are those today elying on swamp creatures words to preserve swamp. How do you suppress the votes of Million People and an electoral landslide . Same ep repeating the lies. I heard the greatest fiction ever spoke, if you dont like rewrite them in a parody and repeat. F the facts are clear and indisputable, why is the speaker demanding more witnesses . Cant dispute nothing that never happened. I ask you to vote no for this sham. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i am to yield two minutes to illinois, mr. From m krishnamoorthi. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Krishnamoorthi madam come to i didnt congress to impeach anybody, let alone the president of the United States. Given the facts, here we are. While facts remain unanswered, clear and ts are compel me to support the articles of impeachment. Attemptedsident trump to pressure a Foreign Government to help his reelection campaign. And second, the president used the powers of his office, again, obstruct a congressional investigation into that wrongdoing. Has falsely claimed hes been denied the chance to defend himself, but at time, hes preventing the testimony of witnesses with irect knowledge of the events under investigation. If the president were innocent, claims, surely these witnesses would be able to testify to that. No quid pro been quo, these witnesses could say that. Not d to ukraine were inteio