Senate of these appointments and the managers may in connection with the preparation and the conduct of the trial exhibit the articles of impeachment to the senate and take all other actions necessary which may include the following, one, employing legal, clerical and other necessary assistance and incurring such other is expenses paid be necessary to be from amounts made available to the committee of judiciary under applicable expense resolutions or ap lick cabble accounts of the house of representatives. Two, sending for persons and papers and filing with the secretary of the senate on the part of the on the part of the house of representatives any pleadings in conjunction with or subsequent to the exhibition of the articles of impeachment ta the managers consider necessary. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 767, the resolution is debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and Ranking Member of the committee on the judiciary. The gentleman from new york, mr. Nadler, and the gentleman from georgia, mr. Collins, each will control five minutes. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield myself two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Nadler the resolution before us today apoints mgers to prosecute the impeachment trial of President Trump. This trial is necessary because President Trump gravely abused the power of his office when he strong armed a Foreign Government to announce investigations into his domestic political rifle. He betrayed our country when he used the powers of his office including withholding vital military assistance to pressure that government to help him win reelection. He vine invited foreign interference again, he jeopardized National Security and did this for personal gain and then violated the constitution by stonewalling Congress Efforts to investigate and blockading evidence. Despite that, the house uncovered evidence the president s betrayal in violation of the constitution. But we still have not heard the the truth because president has refused to allow a single document to be turned over to the house and he has prevented us from hearing from key witnesses as well. This is unprecedented. Our speaker led our fight for a fair trial in the senate. A fair trial must include additional documents and all relevant witnesses. The American People have common sense and know any trial that does not allow witnesses is not a trial. It is a coverup. The speakers incyst tense on this point has gotten results. Yesterday, we received critical idence fromless that further proves mr. Trumps scheme to go after his personal political opponent. New witness testimony has become vabble as well including john bolton. Under todays resolution, the managers have Broad Authority to submit to the senate any additional evidence the house may acquire on its own and we will do so. The senate is on trial. We will see whether they conduct a fair trial and allow the witnesses or conduct a coverup. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Nadler i urge my colleagues to vote yes on the resolution. Mr. Collins this impeachment has been flawed from the outset. It resembles not a congressional action. Resembles more of a dr. Seuss goes. Knowing not way it the speaker declared a press that the houseng was conducting an impeachment inquiry. The house did not authorize the impeachment inquiry until 660. Er 31 by adopting h. R. Its just said a moment ago that the speaker has been leading the in the r a fair trial senate. I wish the speaker had been leading for a fair hearing in house. Instead of trashing our rules. Out of 78 days from the time it was announced in a press conference to the time we not hed, the president was permitted to participate in these meetings. Think of that. Out of 78 in which we impeachment not crossexamined witnesses, did arguments. When presented with the opportunity when it came to the Judiciary Committee, instead of the Judiciary Committee stepping acting like the Judiciary Committee as the committee of impeachment, we punted. Couple some law professors who already had their, you know, basic talking points. Could have crossexamined them. That would have done a lot of good. And then we could have had staffers to testify. Again, a lot of good. Fact witnesses instead of the rubber stamp that saidre warned 20 years ago by the current chairman, we became the rubber stamp. Abused the atantly they wrote in h. R. 660. They used inflammatory rhetoric haunting them because this is democrat had to do one said, i call for impeachment day ecause its one heck of an emergency. Another said we have a crime in progress. We have an emergency at our National Election going on right now. In december, my favorite, the progress. E in oh, the hyperbole wreaks in this room. When we understand this, you emergency, such an if there was a 911 call, then a did we hold this almost month . Weve been told to help a fair senate trial. Be damned the house inappropriate process we have. But even though the process was i will make sure the facts lets make sure the facts are here because they still havent changed. That was put on in a transcript in which no pressure applied. There was no conditionality on that call or in since to do that. There was also nothing given by to actually get this money that was released by it was actually staechtory deadline of september 31. They did nothing. Anyway. The money but the problem is they want the senate to do their job for them. Works. Ts not how it what i heard today even from minutes, madam e speaker, is this is all they wanted. It was a political impeachment. For said hes impeached life. This shows the true motivation, i believe, of the other side. Its their dislike for this president and the good work hes doing. I madam speaker, before reserve here for a moment, this has always been a political impeachment. Floor the talkhe of the president being forever impeached and forgets the senate i hope this ends this political impeachment and this body never sees it again. Reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield one inute to the distinguished chairman of the intelligence committee, the gentleman from california, mr. Schiff. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Schiff madam speaker, i rise in strong support of the resolution. Task before us is a grave one but one demanded by our oath. He impeachment inquiry undertaken by the house of representatives found that abusednt donald j. Trump his power and sought to cover it up with an unprecedented obstruction. He withheld hundreds of millions f u. S. Dollars in vital military aid to ukraine, a close russia, and ith withheld a coveted white house eeting critical to the ukrainian leaders legitimacy until ukraine would commit to President Trump cheat, cheat in the next election. Put his own mp personal interests above national interests, above our security, and if not stopped, he will do it again. Was hat reason, he impeached, and for that reason, the house managers will take the to the the senate and American People. Because the appropriate remedy, only remedy is the conviction and removal from office of president donald trump. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, madam speaker. Minute time i yield one to the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Madam arthy thank you, speaker. Back when this national began, Speaker Pelosi intentions and purely partisan agenda. He told her caucus she needed to strike while the iron was hot. This was always an exercise in politics. An congress traer to the warnings over the nders, and last month we saw the ustification for running the fastest, thinnest, and weakest history nt in american crumble. Instead of sending the articles of impeachment to the senate for pelosi held them hostage in a failed play to gain and age that she did not would never have. Concession, she got nothing. No control. No moral victories. In other words, another failed strategy. Fter a month of counterproductive and farmful delays harmful delays, i have my friends ons for on the other side of the aisle, the democrats. What happened to impeachment being urgent . What happened to congress being clock . What happened to saying the ouse would be derelict in our duty if we did not act immediately . Is these were all the assertions the past made over several months. None of t turned out them were true. They were selfserving, and discrediting. But they made an important admission. Ome might even call it a concession. You proved a very big point. Democrats do not even believe was robust enough to win in a trial. Allies admit ers the delays undermined their case. Some has gone as far as it as a failed strategy. These are those who are closest to her. Senator feinstein, the senior of crat from our state of fornia and the hometown the speaker, the longer it goes the less is becomes. Nd it was time to transmit the articles to the senate. Before these statements were before the ek, relented, they are significant because they are public and they were honest. Disappointed these individuals did not have courage o stand by their initial comments. If impeachment was truly as urgent as democrats claimed, the majority should not have waited for the speaker to choose a time. Cal convenient anyone could have recognized this ploy would not work. House and the senate are different institutions. T this point in time, controlled by different parties. As James Madison wrote in the federalist papers, the purpose bicameralism is to guard gainst the dangers of encroachment and to stop toxic resolutions from taking effect. We saw separation of powers prevail against an abuse of power. Constitution intends. The idea of withholding a sloppy mpeachment case to force the senate to change its rules is constitutionally and politically of. Ard frankly, its just ridiculous. 5, the le 1, section constitution clearly states the house may determine roles of its proceedings. It doesnt say the house may roles of its proceedings in the senate. He speakers actions have only persuaded members of the senate that evidence of that the impeachment was neither thuro or satisfactory. Satisfactory. Lets be honest. This was never about persuasion. About the rule of law. It was about Alexander Alexander is what hamilton warned us, that one arty would get control, and just because of the animosity process of the impeachment. And by selecting these particular batch of managers, further proven shes not interested in winning hearts, or even following the constitution. Take a look at the first three names Speaker Pelosi announced in her anticipated earlier today. Chairman schiff, a man whos taken on the role of judge, jury, and fact witness entire house impeachment process. Nadler, someone who campaigned for the chairmanship f the Judiciary Committee thats responsible for impeachment as far back as december, 2017, before they were in the majority, on the notion that he was the best lead the potential impeachment against the president. Get a chairmanship for a vote of confidence. You campaign for it. Out ut your best ideas there why you should be chairman. In 2017, that was the campaign. Congressman hakeem jeffries, a two years tillst his date voted in support of impeachment. You know that was more than a year before the ukraine call place. Ok of the e just some managers. If you think about the members, theres people who were on the sworn in to this supported hose who them the greatest that they were going to impeach him. S ive said in the past, theres an issue with fairness, but instead of looking to the senate, Speaker Pelosi should be her own caucus. From the beginning, this investigation was marred by to the media, a completely predetermined process. Weve been through impeachment before. But it was much different. Of law ved in the rule back then, that we would face accuser, that you could crossexamine, that the minority actually ask for witnesses. The day that impeachment was sked to come forward, i sent a letter to the speaker laying out 10 items, none that were made up. What they were . A fair process weve always used in the past. Answer was no because theyve been working on this for 2 1 2 years. Could not let fairness determine the outcome. Any other prosecutor would be for such blatant bias, especially if that prosecutor witness in the case. The reason for this impeachment its taken reason democrats 30 days to send the articles to the senate. Just spite. They wanted to disdain the without s record giving him a full chance to clear his name. House democrats o for every american watching, take, for instance, that this was your government. Switched the burden of proof on you. We have a congressman, max rose, this way. Zed it this new freshman of the majority. Hes esident says innocent, so all were saying is prove it. God forbid government accuses you something as an average say you have to prove it. We just switched a fundamental elief as an american, but only in this house do we do that. This guilty until proven an cent mentality was admission that impeachment was not about upholding justice or of law. Ng the rule now democrats have invented an standard. Destructive youre guilty because they say so. Ur founders feared this day. Alexander hamilton warned us of this day. I hoped this day would not come. I would hope those who uphold in the constitution believe in the rule of lie instead of the spite of an individual. An accusation is enough for a conviction. Even as early as just last sunday in an interview, Speaker Pelosi made that point very clear to all of us. Ask what a Senate Acquittal would mean, she said it didnt matter. The president is impeached forever. Is that what this is all about . Just the personality. Just an abuse of power that you ave within a house that we all feared this country would never do. You could almost see in the speakers smile as she spoke about this new standard, how incrediblely solemn she was. When americans look back on this sad saga, they will see a rigid process. Speaker pelosi got nothing from the senate, but the American People got worst than nothing, they got stuck with a bill with a costly neverending investigation. What you get what you pay for does not apply here. Congress wasted time and partisan time on impeachment, in return, taxpayers get nothing. On crats misalignment could have given solutions. There is no greater contrast than what what we are doing right here today than what is happening in pennsylvania avenue, the president sitting down with another country and signing a trade agreement. Something people said we could never get done, to make this country stronger and make america the next century ours. But what are we doing here . We are doing what this majority has worked their entire time for before they were sworn in. They campaigned for the position of chairman, for this moment, for this time, for the millions of dollars that are spent, so they could say the president is impeached. Those are goals that you now have offered more subpoenas than you created laws. But thank god we got a president in the white house that does not sit back. United ot the statesmexicocanada trade agreement. He is sitting with a trade agreement with china today but think how much stronger his hand would have been if that agreement had taken place earlier when he got it. It was held. Why . Because we are impeaching him. Thats an amazing agenda that you promised people you would do. This is not a moment this body should be proud of. As Speaker Pelosi likes to say, impeachment is a National Civics lesson. Lets use this blunder as a teachable moment. Ill make this promise to the american public, because the day will come that the majority will switch. We will uphold the constitution. We will listen to the words of Alexander Hamilton and just because somebody else is in an office that we may not like, we will not change the rule of law, we will not accuse them of breaking it and saying they have to prove it. We believe america is more than a country, that america is an dea, an idea of greatness. Students in iran are rising up for the freedom of what they know america to be. But the rule of law was so powerful, this is a moment and a civic lesson that we should learn. This is a moment that will teach our grandchildren yes more than 200 years ago, the founders crafted an amazing country but warned us what abuse of power would look like. The sad part is we are witnessing it. What a contrast in a day in time. Moving forward, we must not redo these same mistakes in congress. Nd my promise to you, if power was to change, the rule of law would come back. We have an agenda focused on people, not on politics. Wed have a voice that youre innocent until proven guilty. We would not abuse our power just for the sheer shape of politics to say you are impeached forever because i dislike you. We are better than this. Its a sad day. But the great thing about america, it will all change, because the people have the voice. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are once again reminded to address their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield myself one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Nadler two points. First my colleagues in the minority would rather talk about anything than try to defend what President Trump actually did because they cant. There is overwhelming evidence that the president preeshed the ukranian government to interfere in our election in his behalf, then he covered it up. These are high crimes and misdemeanors and we will prove that in the senate. Second, minority colleagues dont like your ongoing fight for a fair trial because it got results. New witnesses and documents that point to the president s guilt and exposed the effort in the Senate Majority to put on a sham trial. A trial without evidence and without witnesses is no trial but a coverup and will not stand. We must protect the integrity of the constitution. We must remove this president to protect our country. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia has 0 seconds and the gentleman from minute has one remaining. Mr. Collins gentleman ready to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is ready to close. Mr. Collins our closing is no other speakers. Mr. Nadler i have one more speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is incorrect. The gentleman from new york has one remaining. The gentleman from georgia has 30 seconds remaining. The gentleman from new york has one minute remaining. Mr. Collins two facts just came out right here and facts are not working on the other side. There is not overwhelming evidence. We discussed this over and over until we are blue in the face. This is a political impeachment and nothing to do with the facts. We have shown there was nothing done wrong, but that does not matter, when the train is on the tracks and whistle is blowing, only thing that matters, only real emergency here is there is a 2020 election which the democrats cant see the fact that the president is going to win again. So what do we do . We impeach him as they said for life. I yield back. Mr. Nadler again no defense. I yield one minute to the distinguished speaker of the house, the gentlelady from california. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. The speaker i thank the gentleman for yielding and for is exceptional cuss towedial ship of the United States. The civil ocrat on liberties of the Judiciary Committee and thank you for your leadership in protecting and defending the constitution, the oath ta we take as members of congress. As i enter into the conversation, i wan to thank distinguished the gentleman from georgia for his apology forries ridiculous remarks about me and house democrats. Thank you, we accept your apology, mr. Collins. Now i want to go the purpose of why we are on the floor today. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we are here today to cross a very important threshold in american history. On december 18, the house of representatives passed articles of impeachment of donald trump. Articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of congress. By his own admission, the president stated that, yes, he had had that conversation with the president of ukraine, but he didnt see anything wrong with it. Well, we dont agree with that assessment. Is a fact when someone is impeached, they are always impeached. It cannot be erased. I stand by that comment although i know you dont like hearing it. I stand by this american flag, picture of the american flag, as i did the day that we introduced the articles of impeachment onto the floor because every day, all over america in classrooms as well as courtrooms and in this congress of the United States when we meet, we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands and to the republic for which it stands. That is what our nation is. Ta is the genius, the belf exquisite genius of the constitution that we are a republic. That was a decision of our founders, their vision. They didnt want a monarchy, they wanted a republic. And when Benjamin Franklin came out of Independence Hall and was asked, what do we have, mr. Franklin, a monarchy or a republic . He said a republic, if we can keep it. I often wondered why he said that and why that would be in doubt, but we see why it is in doubt right now, when the president of the United States has said article 2 says i can do whatever i want. Thats a monarchy, that is not a republic, that we pledge our allegiance to every single day. Here we are today with the articles of impeachment about to be transmitted to the United States senate. I was thinking this morning and mentioned in the previous public event, midnight of paul receive ear, listen my children, you will hear about an assault on the constitution of the United States undermining the republic for which our flag stands, by the president of the United States. The president of the United States in using appropriated funds enacted in a bipartisan way by this congress, funds that were meant to help the ukraine fight the russians. President considered that his private a. T. M. Machine, i guess and he could say to the president , do me a favor. Do me a favor . Do you paint houses, too. What is this . Do me a favor. Dont talk to me about my timing. For a long time, i resisted the calls from across the country for impeachment of the president for obvious violations of the constitution that he committed, but recognizing the divisiveness of impeachment, i held back. Frankly, i said this president isnt worth it. But when when he acted the way he did in relationship to withholding funds from ukraine in return for a benefit to him that was personal and political, he crossed the threshold. He gave us no choice. He gave us no choice. The children, our constitution, the vision of our founders, they were so brave, they declared independence. They did it in a time frame when in the course of human events it becomes necessary, they declared independence and fought a war of independence and bravely succeeded. They wrote documents, our founding documents, the constitution. Thank god they made it amendable so we could be expanding freedom in our country. And that, my children, is what you pledge allegiance to the United States of america and to the republic contained in that constitution of the United States. So we take that oath. And when we become members of congress or other public office, we take an oath to protect and defend that constitution of the United States. And the president of the United States takes an oath to preserve and protect and defend the constitution of the United States, an oath that he has blatantly violated and for this reason, he was impeached by the house of representatives. For this reason we thought it would be helpful to have not overwhelm the strong case for impeachment and removal that was put forth in this house, but to know that more was to come. We didnt make it come because we said we are going to wait until after christmas to send this over. They would have liked to send it over on Christmas Eve so they could dismiss it. Perhaps they dont realize that dismissal is coverup. But that has been one of their trains of thought. Dismissal is coverup. I was so disappointed the other day, last friday, thursday, when the leader of the United States senate, rather than striking the institution in which he served became subservient and said, and signed on to a resolution that would dismiss charges. Dismiss. Dismissal is coverup. So in the course of the time since we passed the resolution and not because of the time, we passed it on december 18. On december 20 new emails show that 91 minutes after trumps phone call with ukrainian president , a top office of management and budget aide asked the department of defense to hold off on sending military aid to ukraine. On december 29, revelations emerged that the o. B. America director and acting chief of staff in mulvaneys role in the delay of aid. The effort by lawyers in the administration to justify the delay. And the alarm, most importantly, the alarm that in the administration that that delay caused within the administration. On january 2, unredacted pentagon emails which the house subpoenaed and the president blocked raised serious concerns by the Trump Administration officials about the legality of the president s hold on the aid to ukraine. On january 6, former trupple National Security advisor john bolton said he would comply with the subpoena compelling his testimony. His lawyer stated he had new relevant information. On january 13, reports emerged that the russian government asked the ukraineon gas hacked the Ukrainian Gas Company in support of the u. S. Election in support of trump. Yesterday house committees mr. Nadler, mr. Schiff, mr. Engel, and congresswoman maloney, madam chair maloney, released new evidence pursuant to a house subpoena from lev parnas, recently photographed with the republican leader, an asocial of Rudy Giuliani that the president was a central player in the scheme to pressure ukraine for his own benefit in the 2020 election. The Senate Leader and the president are afraid of more facts coming to light. That is why the leader signed on to that dismissal resolution, a dismissal, again s. A coverup. The American People will fully understand the senates move to begin trial without witnesses and documents as a pure political coverup. Whatever the outcome the American People want a fair trial. Fair to the president , fair to the American People. The American People deserve the truth. The constitution requires a trial, a fair trial. The g. O. P. Senate the American People let me make this briefer. The house is now moving forward the vote to transmit articles and appoint managers. As speaker i was am proud to appoint outstanding american patriots to serve in the impeachment panel. Chairman schiff, chairman nadler, chairwoman zoe lofgren. This is her thundering herd impeachment as a staffer to a house Judiciary Committee member this is her third impeachment as a staffer of the Judiciary Committee member in the impeachment. And member of the Judiciary Committee to clinton and now as a house manager. Our caucus, hakim jeffries, a serious respected litigator, val demings, member of the police force of orlando and for 27 years and for part of that time the first woman and africanamerican police chief of orlando. She knows her way around the courtroom. Jason crow from colorado, army ranger, served our country in the military in iraq and afghanistan, and now in the congress of the United States. He, too, a respected litigator. A Sylvia Garcia of texas, judge in a number of capacities in texas and member of the Judiciary Committee. We are very honored that you have taken the responsibility, all of you, to bring the articles of impeachment over to the United States senate withle a case for the constitution. With a case for the constitution. A case for the constitution. So back to the children, back to the children. We dont want this president or any president to ever violate the constitution. It is very, very important that we see that that constitution is central to who we are as a country. Our system of government. Our system of government. Our constitution. So valued, so respected, hopefully so honored by everyone who takes an oath of office to support and defend it. E see the russians now hacking in ukraine, just came out yesterday or day before, it just reminds me i think most americans would think that voters in america should decide who our president is, not Vladimir Putin and russia deciding who our president is. Im very concerned that in all of this, whether its withholding funds for the ukrainians, Ukrainian Government to fight the russians, whether its undermining our commitment , again, whether its making decisions what happens in syria visavis turkey, favoring the russians, but all roads lead to russia. All roads lead to putin. While some in the Administration May think thats ok, i dont. But we do insist and wonder why this president and some in this congress will not come to the system of our electoral by allowing that to happen, denying that its happening, placing the blame elsewhere. This is a serious this is as serious as it gets for any of us. Only the vote to declare war would be something more serious than this. Seriously. Very seriously. Its not personal. Its not political. Its not partisan. Its patriotic. So again i thank our distinguished managers for their courage, their dedication for being willing to spend the time to do the job to honor the oath that we take. And honor the pledge that our to then take, allegiance flag a for the third time in history, a president will be on trial in the u. S. Senate. Watch live on cpa 2. Live thursday on the cspan networks, at 9 00 a. M. , the u. S. House returns to debate a measure that was overturned that would overturn an Education Department rule on student forgiveness. On cspan 2 at 9 45 a. M. , the senate takes up the u. S. Mexicocanada trade agreement. Impeachment begins at noon. At 10 45 p. M. , nancy pelosi holds her weekly briefing. Later in the day, Speaker Pelosi delivered remarks and signed the two articles of impeachment against President Trump. The engross meant ceremony was