Trump Impeachment Vote Debate Transcript - House Debates Impeachment

House Clerks Read Rules of Impeachment Vote & Articles of Impeachment

Susan Cole: (00:08) House calendar number 63, House Resolution 767, resolved that immediately upon adoption of this resolution without intervention of any point of order, the House shall proceed to the consideration of the House in the House of the resolution House Resolution 755 impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States for high crimes and misdemeanors. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on the judiciary now printed in the resolution shall be considered as adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution as amended to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except as follows: A, the resolution as amended shall be debatable for six hours equally divided and controlled by the Chair and ranking minority member of the committee on the judiciary or their respective designees. B, the question of adoption of the resolution as amended shall be divided between the two articles. Susan Cole: (01:07) Section two. During consideration of House Resolution 755 only the following persons shall be admitted to the hall of the House or rooms leading there to: A, members of Congress. B, the delegates and the resident commissioner. C, the President and Vice President of the United States. D, other persons as designated by the speaker. Susan Cole: (01:30) Section three. After adoption of House Resolution 755 it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House a resolution of pointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States if offered by the chair of the committee on the judiciary or his designee. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except 10 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on the judiciary. No other resolution incidental to impeachment relating to House Resolution 755 shall be privileged during the remainder of the 116th Congress. Susan Cole: (02:18) Section four. The chair of the committee on the judiciary may insert in the congressional record such material as he may deem explanatory of: A, House Resolution 755 not later than the date that is five legislative days after adoption thereof. And B, the resolution specified in section three of this resolution, not later than the date that is five legislative days after adoption thereof. Speaker 1: (00:00) Pursuant to House Resolution 767, the House will proceed to the immediate consideration of House Resolution 755. The clerk will report the resolution. House Clerk: (00:10) House calendar number 61. House Resolution 755 resolved that Donald John Trump, President of the United States is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate. Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, against Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors. House Clerk: (00:44) Article one, abuse of power. The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment and that the President shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors in his conduct of the Office of President of the United States and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States, and to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, Donald J. Trump has abused the powers of the presidency in that using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States presidential election. He did so through a scheme or a course of conduct that included soliciting the government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations that would benefit his reelection, harm the election prospects of a political opponent, and influence the 2020 United States presidential election to his advantage. House Clerk: (01:51) President Trump also sought to pressure the government of Ukraine to take these steps by conditioning official United States government acts of significant value to Ukraine on its public announcement of the investigations. President Trump engaged in this scheme or course of conduct for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit. In so doing, President Trump used the powers of the presidency in a manner that a compromise the national security of the United States and undermine the integrity of the United States democratic process. He thus ignored and injured the interests of the nation. House Clerk: (02:26) President Trump engaged in this scheme or course of conduct through the following means. One: President Trump, acting both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States government, corruptly solicited the government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into, A) a political opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and B) a discredited theory promoted by Russia alleging that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 United States presidential election. House Clerk: (02:56) Two: with the same corrupt motives, President Trump, acting both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States government, conditioned two official acts on the public announcements that he had requested, A) the release of $391 million of United States tax payer funds that Congress had appropriated on a bipartisan basis for the purpose of providing vital military and security assistance to Ukraine to oppose Russian aggression in which President Trump had ordered suspended, and B) a head of state meeting at the White House, which the President of Ukraine sought to demonstrate continued United States support for the government of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. House Clerk: (03:38) Three: faced with the public revelation of his actions, President Trump ultimately released the military and security assistance to the government of Ukraine, but has persisted in openly and corruptly urging and soliciting Ukraine to undertake investigations for his personal political benefit. House Clerk: (03:55) These actions were consistent with president Trump's previous invitations of foreign interference in United States elections. In all of this, President Trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal political benefit. He has also betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections. Wherefore, President Trump by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States. House Clerk: (04:45) Article two, obstruction of Congress. The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment and that the President shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. In his conduct of the Office of President of the United States and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the Office of President of the United States, and to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, Donald J. Trump has directed the unprecedented categorical and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives pursuant to its sole power of impeachment. President Trump has abused the powers of the presidency in a manner offensive to and subversive of the Constitution in that the House of Representatives has engaged in an impeachment inquiry focused on President Trump's corrupt solicitation of the government of Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 United States presidential election. House Clerk: (05:57) As part of this impeachment inquiry, the committees undertaking the investigation served subpoena seeking documents and testimony deemed vital to the inquiry from various executive branch agencies and offices and current and former officials. In response, without lawful cause or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interposed the powers of the presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives. House Clerk: (06:39) President Trump abused the powers of his high office through the following means. One: directing the White House to defy a lawful subpoena by withholding the production of documents sought therein by the committees. Two: directing other executive branch agencies and offices to defy lawful subpoenas and withhold the production of documents and records from the committees in response to which the Department of State, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense refuse to produce a single document or record. Three: directing current and former executive branch officials not to cooperate with the committees in response to which nine administration officials defied subpoenas for testimony. Namely, John Michael Mick Mulvaney, Robert B. Blair, John A. Eisenberg, Michael Ellis, Preston Wells Griffith, Russell T. Vote, Michael Duffy, Brian McCormick, and T. Ulrich Brechbuhl. House Clerk: (07:34) These actions were consistent with President Trump's previous efforts to undermine United States government investigations into foreign interference in United States elections. Through these actions, President Trump sought to arrogate to himself the right to determine the propriety of scope and nature of an impeachment inquiry into his own conduct, as well as the unilateral prerogative to deny any and all information to the House of Representatives and the exercise of its sole power of impeachment. In the history of the Republic, no president has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry or sought to obstruct and impede so comprehensively the ability of the House of Representatives to investigate high crimes and misdemeanors. This abuse of office served to cover up the President's own repeated misconduct, and to seize and control the power of impeachment, and thus to nullify a vital constitutional safeguard vested solely in the House of Representatives. House Clerk: (08:31) In all of this, President Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President, and subversive of constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Wherefore, President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

Nancy Pelosi's Statement

Nancy Pelosi: (00:00) Colleagues, this morning and every morning when we come together, members rise and pledge allegiance to the flag. Every day, all across America, children in school, members of the military, officials and those civically engaged also pledge allegiance to the flag. Let us recall what that pledge says. Nancy Pelosi: (00:26) I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Nancy Pelosi: (00:43) The Republic for which it stands is what we are here to talk about today. A Republic if we can keep it. We gather today under the dome of this temple of democracy to exercise one of the most solemn powers that this body can take, the impeachment of the President of the United States. Nancy Pelosi: (01:04) No member, regardless of party or politics, comes to Congress to impeach a president, but every one of us as our first act as a member of Congress stood on this historic house floor before our beautiful American flag and raised our hands in this sacred oath. Nancy Pelosi: (01:22) I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. So help me God. Nancy Pelosi: (01:34) For 230 years, members have taken that sacred oath, which makes us custodians of the Constitution. When our founders declared independence and established a new nation, they crafted a system of government unlike anyone ever seen before. A Republic starting with the sacred words, we the people. For centuries Americans have fought and died to defend democracy for the people, but very sadly now our founder's vision of a Republic is under threat from actions from the White House. That is why today, as Speaker of the House, I solemnly and sadly opened the debate on the impeachment of the President of the United States. Nancy Pelosi: (02:21) If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the president's reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice. What we are discussing today is the established fact that the president violated the Constitution. It is a matter of fact that the president is an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections, the basis of our democracy. Hundreds of historians, legal scholars, and formal prosecutors regardless of party had stated that the president committed impeachable offenses. Nancy Pelosi: (03:00) Since today is a national civics lesson, though a sad one, I submit these documents for the record and commend them for students to study. Madam speaker: (03:10) Add objection. So order. Nancy Pelosi: (03:12) Thank you, Madam speaker. Nancy Pelosi: (03:15) What we are discussing today is the established fact that the president again violated the Constitution. It is a matter of fact that the president is again, an ongoing threat to our national security and the testimony of decorated war heroes, distinguished diplomats and patriotic career public servants, some of the president's own appointees over the past weeks have told us this. Nancy Pelosi: (03:40) The president used the power of his public office to obtain an improper personal political benefit at the expense of America's national security. When a president weakens a democratic ally that is advancing American security interest by fighting an American adversary, the president weakens America. This abuse of power also jeopardizes the integrity of our elections. All Americans agree that American voters should choose our president, not some foreign government. Nancy Pelosi: (04:13) The founders understood that it is profoundly corrosive for our democracy, for a president to invite interference in our elections. As George Washington, our nation's patriot under whose gaze, we stand today, warned, "History and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most painful foes of Republican government," George Washington. Nancy Pelosi: (04:40) Sadly, the American people have witnessed further wrongs of the president, which necessitate the Second Article of Impeachment, Obstruction of Congress. When the president's wrongdoing was revealed, he launched an unprecedented, indiscriminate and categorical campaign of defiance and obstruction. Nancy Pelosi: (05:01) Never before in the history of our nation have we seen a president declare and act if he is above the law. The president goes even so far as to say and act on this absurdity. When he says, Article Two says, "I can do whatever I want." No, it doesn't. That recklessness is a profound violation of the Constitution and our Republic, which endure because of our system of separation of power, three co-equal branches, each a check and balance on the other. A Republic. Again, if we can keep it. Nancy Pelosi: (05:38) The founder's great fear of a rogue or corrupt president is the very reason why they enshrined impeachment in the Constitution. As one founder William Davy of North Carolina warned, "Unless the Constitution contained an impeachment provision, a president might spare no efforts or means whatever to get himself reelected." Another founder, George Mason, insisted that the president who procured his appointment in the first instance through improper and corrupt acts might repeat his guilt and return to power. Nancy Pelosi: (06:15) We in Congress, Article One the legislative branch, must stand up and make clear to the American people and to all people, that this body still stands by the principles enshrined in the Constitution and defended by generations of Americans. Nancy Pelosi: (06:33) Last week and observance of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, members travel to that hallowed ground to express our gratitude to the heroes of freedom, who sacrificed everything to secure victory of freedom over tyranny, not just for America but for the world. The veterans of that battle who were there in their nineties told us how after the war was won, the Europeans to whom they liberated would ask, "Why did you risk us? You don't know us and give your lives to save us. We're not Americans." And our men would say, "We came here to fight for you, not because you are Americans, because we are Americans." Nancy Pelosi: (07:18) As our beloved chairman, Elijah Cummings and oversight committee chair, our North star said, when announcing his support for this action, "When the history books are written about this tumultuous error, I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny." He also said almost prophetically, "When we are dancing with the angels, the question will be, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact." Elijah, as you know, has since passed on. Now he is dancing with the angels and I know that he and all of us here are very proud of the moral courage of members, want to honor the vision of our founders for a Republic, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform to defend it, and the aspirations of our children to live freely within it. Nancy Pelosi: (08:17) Today, we are here to defend democracy for the people. May God bless America. I yield back the balance of my time.

Jerry Nadler's Statement

Jerry Nadler: (00:01) Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Speaker 2: (00:04) Gentleman's recognized. Jerry Nadler: (00:05) Madam Speaker, the house of representatives must now consider two articles of impeachment against President Trump. The first article charges that the president use his public office to coerce a foreign government into attacking his political rival. The second article charges that the president took extreme and unprecedented steps to obstruct our investigation into his conduct. Taken together the two articles charge that President Trump placed his private political interests above our national security, above our elections, and above our system of checks and balances. After months of series of investigation, there can be no serious debate about the evidence at hand. On July 25th when he spoke to President Zelensky of Ukraine, President Trump had the upper hand. The president through his agents had already demanded that Ukraine announce an investigation of his political opponents. Ukraine needed our help, both military aid, which had been appropriated by Congress because of our security interests and an oval office meeting to show the world that the United States continues to stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression. Jerry Nadler: (01:20) President Trump should have been focused on the interests of the American people on that call. Instead, he prioritized his private political interests. President Trump asked President Zelensky for a favor. He wanted Ukraine to announce two bogus investigations, wanting to form a vice president Biden, then his leading opponent in the 2020 election, and another to advance a conspiracy theory that Ukraine not Russia attacked our elections in 2016. Neither requests was premised on any legitimate national security or foreign policy interest. One was intended to help President Trump conceal the truth about the 2016 election. The other was intended to help him gain an advantage in the 2020 election. After the call, President Trump ratcheted up the pressure. He deployed his private attorney and other agents, some acting far outside the regular channels of diplomacy to make his desires clear. There would be no aid and no meeting until Ukraine announced the sham investigations. Jerry Nadler: (02:28) To our founding generation, abusive power was a specific, well-defined offense. A president may not misuse the powers of the presidency to obtain an improper personal benefit. The evidence shows that President Trump did exactly that. For this alone, he should be impeached, but the first article also identifies two aggravating factors. When President Trump conditioned military aid on a personal favor, he harmed America's national security, and when he demanded that a foreign government target his domestic political rival, he took steps to corrupt our next election. To the founders these offenses clearly merited removal from office. The president faces a second article of impeachment for his efforts to obstruct our investigation of his misconduct. The constitution grants the sole power of impeachment to the house of representatives. Within our system of checks and balances, the president may not decide for himself what constitutes a valid impeachment inquiry, nor may he ignore lawful subpoenas or direct others to do so. Jerry Nadler: (03:35) Many presidents, including President Trump, have asserted privileges and other objections to specific subpoenas, but only President Trump has ordered the categorical defiance of a congressional investigation. The automatic rejection of all subpoenas. The president is not above the law and he should be impeached for this, as well. Congress cannot wait for the next election to address this misconduct. President Trump has demonstrated a clear pattern of wrongdoing. This is not the first time he has solicited foreign interference in an election, has been exposed, and has attempted to obstruct the resulting investigation. We cannot rely on the next election as a remedy for presidential misconduct when the president threatens the very integrity of that election. He has shown us he will continue to put his selfish interests above the good of the country. We must act without delay. By his actions, President Trump has broken his oath of office. His conduct continues to undermine our constitution and threaten our next election. His actions warrant his impeachment and demand his removal from office. I urge my colleagues to support these articles and I reserve the balance of my time.

Statements from Other Representatives

Doug Collins: (00:00) Thank you, Madame Speaker. We are here today to enter into a debate that should surprise no one. This has not been a surprise and it's not even something that we would have not thought about. From the very moment that the majority party in this House won, the inevitability that we would be here today was only a matter of what date they would schedule it, nothing else. In fact, how it even began to look even further was on September 24th. The Speaker announced an impeachment inquiry before even seeing the call transcript that we're going to hear so much about today. It's not about what this body can do and its constitutional oath, and there's been a lot of constitutional and founders thrown around and will be all day to day. But there's one thing that I will mention all along and that is also the founders were very concerned about a partisan impeachment in which politics of the majority who had their strength can do what they want to do, irregardless of any facts. Doug Collins: (00:59) In fact, I've said it before and I will say it again. I do not believe, no matter what will be said today and even what has been said, this is not a solemn occasion. When you go looking for something for three years, and especially this year since January, you ought to be excited when you found it. But they can't, because I know what is now happening. It took me last night, but I was thinking about it. Why do we keep calling this a solemn occasion when you've been wanting to do this ever since the gentleman was elected. The President came forward and did what he saw fit for the American people, but yet they wanted to impeach him. Doug Collins: (01:28) It hit me. Now I know. The reason they wanted to is now they're realizing what I told them and have been telling them for the last few weeks, that the clock and the calendar are terrible masters. The clock and the calendar are terrible masters. They do not care about anything except getting the time done and the calendar fixed. They do not care about facts. They do not care about time and one day the clock and the calendar will hang along this body in a very detrimental way. How do I know this? Because one of our members, [Mr. Lieb 00:02:00], said on the night she was sworn in, "We're going to impeach." Doug Collins: (02:02) Well, you know the rest. In May of 2019 Al Green said, "I'm concerned if we don't impeach this president he will get reelected." That is probably the most prescient thing said by the majority in the last year, is they said, "We can't beat him if we don't impeach him." There's a reason behind this impeachment. Even Speaker Pelosi said it will be dangerous to leave it to voters to determine whether President Trump stays in office. Doug Collins: (02:25) Really? After we just said the Pledge of Allegiance, we go back to the Speaker's own words and said it would be dangerous to leave it to the voters. I will tell you right now, Madame Speaker, we on the Republican side have no problem taking our case to the majority and to the people of this country because they elected Donald Trump and it is a matter for the voters, not this house, not in this way, not in the way this is being done. It has trampled everything this House believes in. Doug Collins: (02:53) I said it yesterday and I believe it to be this true today. I will fight this on process which has been "deplorable," to use a word of the majority. It has been awful. The calendar and the clock make it impressive that we actually do it quickly. We don't care about rules. We don't care about minority hearing days. We don't care about giving the opportunity for witnesses to be called because the chairman gets to determine what is relevant. Wow, that's pretty good. Let the accuser determine what is relevant to the one being accused. Doug Collins: (03:20) The people of America see-through this. The people of America understand due process and they understand when it is being trampled in the people's House. You see it's also not a matter of process which will be discussed today. It's a matter of actual facts. I will fight the facts all day long because what we found here today is a President who did not do as being charged. In fact, they had to go to abuse of power, this amorphous term that you're going to hear many, many arguments about, how that abuse of power, except for one thing. The call itself, the two parties say, "No pressure. Nothing was ever done to get the money." In fact, they didn't even know the money was held. Doug Collins: (03:56) But there is something that very much bothers me about the facts. There were five meetings, we'll hear about those today, in which there was never a linkage made. There was one witness that is depended on over 600 times in the majority's report. That in the end after questioned had to say, "Well, that was my presumption of what was happening." You see, this is an impeachment based on presumption. This is an impeachment basically also a poll-tested impeachment on what actually sells to the American people. Doug Collins: (04:25) Today's going to be a lot of things. What it is not is fair. What it is not is about the truth. What is true today, and I just heard it just a moment ago in the articles themselves where it said, and the Speaker, I believe actually talked about this, is that the president weakened a foreign leader. Doug Collins: (04:44) You know what the truth of the matter is? That has to be the most interesting and deplorable thing that I've heard over the last few weeks, is the actual attack by the majority on President Zelensky because they realize their whole crux of their case is that if he was not pressured, their house of cards falls. And by the way, it already fell. But if we can't show pressure, then we either have to call him a liar, a world leader, or we have to make up names to call him. And that's exactly what happened in judiciary committee when a member of the majority actually said he's acting or they're comparing him to a battered wife. That is below the dignity of this body, to take a world leader and when he doesn't make your case for you, to belittle him, especially as it's going to be often said by the majority, that they're in the middle of a hot war with Russia. Doug Collins: (05:29) You see, President Trump actually did give them offensive weapons. President Trump did nothing wrong. We're going to talk about that all day long today. We went on process and we went on facts. Why? Because the American people will see through this. Doug Collins: (05:40) But before I close this first part, I will have to recognize that even the Senate, the minority leader in the Senate recognized that the House did not do their job because he can't make the case to his own members. So he's having to ask for witnesses, ask for more time. And even yesterday it was sort of funny. I thought it hilarious that minority leader in the Senate went out and did a press conference and said, "They denied my witnesses. They denied my requests." Well, welcome to the club, Mr Schumer. That's exactly what's happened over here for the last three months. Doug Collins: (06:10) So today we're going to talk a lot about impeachment. We're going to talk a lot about our President, and we're going to talk about two articles of impeachment: abuse of power, because they can't actually pin anything of factual basis on him. The President did nothing wrong in this issue. And then they're going to talk about obstruction of Congress. You know obstruction of Congress, as I've said before, is like petulant children saying we didn't get our way when we didn't ask the right way and we didn't actually go after and try to make a case. You know why, Madame Speaker? The clock and the calendar are terrible masters and the majority will own that problem today because to the clock and the calendar, facts don't matter. The promises to the base matter. And today is a promise kept for the majority, not a surprise of fact. And with that, I reserve. James P. McGovern: (00:00) Let me, let me thank my friend Mr. Cole for his kind words and I appreciate his leadership in the Rules Committee and the fact that he respects this institution, but Madame Speaker. Let me say again what happened here. The president withheld congressionally approved military aid to a country under siege to extract a personal political favor. That's a cold hard fact. The question before us comes down to this, should a president be allowed to ask a foreign nation to interfere in an American election? James P. McGovern: (00:31) I remember my first political experience as a middle schooler in 1972 leaving leaflets at the homes of a potential voters, urging them to support George McGovern for president. No relation by the way. I remember what an honor it was to ask people to support him even though I was too young to vote myself. And what a privilege it was later in life to ask voters for their support in my own campaigns. I've been part of winning campaigns and I've been proud of losing ones too. People I thought would be great presidents like Senator McGovern were never given that chance. Make no mistake. I was disappointed, but I accepted it. I would take losing an election any day of the week when the American people render that verdict, but I will never be okay if other nations decide our leaders for us. And the President of the United States is rolling out the welcome mat for that kind of foreign interference. James P. McGovern: (01:26) To my Republican friends. Imagine any democratic president sitting in the oval office, President Obama, President Clinton, any of them. Would your answer here still be the same? No one should be allowed to use the powers of the presidency to undermine our elections, period. This isn't about siding with your team. I didn't swear an oath to defend a political party. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. And when I vote yes on this rule and the underlying articles, my conscience will be clear. James P. McGovern: (02:01) I ask all of my colleagues to search their souls before casting their votes. I ask them all to stand up for our democracy, to stand up for our Constitution. Mrs Madame Speaker, I urge a yes vote on the rule in the previous question. You'll back the balance of my time and I move the previous question under resolution. Katherine Clark: (00:01) Madam Speaker, to paraphrase one of our founding mothers, Abigail Adams. People may let a president fall yet still remain a people, but if a president lets his people slip from him, he is no longer a president. Just as Abigail Adams warned, Donald Trump has let the people slip from him. He works for himself, not us. He tried to extort a foreign government into investigating a political rival, and he has unlawfully withheld witnesses and evidence. If we want a democracy, today, we must stand for the rule of law. A vote to impeach is a vote to remain a government that is of, for, and by the people. It is a vote born of great fear for our future, but also rooted in optimism that if we stand for the truth, for our constitution, we can continue to create a country of liberty, justice, and equality for all. I yield the remainder of my time. Nancy Pelosi: (00:00) Gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized to close. Tom Cole: (00:02) Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. Nancy Pelosi: (00:07) Recognized. Tom Cole: (00:08) Madam Speaker, before I begin my formal remarks, in closing, I want to say one thing for the record. I have great respect for all my friends on the other side of the aisle, and I am sure they're voting their convictions. So when I vote mine, please don't imply I'm doing it for my political party. I'm doing it because it's what I believe is right. And I do believe I can defend both the president and the constitution of the United States, and I think that's exactly what I am doing. Madam Speaker, I cannot oppose this rule strongly enough. The process we saw leading up to it today was a complete charade. It was a closed process and unfair process and a rushed process, and it could only have ever had one logical, predetermined ending. Tom Cole: (00:54) Throughout it all, the majority trampled on minority rights. They refused to call witnesses with relevant first-hand knowledge. They relied on hearsay news reports to make their case. They denied Republicans the right to hold a minority hearing day. And they refused the president of the United States his due process rights in the committee that was actually conducting the impeachment process and investigating him. And in the end, what was the result? Articles of impeachment based on an event that never happened. A purported quid pro quo that did not exist. Aid that was allegedly withheld that in reality was never withheld at all. And a narrative of intent based on nothing more than fantasy. Tom Cole: (01:42) Madam Speaker, we deserve better than this. Impeachment is the most consequential act the House of Representatives can undertake. It must not and cannot be based on a flawed process. It cannot come at the expense of minority rights or due process to the accused. It cannot be based on a vendetta against the president that the majority has pursued since the day it was elected. And it cannot be based on nothing more than spin and hearsay. I oppose this rule and I oppose the flawed and unfair process. Tom Cole: (02:23) Madam Speaker, it's a very solemn vote that all of us will cast. I want to end by number one thanking my good friend, the chairman of the Rules Committee for conducting the kind of hearing he conducted yesterday. But I also want to underscore again, we are very violently opposed to the process, very strongly opposed to the rule, think this is a charade and been very unfair. So Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the previous question, no on the rule, no on the underlying measure, and I yield back the balance of my time. Tom Cole: (00:00) Madam speaker. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman McGovern for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker: (00:10) Gentlemen is recognized. Tom Cole: (00:11) Thank you, Madam speaker. Well, Madam speaker today is a very sad day for all of us. For me personally, for the Rules Committee, the entire House of Representatives, and most importantly for the American people. For the second time in my life, the House of Representatives will be voting to impeach a President of the United States. But unlike in 1998, the decision to have this vote is not the result of a bipartisan process, nor an open or fair process. Instead, it's going to be a deeply partisan vote coming at the end of an unfair and rushed process prescribed solely by Democrats to ensure a predetermined result. Impeachment of a president is one of the most consequential acts the House of Representatives can undertake, and it should only be done after the fullest and most careful consideration. Tom Cole: (01:03) Yet today, after a truncated investigation that denied the president due process, cherry-picked evidence and witness testimony to fit their narrative and trampled on Republican's minority rights. Democrats in the House are pressing forward with a partisan impeachment vote. Doing so contradicts Speaker Pelosi's own words back in March of this year when she said that, "An impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bi-partisan, I don't think we should go down that path because it divides the country." But if we're really being honest, Democrats have been searching for a reason to impeach President Trump since the day he was elected. In December of 2017, a current member of the majority forced to vote to impeach the President. And even then, long before there was an even an impeachment investigation, 58 Democrats voted to impeach the President. And those members have only grown since then, to the point where the majority is now pushing forward with a final vote on impeachment, heedless of where it takes the country, and regardless of whether or not they've proven their case. Tom Cole: (02:20) And if my colleagues in the majority believe they have proven their case, let me be clear, they have not. The entire premise of these articles of impeachment rests on a pause placed on Ukrainian security assistant. A pause of 55 days. The majority has spun creative narratives as to the meaning and the motive of this pause, alleging the President demanded a, "quid pro quo." But with no factual evidence to back it up. Security aid to the Ukraine was released. The administration did so without the Ukraine ever initiating an investigation into anyone or anything. It's even more startling to me that the majority wants to move forward with this resolution, given how substantially flawed and procedurally defective the entire process has been. The Judiciary Committee, which drafted these articles of impeachment engaged in an abbreviated process, hearing from no witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the events in question. Tom Cole: (03:28) They did not conduct their own investigation, and only held two hearings on this topic before drafting the articles. One was staff and one with constitutional law scholars. That's hardly the type of lengthy and serious consideration a topic as grave as impeachment demands. The committee actually charged with an impeachment investigation was the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, not the Judiciary Committee. But that committee, too, follow a primarily closed process. Republicans were denied the right to call witnesses or subpoena documents, and the President was denied the right to representation in the committee's hearings. Without respecting minority rights and without respecting due process rights of the President, how can anyone consider this a fair process? Madam speaker, it gets worse. The articles of impeachment we are considering today are based on the Shift Report, the final document produced by the Intelligence Committee and transmitted to the Judiciary Committee. Tom Cole: (04:34) But the shift report includes unsubstantiated allegations. It includes, in some cases, news reports as the only evidence supporting so-called factual assertions, and it includes at least 54 different hearsay statements as assertions of evidence without any first-hand information from witnesses to corroborate those statements. The author of the report, Chairman Schiff, was never questioned by the Judiciary Committee, and he refused to sit for questions, or to explain how his committee conducted its investigation. In fact, during the staff presentation of evidence that the Judiciary Committee, ranking member Collins asked how the investigation was conducted that resulted in the drafting of the Shift Report. But he never received an answer. During the Rules Committee, consideration of House Resolution 755, there were numerous times when the members on both sides of the aisle posed questions to our witnesses. Questions they could not answer because they sit on the Judiciary Committee, and were not the author of the report that brought about H Res 755. Tom Cole: (05:44) The author has never appeared before members of the minority to explain a single thing in the report, or to provide factual information supporting the many assertions it contains. Madam Speaker, this is no way to go about impeaching the President of the United States. The articles before us are based on very limited information. They are based on hearsay, on news reports, and on other unsupported allegations. They're based on a report written by a member of Congress who refused to answer questions about it. And I do not believe the allegations, which are subject to interpretation, actually rise to the level of an impeachable offense. To make matters worse, when Republicans attempted to exercise one of their rights under House rules, they were shut down by Chairman Nadler under clause 2-J-1 of Rule 11, the minority is allowed to demand a minority hearing day. On December 4th, the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee properly exercised that right, and transmitted a demand to Chairman Nadler for a hearing day, at which the minority could call their own witnesses. Tom Cole: (06:59) And to be clear, Madam Speaker, a minority hearing day is not subject to the Chair's discretion. It is a right, and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee properly demanded the exercise of that right. And yet, Chairman Nadler declined to allow a minority hearing day to be held before the voting of these articles. I think we can all agree that it would have been better for the institution and for the American people to allow all voices to be heard, and all witnesses to be questioned. Before 60, the resolution setting up the official impeachment inquiry, less than two months ago, I warned that house that what the majority was doing was setting up a closed, unfair process that could only have one outcome. And today, we're seeing the end result of this closed and unfair process. A quick rush to judgment forced through, not one, but two committees in short order with minority rights trampled, witnesses left unquestioned, and due process ignored. Tom Cole: (08:04) It is also disappointing that members are not being given more time to debate this issue on the floor. Last night at Rules Committee, I offered an amendment to double the amount of floor time debate, from six to 12 hours. This would have allowed for roughly the same amount of debate time used in the Clinton impeachment, and it would have ensured that all members could have the opportunity to speak on the floor. Tom Cole: (08:29) Unfortunately, that amendment was not accepted. While I know my friend Chairman McGovern did the best he could. I do think it's ironic that when all is said and done, the 13 members of the Rules Committee spent more time discussing H Res 755 in committee yesterday, then we will spend debating it on the House floor for every member today. I think that's a disservice to the members of this body, and to the American people. Tom Cole: (08:59) Madam Speaker, we deserve better than a flawed process that led to this flawed outcome. The House of Representatives deserves better than that. The President certainly deserves better than that. More importantly, the American people deserve better than what we're doing here today. I oppose proceeding any further. I oppose the rule. I oppose this limited and unfair process, and I certainly oppose impeaching the President of the United States. With that, I urge opposition to the rule, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ben Ray Lujan: (00:00) Madame Speaker. No one came to Congress to impeach a president. We came here to solve the mighty issues that impact the lives of the constituents we pledge to serve. I'm here because too many families in my district still rely on water trucked in from dozens of miles away. I'm here because too many New Mexican children still go to school hungry. I'm here because too many women in New Mexico drive for hours to find a doctor able to care for them. But this moment has found us. We have reached a point in time where our love of country compels action, where our duty to this Republic mandates that we do what's right. The president's behavior is so blatantly wrong that ignoring his abuses of power would be abdicating the oath we made to protect this country and uphold our constitution. Thank you. And I yield back. Rep. Kennedy: (00:01) Dear Ellie and James, this is a moment that you will read about in your history books. Today, I will vote to impeach the President of the United States, and I want you to know why. He broke our laws. He threatened our security. He abused the highest, most sacred office in our land. I want you to know that it does not feel good. I can't stop thinking about the cost to our country, not just the impeachable offenses, but the collateral damage of a president who uses power like a weapon against his own people, our roads, our decency, degrades our dignity. Rep. Kennedy: (00:53) I don't yet know how they will tell the story of this era, but I want to tell you this story of this day. Let the record show that today, justice won, that we did our job, that we kept our word, that we stood our sacred ground. Let the record show that we did not let you down. I love you. Listen to mom- Speaker 3: (01:17) Gentleman's time has expired. Rep. Kennedy: (01:17) I'll be home soon. Chris Stewart: (00:01) I discovered something recently. It's shocking, I know. But it turns out that some people don't like President Trump. They think he's loud. They think he can be arrogant. They think sometimes he says bad words and sometimes he's rude to people. And to their sensitive natures, they've been offended. I get that. I really do. But let's be clear. This vote, this day has nothing to do with Ukraine. It has nothing to do with abuse of power. It has nothing to do with obstruction of Congress. This vote, this day is about one thing and one thing only. They hate this president. They hate those of us who voted for him. They think we're stupid. They think we made a mistake. They think Hillary Clinton should be the president and they want to fix that. That's what this vote is about. They want to take away my vote and throw it in the trash. They want to take away my president and delegitimized him so that he can not be reelected. That's what this vote is about. Chris Stewart: (01:03) And for those who think this started with this investigation, what nonsense. You've been trying to impeach this president since before he was sworn into office. Some of you introduced articles of impeachment before he was sworn into office. This isn't something you're approaching prayerfully and mournfully and sadly. "Oh, the chaos. Oh, the sadness." This is something you're gleeful about, and you've been trying to do it for three years, and it's very clear. You don't have to go back and Google very much to find out that is the absolute truth. I could give you pages of examples of things you have said for three years about this president. That's what this is about. Chris Stewart: (01:52) And if you think ... if this impeachment is successful, the next president, I promise you, is going to be impeached and the next president after that. If you set this bar as being impeachable, every president in our future will be impeached. It erodes our republic in ways that our founding fathers recognize. They got it right. High crimes and misdemeanors, other than that, settle it at the ballot box. I look forward to that day. Speaker 2: (02:16) Gentleman's time's expired. Chris Stewart: (02:17) Let the American people decide. Speaker 2: (02:19) Members are reminded to direct their comments to the chair. Gentlemen from New York. Chris Stewart: (02:23) Reserve. Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentlemen that if President Trump is impeached and removed, the new president will be Mike Pence, not Hillary Clinton. Sheila J.L. : (00:00) I hate no woman or man. Today, the American people should receive clarity and truth. The Constitution is the highest law of the land. The president breached and violated the Constitution of the United States of America. The president committed constitutional crimes. The president's crimes are impeachable. Sheila J.L. : (00:25) John F. Kennedy said, "If this country should ever reach the point where any man or group of men, by force or threat of force, could defy the commands of our court and Constitution, then no law would stand free from doubt, and no citizen would be safe from his neighbors." Sheila J.L. : (00:43) The facts are undisputed. First, President Trump violated his oath of office by placing his personal political interests above the national interest by scheming to coerce Ukraine into investigating a potential election opponent. Second, President Trump betrayed the nation by interest, by withholding the congressionally-agreed $391 million to a fragile ally against a very strong foe, Russia. Third, the essential purpose of the scheme concocted by the president was to enlist a foreign country to help in the 2020 election. These acts are constitutional crimes and abuse of power. The truth is the president did ask for a favor. Those were his own words. Sheila J.L. : (01:26) In the July 25th call, no mention of corruption, only the mention of the Bidens. The president was engaged in wrongdoing, and it's a clear and present danger. He has a pattern, and his behavior remains a continuing threat to America's national security. The truth is that abusive power does violate the Constitution. While both corrupting and cheating our American democracy, his acts betray the nation. Sheila J.L. : (01:51) He must take care to execute laws faithfully. This is the truth. Why does the truth matter? Because it matters to the farmer at his or her plow. It matters to the waitress on an early-morning shift. It matters to the steel worker building America. It matters to the teacher in a fifth-grade class. It matters to a mother kissing off her military recruit going off to war. Sheila J.L. : (02:12) The Constitution must be preserved. Our laws must be honored and respected. The bloodshed and sacrifice of fellow Americans cannot be ignored, trampled on, or ejected. Today, our actions on the vote taken today must be for no personal gain or grandeur. The bright light of this constitutional democracy has been dimmed because of his acts. The truth is no longer for all. It is for one man, Donald J. Trump, his truth, his way. We must reject that abuse of power because this is not America. No one is above the law. Alexander Hamilton said impeachment was designed to deal with- Speaker 2: (02:49) Gentlelady's time's expired. Sheila J.L. : (02:49) ... the misconduct of public men and violation of public trust. Speaker 2: (02:52) Gentlelady's time's expired. Sheila J.L. : (02:52) The president has violated the trust. We must impeach- Sheila J.L. : (02:56) ... Donald J. Trump. Rep. Loudermilk: (00:01) I think my colleague from Georgia and friend, Mr. Collins. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition not only to these articles of impeachment, but in strong opposition to the process that has brought us to this point. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights are all about process. Our founders knew that a government without constraints could accuse anyone of any crime at any time even without compelling evidence. That's why the 5th and the 14th Amendments established a bedrock principle of innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But on November the 14th Speaker Pelosi informed the press that the president should prove his innocence when she stated, "Mr. President, if you have anything that shows your innocence, then he should make that known." Rep. Loudermilk: (00:42) The Constitution also guarantees that the accused can call witnesses to testify on their behalf, but the Republicans and the president were continually denied that right throughout this process. The 6th Amendment guarantees the right of the defendant to face their accuser, but not only have the Democrats prohibited Republicans and the president from questioning the so-called whistleblower, his identity has been kept secret. Before you take this historic vote today, one week before Christmas, I want you to keep this in mind. When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius Pilate gave Jesus the opportunity to face His accusers. During that sham trial, Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this president in this process. I yield back. Jim S.: (00:01) ... Including the president may be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Unlike the Nixon and Clinton cases, there are no allegations that the president has committed a crime. We've had almost three years of nonstop investigations. We've had the Mueller report, we've had the Schiff investigation, we've had the Nadler investigation, and at no time is there any evidence that indicates that Donald J. Trump violated any criminal statute of the United States. Jim S.: (00:37) So why are we here? We're here because the majority caucus, the Democratic caucus, has been hijacked by the radical left. They have wanted to reverse the course of the 2016 election ever since Donald J. Trump won that election. So let's look at these two phony articles of impeachment. First of all, abuse of power. The phone call in question had the presidents say, "Our country has been through a lot. I want you to do us a favor." Not me a favor, us a favor. And there he was referring to our country, the United States of America, not a personal, political gain. He was not afraid to let this transcript go public. And he released a transcript almost immediately after the call. Jim S.: (01:36) Now the second article impeachment obstruction of Congress basically says that unless the president gives us everything we want and when we want it, then he's committed an impeachable offense. That's a bunch of bunk. The president has certain individual and privileges by virtue of his office. Whenever there's been a dispute between the executive and legislative branches here bere, they've gone to court. And the Supreme court a couple of weeks ago said they would take jurisdiction over deciding whether the president had to comply with one subpoena relating to his tax returns. Jim S.: (02:17) Now here the Democrats have been bent to impeach the president of the United States before the court decides this. And this means that there is a rush job to do this. And why is there because they want to influence the 2020 elections. And they spent three years doing it. They spent millions of taxpayers dollars, including the Mueller report, putting together this impeachment. And they also have had this Congress wrapped around the impeachment and not doing their jobs until the dam broke this week. Stop this charade. Vote no, and I yield back. Speaker 2: (03:05) Yields back, the gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (03:07) Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from the speaker, the gentleman from Wisconsin knows full well the president asserted no privileges here, he simply ordered complete defiance of the impeachment inquiry. I now yield two minutes to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania. Ms. Scanlan. Speaker 2: (03:21) The gentlelady is recognized, Mary Scanlon: (03:24) Thank you Speaker and thank you Chairman Nadler for your leadership. As we navigate this challenging time, not just for our committee in Congress but for our country. It's with profound sadness that I stand here today in support of these articles of impeachment. President Trump's behavior is exactly what our Founders feared most. They knew that with the awesome power of the presidency came the risk of a president abusing that power for personal gain. They were particularly concerned about an executive who became entangled with foreign governments, corrupted our elections, or sought to avoid consequences for his own misconduct in office. That is why they included impeachment in the Constitution to protect our Republic. Our colleagues across the aisle have claimed that we're impeaching the president because we don't like him, but this moment is about more than disagreement with the president's policies or personality. Those issues belong in the voting booth. Mary Scanlon: (04:23) Our task here is not to judge the president himself. Instead, we must judge his conduct and whether his actions have undermined our constitution. The president has committed the highest of high crimes under our Constitution. He used the highest office in our government and taxpayer dollars to pressure a foreign country to interfere in our elections. He undermined our national security. And when he got caught, he tried to cover it up, obstructing our investigation and refusing to produce subpoenaed documents and witnesses. A government where the president abuses his power is not of the people. A government where the president pressure's a foreign country to undermine our elections is not by the people. And the government where the president puts his own interests before the country is not for the people. This isn't complicated. You know it. I know it. The American people know it. President Trump's wrongdoing and the urgent threat that his actions present to our next election and our democracy leaves us no principled alternative, but to support these articles of impeachment, our Constitution, our country, and our children depend upon it. I yield back. Speaker 2: (05:41) The gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (05:45) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish as the gentlelady just said, I wish they would examine the factual conduct, but I guess that's not going to happen. So at this point, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Johnson. Speaker 2: (05:54) The gentleman is recognized. Mike Johnson: (05:55) Thank the gentleman from Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the founders of this country warned us against the single party impeachment because they feared it would bitterly and perhaps irreparably divide our nation. The truth is, in the 243 years of this Republic, there has never been a single party, fraudulent impeachment process like the one being used today. Our Democrat colleagues have weaponized the impeachment provision of the Constitution to nullify the votes of 63 million Americans who elected President Donald J. Trump. Mike Johnson: (06:24) This is not about a phone call, or Ukraine, or even his use of the executive privilege. You have to remember that 95 of the Democrats on this floor today voted to impeach Donald Trump before the July 25th phone call ever happened between President Trump and President Zelensky. And not only is this a single party impeachment, it's also evidence free. After all their Herculean efforts, they could only come up with two short articles of impeachment. Mike Johnson: (06:51) On the first the Democrats know there is zero direct evidence in this record of these proceedings to show that President Trump engaged in any abuse of power. As you'll hear today, their entire case is based on hearsay, speculation and conjecture and there's not a single fact witness that can provide testimony to support their baseless allegations. Mike Johnson: (07:10) The Democrat's second claim is that President Trump obstructed Congress by simply doing what virtually every other president in the modern era has also done and that is to assert, Mr. Chairman, a legitimate executive privilege, which protects the separation of powers. And you know what, if they disagreed with that, the Democrats could and should have just simply gone a few blocks away to a federal court to get an expedited court order compelling the extra documents and information they requested. That's what's always been done in the past, but they didn't do that here because these Democrats don't have time for it. Mike Johnson: (07:44) They are trying to meet their own arbitrary, completely reckless and Machiavellian timeline to take down a president that they loath. The real abuse of power here is on the part of the House Democrats. If they has feverishly produced and pursued this impeachment 20 times faster than the impeachment investigation of Bill Clinton. They've tried to reach their predetermined political outcome and along the way they steamrolled over constitutionally guaranteed due process- Speaker 2: (08:10) [crosstalk 00:08:10] The gentleman's time has expired. Mike Johnson: (08:10) ... House rules and the federal rules of civil procedure. This must fail- Speaker 2: (08:13) [crosstalk 00:08:13] The gentleman's time has expired. Mike Johnson: (08:14) ... for the country. I yield back. Speaker 2: (08:17) Gentleman from New York is recognized. Jerry Nadler: (08:19) Mr. Speaker, the gentleman knows that impeachment was put into the Constitution as a defense of the republic in between elections. I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentlelady from Washington, Ms. Jaya Paul. Speaker 2: (08:30) The gentlelady is recognized. Pramila Jayapal: (08:35) Mr. Speaker, this is a day of accountability and defending our democracy. The facts in front of us are clear. This President, Donald J. Trump, coerced a fragile, foreign ally to investigate his political opponent and interfere in our elections. And he leveraged critically needed, congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine. The president's allies want to claim that he did this because he cared about corruption, but if President Trump truly cared about corruption, then he would have listened to the talking points that were prepared by the National Security Council on anti-corruption. He did not. In fact on those two calls with President Zelensky, he never mentioned the word corruption. He did not abide by the Department of Defense's own recommendation that Ukraine had passed all the anti-corruption benchmarks. And he didn't listen to the unanimous conclusion of all of his top advisors that he must release that aid to Ukraine. Pramila Jayapal: (09:42) He did release the aid in 2017 and 2018 but not in 2019. Why? Because in 2019 Vice-President Joe Biden was running for president. Because this is not hearsay, we have a responsibility. The president told us himself on national television exactly what he wanted from the phone call with President Zelensky. He came onto the White House lawn and he said, "I wanted President Zelensky to open an investigation into the Bidens." He solicited foreign interference before, he is doing it now and he will do it again. The President is the smoking gun. Pramila Jayapal: (10:21) Our founders, Mr. Speaker, entrusted us with the awesome responsibility of protecting our democracy, which gets its power, not from the bloodlines of monarchs, but from the votes of we the people. Without that, we are no longer a democracy. We are a monarchy or a dictatorship and so today to uphold my oath to Constitution and country, I will vote to impeach Donald J. Trump. I yield back. Speaker 2: (10:52) Gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (10:54) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll also remind my chairman that impeachable has never been as a political weapon in between elections when you can't win the next one. And with that I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Conaway. Speaker 2: (11:05) The gentleman is recognized. Mike Conaway: (11:05) Thank you Mr. Speaker. Other than authorizing an act of war, impeachment is the gravest item that we as Congress can consider. The decision to move forward with impeachment of the United States President is so consequential that it's only been done three times previously in our nation's history all based on legitimate evidence of criminal behavior. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues have diminished what should be a solemn and gray proceeding into an absolute political circus simply because they don't like the man occupying the White House. And the Democrats had been intent on oppressing the President since the day he took office. Mike Conaway: (11:32) Their actions are clearly motivated by hatred for President Trump. This impeachment vote today is the next step in their long-held plan to remove him from office. The partisan impeachment investigation run by the House Intelligence Committee was unnecessarily held behind closed doors in a room designed to share classified information. Nothing classified was shared during these meetings, but the result of this decision was that most members of Congress and all Americans were blocked from hearing the facts for themselves. Chairman Schiff repeatedly withheld crucial information from the Republicans, including the ability for anyone but himself and his staff to speak with a whistleblower at the center of the investigation. He was even called out by liberal media outlets for spreading misinformation and falsehoods throughout the impeachment process. The public hearings were complete disregard for the House rules and the decades of precedent. Mike Conaway: (12:18) Republicans were not allowed to call witnesses or to make basic parliamentary motions. In fact, the only witnesses allowed to testify publicly were those who fit neatly within the Democrats' predetermined narrative. Most importantly, we have not been presented any real evidence that proves a president is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors as required by the Constitution to remove a duly elected president. If there were criminal activity, as many of my Democrat colleagues claim, then why are there no crimes listed in the articles of impeachment? We are forever weakened this body by turning impeachment into a political weapon. This impeachment scheme is nothing more than an attempt to conduct a taxpayer funded opposition research and damage the President's electability heading into 2020. The American people rush see right through this charade and are fed up. It is time for this madness to stop and for us to get back to the important work the American people sent us here to do. And I yield back. Speaker 2: (13:05) The gentleman yields back. Gentleman reserves, gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (13:08) Mr. Speaker, I now yield three minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California, Mr. Lieu. Speaker 2: (13:13) The gentlemen is recognized. Ted Lieu: (13:17) Thank you Chairman Nadler for your leadership. Let's start by making this very simple. No one in America could do what Donald Trump did and get away with it. No American elected official can call up a foreign government and ask for an investigation of a political opponent. No member of Congress can call up a foreign official and ask for help in a reelection campaign. If we did that, we would likely get indicted. No one is above the law, and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. I first sworn an oath to the Constitution on active duty when I joined the United States Air Force on active duty. And the oath I took was not to a political party or to a president or to a king. It was to a document that has made America the greatest nation on earth and that document contains a safeguard for when the president's abuse of power is so extreme that it warrants impeachment. Ted Lieu: (14:12) We are not here because of policy disputes. While I disagree with the President, I acknowledge he has a right to restrict the number of refugees entering our country. He has a right to eliminate environmental executive orders. He has a right to sign a bill that has given tax breaks to the wealthy, but the President does not have the right to cheat and to solicit foreign interference in our elections. That is illegal. It is not what the voters elected him to do and we will not stand for it. The President's actions in this case were particularly insidious because he also used our government for his private gain. He conditioned taxpayer funded military aid and a critical White House meeting with the Ukrainian president on the requirement that Ukraine publicly announce an investigation into his opponent. And by harming Ukrainian national security, the President also harmed U.S. national security. Ted Lieu: (15:02) And then the President solicited foreign interference again on the south lawn of the White House, when he again asked Ukraine to investigate his political opponent and then he asked China, our peer competitor, to do the same. That abuse of power is not acceptable. Whether or not the Senate convicts, the House has an independent duty to do the right thing. That's why we've passed over 275 bipartisan bills that are stuck in the Senate. Whether impeaching or legislating, we will continue to be faithful to the Constitution regardless of what the Senate may or may not do. Ted Lieu: (15:37) Moreover, impeachment is a form of deterrence. Our children are watching. No president ever wants to be impeached, and whether Donald Trump leaves in one month, one year or five years, this impeachment is permanent. It will follow him around for the rest of his life and history books will record it. And if people know why we impeached, it's all very simple. No one's above the law. Not our commander in chief, not our president. I yield back. Speaker 2: (16:08) Gentlemen, yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (16:11) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, it is my pleasure to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. McHenry. Speaker 2: (16:16) The gentleman is recognized. Patrick McHenry: (16:17) I thank my colleague. In 2016, 63 million Americans went to the polls and elected Donald Trump President of the United States. House. Democrats have been trying to overturn the election ever since. In fact, they've tried five additional times to the one where that's before us to impeach the president, including the vote in May of 2017, just five months into his term. In January of this year, House Democrats took control of this chamber and they're faced with a choice. They could use the tools of the majority to pursue legitimate priorities of the American people, policies that can impact their lives or they can use the tools to undo the 2016 election. They made their choice. Patrick McHenry: (16:59) Since then, House Democrats have issued more subpoenas than bills have been signed into law. That tells us all we need to know about this Congress and that party. Rather than launch a legitimate investigation, Democrats turned to focus groups to workshop their language to see if they could sell this to the American people and American people have rejected it. Instead of negotiating with the executive branch, for instance, and allowing the courts to resolve any legitimate disputes, House Democrats rushed an impeachment vote. So here we are, 12 weeks later, voting whether to impeach the president based off the thinnest record in modern history. It's no surprise that the Senate is all already asking for additional witnesses and more documents and real evidence. The body of evidence is weak and woefully insufficient for impeachment. And with that, I yield back on this sad day for this institution. Speaker 2: (17:52) Gentleman yields back. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Nadler. Jerry Nadler: (17:52) Mr. Speaker, I now yield two minutes to the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Raskin. Speaker 2: (17:52) Mr. Raskin is recognized. Jamie Raskin: (17:52) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. American elections belong to the American people, not the American president and not foreign powers. No president may cheat the people by working with foreign governments to steal from us a free and fair election. And no president who attempts it may cover up that cheating by systematically obstructing Congress in our work. Article Two of the Constitution does not authorize a president to do whatever he wants. The reason we have a constitution is to keep government officials from doing whatever they want. If we the people lose the certainty of free and fair elections to presidential corruption and foreign manipulation, then we lose our democracy itself. Jamie Raskin: (17:52) The most precious inheritance we have received from prior generations that pledged their sacred honor and gave everything they had to defend it. The struggle for democracy is the meaning of America. That is why we remain the last, best hope of a world ravaged by authoritarianism, violence and corruption. We must act now to protect our elections and safeguard constitutional democracy for the enormous and unprecedented challenges that still lie ahead of us. I yield back. Mr. Chairman. Speaker 2: (17:52) Gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (17:52) Thank you Mr. Speaker at this time it my pleasure to yield a minute and a half to the gentlewoman from West Virginia, Ms. [crosstalk 00:19:35]. Speaker 2: (17:52) The gentlelady is recognized. Carol Miller: (17:52) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition of HR 755. Today is a disappointing day. It is the day my colleagues from across the aisle cast the vote that they have spent the last three years obsessing over. The vote to impeach our duly elected president. There are two charges claimed by House Democrats and there is zero cause for either. While President Trump has led, our country has thrived and Washington liberals have failed. Despite the commitment of many of our colleagues to obstruct the Trump administration's agenda at every turn, our country continues to succeed. Carol Miller: (17:52) In this body. However, we have not been able to deliver on what Americans want and need. We still have not finished securing our border. The opioid epidemic still rages in our communities. Our infrastructure is still in dire need of an overhaul. And we still have not reached a bipartisan resolution on drug pricing. If Congress hadn't spent the last year stuck in a divisive, ugly, partisan impeachment debacle, think of what we could have done, the lives that could have been saved, the communities that could have been improved, the crisis on our southern border ended, and the positive work that we should do for our country, but we didn't. All because of divisive, political theatrics. Congress can do better than this and America deserves better. I yield back my time. Doug Collins: (17:52) Reserve. Speaker 2: (17:52) The gentlelady yields back and the gentleman from Georgia reserves. The gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (17:54) Mr. Speaker, I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Cicilline. Speaker 2: (21:22) The gentleman is recognized. David Cicilline: (21:24) Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the articles of impeachment against Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States. Mr. Speaker, no one runs for Congress to impeach a president, but this President has left us no choice. President Trump abused the enormous powers of his office when he solicited foreign interference for the purpose of helping him in his reelection campaign in 2020. The president betrayed our national security and undermined the security of our elections when he put his own personal political interests ahead of the interests of our country. He tried to cheat to win reelection. And this wasn't an attack on Vice-President Biden, this was an attack on our democracy. And if we do not hold the President accountable today, we will no longer live in a democracy. We will live in a dictatorship where any future president will be free to abuse their office in order to get reelected. David Cicilline: (22:10) So today, every member of this chamber faces a choice whether to do what the Constitution demands and the evidence requires or to turn a blind eye to the President's grave misconduct. Blind eye to the overwhelming evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. To my friends on the other side of the aisle, I say this, this is not about making history. This is about holding a lawless president accountable and the way our framers intended. This is the time to put our country over your political party. Do not seek safety in the high grass of a vote against these articles. We are all Americans. Show the American people your devotion to your country is more powerful than your loyalty to a political party. David Cicilline: (22:48) United we can defend our democracy from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Divided, we risk losing our democracy. All you have to do is look at the evidence because it will leave you with only one answer. The President of the United States must be impeached. Remember these facts. He tried to cheat, he got caught, he confessed, and then he obstructed the investigation into his misconduct for our democracy, for our Constitution, for the people you represent and for all will who will inherit our country from us. I pray you will do the right thing and I yield back. Speaker 2: (23:23) The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (23:26) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point, it gives me pleasure to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Rogers. Speaker 2: (23:31) Gentlemen is recognized, Mr. Rogers. Mike Rogers: (23:33) Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise today in complete and total support of President Trump. The matter before the House today is based solely on a fundamental hatred of our president. It's a sham, a witch hunt and is tantamount to a coup against the duly elected president of the United States. This is a sad day for our nation. When one political party, along with their cohorts, and the deep state and the mainstream media, try to hijack our Constitution. The Democrat majority has irresponsibly turned the impeachment process into a political weapon, something that Republicans refuse to do. When our base was calling for the impeachment of President Obama. It is well past time for the House to move beyond this hoax and put our nation first. Mike Rogers: (24:14) That's exactly what President Trump is doing. The United States has record low unemployment, historic performance in the stock market. President Trump is re-writing failed trade deals of the past to put America first. He's rebuilding our military. He helped create the space force and the list goes on. I implore my colleagues to end the spectacle now. I yield back. Speaker 2: (24:38) Gentleman yields back. The gentleman reserves, the gentleman from New York, Mr. Nadler. Jerry Nadler: (24:44) Mr. Speaker, I'm hearing a lot from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle except a defense of president Trump's conduct, which is indefensible. I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida, Mr. Deutch. Speaker 2: (24:55) The gentleman from Florida is recognized. Ted Deutch: (24:59) Some say this impeachment is about eight lines in a call transcript, but there is so much more. This was about a scheme that lasted months and involve dozens of Trump Administration officials. Look at the evidence, look at the direct evidence. Text messages, emails, calls and meetings. Way back in May, the President told his team, "Talk to Rudy Giuliani." The President's message, no White House meeting unless Ukraine helped him in the 2020 election. Ted Deutch: (25:32) Ambassador Sondland said there was a prerequisite of investigations into the Bidens and announcement of investigations was a deliverable. Ambassador Volker said, "The most important thing for the Ukrainian President to do was to commit to an investigation of the Bidens." Just before the July 25th call, Volcker told the Ukrainians, "Assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate, we will nail down a date for a visit to Washington." The direct evidence kept coming after the call. More text, more emails, more calls, all with the same message, if Ukraine didn't announce an investigation into the President's political rival, then they wouldn't get the White House meeting that they had been promised and they wouldn't get the aid that they needed in their war against Russia. Ted Deutch: (26:17) American presidential power comes from the people through elections. And the Constitution requires that we protect those elections. But when the President abused his power to solicit foreign interference, he was cheating American voters before they even had a chance to vote. President Trump's actions force us to protect our elections and the Constitution. I urge my colleague to defend the Constitution, support these articles of impeachment and remind the world that in America, no one is above the law. I yield back. Speaker 2: (26:52) The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (26:54) Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I would remind this whole body that it is more than eight lines. In fact, there's four facts, there's no pressure, there's no conditionality, they did nothing to get it and they got the money. With that, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Spano. Speaker 2: (27:04) The gentlemen is recognized. Ross Spano: (27:06) I rise in opposition to this political effort to remove President Trump from office. I'm not surprised this day has come, but I am disappointed. Disappointed because impeachment is one of the most consequential decisions that we can make in this body. And this impeachment is based purely on partisan motives. Speaker Polosi said, "We shouldn't go down this path unless there was something compelling, overwhelming, and bipartisan because of how divisive it would be." Unfortunately, it's clear the majority has had laser focus on one thing for three years, impeaching the president. The majority's failed to deliver for the American people. They failed to pass a budget on time, failed to pass the spending bills on time, and failed to deliver bipartisan solutions that will actually help improve the lives of Americans. But the American people see through this sad charade for what it is, an attempt to undo the 2016 election based on hearsay and opinion, not fact. The transcript of the call showed no conditions were placed on the aid. Ross Spano: (28:07) President Trump and Zelensky have said there was no pressure and Ukraine received the aid without taking any actions. The constitution is clear. The president may only be impeached for committing treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors. Nowhere in the two articles of impeachment brought today, does it argue that the President has committed treason, bribery, or any crime under the law. This is not overwhelming. It is not compelling. It is not bipartisan, but the Speaker was right in one way. This is incredibly divisive and has lowered the bar for what future presidents will face. I strongly oppose the articles before us today, and I hope that we will finally move past this nightmare and get to work to deliver results for the American people. I yield back. Speaker 2: (28:49) The gentleman yields back. Doug Collins: (28:49) Reserve. Speaker 2: (28:50) Gentlemen reserves, the gentleman from New York is again recognized. Jerry Nadler: (28:53) Mr. Speaker the evidence is clear that President Trump took advantage of Ukraine's vulnerability and abused the powers of his office to pressure Ukraine to help his reelection campaign. This is the highest- Nadler: (29:03) To pressure Ukraine to help his reelection campaign. This is the highest of high crimes and president Trump must be held to account. Now I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California, Mr. Correa. Speaker 3: (29:11) The gentleman is recognized. Lou Correa: (29:13) And I thank the gentleman for yielding. As a member of Homeland security committee, I know firsthand the dangers that foreign interference in our elections present to our democracy and as a member of Congress, it is my sworn duty to ensure that our nation is secure from all threats: foreign and domestic. And Congress has a constitutional job to investigate allegations of misconduct by the executive branch, including the United States president. Lou Correa: (29:43) The constitution is the highest law of the land, created a system of checks and balances to prevent the creation of a King. And Congress is a co-equal branch of our nation's government equal with the presidency, with duties that are given to us by the framers. Lou Correa: (30:02) This is a very sad day and I do not take impeachment lightly. Yet I'm here to do my job is a member of Congress. Lou Correa: (30:14) Mi pueblo me llamando a Washington para trabajar con todos democratas y republicanos para mejorar nuestra vida en nuestras communidades. Y tristamente, estamos presentes considerando las acciones de nuestro presidente de los Estados Unidos. Y mi voto hoy sera para asegurar que sigueremos haciendo una democracia y no una dictadura. Muchos de nuestoro hijos y hijas han [inaudible] nuestra libertad con su sangre. Nuestra democracia tiene que ser la rencilla de nuestros hijos. Y una democracia existe cuando nadie esta sobre la constitucion y todos somos sujetos a las leyes. Y hoy tambien le pido a Dios que nos de sabiduria y que nos ayude a unir a nuestra patria: los Estados Unidos Americanos. And Today I pray for God for his guidance in uniting our great nation. And with that, Mr... the gentleman from New York, I yield. Speaker 3: (31:23) The gentleman will be required to provide a translation of your remarks. The gentleman from New York, do you reserve as to [crosstalk] general reserves? Mr... Speaker 4: (31:35) Collins. Speaker 3: (31:36) Collins is recognized. Doug Collins: (31:37) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just have to disagree with my chairman. I'm not sure what he's been watching, but facts are not undisputed. They're fact. They're very much disputed, not only by the minority but by the witnesses who actually testified. With that, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Carter. Speaker 3: (31:49) Gentlemen is recognized. Buddy Carter: (31:50) I thank you gentlemen for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Democrats' sham process, which makes a mockery of the rules of the House and is frankly dangerous to this country. Since day one, the Democrats have made it clear that they wanted to move towards impeachment well before any of the accusations took place. What Democrats unfortunately don't recognize is the damage that this will cause for our political institutions and America's trust for years to come. Buddy Carter: (32:24) Every American should be concerned that Speaker Polosi doesn't trust our citizens to let them decide who should lead our great country. This impeachment process isn't focused on strengthening and protecting our political foundations, but rather shaping public opinion. I ask you, is it worth that? Buddy Carter: (32:47) Not only is the process alarming, but it's wasting taxpayers' dollars and valuable time that elected officials could be using to move our country forward. That includes securing our borders, addressing student loan debt, our bringing down the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. Buddy Carter: (33:03) I urge all of my colleagues while considering these articles to ask themselves whether this is truly being done for the good of the country. Thank you Madam... Mr. Speaker and I yield back. Speaker 3: (33:15) The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Nadler. Nadler: (33:21) I would remind the gentleman that after recovering millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains, the Mueller investigation was actually a net plus for the taxpayers. I now recognize the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Neguse, for two minutes. Speaker 3: (33:34) The gentleman from Colorado is recognized. Jerry Nadler: (33:37) Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I want to thank Chairman Nadler and Speaker Pelosi for their leadership and their moral courage. Today, the House of Representatives is debating whether to take the rare step of voting to impeach a president for only the third time in our country's history. Unfortunately, President Trump has left us no choice. The fact of the matter is that the president abused the power of his office and invited a foreign country to interfere in our elections. In so doing, he undermined the sanctity of the free and fair elections upon which our republic rests. Making matters worse, over the past several months, President Trump and his administration have done everything they can to prevent Congress from uncovering the truth. Let us be clear, in the history of our republic, no president has ever obstructed Congress like this before. During the Watergate investigation, as my colleagues well know, President Nixon's chief of staff testified before Congress. President Trump's chief of staff refused. President Nixon's council testified. President Trump's refused. White House aids close to President Nixon testified. President Trump refused to allow any aid who may have knowledge relevant to this investigation to testify. Jerry Nadler: (35:12) Simply put, his administration has engaged in a wholesale obstruction of Congress and that is exactly why we're considering not just one, but two articles of impeachment before the House today. Every member of this body has a responsibility to uphold our constitution, to defend our republic, and when necessary to hold the executive branch accountable. And we are exercising that responsibility today. So with that, and therefore, I will vote yes on both articles because it is what the constitution requires, demands, and with that I yield back. Speaker 3: (35:51) Gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (35:54) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Wow, I'd never thought that a Department of Justice investigation was used as a money... A revenue plot. But I guess one thing is true, it was a loser for the minority in a net profit situation. With that, I yield to Mr. Newhouse a minute and a half. Speaker 3: (36:06) Gentleman is recognized. Dan Newhouse: (36:08) Mr. Speaker, the people's House should be better than this. We should be better than this. During the member's remarks in the judiciary committee, the committee's impeachment proceedings, he stated, and I quote, "To my Republican colleagues, how do you want to be remembered during this watershed moment in our nation's history?" Well, Mr. Speaker, it won't be watching sports on a laptop during official judiciary committee proceedings to impeach a sitting president. It won't be using expletives to refer to our president calling for his impeachment just hours after being sworn into Congress. It won't be using the chairmanship of the once-respected intelligence committee to distort the president's words in order to mislead the American people. And it certainly won't be using the most serious and solemn powers of Congress to overturn a legitimate national election for political expediency. Dan Newhouse: (37:05) No, Mr. Speaker, my fellow Republican colleagues and I won't be remembered in history for doing any of those things because we know this is far too great a matter for subversion such as these of our democratic republic. We should all be better than this. I yield back. Speaker 3: (37:23) Gentleman yields back. Gentlemen reserves. Mr. Nadler? Nadler: (37:27) Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains on both sides? Speaker 3: (37:48) Mr. Nadler, you're advised that you have 156 and three quarter minutes remaining. The gentleman from Georgia is... has 157 minutes remaining. Divide that by 60. Nadler: (38:03) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now yield two minutes to the distinguished lady from Texas, Ms. Escobar. Speaker 3: (38:10) Gentlelady's recognized. VeronicaEscobar: (38:12) Our country faces a great tragedy and moment of truth. We have witnessed the president of the United States abuse his public office for personal political gain and invite foreign governments to interfere in our elections, putting the integrity of a government of, for, and by the people at great risk. The evidence is overwhelming and clearly shows that President Trump will continue to abuse his office and obstruct Congress if left unchecked. VeronicaEscobar: (38:42) The intelligence committee conducted a robust investigation into the president's misconduct. Members interviewed 12 witnesses in public hearings, totalling over 30 hours, conducted 17 depositions, totaling over 100 hours, examined text messages and emails, reviewed the president's own words and actions, and published a 300 page report detailing their findings. All of this, despite the fact that under the president's direction, 12 current and former administration officials refuse to testify, even ignoring subpoenas and 71 document requests, were denied. VeronicaEscobar: (39:21) The judiciary committee then reviewed the evidence and concluded the two articles of impeachment, which I support, were warranted. The evidence shows that President Trump is a clear and present danger to our free and fair elections and our national security. The most powerful evidence of this pattern has come from the president himself. In 2016, we heard him when he called on Russia to interfere in our elections. He said, "Russia, if you're listening." He then repeated this call for election interference on the July 25th call with the Ukrainian president and we heard him again on the White House lawn further adding China to that mix. VeronicaEscobar: (40:06) I stand ready to protect our sacred republic, support these articles of impeachment, and I pray that my colleagues have the courage to do the same. We must uphold our oath of office, defend the constitution and our fragile democracy because no one is above the law. I yield back. Speaker 3: (40:24) Gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (40:25) Thank you Ms. Speaker. I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Rutherford. Speaker 3: (40:30) Gentlemen is recognized. John Rutherford: (40:31) Thank you, gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in 2016, Vladimir Putin and his cronies waged a war on our elections with the goal of... The goal of sowing discord and division in America. Do you think he's been successful? John Rutherford: (40:48) Somewhere in Russia right now Putin is laughing at us today. The majority has given him exactly what he wants: a divided America with a pure partisan politics, with nasty political rhetoric at an all time high, and some already across the aisle are discrediting the results of future elections. Already! Seems to many Americans that for the past three years, the House majority has been carrying out the wishes of the Kremlin. And the sad part is the Democrats have vowed to continue their sham investigations even after today's vote. Impeaching a duly elected president in a purely partisan manner, with no crimes to show for it, not one element of a crime defined, disgraces the integrity of our democracy. Now is the time to end the partisan politics come together and put America first. I urge this body to vote "no" to partisan impeachment. Speaker 3: (41:56) The gentleman yields back to gentleman reserves. Mr Nadler? Nadler: (42:00) Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the distinguished gentlemen from New York. Mr Jeffries. Speaker 3: (42:05) Mr. Jeffries is recognized for two minutes. Hakeem Jeffries: (42:07) George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation, councilled America that the constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. It is in that spirit that we proceed today. Hakeem Jeffries: (42:22) Donald Trump pressured a foreign government to target an American citizen for political gain and at the same time, withheld, without justification, $391 million in military aid to a vulnerable Ukraine as part of a scheme to solicit foreign interference in an American election. That is unacceptable. That is unconscionable, that is unconstitutional. Hakeem Jeffries: (42:49) There are some who cynically argue that the impeachment of this president will further divide an already fractured union. But there is a difference between division and clarification. Slavery once divided the nation, but emancipators rose up to clarify that all men are created equally. Suffrage once divided the nation, but women rose up to clarify that all voices must be heard in our democracy. Jim Crow once divided the nation, but civil rights champions rose up to clarify that all are entitled to equal protection under the law. There is a difference between division and clarification. Hakeem Jeffries: (43:36) We will hold this president accountable for his stunning abuse of power. We will hold this president accountable for undermining our national security. We will hold this president accountable for corrupting our democracy. We will impeach Donald John Trump. We will clarify that in America no one is above the law. Speaker 3: (44:03) The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (44:06) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now I yield two minutes from the general from California, Mr. McClintock. Speaker 3: (44:10) Gentleman's recognized. Tom McClintock: (44:12) Mr. Speaker, nullifying a national election requires an overwhelming case of high crimes supported by indisputable evidence that the vast majority of the nation finds compelling. Now, article one's a made up crime called "abuse of office." It does not charge that the president broke any law, but that Congress doesn't like the way he lawfully discharged his constitutional duties. This would reduce the presidency to that of a minister serving at the pleasure of Congress, destroying the separation of powers at the heart of our constitution. Tom McClintock: (44:48) Article two is another made up crime called obstruction of Congress. It means the president sought to defend his constitutional rights and those of his office. It removes the judiciary from our constitution and places Congress alone in the position of defining the limits of its own powers relative to the president. Tom McClintock: (45:07) Our Bill of Rights guarantees every American the right to confront their accuser, to call witnesses in their defense, to be protected from hearsay and to defend these rights in court. The Democrats have trampled them all in their stampede to impeach. Even in this kangaroo court, the Democrats handpicked witnesses, provided no firsthand knowledge the president leaked aid to action. In fact, two witnesses provided firsthand knowledge that he specifically ordered no quid pro quo. Tom McClintock: (45:39) Any case, the charge, no actual crime, and offered no legally admissible evidence would be laughed out of court in a heartbeat. That's the case before us today. It would redefine the grounds for impeachment in such a way that assures that it will become a constant presence in our national life. Now we know just how reckless is the Democrats' chant of "resist by any means necessary." This is a stunning abuse of power and a shameless travesty of justice that will stay in the reputations of those responsible for generations to come. I yield back. Speaker 3: (46:14) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman reserves. Mr. Nadler? Nadler: (46:17) Mr. Speaker, abuse of power was no vague or weak notion to the framers, it had a very specific meaning: the use of official power to obtain an improper personal benefit while ignoring or injuring the national interest. President Trump has abused his office and must be removed. I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Cohen. Speaker 3: (46:39) The gentleman is recognized. Steve Cohen: (46:40) Thank you. Mr. Speaker, from our founding, the United States has been a special nation, a city upon a hill. Our values are enshrined in our constitution: liberty, equality, and opportunity. We are a self-governing people where every person is equal before the law. In the United States, we don't have a king. We choose our leaders. We vote. Generations of Americans have fought and some have died to secure these inalienable rights. The constitution begins "We, the people of the United States." That's us. It is not "we, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine or China" or "we, the Democrats" or "we, the Republicans." It's we, the people of the United States. And all Americans and only Americans get to have a say in our elections. Donald Trump used the high power of the presidency to pressure a foreign nation to besmirch his perceived primary political opponent. He corrupted our elections and compromised our national security so that he could keep power, not power for the people, power for himself. In 2016, candidate Trump called for foreign interference when he said "Russia, if you are listening." In 2019, President Trump sought foreign interference when he needed a favor from Ukraine to intervene in the 2020 elections. President Trump attacked and is a continuing threat to our system of free and fair elections. Steve Cohen: (48:09) Like all of you, I took an oath to support and defend the constitution. I urge my colleagues to abide by that oath and stand up to president Trump's abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I appeal to your patriotism and implore you to defend free and fair elections and preserve the constitution. God save the United States of America. I yield back the balance of my time. Speaker 3: (48:36) The gentleman yields back and the gentleman and our members are reminded to address their comments to the chair. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (48:45) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I do believe, Mr. Speaker, that our elections should be free and fair, I do believe that with all my heart. Except it seems like in this case, this impeachment is based on the fact that the speaker who said in this month or last month, it would be dangerous to leave it to the voters to determine if Mr. Trump stays in office. With that, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Higgins. Speaker 3: (49:03) Gentlemen is recognized. Clay Higgins: (49:11) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have descended into the belly of the beast. I've witnessed a terror within and I rise committed to oppose the insidious forces which threaten our republic. America's being severely injured by this betrayal, by this unjust and weaponized impeachment brought upon us by the same socialist who threatened unborn life in the womb, who threatened first amendment rights of conservatives, who threatened second amendment protections of every American patriot, and who have long ago determined that they would organize and conspire to overthrow President Trump. Clay Higgins: (49:51) We don't face this horror because the Democrats have all of a sudden become constitutionalist. We're not being devoured from within because of some surreal assertion of the socialists' newfound love for the very flag that they trod upon. We face this horror because of this map. This is what the Democrats fear. They fear the true will of we, the people. They are deep establishment DC. They fear. They call this Republican map, fly over country. They call us deplorables. They fear our faith, they fear our strength, they fear our unity, they fear our vote, and they fear our president. Clay Higgins: (50:34) We will never surrender our nation to a career establishment, DC politicians and bureaucrats. Our Republic shall survive this threat from within. American Patriots shall prevail. Mr. Speaker, I yield. Speaker 3: (50:51) Gentleman yields. Gentleman from New York, Mr. Nadler. Nadler: (50:57) Mr. Speaker, I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson. Speaker 3: (51:02) The gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson is recognized. Hank Johnson: (51:08) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was not among those who supported impeachment before Ukraine, but I call for impeachment today because our president is, as we speak, abusing his power and placing himself above the law. President Trump's attempt to sabotage the 2020 election is a clear and present danger on our democracy. We the people know this, and more Americans support impeachment today than at any time since Richard Nixon's final weeks in office. We know that it's wrong to enlist the help of foreigners in interfering in our elections. We know it's wrong to cheat and we know what's at stake. It's not just that our elections were attacked, our elections are under attack right now. The very day the judiciary committee voted out articles of impeachment, President Trump welcomed Rudy Giuliani back to the White House. President Trump is still at it. He's doubling down. He doesn't think he can win an election fair and square, so he's trying to cheat. To ignore these crimes is not just giving the president a pass, it's giving him a green light. Those who vote against impeachment are not just endorsing president Trump's past actions, but his future ones as well. If you think I exaggerate in warning that our elections can be undermined, I'd urge you to come down to Georgia, find a black man or woman of a certain age and they'll tell you the danger is real. And they'll tell you of brave Americans patriots willing to risk far more than a political career, who marched and struggled and sometimes died so that we could have fair and free elections. We're not asked to possess even a fraction of their courage, we're simply called upon today to do what's right and I'm proud to vote yes on impeachment and with that I yield back. Speaker 4: (53:12) The gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (53:15) Thank you Madam Speaker. I would... I'm glad that my colleague, Ms. Madam Speaker, just mentioned Georgia because in the last... Since 2014, the actual voter participation among minorities, African American female, African American male, Hispanic male, and Hispanic female have risen double digits. I'm very proud of what Georgia is doing to get everybody to the poll. I'm glad he chose to highlight it, unfortunately he just highlighted it in the wrong way and I will not yield. Ms. Madam Speaker, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Muser. Speaker 4: (53:42) Gentleman recognized for a minute and a half. Dan Meuser: (53:44) Madam speaker, back home, people refer to Capitol Hill as a bubble. They are right. It's as if we are completely detached from what's going on in communities across America. Many here don't hear or listen to what people are saying and many here as well think they know better than the people we serve. Dan Meuser: (54:01) Our communities are benefiting greatly from president Trump's agenda, a booming economy, secure border, better trade deals, and a stronger military. Unfortunately, inside the halls of Congress, Democrats' obsession with impeachment is all-consuming. Is this how Democrat leadership chooses to represent the people of America? By nullifying the results of the 2016 election, disregarding the will of the American people, and doing everything in their power to prevent the president and this Congress from doing the job we were elected to do? After three years of trying, months of unfair, politically motivated impeachment proceedings, Democrats have delivered two weak articles of impeachment. Abuse of power? Not according to the Ukraine. President Zelensky confirmed many times that there was no quid pro quo, no action taken, and significant military aid was delivered without anything in return. Of course, his words have been conveniently dismissed. Obstruction of Congress? Is this the new standard? If this is the new standard, then every president since Jimmy Carter and every president moving forward would and will be impeached. Dan Meuser: (55:06) Let me be clear, it is an honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives, but today I am distraught. Today, Democrats will disregard the will of the American people and vote to impeach the duly elected president of the United States. Which should be equally troubling is that this has eroded if not wiped out the trust the American people have in the 116th Congress, I yield back. Nadler: (55:33) Madam Speaker, President Trump said no quid pro quo only after the White House learned of the whistleblower complaint and after the Washington Post had published an article about president's pressure campaign on Ukraine. I now yield two minutes to distinguishws gentlelady from California, Ms. Bass. Nadler: (55:51) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Karen Bass: (55:52) Madam Speaker, this is a sad day in U.S. history when we have to vote on articles of impeachment because Donald Trump has abused the power of the office of the presidency in his attempt to cheat his way to reelection. Karen Bass: (56:05) The facts are uncontested. Fact one, the president abused the power of his office by attempting to shake down the president of a country that has been our ally. Trump wanted President Zelensky of the Ukraine to dig up, to make up dirt on Vice President Biden because he sees him as the biggest threat to his reelection. Fact two, Trump wanted Zelensky to go to before the press and announced an investigation of Biden hoping the mere announcement would create doubt about Biden and strengthen Trump's hand in the 2020 election. Fact three, Trump obstructed Congress by engaging in a coverup. Trump has refused to comply with congressional subpoenas and has blocked current and past employees from testifying before congressional committees. Congress has a coequal branch of government and one of our central responsibilities is to provide oversight and investigation of the administration; the very checks and balances the framers built into the constitution so no one branch would have unchecked power. Karen Bass: (57:05) The House of Representatives has no choice but to vote and pass articles of impeachment because President Trump has abused his power and obstructed the ability of Congress from performing our constitutional duty. The urgency to move forward with articles of impeachment is because there is no reason to believe President Trump won't continue to abuse the power of his office. No reason to believe he won't continue to put a split on the scale of his reelection. And in fact, his attorney just returned from the Ukraine and in an article just released in the New Yorker magazine confesses to continuing the effort to interfere in the election. Karen Bass: (57:42) In many of our congressional districts, we worry about voter suppression and schemes that purge legitimate voters from participating in the election, or we worry about Russian interference in our election. It is a sad day in America when we have to worry about the Commander in Chief interfering in the election in order to be reelected. Election should be decided by the American. Speaker 5: (58:03) ... election in order to be reelected. Election should be decided by the American people. I will vote for both articles of impeachment. It is my constitutional duty that fulfill my ultimate office. Nancy Pelosi: (58:11) The lady's time has expired. Speaker 5: (58:11) No one is above the law. Nancy Pelosi: (58:13) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (58:15) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Utah, Mr. Stewart. Nancy Pelosi: (58:19) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Chris Stewart: (58:22) I discovered something recently. It's shocking. I know, but it turns out that some people don't like President Trump. They think he's loud. They think he can be arrogant. They think sometimes he says bad words and sometimes he's rude to people and to their sensitive natures, they've been offended. I get that. I really do. Chris Stewart: (58:41) But let's be clear. This vote, this day has nothing to do with Ukraine. It has nothing to do with abuse of power. It has nothing to do with obstruction of Congress. And this vote, this day is about one thing and one thing only, they hate this president. They hate those of us who voted for him. They think we're stupid. They think we made a mistake. They think Hillary Clinton should be the president and they want to fix that. That's what this about is about. They want to take away my vote and throw it in the trash. They want to take away my president and delegitimize him so that he can not be reelected. That's what this vote is about. Chris Stewart: (59:24) And for those who think this started with this investigation, what nonsense. You've been tried to impeach this president since before he was sworn into office. Some of you introduced articles of impeachment before he was sworn into office. This isn't something you're approaching prayerfully and mournfully and sadly. Oh, the chaos. Oh, the sadness. This is something you're gleeful about and you've been trying to do it for three years and it's very clear. You don't have to go back and Google very much to find out that is the absolute truth. I could give you pages of examples of things you have said for three years about this president. That's what this is about. Chris Stewart: (01:00:13) And if you think if this impeachment is successful, the next president, I promise you is going to be impeached and the next president after that. If you set this bar as being impeachable, every president in our future will be impeached. It erodes our Republic in ways that our founding fathers recognized they got it right. High crimes and misdemeanors. Other than that, settle it at the ballot box. I look forward to that day. Nancy Pelosi: (01:00:37) Gentleman's time is expired. Chris Stewart: (01:00:38) Let the American people decide. Nancy Pelosi: (01:00:40) Members are reminded to direct their comments to the chair. Gentlemen from New York. Speaker 6: (01:00:44) Reserve. Nadler: (01:00:45) Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentlemen that if President Trump is impeached and removed, the new president will be Mike Pence, not Hillary Clinton. I now yield two minutes to the distinguished gentlelady from Florida, Miss Mucarsel-Powell. Nancy Pelosi: (01:01:01) I'm sorry, the gentleman yields two minutes? Nadler: (01:01:05) Two minutes. Nancy Pelosi: (01:01:06) Two, gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. Debbie M.: (01:01:08) Madam Speaker, I did not have the privilege of being born into this country. My mother brought me from Ecuador looking for freedom and opportunity, but that's not my story alone. This is a story that I share with so many people that live in Florida's 26 District and all over the country. We've left and experienced corruption in our countries of birth where brutal dictatorships have choked their potential to benefit those in power. Debbie M.: (01:01:37) This president elected by the American people has violated his oath of office and violated the rule of law. The evidence is overwhelming that he withheld military aid approved by Congress and leveraged a White House meeting to extract a political favor from a foreign government. The president actively sought foreign election interference to benefit himself. It is undeniable that he has abused his power and obstructed Congress. He presents a clear and present danger to our democracy. Debbie M.: (01:02:15) As an immigrant, I still get chills because I feel so fortunate to live in this extraordinary country. The genius of American democracy lies in our constitution and the dedication to the rule of law. I want my children and all of our children to feel the same way when they grow up. However, if we sit idly by as cracks begin to appear in our democratic institutions, our children will be in the same situation, like so many of us experienced when we left countries whose leaders destroyed democracy. We in Congress must abide by our oath to defend our constitution. That is my duty as a member of this body. That is my duty as a mother. I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:03:07) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:03:09) Thank you Madam Speaker. At this time I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from New York, Mr. King. Nancy Pelosi: (01:03:13) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Peter King: (01:03:14) Thank you Gentleman for yielding. Madame Speaker, I rise today is strong opposition to the articles of impeachment against President Trump. As Chairman Nadler must recall exactly 21 years ago today, I spoke on this floor in opposition, the impeachment of President Clinton. And 21 years ago tomorrow I voted against all four articles of impeachment against President Clinton. Peter King: (01:03:37) Today's articles of impeachment against President Trump own assault on our constitution and the American people to impeach a president for a phone call, which no crime is charged, nevermind a high crime, and asserting his constitutional prerogatives as president is a clear abuse of power by the Congress. It sets a dangerous precedent of weaponizing impeachment to undo the solid decision of the American people. Madame Speaker, President Trump and I grew up in the same borough of New York City and today I am proud to stand with President Trump and urge a no vote on these horrible acts of impeachment, these articles of impeachment. I yield back to balance my time and strongly urge a no vote. Nancy Pelosi: (01:04:17) Gentleman yells back. Doug Collins: (01:04:18) I'll reserve. Nancy Pelosi: (01:04:19) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:04:21) Madam Speaker, I now yield two and a half minutes to the gentlelady from California. Miss Lofgren. Nancy Pelosi: (01:04:27) Gentlelady's recognized for two and a half. Zoe Lofgren: (01:04:29) Madam Speaker, the president and members of Congress each take an oath to uphold the constitution. When the president abuses his presidential power to upend the constitutional order, we have an obligation to live up to our oath of office. Zoe Lofgren: (01:04:44) We've been presented with direct evidence about the president's actions. They threaten our national security and undermine the integrity of the next election. We now vote on articles of impeachment for abuse of power and contempt of Congress. As a result of that evidence, I've worked on presidential impeachments as part of the judiciary committee twice before. This third time brings me no joy. Zoe Lofgren: (01:05:09) President Nixon attempted to corrupt elections. His agents broke into the Democratic Party Headquarters to get a leg up on the election and then, just like President Trump, he tried to cover it up. Then he resigned. Zoe Lofgren: (01:05:21) This is even worse. President Trump not only abused his power to help his reelection, he used a foreign government to do it. He used military aid provided to fight the Russians as leverage solely to benefit his own political campaign. George Washington would be astonished since he warned against the insidious wiles of foreign influence. Zoe Lofgren: (01:05:42) The direct evidence is damning. The president hasn't offered any evidence to the contrary. These actions constitute grounds for presidential impeachment. What is before us is a serious abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. These abuses strike at the heart of our constitution. The president's unconstitutional abuse of power, a high crime and misdemeanor, is ongoing. He totally refused to provide any information to Congress related to the impeachment inquiry. It's our responsibility to use the tool our founders gave us in the constitution to preserve the constitutional order. We must impeach and I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:06:29) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:06:30) Thank you Madam Speaker. At this time I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Rouzer. Nancy Pelosi: (01:06:35) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. David Rouzer: (01:06:37) Madam Speaker of the Washington Post headlined the story immediately following President Trump taking the oath of office stating the campaign to impeach President Trump has begun. How accurate they were. Here we are almost three years later and what we are witnessing today is unprecedented in American history, a very partisan based impeachment with no facts that warrant it. This is an impeachment based on hearsay and speculation, rooted in a deep seated hatred for a man for whom many of my colleagues on the other side detest, not all, but many. Nowhere in the constitution does it say that personal disdain is grounds for impeachment. David Rouzer: (01:07:18) At every turn, the claims made by my Democrat colleagues have turned out to be false. Early on it was claimed there was evidence of Russian collusion. There was none. We were told the FBI didn't abuse the FISA process in its investigation of the Trump campaign. That too has now been proven completely false. Then when the Russian collusion hopes collapsed, we were told that we would hear from a whistleblower that had details of a nefarious call between the president and the president of Ukraine. Then we find out they weren't even on the call. And we still don't even know who the whistle blower is. We were told there was clear evidence of a quid pro quo for personal gain. After reading the transcript, it is obvious that you have to make assumptions that wouldn't even stand up in traffic court to come to that conclusion. David Rouzer: (01:08:07) Instead, the indisputable facts of record destroy their case and though they alleged treason and robbery by the president, the articles we are considering today only make vague accusations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, because they found no evidence of treason or bribery- Nancy Pelosi: (01:08:25) Gentleman's time has expired. David Rouzer: (01:08:25) ... or anything else for that matter. David Rouzer: (01:08:27) Mr. Speaker today is a very sad day- Nancy Pelosi: (01:08:29) Gentleman's time's expired. David Rouzer: (01:08:30) ... for a Republic. Nancy Pelosi: (01:08:30) Gentleman from New York. David Rouzer: (01:08:31) The country is now divided. Speaker 6: (01:08:33) [inaudible 00:10:33]. Nancy Pelosi: (01:08:33) Gentleman's recognized. David Rouzer: (01:08:35) The country is now more divided than it ever has been in my lifetime. The truth has been trampled by this House of Representatives and because of the abuses at the FBI and the Department of Justice. More Americans have an even dimmer view of very important American institutions. Thankfully, the lens of history will ensure that the truth is told and will endure. Nancy Pelosi: (01:09:00) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:09:00) Madam Speaker, one specific concern of the framers was a president who would corrupt our elections, who would abuse the great powers of his office to ensure his own reelection. The impeachment inquiry is not an effort to overturn an election. It is a reaffirmation of the simple truth that in the United States of America, no person, not even the president is above the law, and our democracy cannot allow a duly elected president to abuse the power of his office for personal and political gain. And I now yield two and a half minutes to the gentlelady from Texas Miss Jackson Lee. Nancy Pelosi: (01:09:35) Gentlelady's recognized for two and a half minutes. Sheila J.: (01:09:48) I hate no woman or man. Today the American people should receive clarity and truth. The constitution is the highest law of the land. The president breached and violated the constitution of the United States of America. The president committed constitutional crimes. The president's crimes are impeachable. John F. Kennedy said, "If this country should ever reach the point where any man or group of men by force or threat of force could defy the commands of our court and constitution, then no law would stand free from doubt and no citizen would be safe from his neighbors." Sheila J.: (01:10:31) The facts are undisputed. First, President Trump violated his oath of office by placing his personal political interests above the national interest by scheming to coerce Ukraine into investigating a potential election opponent. Second, President Trump betrayed the nation by interest, by withholding the congressionally agreed $391 million to a fragile ally against a very strong foe, Russia. Third, the essential purpose of the scheme concocted by the president was to enlist a foreign country to help in the 2020 election. These acts are constitutional crimes and abuse of power. The truth is the president did ask for a favor. Those were his own words. Sheila J.: (01:11:13) In the July 25th call, no mention of corruption, only the mention of the Bidens. The president was engaged in wrongdoing and is a clear and present danger. He has a pattern and his behavior remains a continuing threat to America's national security. The truth is that abuse of power does violate the constitution, while both corrupting and cheating our American democracy. His acts betrayed the nation. He must take care to execute laws faithfully. This is the truth. Sheila J.: (01:11:43) Why does the truth matter? Because it matters to the farmer at his or her plow. It matters to the waitress on an early morning shift. It matters to the steel worker building America. It matters to the teacher in a fifth grade class. It matters to a mother kissing off her military recruit going off to war. The constitution must be preserved. Our laws must be honored and respected. The bloodshed and sacrifice of fellow Americans cannot be ignored, trampled on or rejected. And today all actions on the vote taken today must be for no personal gain or grandeur. The bright light of this constitutional democracy has been dimmed because of his acts. The truth is no longer for all. It is for one man, Donald J. Trump. His truth. His way. We must reject that abuse of power, because this is not America. No one is above the law. Alexander Hamilton said, "Impeachment was designed to deal with- Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:36) Gentlelady's time's expired. Sheila J.: (01:12:36) ... misconduct of public men and violation of public trust." The president- Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:40) Gentlelady's time's expired. Sheila J.: (01:12:40) ... has violated the trust. We must impeach- Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:43) Who seeks recognition? Sheila J.: (01:12:45) ... Donald J. Trump. Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:48) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:12:49) Thank you Madam Speaker. At this time, it is my pleasure to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Mitchell. Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:53) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Paul Mitchell: (01:12:56) Today, the House of Representatives votes on two articles of impeachment of President Trump. Members and all Americans must recognize that impeachment was intended to be a safety valve, rarely used only when a president acts in such an immoral and blatantly unlawful manner as it threatened the very basis of our Republic. Paul Mitchell: (01:13:16) As we cast votes on these articles, the future tone of this House and politics in this nation must be carefully considered. The issue is not whether we agree with or like the president's rhetoric, political tactics, use of Twitter, policy choices or his political rallies. Paul Mitchell: (01:13:35) One of our founders, Alexander Hamilton, warned at the risks of impeachment becoming a solely partisan act in The Federalist Papers. This impeachment inquiry and these articles clearly do not heed that warning. These proceedings are weaponizing impeachment, making it another election tool. Paul Mitchell: (01:13:56) I've carefully examined the evidence presented throughout the inquiry and contrary to some considered our history, our founding documents, and our future. It is clear President Trump's actions as described in these articles do not constitute treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors. You simply don't like him. I'll be voting no on these articles and will hope someday we returned to serving the needs of the American people. With that, I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:26) Gentleman yields back. Doug Collins: (01:14:27) I reserve. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:27) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:14:30) Madam Speaker, I now yield two minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Richmond. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:34) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Cedric Richmond: (01:14:37) Madam Speaker, President Trump on January 20th, 2017 raised his hand and swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Now we must preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution from him. Cedric Richmond: (01:14:51) Madam Speaker, I rise today not to disparage and embarrass the President of the United States, but to defend our precious democracy. I speak today, not because I hate this president, but because I love this body, the people's House. Cedric Richmond: (01:15:05) I have heard Republicans say, "Why are we rushing to judgment?" This is not a rush to judgment. It's a rush to justice and we must not delay. Corruption is corrosive. It eats away like acid, and the longer we wait, the more time we allow for this president to do irreparable harm to our country and our democracy. Just last week, Rudy Giuliani was back at it in Ukraine, so please don't tell us to wait because the corruption continues. Cedric Richmond: (01:15:36) There's a famous quote that says, "Politicians worry about the next election. Statesmen worry about the next generation." Today calls upon us to be statesmen and stateswomen, Democrat, Republican, and Independent. Our election is under attack from within. Cedric Richmond: (01:15:55) So to my Republican colleagues, many of whom spent a lifetime trying to build a reputation of honesty and courage. I beg you, don't throw that away for President Trump. He doesn't deserve it, nor will he appreciate it past the next tweet or next week. My fear, my prediction is that his actions will continue. Madame Speaker. Donald Trump recently said, "I can do anything I want." He also bragged that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. Well, he's shooting holes in our Constitution on Pennsylvania Avenue and our House, the people's House must defend the Constitution from a domestic enemy to the rule of law, Donald Trump. Because I don't want generations to come to blame me for letting our democracy die, I therefore rise in favor of impeaching Donald Trump. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:16:52) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:16:55) Thank you. Madam Speaker, at this point I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Luetkemeyer. Nancy Pelosi: (01:17:00) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Blaine L.: (01:17:02) Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong opposition to this political charade that has tormented our country for nearly three years. If there was ever any doubt that this entire illegitimate investigation is 100% politically motivated, earlier this month, Speaker Pelosi actually admitted the impeachment process began two and a half years ago. Let me say that again. The Speaker of the House said publicly that the Democrats had been trying to remove our president from office since the day he got elected simply because it was not the outcome they wanted. Another of my Democrat colleagues publicly admitted in May that the driving force behind their actions was, and I quote, "If we don't impeach the president, he'll get reelected." This wasn't an investigation, Madam Speaker. This was a political crusade. Blaine L.: (01:17:44) In order to arrive at their Stalinistic, predetermined conclusion, House Democrats spent the last several months staging well-rehearsed hearings where the charges were drawn up by their own focus groups. Democrat donors served as witnesses and Democrat staff served as judge and jury. Even with the odds so bluntly stacked against the president, Democrats still came up with absolutely nothing. Blaine L.: (01:18:05) A while ago, the speaker spoke of the Pledge of Allegiance. The last phrase of the pledge is, "Justice for all." Justice is not something afforded the president during the investigation. He was denied due process. Something Supreme Court said should be afforded in all congressional investigations. That makes this process illegal and illegitimate. What a shame. What a sham. With that I yield back. Doug Collins: (01:18:30) Reserve. Nancy Pelosi: (01:18:31) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:18:33) Madam Speaker, I now yield two minutes to do the gentlelady from Texas, Miss Garcia. Nancy Pelosi: (01:18:38) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Sylvia Garcia: (01:18:39) Madam Speaker. I didn't come to Congress to impeach the president. Even when he separated babies from their at the border, even when he took money from our troops to build his wall, no, I didn't call for impeachment because I'm here to make a difference in the lives of my constituents. Yet here we are in the middle of a constitutional crisis. Sylvia Garcia: (01:19:03) As a former judge, I took my responsibility seriously to weigh the evidence and determine if the president's actions were impeachable. Unfortunately, the evidence and the intelligence and judiciary reports leaves us with no choice but to impeach the president. So I stand on my oath that I have sworn to the Constitution and to the American people. And today I urge my colleagues to stand by their oath too. Sylvia Garcia: (01:19:35) The framers of the Constitution included impeachment as a safeguard against a corrupt president whose misconduct could destroy the very foundations of our country. Donald J. Trump abused his power when he obstructed Congress and ordered government officials not to appear before us. Donald J. Trump corrupted our election when he asked a foreign government to interfere for his personal and political gain. Today, sadly, I ask my colleagues, will you put your party over our country or will you help save our democracy and vote yes on the articles of impeachment before you. I urge you to vote yes. I yield back. Thank you Madam Speaker. Nancy Pelosi: (01:20:25) Gentlelady yields back. Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:20:27) Thank you Madam Speaker. I do have an inquiry as to the time remaining for both sides. Nancy Pelosi: (01:20:34) Gentleman from Georgia has 2 hours, 22.5 minutes. Gentleman from New York has 2 hours and 27.5 minutes left. Doug Collins: (01:20:48) Pulled ahead. Okay. Thank you Madam Speaker. At this point it is my... I yield now to a minute and a half to the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. King. Nancy Pelosi: (01:20:55) Gentleman's recognized for 90... or for a minute and a half. Steve King: (01:20:55) Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you gentlemen for yielding. I start out first that this is the largest and most massive cover up of a such a list of crimes against our country and it goes so far as to bring impeachment hearings to try to cover all of this up. Steve King: (01:21:13) And I would take you back to October of 2015 when Barack Obama said Hillary Clinton would never intend to jeopardize our national security. Again. the following April, the next month, Peter Strzok wrote the statement that was delivered by James Comey and they spent Democrat money and Hillary Clinton money in Russia to pick up dirt on Donald Trump. Steve King: (01:21:33) And then Joe Biden goes to Ukraine and makes a statement, here's $1 billion, but you must do what I tell you to do. You're accusing Donald Trump of doing that, which Joe Biden has confessed to. Steve King: (01:21:45) And by the way, Joe Biden was not the opponent of Donald Trump. He's in a 21 way primary for... and he's running third in that race. His opponents are the other 20 Democrats. How would anybody dig into that mess of 21 people in decide he's going to go overseas and pull some maneuver like this. You have to assign him a motive. You assign him emotive, then you create the dots, then you go dot to dot. Steve King: (01:22:09) But the reality is that it was Biden that was doing the extortion of the power play in order to protect his own son. And it was Donald Trump that was following the law that said you have to ensure that there's not corruption here before this money is handed over. And by the way, there was a violent war going on in Ukraine, and that's when we sent blankets and MREs over there under Barack Obama. But when I hear this from the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson, he doesn't think he can win the election fair and square. So he would cheat. And I've heard that here on this floor. No, it's the other way around. Your number one proponent of impeachment as Al Green of Texas. And he said those very same things and they brought this case November 9th the day after Trump was elected. I yield back. Doug Collins: (01:22:53) I yield, I mean reserve. Nancy Pelosi: (01:22:55) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:22:58) Madam Speaker, I now yield two minutes to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania, Miss Dean. Nancy Pelosi: (01:23:02) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Madeleine Dean: (01:23:12) Madam Speaker, words matter. We've heard many words over the course of these last weeks. Still, what strikes me are the words that are missing from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, a gaping hole in this conversation, the words they cannot or will not mouth defending a president's conduct, conduct that threatens our constitutional order. Madeleine Dean: (01:23:36) And so Speaker, I ask, when is it ever right for a president to coerce a foreign power to interfere in our elections? When is it ever right for a president to intimidate a foreign leader into announcing false investigations into a political rival? When is it ever right for that president to withhold, congressionally appropriated aid to that country at the expense of its national security and our very own? And when is it ever right for a president to block a coequal branch of government from investigating this scheme to cheat an election? Madeleine Dean: (01:24:11) The answer, of course is never. But that word does not come trippingly from the tongues of those who are making the choice to stand behind a man whose behavior is not worthy of your tortured words. Madeleine Dean: (01:24:25) By our vote today we are speaking to future presidents and to future generations. We are declaring that we will not tolerate foreign interference in our presidential elections. Americans alone will determine the outcome and we will not permit a president to order the complete defiance of a coequal branch of government. And in the end, regardless of the outcome of this impeachment, the president's tenure will end and this body and our grandchildren will be left with what we did here today. Ours is a somber generational duty about love of country and lifting a constitution to its gravest protections, but its highest aspirations. Our democracy is a matter of conscience and by voting to safeguard our constitution mine is clear. I thank you Madam Speaker and yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:25:16) Gentlelady yells back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:25:17) Thank you Madam speaker. As I have reminded many times we have fallen on the sham process that we've had to deal with and we fallen on the facts and won both. And I will remind that if you want to talk about elections, remember it was the Speaker of the House that said we can't trust the voters to... it's too dangerous to leave it with the voters for President Trump next year. With that, I yield two minutes to the gentlelady from Arizona, Miss Lesko. Nancy Pelosi: (01:25:36) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Debbie Lesko: (01:25:39) Thank you Madam Speaker. As you all know, I serve on both the Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee. And I have literally spent hours, hours pouring over testimony, looking at documents, sitting in hearings. And you know the conclusion I got from all of that? This impeachment is a total joke and a total sham. Debbie Lesko: (01:26:05) And let me tell you one of the reasons why I think that all of those witnesses, the 17 witnesses that the Democrats brought forward, not one single one of them was able to establish that President Trump committed bribery, treason, high crimes or misdemeanors, which is required in the US Constitution. And again, 17 out of 24 Democrat members on Judiciary Committee voted on this floor to move forward articles of impeachment before the phone call. And five out of nine Rule Committee, Democrat members did the same thing. So if the main part of your impeachment is the call, why did you vote for impeachment prior to the call? I also want to remind the American public and others. Debbie Lesko: (01:27:03) I also want to remind the American public and others that for two years, Adam Schiff claimed he had proof, proof! That president Trump had colluded with Russia. That turned out to be false and then overnight it was obstruction of justice, then quid pro quo, then bribery, then extortion. And the list goes on, but yet not one of those is listed in the articles of impeachment. To my Democrat colleagues, Madam Chair, I say, please stop tearing the country apart. Stop this sham. And I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:27:41) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:27:44) The gentlelady is correct. President Trump's behavior is not new. He has a pattern of engaging in misconduct and then obstructing any investigation into his misconduct to cover up his actions and hide the truth from the American people. I now yield to the gentlelady from California, Ms. Roybal-Allard for the purpose of unanimous consent request. Diana DeGette: (01:28:04) Gentlelady's recognized. Roybal-Allard: (01:28:05) Madam Speaker, I rise in support of today's impeachment proceedings and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. Diana DeGette: (01:28:12) Without objection. Nadler: (01:28:12) I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Langevin. James Langevin: (01:28:23) I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker. Our nation was founded on certain principles: that government should be of, by, and for the people, that a system of three co-equal branches of government would provide the checks and balances necessary to ensure the people's voices are heard and that no one is above the law. Today, sadly, we are voting to impeach President Donald John Trump because he has fundamentally broken his covenant with the American people. James Langevin: (01:28:50) In doing so, we are using the powers the Founding Fathers enshrined in the Constitution. Do we address a president who has violated his oath of office? The evidence is clear and the facts are not in question. President Trump has consistently engaged in a pattern of behavior inconsistent with the rule of law. He has refused to take responsibility for his actions. He has undermined the checks and balances we rely on by instructing Congress at every turn. And most importantly, he has abused his power by using his office to solicit foreign interference in our elections, undermining the will of the people. James Langevin: (01:29:24) So on this sad day for our nation, I will do what the president has so often failed to do and I will fulfill my oath to support and defend the Constitution and I will vote in favor of impeachment. I yield back the balance of my time back. Diana DeGette: (01:29:37) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:29:39) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This time it is my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Chabot. Diana DeGette: (01:29:43) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Steve Chabot: (01:29:45) Thank you Madam Speaker. Today is a sad day in our nation's history as House Democrats are poised to approve on a strictly party line vote articles of impeachment based on what constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley called wafer-thin evidence. This will set a dangerous precedent where impeachment becomes the norm rather than the exception. That's not what our Founding Fathers intended. They wanted impeachment to be rare. They set a high bar for impeachment: treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors, alleged abuse of power. Steve Chabot: (01:30:19) The first article is not a high crime and misdemeanor. In fact, it's not even a crime, and since there is no concise, legal definition of abuse of power, the majority party in the House can designate nearly any disagreement with the president from now on an impeachable offense. The second article, alleged obstruction of Congress, would produce a similarly dangerous precedent. Asserting executive privilege, a practice that began with George Washington, is not obstruction of Congress. Rather, it's a function of the essential checks and balances contemplated under the constitution. Here's what nearly every grade school student in America knows, but apparently House Democrats do not. If Congress disagrees with the president, if they don't agree with the president, take it to court. Let the third branch of government decide. They're the refs. Steve Chabot: (01:31:11) The House has never, I repeat, never, approved either abuse of power or obstruction of Congress as an article of impeachment, but that's going to change today. Today, House Democrats are pursuing a wacky Constitutional theory under which all four presidents on Mount Rushmore could have been impeached. If all of this sounds absurd, Madam Speaker, it's because it is absurd. In fact, this whole process is absurd and has been from the outset. But here's what's not absurd, but rather frightening. House Democrats today are setting a dangerous precedent under which no future president will be immune from impeachment and that will forever negatively tarnish the history of this House. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:31:54) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:31:59) Madam Speaker, the president's conduct constituted the highest of high crimes against our country. An offense does not have to violate a criminal statute to be impeachable. That was confirmed in President Nixon's case, and again in President Clinton's. There is no higher crime than for the President to use the power of his office to corrupt our elections. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Pocan. Diana DeGette: (01:32:22) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Mark Pocan: (01:32:25) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This July, President Trump blocked $400 million in congressionally approved aid that Ukraine desperately needed to defend itself against Russia because he needed Ukraine to do him a favor first. He asked the president of Ukraine to launch a public investigation into a political rival. Military aid and other benefits would only come after, but this is not about a single call or a single transcript. This is about a perfect storm, months of activity directly ordered by the President to senior cabinet and political appointees, an orchestrated plan demanding a foreign power interfere in our democracy. Mark Pocan: (01:33:04) President Trump betrayed his oath of office. He abused the power of his office for personal and political gain and has refused to cooperate with a coequal branch of government. This is a vote for our Constitution setting the precedent for all future presidents, Democrat or Republican. Donald Trump must be held accountable for his actions. Today we send a clear signal to this president and all future presidents. No one is above the law. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:33:33) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:33:35) Thank you Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Kansas, Mr. Marshall. Diana DeGette: (01:33:39) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Roger Marshall: (01:33:41) I rise today in opposition to the impeachment of the legitimately elected President of the United States. Enough. Madam Speaker, for the love of this country, enough. Enough of this impeachment circus. Enough of these sham witch hunts. I'm voting no because the President has done nothing wrong. The only thing that President Trump is guilty of is doing the things he said he would do. And if my Democrat colleagues were honest, they'd tell us the only thing President Trump is guilty of is not being Hillary Clinton. Roger Marshall: (01:34:14) The only party guilty of obstruction, abuse of power, or whatever focus groups term they're using today, is the party on the other side of this aisle. They're obstructing the will of the American people. They're obstructing the very foundations of our country by politically weaponizing impeachment. They have dangerously shattered precedent and abused our Constitution. They alone will bear this responsibility. Roger Marshall: (01:34:40) Madam Speaker, they'll fail. And it's no wonder the American people don't trust this body. It's past time be done with this circus and get to the work that matters like securing our borders and passing trade deals. I will vote no and encourage this body to move on from this heartbreaking, disgraceful day, to things that actually matter. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:35:05) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:35:07) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Price. Diana DeGette: (01:35:11) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. David Price: (01:35:17) Madam Speaker. The moment our founders anticipated in establishing the power of impeachment has arrived. The evidence is clear. President Trump abused his power by asking a vulnerable foreign leader to investigate both his political rival and a baseless Russian conspiracy theory. While withholding congressionally appropriated defense aid and a coveted White House visit, he then blocked congressional investigation into these abuses. These abuses threatened the integrity of our elections, they corrupt our diplomacy, and they undermine national security. We sometimes regard Constitutional checks and balances as the indestructible underpinnings of our democracy. In fact, they're not fixed. They're not indestructible. The president has demonstrated this beyond all doubt. It's up to the Congress, the first branch of government, to apply the remedy that the Constitution prescribes because the threats to our democracy are real and present. With this vote, we affirm that no one, including the president is above the law. Diana DeGette: (01:36:34) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:36:35) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Comer. Roybal-Allard: (01:36:38) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Comer: (01:36:41) Since the beginning of this impeachment inquiry, it's been extremely troubling to see the partisan, divisive way in which Democrats have carried out this entire process. I guess we shouldn't be surprised though. They promised they'd unseat this president since the day he took his oath of office. From the start, this has been a baseless attempt to undo the will of 63 million Americans who voted for President Trump. Comer: (01:37:10) I can tell you, the people I represent in Kentucky, the very people who voted for this president to enact change and fight for this country, are appalled at the charade they've seen in the House in recent months. They are appalled at the actions from House Democrats who have failed to even come close to proving their case. I hope all of my Congressional colleagues carefully consider the precedent they are setting by voting in favor of this sham process and these illegitimate articles of impeachment. These articles were written and built on a report that was drafted with biased presumptions, cherry-picked witnesses and vastly disputed facts. Comer: (01:37:55) The president did not commit any impeachable offense and it's clear for all of us to see, through the now very well-known transcript. This rigged process sets a concerning precedent for impeachable offenses moving forward. And I wholeheartedly oppose these baseless articles of impeachment. And I yield back the balance of my time. Diana DeGette: (01:38:21) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:38:24) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Peters. Diana DeGette: (01:38:28) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Scott Peters: (01:38:30) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Many have lamented that this effort is not bipartisan, but that's on my Republican colleagues. Republicans have not sought the truth. They have sought to avoid the truth. They have demeaned and insulted witnesses, patriots, warriors, career diplomats who provided evidence against the president. No House Republican has joined us to demand the documents and witnesses that President Trump has refused to produce. Instead of Republican leaders this week have announced that President Trump himself can set the rules of his own trial, and there will be no fact witnesses. Republicans refuse to seek the truth and condemn the abuse of power, or to work with us to prevent this ongoing behavior in the future. And that's the tragedy of today's events. Scott Peters: (01:39:12) In our nation's history, thousands of Americans have gone into battle without reservation to fight for our republic, as they still do today. Many have been gravely injured and some have made the ultimate sacrifice, but today, in contrast for fear of losing an election, my colleagues will not speak up for the rule of law or against presidential abuse of power. Voters may give them a pass, but history will judge them harshly. I will vote for the articles of impeachment. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:39:41) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:39:42) Thank you Madam Speaker. It is my privilege now to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Georgia. Mr Loudermilk. Diana DeGette: (01:39:48) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Loudermilk: (01:39:51) I thank my colleague from Georgia and friend, Mr. Collins. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition not only to these articles of impeachment, but in strong opposition to the process that has brought us to this point. Our constitution and bill of rights are all about process. Our founders knew that a government without constraints could accuse anyone of any crime at any time, even without compelling evidence. That's why the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments established a bedrock principle of "innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." But on November the 14th, Speaker Pelosi informed the press that the president should prove his innocence when she stated, "Mr. President, if you have anything that shows your innocence," then he should make that known. Loudermilk: (01:40:32) The constitution also guarantees that the accused can call witnesses to testify on their behalf, but the Republicans and the president were continually denied that right throughout this process. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right of the defendant to face their accuser, but not only have the Democrats prohibited Republicans and the president from questioning the so-called whistleblower, his identity has been kept secret. Loudermilk: (01:40:53) Before you take this historic vote today, one week before Christmas, I want you to keep this in mind. When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius Pilate gave Jesus the opportunity to face his accusers. During that sham trial, Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this president and this process. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:41:17) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:41:20) The president was given the opportunity to come and testify before the Judiciary Committee to send this counsel, to question witnesses. He declined to do so. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee. Diana DeGette: (01:41:34) Recognized for one minute. Kildee: (01:41:38) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a sad day for our country and for our democracy. The president has abused the powers of his office, betrayed the public trust and undermined America's national security by pressuring a foreign government to interfere in our elections for his own political gain. In this moment in our history, the Constitution is clear. The remedy for such misconduct by a president is impeachment. I didn't come here to Congress to impeach a president of the United States, but sadly the president's misconduct leaves us no choice but to follow the Constitution. Kildee: (01:42:20) I have two grandchildren. My granddaughter Kaitlyn is eight and my grandson Colin is four. Someday, a long time from now, they'll ask me about this day. They'll ask about the time a president put himself above the law and they'll want to know what I did to stop him. And I will have an answer for them. Today I vote to uphold the Constitution. I will vote to impeach Donald Trump. Diana DeGette: (01:42:52) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:42:56) Thank you, Madam speaker. It is interesting that the president was supposedly given [inaudible 01:43:00] to the Judiciary Committee, but maybe who would he have asked questions of? Three law school professors and a staff member? Not a lot of due process there. With this, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Texas. Diana DeGette: (01:43:09) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Brian Babin: (01:43:12) Madam Speaker, we are here today because House Democrats have spent upwards of $30 million in three years trying to overturn the 2016 election of President Trump and come up with nothing. Because of their radical left wing, Democrats are willing to make all future presidential elections invalid until judged worthy by the majority in the House of Representatives. The President of the United States does not serve at the pleasure of the House of Representatives. Perhaps the greatest denial of reality regarding President Trump is acknowledging that under his policies, things are actually going much better than they have in decades for working Americans. Brian Babin: (01:43:52) We are a democratic, constitutional republic in which power flows from we the people to our president and elected officials. The Democrat majority thinks otherwise. They believe that they're entitled to rule us even if they have to change the rules to invalidate the will and the votes of the people of America and that is why the absence of a case does not matter in this charade of impeachment. I believe that the American people recognize and share my urgency about what is at stake here. Brian Babin: (01:44:23) Madam Speaker, you and your majority may decide today, but I have faith that the American people will decide otherwise, next November. Thank you and I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:44:33) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:44:36) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Washington, Ms. DelBene. Diana DeGette: (01:44:41) Gentlelady's recognized for one minute. Suzan DelBene: (01:44:47) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of this resolution. After carefully reviewing all of the evidence and the articles of impeachment before us, it is clear that President Trump abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress. I did not come to this conclusion lightly. Impeachment is an extremely serious matter, but no president can be allowed to pressure a foreign country for personal and political gain. No president is above the law. His behavior has jeopardized the integrity of our elections, put our national security at risk, and placed his personal interests above those of the American people. His obstruction has prevented the House from conducting its constitutional duty of oversight of the executive branch. Suzan DelBene: (01:45:37) By failing to uphold his oath of office, President Trump forces each of us as members of the House of Representatives to uphold ours. I urge my colleagues to do just that and defend our democracy. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:45:53) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:45:54) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Riggleman. Diana DeGette: (01:45:58) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. DenverRiggleman: (01:46:01) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I oppose this impeachment effort and will vote no on the articles of impeachment. I represent the fifth district of Virginia, which is home to so many Founding Fathers whose vision shaped the great country we are living in today. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are not around to see what their creation has become, but I don't think they would be pleased to see Congress subverting the will of democracy by holding an impeachment vote because the majority party simply cannot accept the 2016 election. DenverRiggleman: (01:46:28) Instead of wasting the taxpayers' time and money on specious investigations, we could have passed legislation to address surprise medical billing, secure the border, address the opioid epidemic, reduce student debt, and solve a litany of other issues that Americans actually care about. Tomorrow we might have a vote on the USMCA, which we should have passed months ago had it not been for the obstruction and delays from Democrats, delays that have made farmers in my district and other districts suffer, votes like the one we will take today. DenverRiggleman: (01:46:55) The decisions that have led up to today's vote, the nature and entire process of this proceeding reeks of careers, bureaucrats, and politicians that put politics over people. I was not elected to take political votes that attempt to overturn the will of the American people. I ran for office to serve my constituents. Let's remember that's why we are here. Weaponizing emotion is not the way to serve the United States of America and to my colleagues who do just that, I offer a quote Thomas Paine wrote in the crisis: "To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead." Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time. Diana DeGette: (01:47:29) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:47:33) Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentlemen that the House has passed over 400 bills, 275 bipartisan bills, driving down costs of healthcare and prescription drugs, raising wages, rebuilding infrastructure, taking on corruption and self-dealing in Washington. 80% of these bills are languishing on Senator McConnell's desk. I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Ohio, Ms. Kaptur. Diana DeGette: (01:47:56) Gentlelady's recognized for one minute. Marcy Kaptur: (01:47:58) Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, I wish to place on the record that members of Congress swear a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And today we fulfill our oath by defending liberty. Marcy Kaptur: (01:48:16) The central figure testing America's resolve is not here in Washington today. Rather, the closeted villain sits in Moscow at the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin has coordinated murders, election hacking, propaganda, the entrapment of willing fools, and greedy underlings who put their own selfish interests over liberty. Marcy Kaptur: (01:48:40) Putin seeks to sow disarray and destabilize democracies and the NATO Alliance. At Putin's direction, Russia illegally invaded Ukraine in 2014, and as Ukraine defends Europe's eastern flank, 14,000 people have been killed at Putin's hand with over 2 million displaced. Rather than stand up to Putin, President Trump and his minions aided Putin, first in hastening Russian interference in our 2016 elections and then more recently, withholding vital military aid from Ukraine to coerce its interference in our 2020 elections for Mr. Trump's personal gain. Diana DeGette: (01:49:16) Gentlelady's time's expired. Marcy Kaptur: (01:49:17) Might I end by saying onward liberty, vote for the articles of impeachment. Diana DeGette: (01:49:22) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:49:23) Thank you Madam Speaker. This time I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from North Carolina, Dr. Murphy. Greg Murphy: (01:49:29) Madam Speaker, I rise- [crosstalk 01:49:30]. Doug Collins: (01:49:29) Gentleman's recognized. Greg Murphy: (01:49:30) ... In opposition to these baseless articles of impeachment and the unprecedented process that's been used in this effort to impeach the duly elected President of the United States. It is a mockery of American justice. In 1788 one of our Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, wrote in the Federalist Papers, "In many cases, impeachment will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and in such cases, there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparable strength of parties, majority and minority, than by real demonstrations of innocence or guilt." Greg Murphy: (01:50:05) What does this mean? It means that the majority can exert its influence regardless of justice. In this statement, Hamilton warned us about the danger of mob rule. Democrats have a criminal and have been searching for a crime for three years, but this president has not committed a crime. As a leader of American foreign policy, the president has a constitutional obligation to root out corruption in countries to which we provide aid. This is not an abuse of power. It is his job. Greg Murphy: (01:50:38) One of the articles is obstruction of Congress. The only thing that's been instructed is this president's right to due process. I don't blame the president for refusing to fully participate in "this guilty until proven innocent" circus. This is not how our Founding Fathers framed American justice. This is a tragic day in our nation's history. We have individuals that hate this president more than they love this country. Our country needs prayer and not this destructive partisanship. Thank you. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:51:09) [crosstalk 01:51:09] Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:51:12) Madam Speaker. The president's obstruction is unprecedented and categorical. President Trump claims that the House cannot investigate his misconduct outside of an impeachment inquiry. He defies lawful Congressional subpoenas then and then he sues to block third parties from complying with such subpoenas. Even as he pursues his own interest in court, his administration simultaneously argues that Congress is barred from obtaining judicial enforcement when executive branch officials disregarded subpoenas. So when can the president be held accountable for his wrongdoing? In his mind, never. The Constitution, however, disagrees. I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, Ms. Holmes Norton. Diana DeGette: (01:51:55) the gentlelady's recognized for one minute. Holmes Norton: (01:52:05) Madam Speaker, my words are my only remedy today. In spite of the upcoming D.C. statehood vote, we expect to be successful. The people of the District of Columbia have no vote on impeachment or on any other matter on this floor now. Holmes Norton: (01:52:22) I spoke on this floor on the impeachment of President Clinton 20 years ago. Unlike the Clinton impeachment, on perjury concerning an affair with an intern Trump's impeachment turns on sabotage of national security to get himself reelected. Clinton repented. Trump insists that he did nothing wrong. That's a promise to continue his long pattern of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Impeachment is our only recourse. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:52:56) Gentlelady yields back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:52:58) Thank you, Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Colorado, a member the judiciary committee, Mr. Buck. Diana DeGette: (01:53:03) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Ken Buck: (01:53:05) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. Today, Democrats lower the bar for impeachment. Under the standard, a president can be impeached in the absence of a crime, without due process and for asserting a legally, constitutionally recognized privilege. Ken Buck: (01:53:21) History shows Democrat presidents have abused power, undermined democracy, and win elections, and yet they have not been impeached. President Franklin Roosevelt used the IRS to target his political opponents. His son later admitted FDR used "the IRS as a weapon of political retribution." President John F. Kennedy used the FBI to wiretap and monitor political opponents, including Congressional staff. He deported one of his mistresses to avoid scandal. President Lyndon Johnson spied on Goldwater's campaign, signing off on wiretapping his opponent and Goldwater's airplane and using a CIA spy to obtain advanced copies of Goldwater's strategies and speeches. President Barack Obama refused to provide documents to Congress related to fast and furious. His unconstitutional recess appointments were unanimously struck down by the Supreme Court. He used national security agencies to lie to the American people about Benghazi to win the 2012 election. He spied on reporters. Finally, it was the Obama administration that committed 17 serious violations before the FISA court to spy on Trump campaign associates. Ken Buck: (01:54:28) Despite these clear abuses of power by FDR, JFK, LBJ, and Obama, Republicans did not impeach. Why? Because the framers did not want a low bar for impeachment. They wanted Congress and the president to work out their differences. When I asked Professor Turley in a Judiciary Committee hearing if any president could avoid impeachment with those low standard, he said no. I yield back. Diana DeGette: (01:54:54) Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:54:55) Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentlemen that President Obama provided thousands of pages of information to Congressional requests that Attorney General Holder and others testified. Unlike now. I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Illinois, Ms. Kelly. Diana DeGette: (01:55:15) Gentlelady's recognized for one minute. Robin Kelly: (01:55:19) Madam Speaker, today is a solemn day in America, a day that none of us hoped for when we came to Congress, but the events of today are something that each of us swore that we were prepared to execute in defense of the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This is the oath that binds the men and women of the 116th Congress. As our democracy implores, we defend her. A clear and present threat to American democracy is what brings us here. The architect, a president who asked that a foreign nation interfere in our election. This was our Founding Fathers' greatest fear. I cast this solemn vote for the many individuals in my district Jerry Nadler: (01:56:03) I cast this solemn vote for the many individuals in my district who entrusted me to be their voice in Congress. They entrusted me to uphold our constitution for them. I vote yes for Sarah in Chicago, Doug in Kankakee, Diane and Flossmoor. Yes, for Kathy and Momence, Katherine in Crete and Jimmy in Park Forest. The facts as simple, the path forward is clear, impeachment is not an option. It is an obligation because no one is above the law. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (01:56:31) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:56:33) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, it is my privilege to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, another member of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Reschenthaler. Madam Speaker: (01:56:39) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Rep. Reschentha: (01:56:41) Thank you, Madam Speaker and thank you ranking member Collins. You know in the Navy we had a saying, bluff bottom line up front. Well, I'll give you the bottom line. Democrats are terrified that President Trump is going to win reelection. They can't beat him on the merits. So Democrats are caving to their far latch radical base and they're using the thoughts and the feelings and the assumptions of some unnamed bureaucrats rather than relying on facts and law to impeach a duly elected president. Let me be clear, this is nothing more than a political hit job. Rep. Reschentha: (01:57:18) I've been on all sides of the courtroom. I was a prosecutor in the Navy. I was a defense attorney in the Navy. I was a district judge in my hometown. And let me tell you, as a lawyer, I would defend this case every day of the week. As a judge, I would dismiss this on day one for lack of merit. There was no primae facia case here. I'll tell you who I'd prosecute though. I would prosecute Adam Schiff for abuse of power. Why? How about the fact that he used his position as chairman to leak phone records of ranking member Devin Nunez? How about the fact that he'd dumped over 8,000 pages of documents on Republicans less than 48 hours before a hearing? Rep. Reschentha: (01:57:58) That is the abuse of power. And obstruction, I'd prosecute the Democrats for obstruction. How about the fact that judiciary Democrats voted down my request to subpoena the whistle blower? How about the fact that Chairman Adler refused every single Republican request for a fact witness? That is obstruction of Congress. So again, let me be clear. Today is nothing more than a political hit job. Thank you. And I yield back. Madam Speaker: (01:58:27) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (01:58:32) Madam Speaker, once again, I hear a lot of attacks on Democratic members of Congress, but not one single word of substantive defense of the president's conduct. I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Connolly. Madam Speaker: (01:58:47) Gentleman's recognize for one minute. Rep. Connolly: (01:58:49) Madam Speaker, each of us here took an oath to protect and defend The Constitution of the United States, not the president and not our political party. Today, history will judge did we abide that oath. To extort a foreign country, to investigate your political opponent is an unconstitutional abuse of power. To solicit foreign interference in an American election is an unconstitutional abuse of power. The need to protect against just such abuses prompted our founders to grant the sole power of impeachment to this House. The delicate balance of power that underpins our democracy is threatened when a president disregards the constitution by obstructing Congress' power to cover up illegal behavior. Rep. Connolly: (01:59:39) In doing that, President Trump violated his oath. Today, we must put country of a party, conscience over complicity. Today, we must assert no one's above the law. Today, we are summoned by history to do the right thing. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (01:59:57) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:59:58) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I know this is probably not true, but I think the speakers are not working on the majority side because I have talked about it. Many of our members have talked about the facts. Let's just go over them real quickly. No pressure, no conditionality, nothing was ever denied them and when they got through, they actually got the money and they never did anything for it. We have talked about the facts. That's a distraction that doesn't need to happen. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Davidson. Madam Speaker: (02:00:24) [inaudible 02:00:24] for a minute and a half. Rep. Davidson: (02:00:26) Madam Speaker, I've heard numerous colleagues say they didn't run for Congress to impeach the president. Well, maybe not originally, but unfortunately from the moment proceedings began after the fourth vote to launch an impeachment inquiry, today's vote was inevitable. Many of them campaigned on it. I love this country with a soldier's passion. I came here to defend freedom, not to deny due process to anyone. I came here to solve problems and change the broken status quo, not to distract or disrupt those like President Donald Trump who deliver on promises to put America back on the path of peace and prosperity that has made and kept our country free. Rep. Davidson: (02:01:07) For months now, Americans have heard speculation about the president's motives in Ukraine. Despite months of effort, dozens of hearings, and countless documents, Americans have not seen proof that the president committed a high crime or a misdemeanor. We have a republic if we can keep it. This is disgraceful, dishonest process. It's a discredit to this body and to our nation. I urge the House to drop these divisive articles of impeachment and get to work for the American people. I yield. Madam Speaker: (02:01:38) Gentleman yields back. Gentlemen from New York. Nadler: (02:01:41) Madam Speaker, would you tell me how much time both sides have left please? Madam Speaker: (02:01:48) Gentleman from New York has two hours and two minutes. Gentleman from Georgia has two hours and three minutes. Nadler: (02:02:00) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from New York, Ms. Velazquez. Madam Speaker: (02:02:04) Gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Rep. Velazquez: (02:02:07) Madam Speaker, the facts are clear. The president of the United States with held $400 million in military aid to an ally of the United States and also held back a White House meeting to compel a foreign nation to investigate his political opponent. At the exact time the president was doing this, Ukraine was engaged in a battle for its very existence with one of America's adversaries, Russia. The president abused his power to persuade a foreign nation to dig up dirt on a political opponent, and that's the truth. This was quite simply a geopolitical shakedown. Rep. Velazquez: (02:02:51) The president then tried to block Congress from exercising its constitutionally mandated duty to uncover the truth. Every single one of us today faces a stark choice. If we choose to turn a blind eye to put political expediency before The Constitution, then we are complicit in this subversion of democracy. If we do not hold this president accountable, we have failed the people who sent us here ... Madam Speaker: (02:03:22) Gentlelady's time has expired. Rep. Velazquez: (02:03:23) ... And we have advocated our own oath to defend The Constitution. In the United States of America ... Madam Speaker: (02:03:28) Gentlelady's time has expired. Rep. Velazquez: (02:03:28) ... No one is above the law, not even the president. Madam Speaker: (02:03:30) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:03:34) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, it is my pleasure to yield two minutes from the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Byrne. Madam Speaker: (02:03:38) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Rep. Byrne: (02:03:42) Madam Speaker, in three months, we've gone from receiving an unsubstantiated hearsay and discredit to whistleblower complaint to the production of articles of impeachment against the president of the United States. Not since Andrew Johnson has a house engaged in such a partisan political stunt. From the beginning, this has been a sham and this House has been nothing but a star chamber. The Democrat majority literally locked themselves in the basement of this building, hiding from the American people. When my colleagues and I refused to stand for it, Democrats moved to public hearings, but denied us questions, denied us witnesses, and denied the president any meaningful opportunity to defend himself. Rep. Byrne: (02:04:28) With this complete abusive process, the Democratic majority has produced the flimsiest and most legally unsound articles of impeachment in the history of this nation. Never before has the House reported an article of impeachment that does not allege an underlying crime yet this majority will do so today. Read the transcripts. There was no quid pro quo, no bribery, no extortion, no crime, and no abusive power and they don't even allege a crime in their articles of impeachment. The president raising Ukrainian corruption is not an impeachable offense. Rep. Byrne: (02:05:06) If the dealings of Hunter Biden were so above board, you would think the majority would be just fine looking into this matter, yet they haven't moved my resolution asking for an investigation and our subpoenas for Hunter Biden have all been denied. Hunter Biden doesn't get a pass because his dad was vice president. I am proud to have fought against a charade every step of the way and I will proudly vote no today. And I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:05:32) Gentlemen yields back. Gentlemen from New York. Nadler: (02:05:35) Madam Speaker, right now I yield one minute to the gentlelady from Wisconsin, Ms. Moore. Madam Speaker: (02:05:39) Gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Rep. Moore: (02:05:42) Madam Speaker, the facts are uncontestable. The evidence is overwhelming. The president grossly misused the office of president and obstructed Congress and justice requires this impeachment. I feel compelled to respond to the false narrative that Democrats are using this process to overturn an election. You know, I agree. Elections are the appropriate venue for public policy disputes. However, we're not talking about a public policy dispute. We're talking about a president who subverted national security by soliciting foreign interference in our elections. Rep. Moore: (02:06:16) The exact thing our founding fathers feared and the exact circumstance for which they drafted the impeachment clause. Our democracy, our constitution deserves standing up for, not Donald John Trump and I will leave my colleagues with this last thought as they decide how to cast this historic vote. For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world only to lose his own soul. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:06:47) Gentlelady yields back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:06:49) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gooden. Madam Speaker: (02:06:53) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Rep. Gooden: (02:06:57) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is the day the founding fathers feared when they granted Congress the power of impeachment where we have a political party so dead set against the president that they will do anything to impeach him and they're about to get away with it simply because they have the votes. But that's not how this process is supposed to work. It's not meant to be dictated by a thin, partisan majority, nor is it meant to be used when an election is just around the corner and no one understands that better than our speaker who I have great respect for. Rep. Gooden: (02:07:29) And I agree with the comments she made on March the sixth of just this year. Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path because it divides the nation. And that's exactly what's happened. And when we walk out of here tonight, we all know how this result's going to go. The Democrats are voting for this. Not one Republican is breaking. This is not bipartisan. The American people are disgusted with the United States House of Representatives and we bring shame upon this body today by moving forward with this impeachment. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:08:05) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (02:08:07) Madam Speaker, right now I yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Lowenthal. Madam Speaker: (02:08:12) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Rep. Lowenthal: (02:08:14) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The facts in this case are as simple as they are tragic. Witness after witness attested to these facts. No one has credibly refuted them. President Trump tried to coerce Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 elections. He used the power of his office for personal political gain. By withholding aid to Ukraine, the president has endangered our ally, Ukraine, and undermined our own national security. And when he got caught, the president attempted to cover up the crime and shut down any investigation by obstructing Congress. Rep. Lowenthal: (02:09:03) We have overwhelming evidence that this precedent poses an urgent threat to our elections, to our national security and to the rule of law. Congress must vote to impeach him to protect our constitutional republic. There is no alternative. Thank you and I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:09:24) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:09:26) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The only urgent threat to this body is the clock and the calendar and the desire to impeach the president before we go home for Christmas. With that, a minute and a half to the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Roe. Madam Speaker: (02:09:35) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Rep. Roe: (02:09:38) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today's a sad day in the people's House. Since Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Democrats have been on a crusade to stop him by any means. I believe the American people, the fairest people on this earth, they believe that everyone should be treated equally under the law no matter what your station you occupy in life. Rich, poor, president, factory worker, fair. This process has been anything but fair. For two years, we've been told that then candidate Donald Trump colluded with Russians to interfere with our elections. Rep. Roe: (02:10:09) Two years, millions of dollars spent in a Mueller investigation, no collusion. You'd think after being that wrong, Democrats would finally decide to work on the problems that the American people send us here to do. You'd be wrong again. Then we were told that the president withheld money to the Ukrainians in a quid pro quo. No, no, a bribery, no abusive power. I guess, whatever polls best to gather information on a political rival, potential rival. Well, here's some facts about what happened. Fact number one, the transcript of July 25th phone conversation that president released shows no pressure. Rep. Roe: (02:10:43) Fact number two, President Zelensky did not know the money was withheld. Fact number three, no investigation occurred or was announced. Fact number four, the money was released September 11, 2019. Facts are stubborn things. One member on the other side of the aisle said "I'm concerned that if we don't impeach this president, he will get reelected." That, Madam Speaker, says it all. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:11:08) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (02:11:11) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Oregon, Ms. Bonamici. Madam Speaker: (02:11:16) Gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Rep. Bonamici: (02:11:17) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take seriously my oath to uphold and defend The Constitution and I do not take today's proceedings lightly. The founding fathers included the impeachment process in The Constitution to uphold our values and to maintain the checks and balances that are essential to separation of powers and to democracy. They knew way back in 1787 that a president could abuse the power of the office. In fact, they adopted the phrase high crimes and misdemeanors from a phrase that had been used in the English parliament since 1386 intended to cover situations where an official abused his power and included and disobeying an order from the parliament. Rep. Bonamici: (02:11:58) Donald Trump has abused the power of his office by inviting a foreign government to interfere in the US election. And he did this not to help the United States, but to benefit himself. That's wrong. And it's an impeachable offense. And then when Congress exercised our constitutional duty to investigate these wrongdoings, he obstructed the investigation every step of the way. That is also wrong. And it's also an impeachable offense. In our country, no one is above the law, that includes the president of the United States. And I yield back the balance of my time. Madam Speaker: (02:12:31) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:12:32) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this point, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Kelly. Madam Speaker: (02:12:36) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Jerry Nadler: (02:12:38) I thank the gentleman. You know, December is such a great month and there's so many great dates in December and we talk about the wonderful things that have happened in Decembers of the past. There's also in addition to Christmas being something we celebrate, the Boston Tea Party took place in December. But also on December 7, 1941 a horrific act happened in the United States and this one that President Roosevelt said, this is a date that will live in infamy. Today, December the 18th 2019 is another date that will live in infamy. When just because you hate the president of the United States and you can find no other reason other than the fact that you're so blinded by your hate that you can't see straight that you've decided the only way we can make sure this president doesn't get elected again is to impeach him. Jerry Nadler: (02:13:22) On the floor of the people's House, the bastion of democracy and liberty in the whole world, we have decided that political power is far more important than principle. I would urge all members of the House to vote no on impeachment and to look their voters in the eye and remit. Listen, let me tell you, the voters are will remember next November what you're doing this December. This is a terrible time. This is a date that will live in infamy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:13:55) The members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair. Gentlemen from New York. Nadler: (02:14:00) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Frankel. Madam Speaker: (02:14:04) Gentlelady's recognized for one minute. Rep. Frankel: (02:14:07) In 1787 at the conclusion of the constitutional convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, do we have a republic or a monarchy? He responded, a republic, if you keep it. Madam Speaker, a republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a public matter, not the private concern or property of the rulers. In a republic, no person is above the law. In a republic, the president may not abuse his power by withholding critical foreign assistance for his own personal political gain, nor may he stopped witnesses from talking. I did not come to Congress to impeach a president, but I did take an oath to keep the republic for our children and our grandchildren. Rep. Frankel: (02:14:54) We should do nothing less. One day, I will tell my grandson that I stood up for our democracy. I will vote yes to impeach the president. And I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:15:08) Gentlelady yields back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:15:10) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield a minute 40 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Grothman. Madam Speaker: (02:15:14) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and 40 seconds. Rep. Grothman: (02:15:17) Thank you. I'd like to address why we're here. We're certainly not here because of a misquoted phone call in July of 2019. The Washington Post ran an article headlined The Campaign to Impeach President Trump has Begun the Day he was Sworn in. The gentleman from Maryland who spoke earlier today called for impeachment two days before President Trump was in, before he was sworn in. The gentleman from Texas was introducing impeachment resolutions two years ago and said, President Trump should be impeached so he can't get reelected. Rep. Grothman: (02:15:49) This impeachment is not about anything that happened on a phone call. This impeachment is about what President Trump has done. The people in this country who are let in, who are inadmissible, are apprehended and don't have legal authority, fell from 100,000 people in May to under 5,000 people in November and you hate him for it. Ben Carson thinks that low income housing should be used by American citizens and not people who are here illegally and you hate him for it. President Trump doesn't want people coming here and going on welfare and you hate him for it. Rep. Grothman: (02:16:20) President Trump wants able bodied people on food stamps to try to work and he's hated for it. President Trump renegotiated that rip off trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, and that was led in place by President Bush and President Obama, and you hate him for it. President Trump sides with law enforcement instead of criminals and murders dropped a thousand people last year and you hate him for siding with the police. President Trump lets Christian adoption agencies choose who they want to be parents and you don't like them for that. Rep. Grothman: (02:16:51) President Trump won't let foreign aid go to agencies that perform abortions, you hate him for that. President Trump's judges stick to The Constitution. He's disliked for that. President Trump is keeping his campaign promises and you hate him for that. I yield the remainder of my time. Madam Speaker: (02:17:07) Members are once again reminded to keep their remarks to the chair. Gentleman from New York. Nadler: (02:17:12) Madam Speaker, we do not hate President Trump, but we do know that President Trump will continue to threaten the nation's security, democracy, and constitutional system if he is allowed to remain in office. That threat is not hypothetical. President Trump has persisted during this impeachment inquiry in soliciting foreign powers to investigate his political opponents. The president steadfastly insists that he did nothing wrong and is free to do it all again. That threatens our next election as well as our constitutional democracy. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. McNerney. Madam Speaker: (02:17:50) Gentleman is recognize for one minute. Rep. McNerney: (02:17:53) Madam Speaker, the House of Representatives, the people's House is vested by The constitution with the power of impeachment to balance the power of the presidency. Without this essential duty, the president could exploit his sacred office without any regard for the law. On January 3, 2019, every member of the house swore North to defend The Constitution, and this week we're being asked to do just that. When allegations arose that the president tried to coerce a foreign government to help undermine the 2020 election, the House carried out its duty to investigate a potential abuse of power. Rep. McNerney: (02:18:32) But the president refused to cooperate and forbade his administration for doing so obstructing Congress from carrying out our sworn responsibility. If these actions bear no consequence, future presidents may act without constraint and American democracy will be at an end. Therefore compelled by my sworn duty to defend The Constitution, I will vote to impeach this president. I yield back. Madam Speaker: (02:19:00) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:19:02) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield to my friend from Florida a minute and a half. Madam Speaker: (02:19:06) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Rep. Yoho: (02:19:11) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to address my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and reiterate President Washington's warning to the republic 223 years ago. The Constitution rightly sets a high bar for impeachment, but the integrity of the process also depends on the ability of the legislators to vote their minds independent of party politics. Removing a president is too important and lawmakers are given too much latitude to define high crimes and misdemeanors for it to be any other way. Otherwise, excessively partisan politicians could overturn an election simply because the president is a member of the opposite and opposing party. Rep. Yoho: (02:19:54) It is in regard to this impeachment process that George Washington forewarned us as a nation at this moment in history when political parties may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men and women will be enabled to subvert the power of the people to use usurp for themselves the reins of government. How wise he was. Vote no on this assault to our republic, The Constitution and against President Trump. Madam Speaker: (02:20:30) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York Nadler: (02:20:36) Madam Speaker, John Adams warned in a letter to Thomas Jefferson that these risks are unavoidable and might sometimes overlap. "You are apprehensive of foreign interference, intrigue, influence, so am I. As long as often as elections happen, the danger of foreign influence recurs." I now yield one minute to the gentlelady from Michigan, Ms. Lawrence. Madam Speaker: (02:21:00) Gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Rep. Lawrence: (02:21:02) Madam Speaker, today, history is being written. The facts are conclusive. The president attempted to use the power of the powerful office of president to force Ukraine to influence our 2020 election. In the process, President Trump jeopardized our national security and withheld vital military assistant attended to prevent further Russian aggression to our region. However, as our committees, including government oversight, which I sit on and which I'm a member sought to interview additional witnesses and obtain documents the president ordered from the power of his office that the executive branch to not participate in obstructed the congressional oversight. Rep. Lawrence: (02:21:53) Article one provides the house of representatives with the sole power of impeachment as well as the authority to conduct oversight of the executive branch. What did he have to hide? When the framers met over 200 years ago, they went to great lengths to ensure future presidents would be forced to answer to their constitutional responsibility. I stand today in support of the two articles of impeachment. Madam Speaker: (02:22:25) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (02:22:27) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Cline, a member of the judiciary. Madam Speaker: (02:22:31) Gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Rep. Cline: (02:22:34) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today's a sad day for this body, for the voters who sent me here last November and for our nation. Benjamin Franklin cautioned when asked what he had given us, a republic, if you can keep it. Today, we take a step further toward losing the republic that our founding fathers envisioned by engaging in activity that they specifically warned against, the misuse of the constitutional power of impeachment for one party's political gain. Our constitution is the very foundation of our republic. Its assurance of self determination has been the shining beacon by which our nation has chartered its course of the last two centuries. Rep. Cline: (02:23:10) From a new democratic experiment struggling to survive to the greatest nation on earth, America has been powered over the years, not by government, but by the ingenuity, the bravery, and the faith of its people. Jerry Nadler: (00:00) Ms. Speaker. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Huffman. Speaker 1: (00:03) Chairman's recognized for one minute. Jared Huffman: (00:05) Madam speaker, as we take this solemn necessary step of impeaching President Trump, my Republican colleagues have made up their minds. We can't persuade them to do the right thing. So I'll address my remarks to the future. Today's vote will be judged by future generations, including my precious children, Abby and Nathan, maybe grandkids. Historians will study what members of this Congress did when our democracy was tested like never before by a president who put personal interests above country, who compromised national security to cheat his way to reelection and when caught not only lied and refused to admit wrongdoing, but flouted Congress's authority. He even called the constitutional impeachment mechanism, "unconstitutional". Historians will marvel how some members of Congress continued to stand by this man, how they put blind partisan loyalty or fear of Donald Trump above their duty to defend the constitution. How they made absurd partisan arguments and tried to obstruct these proceedings and how instead of pushing back when their party fell under the dark spell of authoritarianism, they embraced it as if the constitution, the rule of law, and our oath of office mean nothing. So, Madame speaker, for our future generations, our children, the judgment of history, let me be clear, I stand with our constitution, with the rule of law and our democracy. I'll be voting yes to impeach Donald J. Trump. Speaker 1: (01:35) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Roger Williams: (01:37) Thank you, gentleman, for yielding me time. Today's vote to impeach the duly elected President of the United States is truly historical. However, its unique place in history is not for the reasons the Democratic party and their mainstream media overlords are so desperately trying to convey. Today, we will be remembered as the day that the Democrats, claiming a false moral supremacy over the desire of the American people, executed a deliberate and orchestrated plan to overturn a presidential election. It will be the first time in history that a party paraded out their Ivy League academics to explain to 31 States and almost 63 million people that their voice should not be heard and why their votes should be counted. I pray for our nation every day but today I'm praying for my colleagues across the aisle who arrived at this partisan and self-directed fork in the road and chose the road never before traveled and one that has a dead end. Roger Williams: (02:40) Donald J. Trump is our president chosen by the American people fair and square. As we say in Texas, it's a done deal. Democrats attempt to change history will never undo that but God bless the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. I yield back my time. Speaker 1: (02:56) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (02:59) Madam Speaker, I would remind the gentlemen that the impeachment clause is placed in the constitution to protect the American people and our form of government against a president who would subvert our constitutional liberties in between elections. I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, Mr. Green. Speaker 1: (03:18) Gentleman is recognized for one minute. Al Green: (03:24) And still I rise, Madam Speaker, I rise because I love my country and Madam speaker shall any man be beyond justice. This is the question posed in 1787 by George Mason at the constitutional convention. Shall any man be beyond justice? Madam Speaker, if this president is allowed to throat the efforts of Congress with a legitimate impeachment inquiry, the president will not only be above the law, he will be beyond justice. We cannot allow any person to be beyond justice in this country. In the name of democracy, on behalf of the Republic, and for the sake of the many who are suffering, I will vote to impeach and I encourage my colleagues to do so as well. No one is beyond justice in this country. I yield back the balance of my time. Speaker 1: (04:29) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (04:30) Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I'd also remind my chairman that the impeachment is not to be used in the between election cycles to defeat a sitting president who you think will be reelected. With that, I yield one minute to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Buchanan. Speaker 1: (04:42) Chairman's recognized for one minute. Vern Buchanan: (04:44) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will vote today against both articles of impeachment because we are without merit and setting a dangerous precedent for our country. This political vendetta is an abuse of the impeachment process and would subvert the votes of 63 million Americans just because the president's opponents are afraid that he'll win reelection is no excuse for weaponizing impeachment. No president in history has ever been impeached 10 months before an election. Elections are the heart of our democracy. Our founding fathers devised a simple way to remove a president if you disagree with them. It's called an election and we have one coming up in less than a year. Let's let the people decide this next November and I yield back. Speaker 1: (05:32) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (05:36) Madam Speaker I now yield one minute to the gentle lady from Michigan, Mrs. Tlaib. Speaker 1: (05:40) Gentle lady is recognized for one minute. Rashida Tlaib: (05:43) Thank you. I rise today in support of impeachment. I learned so much every single day from my residents at home. Their common sense and understanding of what is right and wrong is centered on why they oppose any person using the most powerful position in the world for personal gain. We honor our veterans in this chamber almost on a daily basis, but do we ever follow their lead where we serve the people of the United States and uphold the constitution? Not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. We should learn from their sense of duty and responsibility to country and democracy, not political party. Doing nothing here, Madam Speaker, is not an option. Looking away from these crimes against our country is not an option. This is about protecting the future of our nation and our democracy from corruption, abuse of power, criminal coverups, and bribery. And this, Madam Speaker, this vote is also for my sons in the future, of so many generations. So, I urge my colleagues to please vote yes on these articles of impeachment. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield. Speaker 1: (06:55) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (06:57) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Joyce. Speaker 1: (07:01) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. John Joyce: (07:03) Madam Speaker, I rise today on this dark day in the United States House of Representatives to voice my opposition to the shameful impeachment process that has occurred in the people's house. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the isle do not like President Trump. We know this because they proudly boasted about their intention to impeach our president before he was even sworn into office. Out of disdain for the president, and for those of us who elected him, the House of Representatives is considering two articles of impeachment that are so very weak that they even fail to include specific crimes. The people that I represent in South Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania know the truth. The American people know the truth. This impeachment circus has never been about the facts. This process has always been about seeking revenge for the president's election in 2016 and attempting to prevent him from winning again in 2020. Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly oppose this partisan and shameful effort to impeach our democratically and duly elected president. For the sake of our nation, I urge my colleagues to join with me and vote no on the articles of impeachment. Thank you. I yield back. Speaker 1: (08:26) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (08:30) Madam Speaker, all we keep hearing from the other side are tax on the process and questions of our motives. We do not here because we cannot hear because they cannot articulate a real defense of the president's actions. I now yield one minute to the Gentle Lady from Massachusetts, Ms. Presley. Speaker 1: (08:51) One minute. Ayanna Pressley: (08:52) Madam Speaker, I rise today to protect our democracy. Today we take a stand against corruption and abuses of power. What we are doing here today is not only patriotic, it is uniquely American. America is a story of ordinary people confronting abuses of power with the steadfast pursuit of justice. Throughout our history, the oppressed had been relegated to the margins by the powerful and each time we have fought back. Deliberate in our approach, clear eyed. Each generation has fought for the preservation of our democracy and that is what brings us to the house floor today, efficient and effective in the pursuit of our truth. Congress has done its due diligence. Today we send a clear message, we will not tolerate abuses of power from the President of the United States of America. The future of this nation rests in our hands. It is with a heavy heart but a resolved one and because I believe our democracy is worth fighting for, I will vote to impeach Donald J. Trump, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Speaker 1: (09:59) [inaudible 00:09:59] back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (10:00) Thank you, Madam Speaker. And you know, again, my chairman, again, I think hears us, he just doesn't want acknowledgement. When you have nothing but a process that it was completely amuck, you talk about process, but you also, I've already debunked the facts many times. Let's do it one more time. No pressure by Mr. Trump or Mr. Zelensky. In fact, what really just horrifies me as a continuation to say that Mr. Zelensky, who is the posed victim here, had said many times there was no pressure. The majority of Democrats are calling him a liar or weakening him in his own country. That's deplorable. He has no conditionality in the transcript or conditionality after that. Five meetings proved that, all high level meetings, no conditionality. Two of those meetings were after the Ukrainians actually knew or the possibility of their aid being held. Doug Collins: (10:40) They've not ever addressed the four truths and the five facts. Also after there was nothing done to get the money, guess what? They got the money. That's the facts. That's what they don't want to deal with. That's where we're at today, so let's continue to see how the sham was perpetrated. That's what many of our members are talking about. With that, I yield a minute and a half from the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Bergman. Speaker 1: (10:59) Gentleman's recognize for a minute and a half. Jack Bergman: (11:04) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I arise today in opposition to the articles of impeachment against President Trump. I believe all American people need to be looked in the eye by all our representatives. Today is the culmination of the Democrats' three year long quest to delegitimize the president. This has been in the works since November, 2016 and it was all but promised when the Democrats took the majority. This sham process began without a formal vote in the House and was continued over these past several months, willfully trampling on decades of bipartisan precedent. No due process, closed-door depositions, even though nothing in the investigation was classified and leaking only details that fit their narrative. Jack Bergman: (11:53) If this isn't partisan politics, I don't know what is. Holding our elected officials accountable is a job I take extremely seriously but the impeachment votes today represent the worst of Washington DC. Yet another reason my constituents are so disillusioned with the process and disappointed by the 116th Congress. Michigan's first district sent me to Washington to get things done, to get the government off their backs, and to help rural Michiganders and other people around the country keep more of their hard earned currency, not to impeach our duly elected president. With that, I urge my colleagues to vote against the articles of impeachment. I yield back. Speaker 1: (12:37) Gentlemen yields back. Gentlemen from New York. Scott Perry: (12:40) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the Gentle Lady from California, Ms. Barragan. Speaker 1: (12:44) Gentle Lady is recognized for one minute. Nanette B.: (12:47) Madam Speaker, it is with a solid sense of duty that I rise today in support of impeachment. As this chamber debates two articles of impeachment against the president for his abusive power and obstruction of Congress, I want history to know that I stood up to say that I stand for the constitution and our democracy. When my immigrant mom became a United States citizen, she took a note and an allegiance to our country and constitution. When I stood on this floor as a new member of Congress, I took a note to uphold and defend our constitution. The president abused his power when he used his official office and power to ask a foreign government to interfere in our elections. When he asked a foreign government for a personal favor to dig up dirt on his political opponent so he could cheat, the president got caught, and then he tried to cover it up. Today we say, "No more." Today we say we will not allow this president to abuse his power and endanger our national security. I stand to say no one is above the law, not even this president. I yell back. Speaker 1: (13:49) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (13:50) Thank you, Madam Speaker, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Perry. Jerry Nadler: (13:53) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Scott Perry: (13:55) I thank the gentleman. Since before inauguration, the press and members of this Congress had been for impeachment. Members refused to attend the inauguration. They called for impeachment. They voted for impeachment without any evidence. They voted for impeachment creating and manufacturing evidence. Recall and votes of no confidence are not included in our constitution for a reason. Our system demands evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. If such evidence existed, there would be an agreement in this chamber but there is not. There is not an agreement because there is not evidence. Madison and Hamilton warned us that this might happen, that impeachment would veer toward political factions and that's exactly what this is. This is bitterly and nakedly partisan. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have made a mockery of this process and this government. They despise the president and are themselves abusing the power of their office. Scott Perry: (14:48) All to settle the political score they were unable to resolve at the ballot box. Madame Speaker, they hope that if they repeat them over and over and stay on message, you will believe their charges. Repeating things that aren't true does not make them true. The call record between the two presidents is clear. President Trump was interested in getting to the bottom of what happened in the 2016 election. He asked the Ukrainians to work with our attorney general. The Ukrainians were already getting the military hardware and they got the assistance money and the meeting they desired. These are not crimes. These are disagreements over foreign policy and the fact that this president is conducting it. If it weren't so sad, it would be laughable. Madam Speaker, my colleagues are not driven by a quest for facts or truth. They are driven by their partisan animus and a timetable. These are the reckless and irresponsible act of the elitist in the swamp and they underline the fabric of our Republic. I urge a no vote and I yield. Speaker 1: (15:44) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (15:46) Madam Speaker. I would remind the Gentlemen that there is in fact extensive direct evidence including the president's own words and actions, which is corroborated and supported by indirect and circumstantial evidence. The record leaves the following key facts indisputable. President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, pushed Ukraine to investigate Vice President Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 elections. President Trump directed US officials and Presidents Zelenskyi himself to work with Mr. Giuliani to fulfill his demands. President Trump withheld critical military aid for Ukraine and President Trump stonewalled Congress' investigation to cover up his misconduct. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Casten. Speaker 1: (16:32) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Sean Casten: (16:34) Madam Speaker, this should not be a partisan vote. This is a vote about America. It's a vote about our democracy and our oath to the constitution. We all took an oath to protect the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and we all know that what President Trump did was wrong. We all know it's wrong to withhold foreign aid for a political favor. We know it's wrong to ignore congressional subpoenas and we know it's wrong to default to silly partisan process arguments rather than to rise and defend this beautiful but all too fragile democracy. And when those in elected power abused their position for personal advantage, it's on us to somberly uphold and defend the responsibility that the founders bestowed on us. So when you talk about partisanship, I'd remind you of those great words of Lincoln and paraphrasing him slightly, when one party would inflame partisanship rather than let the nation survive, I'm proud to be the party that would accept partisanship rather than let the nation perish. So, in this moment, the answer's clear, not because we want to impeach, but because we must. So, when you vote in a few hours, don't vote your party. Vote your character. That's how you're going to be judged. And that's how we're all going to be judged. Thank you. And I yield back. Speaker 1: (17:46) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (17:48) Madam, if I can ask for a time check for both. Speaker 1: (17:52) Gentleman from Georgia has an hour and 44 and a half minutes. Gentleman from New York has an hour and 47 and a half minutes. Doug Collins: (18:03) Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Colorado, Mr Tipton. Speaker 1: (18:08) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Scott Tipton: (18:10) Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this partisan impeachment process. Make no mistake, this process did not begin with a whistle blower report. In fact, impeachment efforts began shortly after the president was elected. The theatrics, political posturing have ensured that this body is not actually pursuing to preserve checks and balances. Rather, this process echoes the calls by some that refuse to accept the 2016 election results. None of the articles receiving a vote justify the removal of the president from office. The first article suggests that the president pressured a foreign government to be able to assist in an upcoming election. Ukraine received its aid without a prearranged agreement. This is unsubstantiated. Second article is premised on the obstruction occurred when the white house ignored subpoena's issued by the House. Our federal courts are the ultimate arbitrators of these decisions. In fact, previous administrations, Republican and Democrat, both have dealt with these issues and claimed executive privilege. Mr. Speaker, Madam Speaker, the articles that are before this House are unsubstantiated. I intend to vote no on these articles and I would encourage my colleagues to be able to do the same. Speaker 1: (19:28) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (19:30) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Arizona, Mr Gallego. Speaker 1: (19:35) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Ruben Gallego: (19:37) Madam Speaker, today I will vote to impeach president Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Those still defending the president's actions are desperately grasping at straws while living in an alternate universe where facts don't exist. To those still unwilling should search their souls, ask yourself, would you support a Democratic president using taxpayer dollars to pressure a foreign government to investigate a Republican political opponent based on false Russian conspiracy theories? Of course not. That's absurd. Any president who does that has abused the power of the presidency for personal gain and undermined our most sacred tradition, our elections. In a few hours, every member will make a choice. Will you fall into the age old political trap of thinking blind partisanship is all that matters? Will you vote to defend the constitution and our democracy so that the President Trump and every future president will know that they are not above the law and will be held accountable for their actions? I have made my choice. I hope every member puts the defense of our nation first and joins me. I yield back. Speaker 1: (20:42) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (20:44) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I need to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Smith. Speaker 1: (20:48) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Adrian Smith: (20:50) Madam speaker, I rise today to speak out against this attempt to remove the duly elected President of the United States. Impeachment is importantly established in our constitution. The impeachment of a president has only happened twice in our country's 243 year history. Yet today for highly political purposes, the House majority is trying to remove President Trump from office based on second hand indirect accounts. The articles of impeachment we are voting on today offer no evidence of a crime but instead are purposely broad to fit the majority's narrative. Less than one year until the next presidential election, we are being asked to override the choice of the American people. This lopsided and hyper-partisan biased impeachment process has been predetermined as an outcome from the very beginning. This is an unfortunate day in the history of our great country. We must hope this political game does not set a precedent of which to follow in the future. Surely there will be disagreements between the President and Congress for many years to come. Instead of unnecessarily dividing our country, as we are seeing today, we should be looking at ways to bring our country together. Thank you. I yield back. Speaker 1: (22:04) Gentleman yields back. Gentlemen from New York. Jerry Nadler: (22:09) Madam Speaker, President Trump's actions are both impeachable and criminal. Although the violation of the federal criminal statute is neither necessary nor sufficient to justify impeachment, President Trump's conduct violated the federal anti-bribery statute very clearly. Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Buyer. Speaker 1: (22:30) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Don Beyer: (22:32) I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, today I vote to impeach President Donald Trump for the abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. I don't hate the President, but I love my country and I have no other choice. Voting for these articles of impeachment is the only moral course of action. The only way to honor our oath of office. I have no doubt that the votes I cast today will stand the test of time. This has nothing to do with the 2016 elections. I'm so disappointed though that Republican friends approve of the president's abuses of power and solicitation of foreign interference in our elections. This is the very definition of the willful suspension of disbelief. They know in their hearts that what the president's done is deeply wrong. They know that they would vote without hesitation to impeach a Democratic president who had done these things. I remind all Americans, the president did not rebut the facts, the many, many facts which have led to the articles of impeachment today. For the sake of our democracy, our constitution, and our country, we must do the right thing and vote to impeach President Trump. I yield back. Speaker 1: (23:33) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (23:34) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was just amazed by what the chairman just said. If it was obviously that he violated the bribery statute, clearly, then why didn't we add it as an article impeachment? The reason why? It didn't. With that I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Guest. Speaker 1: (23:47) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Michael Guest: (23:49) Thank you, ma'am. Article two section four, The United States constitution states that the President of the United States may be removed from office for treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors. As a former prosecutor, I am confident that no court would accept these articles of impeachment as having met the standards set forth by our founding fathers. The impeachment articles rely almost exclusively on hearsay and opinion testimony, and they present no direct evidence of wrongdoing. As a former district attorney, I'm dismayed that the Democrats have submitted articles of impeachment against a sitting president using circumstantial evidence that fails to offer proof of an impeachable offense. Additionally, the charges levied against the president of the articles of impeachment lack historical precedent and are motivated by pure political reason. If the House of Representatives passes the articles of impeachment, the Democrats will have set a dangerous precedent by undoing America's votes for president because a single party disagreed with the 2016 presidential election results. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the articles of impeachment and I yield back. Speaker 1: (25:09) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (25:10) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from California, Mr. Thompson. Speaker 1: (25:14) Gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mike Thompson: (25:16) Madam Speaker, I find no pleasure coming to the floor today to consider impeachment. I ran for Congress to represent my community and to serve the country I love. As a combat veteran and having served eight years on the intelligence committee, I understand the threat that foreign actors can play in our elections. Every elected official must dedicate themselves to protecting our democracy. No one should invite a foreign country to interfere with our most sacred act of voting. It was abusive power by the president to ask a foreign nation to interfere in our election to benefit his personal and political interest and to condition bi-partisan congressionally approved aid on that interference. Unchecked, these actions could lead us down a path that will unravel the fabric of our nation. I'm saddened we're here today, but in the interest of defending our nation, I will vote for the articles of impeachment. I yield back the balance of my time. Speaker 1: (26:13) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (26:15) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This time I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Roy. Speaker 1: (26:19) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Chip Roy: (26:20) Thank the gentlemen from Georgia. Mr. Speaker, our founders intentionally did not embrace recalls or votes of no confidence. Rather, we demand from Congress evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. While my colleagues are free to dislike the president and while they may reasonably view the infamous phone call and negotiations with Ukrainians as something less than perfect, they are not free to impeach something less than a high crime and misdemeanor. In over 10 months, though, the people are free to decide and we should let them. The eyes of the world are upon us, Madam Speaker, the press galleries are full. Our floor is filled with members. When will we give the world something better than this? My colleagues speak eloquent about the constitutions they found under mothballs. Where's respect for the constitution when the people's House daily refuses to do its actual job while shredding federalism and limited government? Today in Mexico, a young girl will be abused while being trafficked toward our open borders. While some here yell kids in cages and play race politics in the false name of compassion. Chip Roy: (27:17) Today in New York, a young mother will be coerced into abortion by taxpayer funded Planned Parenthood, while we allow the genocide of the unborn in the false name of choice. Today across America, diabetics will struggle to afford insulin due to a healthcare system ravaged by government and insurance bureaucrats empowered in the false name of coverage. And today our children inherit a hundred million dollars of debt an hour, borrowed in the false name of what government can provide. In this conduct by Congress failing to do its jobs, that should be impeached. And one might ask if America would be better off taking the first 435 names out of the phone book to represent us in the United States House than what is on display here today. Today is not a dark day because the American people know this. America is great. Washington is broken. And we're taking our country back. I yield back. Speaker 1: (28:05) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (28:09) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentle lady from California, Mrs. Matsui. Speaker 1: (28:14) Gentle lady is recognized for one minute. Doris Matsui: (28:17) Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. I came to Congress to serve the great people of Sacramento and to build a better future for our children and grandchildren, including my grandkids and on Ravi. The facts before us are crystal clear. We heard testimony from 17 brave Patriots who value our democracy and the constitution. They testified that President Trump threatened to withhold congressionally approved money in exchange for dirt on a political rival and worse that he continues to invite foreign powers to violate our sovereignty, even today. Honest face, these are impeachable offenses that represent a clear and present danger to our country. That's why the only answer is to act now. We need to stand together and stop President Trump immediately so that he cannot violate the next election. For the sake of our country and our democracy, I will vote yes to impeach the president and I yield back. Speaker 1: (29:16) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (29:19) Thank you, Madam Speaker, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Smucker. Speaker 1: (29:21) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Lloyd Smucher: (29:23) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, how much is the trust of the American people worth? When the American people are dissatisfied with their government, the primary tool that the constitution gives them to make a change is their vote. And on November 8th, 2016, Americans from every part of this nation packed the polls to elect Donald J. Trump to be the President of the United States. The country wanted a disruptor, a fighter, a deal maker, a president that would put America first. But sadly, on that very same day, Democrats had no plan or interest in honoring the vote of the American people. They were going to attempt from day one to de-legitimize this president and ultimately remove him from office. Right after the president was sworn in, the Washington Post wrote, "The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun." Lloyd Smucher: (30:25) Even before he took office, a Politico article headline read, "Could Trump be impeached shortly after he takes office?" So, House Democrats have been planning for this day since January, 2017. It's clear that facts have never mattered to the House Democrats. They never planned to work with the president. Instead, they intended only to fulfill their divisive partisan agenda. Again, I ask, how much is the trust of the American people worth? Because after the vote today for what you think is a short term partisan gain, you can be sure that the American people will have lost their trust in our institutions. Speaker 1: (31:09) Gentleman's time has expired. Lloyd Smucher: (31:09) They will have lost their trust in Congress, and most importantly- Speaker 1: (31:13) Gentleman from New York. Lloyd Smucher: (31:13) They will have lost trust that their vote counts. Speaker 1: (31:16) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (31:18) Madam Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Garamendi. Speaker 1: (31:23) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. John Garamendi: (31:30) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Impeaching a president is one of the most solemn and consequential decisions in the United States Congress can make. It's not an action that I, or my fellow House colleagues take lightly. Investigations and hearings conducted by the House prove overwhelming evidence that President Trump abused his power and endangered our national security. President Trump also issued a blanket order prohibiting all executive office personnel from testifying, responding to subpoenas. John Garamendi: (32:03) Those from testifying, responding to subpoenas or turning over documents. Therefore, he has obstructed the legitimate constitutional obligation of Congress. The President and his actions leave me no choice. President Trump violated his oath of office. Now I will uphold my oath of office to preserve and protect our constitution and my promise to my constituents to carefully analyze all issues before me. I will vote in favor of both articles of impeachment against President Donald John Trump. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (32:38) Gentleman from Georgia. Speaker 2: (32:40) Thank you, Madame Speaker. I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from [inaudible 00:32:44]. Madame Speaker: (32:43) Gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Neal Dunn: (32:45) Madam Speaker, I stand before you today a disappointed man. I am disappointed in a broken and partisan process that has consumed the House Democrats. We were told this investigation was going to be bipartisan and transparent. Instead, the proceedings were held in secret behind closed doors with no attempt at a fair hearing. All this was done deliberately in an effort to undo the results of the 2016 election. Madam Speaker, my constituents in Florida want to see us get to work. They want us ... they're counting on us to actually fix the surprise medical billing, to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Instead, we're here a week before Christmas voting to impeach the legitimate president Donald J. Trump on the strength of nothing but rumors. We've wasted almost a year on this process while House Democrats chose political theater over serving the American people. This shameful vote to impeach our President will be a lasting stain on our House and I urge all of my colleagues to vote no. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (33:52) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (33:54) Madame Speaker, I now yield one minute to the distinguished gentlemen from Oregon, Mr. DeFazio. Madame Speaker: (33:58) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Peter DeFazio: (34:04) Thank the gentleman. It's clear cut. The President of the United States has violated his oath of office and betrayed the constitution and the American people. He admitted to soliciting assistance from a foreign leader to interfere in the US election and aid his political reelection campaign. That's a violation of law, a violation of the constitution, and a betrayal of the American people and an impeachable offense. Overwhelming evidence also demonstrates the President withheld congressionally approved tax payer dollars to blackmail the young new president of Ukraine under attack from Russia. Now the gentleman from Georgia says Ukraine didn't feel any pressure. They're being invaded by Russia. Vladimir Putin, you know, Trump's friend. And he withheld that aid until the whistleblower report came out. Then the aid was released. It wasn't released for any good purpose. Congress voted for that aid. The President signed the bill. That is another impeachable offense and the judiciary committee has put together an extensive document which shows that there is evidence of numerous other federal crimes including bribery and wire fraud. The President's actions threatened the continuation of our representative democracy. I'm proudly voting for impeachment today. Madame Speaker: (35:23) Gentleman from Georgia. Speaker 2: (35:25) Thank you, Madame Speaker. I am glad to know that Mr. Trump was giving them lethal aid, actually something to fight back with, not what was previously given to them and there was again, from the President himself, no pressure put on him. Your whole case sort of destroys if you're coercing somebody if there was no pressure felt. But yet we don't seem to get that part on this floor debate today. So with that, I yield a minute and a half of the gentleman from Montana, Mr. Gianforte. Madame Speaker: (35:46) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Greg Gianforte: (35:48) Today this chamber is pushing through the most partisan, baseless articles of impeachment in our history. House Democrats' hyper-partisan impeachment has been a sham since day one, driven by those whose bitter rage against President Trump has blinded their better judgment. The fact is they resolved to overturn the results of the 2016 election the day President Trump won. Earlier this year, Speaker Pelosi said, "Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bi-partisan, I don't think we should go down that path." None of those standards have been met. None. The committee hearings were a scripted, substance free, made for TV show. They would be comedy if impeachment weren't so serious and grave. Witnesses denied awareness of an impeachable offense and because the majority has failed to make the case for impeachment, there is no bipartisanship. Compelling, overwhelming bipartisan. Speaker Pelosi has not met her own criteria for impeachment, but here we are. Despite Democrats testing and tweaking their impeachment message, the American people have rejected it. I will vote against this partisan impeachment sham. Let's get back to the work that the American people sent us here and on this sad day of an impeachment charade, I yield back the balance of my time. Madame Speaker: (37:22) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (37:25) Madame Speaker, right now I yield one minute to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gonzalez. Madame Speaker: (37:29) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. V Gonzalez: (37:39) Madame Speaker, I arise on a sad day for America, a sad day for Texas, and a very sad day for the people I represent. I'm not gleeful for today. I came to Congress to lower the cost of prescription drugs, fight for a debt free education, improve the cost of special needs children, our seniors, and our veterans. I did not come to Congress to impeach a sitting president, but we've been given no choice. V Gonzalez: (38:03) He has eroded the foundations of our democracy and used the office of the presidency for personal and political gain. Our founding fathers feared that one day the power of the presidency would stretch beyond its limits. Thus they enshrined in the Constitution a system of checks and balances. We cannot and will not lower the ethical standards of our presidency. We cannot afford to wither like a cheap flower in bad weather, watching our democracy crumble and rot from within. That is not the America the world knows and loves and it's certainly not the America we would be proud to have our future generations inherit. And that is why today I must vote to impeach the President of the United States and fulfill my oath to the Constitution. And I yield back. Madame Speaker: (38:48) Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (38:49) Madam speaker, I yield one and a half minutes to my friend from Texas, Mr. Hurd. Madame Speaker: (38:54) Gentleman is recognized for one and a half minutes. Will Hurd: (38:57) Throughout this process, the American people have learned of bungling foreign policy decisions, but we have not heard evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of bribery or extortion. Allegations of these two crimes aren't even mentioned in the articles of impeachment being debated today. But today we have seen a rushed process divide our country. Today accusations have been hurled at each other, questioning one another's integrity. Today a dangerous precedent will be set, impeachment becoming a weaponized political tool. We know how this partisan process will end this evening, but what happens tomorrow? Can this chamber put down our swords and get back to work for the American people? This institution has a fabled history of passing legislation that has not only changed our country, but has inspired the world. This feat has been possible because this experiment we call America has one perpetual goal, make a more perfect union. We can contribute to this history if we recognize the simple fact that way more unites our country than divides us. Tomorrow can we start focusing on that? Madame Speaker: (40:17) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (40:20) Madame Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Davis. Madame Speaker: (40:24) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Danny Davis: (40:26) Thank you, Madame Speaker. This is indeed a sad day for our country. This is indeed a sad day for America. But it's a good day for our Constitution. It is a sad day for our country because President Trump has defined our Constitution, our rules, our requirements, and our expectations. It is clear that President Trump places himself above the law, above our Constitution and above the expectations of the American people. At my last town hall meeting, which was held Saturday, December 15th in Malcolm X College in Chicago, someone asked a question. What is our position on impeachment? Madam Speaker, every person there rose and said, "Impeach." When I speak, I speak for the people of the seventh district of Illinois and my vote would be impeach, impeach, impeach. And I yield back to balance of my time. Madame Speaker: (41:31) Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (41:33) Madame Speaker, I yield to two minutes to my friend from Texas, Mr. Gohmert. Madame Speaker: (41:37) Gentleman's recognized for two minutes. Louie Gohmert: (41:40) Thank you. In 1998, Senator Schumer said, and I quote, "This impeachment will be used as a routine tool to fight political battles." We thought it was a prediction. It was a promise and now it's playing out. It's exactly what's being done here. And for those that say we don't address the defenses of fact, here you go. The impeachment serves two purposes. Number one, stop the investigation by the US Department of Justice and Ukraine into the corruption of Ukraine interference into the US election in 2016. You said this was about, " Oh, this terrible Russia collusion." Oh, then that fell through. It's about emoluments. It's about bribery. It's about extortion. It's changed, but one thing hasn't changed and that is the intent to impeach this president. It's always been there. Louie Gohmert: (42:46) But let's be honest, the President turning his back on Ukraine, that happened in 2009 because in 2008, Ukraine invaded Georgia. What happened? Bush put sanctions on Russia to teach them a lesson. What happened after that? Well, in March of 2009, Hillary Clinton was sent over to Russia with the reset button to say, "Bush overreacted. We're okay with that you invaded Georgia." It was a green light to Russia to invade Ukraine. And what do you do? Oh yeah. You send blankets and MREs they can eat and be warm while the Russians are killing them. That is what the Obama administration did. Louie Gohmert: (43:28) This is a travesty and we're in big trouble because Schumer was right. Now it's lowered even farther, the bar. It will be used for political battles and this country's end is now in sight. I hope I don't leave live to see it. This is an outrage. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (43:49) Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (43:51) Madame Speaker, I am deeply concerned that any member of the House would spout Russian propaganda on the floor of the House. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from New York, Mr. Higgins. Madame Speaker: (44:05) The gentleman from New York is recognized for ... The House will come to order. The gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute. Louie Gohmert: (44:11) [crosstalk 00:44:11] Russian propaganda. Madame Speaker: (44:15) The House will come to order. The House will come to order. The gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute. Brian Higgins: (44:23) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madame Speaker. The United States Constitution is explicit. Bribery is an impeachable offense. Bribery involves the abuse of power and the President of United States abused the power of his office by soliciting a bribe of a foreign leader to interfere in an election that he was afraid he could not win honorably, fairly or freely. "You, President of Ukraine, open and announce an investigation of my political rival and I, President of the United States, will release $391 million in military aid and give you the stature amplifying White House meeting that you need." This is a this for that, something for something transaction. Soliciting a bride from a foreign leader is an abuse of power and a federal crime. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (45:16) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (45:18) Madame Speaker, I yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis. Madame Speaker: (45:23) Gentleman's recognized. Bilirakis: (45:24) Thank you, Madame Speaker. I want to thank my Republican colleagues who have toiled honorably in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law under difficult circumstances, Madame Speaker. You know, Madame Speaker, it's a darn shame that we have found ourselves in this position today. Every time I step into this chamber, I'm humbled to be serving in the greatest legislative body in the history of the world. However, it's deeply disappointing that the hyper partisanship that has gripped this country has made its way into this chamber. Bilirakis: (46:02) I pride myself on being a consensus builder who works across the aisle to get things done for the American people, but when it comes to the matter of impeachment, I have no doubt that the entire process has been politically motivated. There's absolutely no evidence that President Trump committed an impeachable offense, which is why I will vote no. This whole process has been a ploy to circumvent the will of the people by removing a duly elected President of the United States. It is a national disgrace and sets a dangerous precedent. But we are a great nation and we will survive this indignity. Let's put this ugly chapter behind us, Madame Speaker, and get to work. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (46:51) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (46:53) Ms. Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson. Madame Speaker: (46:57) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Bennie Thompson: (47:01) Thank you very much, Madame Speaker. Madame Speaker, the question that will be answered today is, will members honor their oath to uphold the Constitution? Democrats are not supporting impeachment based on a policy disagreement or the election results of 2016. No one is above the law. The President must be held accountable. A constitutional process is not a hoax or witch hunt. President Trump just opposes it. No one is above the law, not even President Donald J. Trump, the President abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to help his reelection campaign. Impeachment is a constitutional remedy for these actions. Trump betrayed his oath, betrayed the Constitution, and undermined the integrity of our elections. Those who are against impeachment inquiry are willing to turn a blind eye to constitutional violations by the President. As a nation, we have no other alternative. We must protect our Constitution and the United States of America. In his own words, no intelligent person believes what he is saying. Madame Speaker: (48:25) Gentleman's time has expired. Bennie Thompson: (48:26) I yield back. Madame Speaker: (48:27) Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (48:29) Madame Speaker, I yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Barry. Madame Speaker: (48:33) Gentleman's recognized for one and a half minutes. Jim Baird: (48:44) Madame Speaker, the totality of this process is just another reminder that my colleagues across the aisle are more focused on politics than policy. The American people deserve better. Our republic deserves better. The brave men and women of our military, myself included, have fought for the freedom and democracy all around the world. Yet today, my colleagues are eroding those freedoms through a process that ignored facts, abused power, and was shrouded in secrecy. Those facts could not be more clear. The President committed no crime, broke no laws, and there was no quid pro quo. I look forward to doing the right thing, representing the Hoosiers in my district and voting against this impeachment charade. I stand with President Trump and look forward to passing policies that continue to move our country forward. I yield back the balance of my time. Madame Speaker: (49:46) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (49:48) Madame Speaker, I now yield one minute to the gentleman from Oregon, Mr. Blumenauer. Madame Speaker: (49:52) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Earl Blumenauer: (49:58) Thank you. Thanks to the hard work of our committees, the leadership of the Speaker, we found overwhelming evidence Trump invited foreign interests to interfere in our elections for his personal gain and he then took unprecedented efforts to cover it up, obstructing Congress. I'm proud of the courage of new members to do their duty so that for the first time in his privileged life, Donald Trump will be finally held accountable for his reckless personal behavior and business practices. I vote proudly for these two articles of impeachment and then I hope the House retains control of the articles until the Speaker and Leader Schumer can negotiate agreement on process and witnesses from McConnell so that the next stage will be open and fair so that Donald Trump will ultimately be held accountable. Madame Speaker: (50:50) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (50:52) Madame Speaker, I yield one and a half minutes to my friend from Oklahoma, Mr. Hern. Madame Speaker: (50:59) Gentleman's recognized for one and a half minutes. Kevin Hern: (51:04) Public hearings began November 13th. Less than a month later, Speaker Pelosi announced articles of impeachment on December 5th, saying that the investigation had revealed enough information to move forward with impeachment. Let's think about that. 22 day investigation. Six of those days were weekends where hearings weren't happening and the House was not in session. Seven of those days were weekends that the House was in recess, including the week of Thanksgiving. Two of those days were in flying days where Congress doesn't hold hearings. So out of the 22 days, just seven days, seven days were used to investigate, debate and vote on the impeachment of the duly elected leader of our country. No wonder my constituents are upset. Seven days to impeach the President of the United States. Not to mention that this seven day investigation uncovered zero facts in support of impeachment. I spent every minute I had in there as an observer of these hearings and all I learned is that if you hate someone so strongly and enough people agree with you, that's grounds enough to be impeached. Kevin Hern: (52:01) We asked for 12 hours of debate, the same amount of time allotted to President Clinton's impeachment. 12 hours of debate for possibly the biggest vote I will cast in my tenure as representative isn't asking too much, but no, they want to get out of here before Christmas, so it's okay to rush through the process. I'm ashamed to be a part of this today even as I vote against the impeachment. My constituents are calling every day, mad as hell, saying we should be ashamed that this historic chamber has fallen so low to allow something like this to happen. I yield back back. Madame Speaker: (52:34) Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (52:37) Madame Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madame Speaker: (52:40) Gentleman's recognized. Jerry Nadler: (52:42) Madame Speaker, my friend, the gentleman from Georgia, has a tagline about the clock and the calendar. Madame Speaker, this is not about the clock and the calendar. It is about corruption and the Constitution. It is about a president who abuses power to coerce an ally to intervene in our election and poses a continuing threat to the integrity of our next election. The President's defense is built on three pillars and when those three pillars fall, the entire defense of the President collapses. Jerry Nadler: (53:13) First, they claim there was no quid pro quo. Well, the evidence is undisputed. President Trump conditioned a White House visit and military aid on President Zelensky's public announcement of the investigations. Ambassador William Taylor wrote at the time, "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign." A reporter asked White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, if there had been a quid pro quo here, and he replied, "We do that all the time. Get over it." The President refused to help our ally until he got a personal political favor. And so the first defense falls. Jerry Nadler: (53:53) Second, the minority claims that the Ukrainians didn't know about the hold. The evidence again is undisputed. Ukraine knew about the hold on the military assistance within hours of the President's July 25th call. Laura Cooper of the Department of Defense testified under oath that on July 25th, the State Department sent two emails to the Department of Defense notifying them that Ukrainian officials were asking where is the aid. The Ukrainians understood exactly what President Trump was asking. He wanted a personal political favor before the aid was released. And so the second defense falls. Jerry Nadler: (54:34) Third and finally, my Republican friends say the aid was released. But the aid was released only after the President got caught. This House launched its investigation on September 9th. The hold on the aid was lifted on September 11th. This is not evidence of innocence. It is evidence of culpability. The evidence is overwhelming. And when he got caught, he did everything in his power to prevent the American people from learning the truth about his actions. By defying the congressional investigation, by ordering that all requests and demands for information be denied. Jerry Nadler: (55:11) With our national security and the integrity of our election at risk, we must act, not because of the clock and the calendar, but to fight against corruption and for continued self-government by the American people. I yield back. I reserve the balance of my time. Madame Speaker: (55:29) Gentleman from North Dakota. Speaker 3: (55:31) Madame Speaker, I would just point out that to believe everything that was just said, you have to also believe that President Zelensky is a pathological liar. And with that, I yield one and a half minutes to my friend from South Carolina, Mr. Duncan. Madame Speaker: (55:43) Gentleman's recognized for one and a half minutes. Jeff Duncan: (55:45) Thank you, Madame Speaker. You know we're not debating impeachment of an American President today. Your minds are already made up. The Democrat majority has had a verdict, impeachment, looking for a crime since the inauguration. The Washington Post ran the headline, "The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun," just 19 minutes after President Trump took the oath of office. 19 minutes. Freshman Congresswoman from Michigan told a group of supporters, "We're going to impeach the mother blank," shortly after she was sworn in. Even Speaker Pelosi admitted last week that the impeachment effort has been going on for two and a half years, long before any phone call between two world leaders. In fact, 71% of the Democrats on the judiciary committee supported impeachment before the phone call. The impeachment sham is based on hearsay, conjecture and opinion. And you know what? You can't even get a speeding ticket in this country based on hearsay, but yet we're going to impeach an American president based on just that. Jeff Duncan: (56:41) Where are the crimes of treason, high crimes or misdemeanors committed here? Those are things that constitute impeachable offenses, not hatred or policy disagreements. If memory serves me right, Congress told the administration to withhold aid to Ukraine until they got their act together. Addressed corruption, straightened out ... That was in multiple NDAAs voted on by both parties in this chamber. So in the simplest terms, we're impeaching the President for doing something we told him to do? Give me a break. Jeff Duncan: (57:07) We have wasted precious time we are given to serve the American people while you held secret hearings and depositions behind closed doors in Chairman Schiff's chamber of secrets, but the American people have a great sense of fairness. I promise you, they see President Trump has not been treated fairly in this process, impeachment based on hearsay and opinion, not facts. It's a sad day in this chamber, the people's House. I yield back. Madame Speaker: (57:34) Members are again reminded to address their remarks to the chair. Gentleman from New York. Jerry Nadler: (57:38) Madame Speaker, I would now inform you that the gentleman from California, Mr. Schiff, the chair of the intelligence committee, will now serve as my designee and will control the remainder of the time on the majority side. Madame Speaker: (57:49) Does the gentleman yield to the gentleman from California? Jerry Nadler: (57:54) He's my designee. Madame Speaker: (57:56) Does the gentleman from California yield to himself? Adam Schiff: (57:59) Yes, Madame Speaker. I yield to myself as much time as I may consume. Madame Speaker: (58:02) Gentleman's recognized. Adam Schiff: (58:04) I thank my colleague, Chairman Nadler. I thank him for the extraordinary job that he has done as chairman of the judiciary committee and throughout these difficult proceedings. Madame Speaker, my colleagues, my fellow Americans, I rise to support the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. Adam Schiff: (58:23) When a man unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessive considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits, despotic in his ordinary demeanor, known to have scoffed and private at the principles of liberty, when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity, to join in the cry of danger to liberty, to take every opportunity of embarrassing the government, the general government, and bringing it under suspicion, to flatter and fall in with all the nonsense of the zealots of the day, it may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind. Adam Schiff: (59:11) These are the words of Alexander Hamilton written in 1792. Could we find a more perfect description of the present danger emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? The framers crafted a Constitution that contemplated free and fair elections for the highest office in the land, but also afforded the Congress with the power to remove a president who abused the powers of his office for personal gain, who compromised the public trust by betraying our nation security, or who sought to undermine our democratic system by seeking foreign intervention in the conduct of our elections. Adam Schiff: (59:53) I would say that the founders could have little imagined that a single president might have done all of these things except that the evidence has sadly proved this is exactly what this president has done. Hamilton, among others, seems to have predicted the rise of Donald Trump with a staggering prescience. Having won freedom from a King, the drafters of our Constitution designed a government in which ambition was made to check ambition, in which no branch of government would predominate over another, and no man would be allowed to be above the law, including the president, especially the president, since with whom would the danger be greater than with the officer charged with being our commander in chief. Adam Schiff: (01:00:43) Over the course of the last three months, we have found incontrovertible evidence that President Trump abused his power by pressuring the newly elected President of Ukraine to announce an investigation into President Trump's political rival, Joe Biden, with the hopes of defeating Mr. Biden in the 2020 presidential election and enhancing his own prospects for reelection. He didn't even need the investigation to be undertaken, just simply announced to the public. The smear of his opponent, the smear of his opponent would be enough. Adam Schiff: (01:01:25) To effectuate this scheme, President Trump withheld two official acts of vital importance to a nation at war with our adversary, Vladimir Putin's Russia. The President withheld a White House meeting that Ukraine desperately sought to bolster its standing on the world's stage and even more perniciously, President Trump suspended hundreds of millions of dollars of military aid approved by this Congress to coerce Ukraine into doing his electoral dirty work. The President of the United States was willing to sacrifice our national security by withholding support for a critical strategic partner at war in order to improve his reelection prospects. But for the courage of someone willing to blow the whistle, he would've gotten away with it. Instead, he got caught. He tried to cheat and he got caught. Adam Schiff: (01:02:33) Now, this wasn't the first time. As a candidate in 2016, Donald Trump invited Russian interference in his presidential campaign saying at a campaign rally, "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," a clear invitation to hack Hillary Clinton's emails. Just five hours later, Russian government hackers tried to do exactly that. What followed was an immense Russian hacking and dumping operation and a social media disinformation campaign designed to help elect Donald Trump. Not only did candidate Trump welcome that effort, but he made full use of it, building it into his campaign plan, his messaging strategy, and then he sought to cover it up. Adam Schiff: (01:03:23) This Russian effort to interfere in our elections didn't deter Donald Trump. It empowered him. The day after special counsel Bob Mueller testified before Congress about Russia's sweeping and systemic effort to influence the outcome of our last election, the day after President Trump believed that the investigation into his first electoral misconduct had come to an end, the President was back on the phone urging yet another country, this time Ukraine, to help him cheat in another election. Three consecutive days in July- Adam Schiff: (01:04:03) Three consecutive days in July tell so much of the story. Three consecutive days in July of 2019. July 24th, the day that special counsel Mueller testified before Congress and President Trump thought he was finally in the clear. Adam Schiff: (01:04:23) July 25th the day that President Trump got on the phone with the Ukrainian president and in the context of a discussion about military support for that embattled nation that the president had 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 25th. Adam Schiff: (01:04:50) And then we come to July 26th, 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 his hand picked ambassador to the European Union. What does President Trump ask Sondland that day after this call? What does President Trump ask? What does the president want to know? Did he ask about Ukraine's 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 asks Sondland, "So he's 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 he asked him to. Adam Schiff: (01:05:52) If that wasn't telling enough, my colleagues, in a conversation that followed an American diplomat dining with Sondland asked if it was true that President Trump didn't 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. Adam Schiff: (01:06:35) In that short conversation, we learned everything we need to know about the 45th President of the United States. He doesn't care about Ukraine or the impact on our national security caused by withholding 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. Adam Schiff: (01:07:10) As Professor Gerhardt testified before the Judiciary Committee two weeks ago, if what we're 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. "Well, I would think," he said from the White House lawn on October 3rd. "That if they're being honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer," he said. And he made it clear it's an open invitation to other nations as well saying China should start an investigation into the Bidens too. Adam Schiff: (01:08:05) 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. Adam Schiff: (01:08:18) 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. Adam Schiff: (01:08:47) 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 that the founders for warned the excess of factionalism the elevation of party over country. Adam Schiff: (01:09:08) Many of my colleagues appeared 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. They've made their choice, despite this president in the White House, stonewalling every subpoena, every request for witnesses and testimony from this co-equal, coequal branch of government. They have made their choice knowing that to allow this present 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. Adam Schiff: (01:10:08) When Donald J. Trump was sworn in on January 20th, 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. Adam Schiff: (01:10:50) 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 for an interference in our elections, he must be impeached. I reserve the balance of my time. Nancy Pelosi: (01:11:17) Gentleman from North Dakota. Kelly Armstrong: (01:11:20) Madam Chair, it's nice to see you here, Chairman Schiff. It would have been nice to have either you are the whistleblower present in either the judiciary or the oversight hearings. And I think we're continuing to neglect the four key facts of this. The transcript is out. Everybody can read it. The American people can read it. There's no conditionality our aid discussed on that call. The two- Nancy Pelosi: (01:11:41) [inaudible 01:11:41]. Kelly Armstrong: (01:11:41) The two... Yes ma'am? Nancy Pelosi: (01:11:42) Go ahead. Kelly Armstrong: (01:11:43) The two principals on that call, President Trump and President Zelensky have said there is no pressure. President Zelensky has basically screamed from the rooftops on numerous occasions that there was no pressure, no bribery, no quid pro quo. The Ukrainian government got the money and didn't know the aid was being paused and no investigation was announced and meeting with the president took place and the it was released. And with that I would yield. Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:07) [inaudible 01:12:07] ended to address the remarks to the Chair. Kelly Armstrong: (01:12:10) And with that I would yield a minute and a half of my time from my friend from Missouri, Mr. Smith. Nancy Pelosi: (01:12:15) Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half. Jason Smith: (01:12:17) Thank you Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I come from a state that raises corn and cotton cockleburs and Democrats. You're frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I'm from the show me state. You have to show me. The only thing that you all have shown so far is that you're about to impeach a duly elected president who has done nothing wrong. Jason Smith: (01:12:47) 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 can't beat them. In fact, one of my Democrat colleagues is quoted stating, "I'm concerned if we don't impeach him, he will get reelected." This kind of rhetoric is disgusting. Impeachment is not a political weapon and any member who votes for impeachment should be ashamed today. You cannot undo the results of the 2016 election simply because your flawed candidate did not win and thank God she didn't. Jason Smith: (01:13:41) 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 that stifle economic growth have been rolled back all thanks to President Trump's leadership and commitment. But we shouldn't be surprised. Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment... can I have one 30 seconds? Speaker 4: (01:14:07) 15 seconds. Kelly Armstrong: (01:14:08) Will yield him 15 seconds. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:10) Gentleman's recognized. Jason Smith: (01:14:11) This is very important. We shouldn't be surprised. Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment in five out of our last six Republican presidents. They are the party of impeachment. The Democrats are the party of impeachment. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:29) Gentleman yields back. And once again, members are admonished to address the remarks to the Chair. Gentleman from California. Adam Schiff: (01:14:36) Thank you Madam Speaker. It is my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from California, Mr. Swalwell. Nancy Pelosi: (01:14:42) Mr. Swalwell's recognized for two minutes. Eric Swalwell: (01:14:45) 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. Eric Swalwell: (01:15:02) And not a single fact in this case is seriously in dispute. I asked 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 his personal lawyer to Ukraine to dig up dirt and rig an election? The answer to all of these questions is President Donald Trump. Eric Swalwell: (01:15:59) 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 it's also shown us the courage of some of our fellow patriotic civil servants who have used their courage to not only stand up around the world to extinguish corruption, but also to extinguish it at the White House. How? Well my colleagues argue, no harm, no foul, Ukraine got the aid. Wrong. Trump cheated. Patriots caught him. Then Ukraine got the aide. Standing up, turns out, works. Eric Swalwell: (01:16:40) Now is the time to summon the courage of those patriots and to summon the courage that 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 and our constitution's at stake. Stand up for that. I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:17:11) Gentleman from North Dakota. Kelly Armstrong: (01:17:12) Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining on each side? Nancy Pelosi: (01:17:17) The gentleman has 1 hour and 23-1/4 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from California has 1 hour and 18 minutes remaining. Kelly Armstrong: (01:17:27) I appreciate the detail and with that I yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Johnson. Nancy Pelosi: (01:17:32) Gentleman is recognized from one and a half minutes. Bill Johnson: (01:17:36) Madam Speaker, this is 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 million American voters the Democrats today are wanting to silence. Madam Speaker, disenfranchising 63 million voters gives me 63 million reasons to vote no. And I urge my colleagues to do the same. Nancy Pelosi: (01:19:07) Gentleman yields back. Gentlemen from California. Adam Schiff: (01:19:10) Madam Speaker. It's my pleasure to yield two minutes to Miss Sewell, the gentlewoman from Alabama. Nancy Pelosi: (01:19:16) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Terri Sewell: (01:19:18) Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and a 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 Alabama Seventh Congressional District. But the facts are uncontested. The truth is clear and I have been left no other choice. Terri Sewell: (01:19:48) 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 direct orders to withhold vital military aid for Ukraine and a White House visit in exchange for investigation into the Bidens. Today, all the military aid has not been released and there still has been no White House meeting. Terri Sewell: (01:20:21) The bottom line is clear. President Trump endangered 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 presidential 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 Trump's 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. Nancy Pelosi: (01:21:23) Gentleman from North Dakota. Doug Collins: (01:21:24) North Dakota. I'm from- Nancy Pelosi: (01:21:27) Oh, you're back. Doug Collins: (01:21:28) I'm back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:21:29) From Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:21:30) Thank you Madam speaker. I'm back. Also noticed some changes around here since we left and I noticed I have a new manager on the other side who as I came back in from getting a quick bite notice, gave an eloquent defense of his side of this story that we're telling. I just wished we could've had that same eloquent defense before the Judiciary Committee where he could have been asked questions instead of just giving one side. With that I yield a minute and a half to gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Keller. Nancy Pelosi: (01:21:52) Gentlemen is recognized for a minute and a half. Fred Keller: (01:21:54) 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 a disdain by the other party for the 63 million Americans that elected him as president. Fred Keller: (01:22:28) 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 who have 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 that I'll be praying for them from the gospel of Luke the 23rd chapter, verse 34 and Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Thank you. And I yield back. Nancy Pelosi: (01:23:19) Gentlemen yields back. Gentlemen from California. Adam Schiff: (01:23:21) 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. There are people like Ambassador Bill Taylor, who has served this country for decades, graduated top of his class at West Point, served during Vietnam in combat, earned a Bronze Star. They are are people like Colonel Veneman, served in Iraq, earned a Purple Heart. There are people like Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, served in dangerous places all over the world, one of the most respected of all of our foreign service officers. These are the people that my colleagues would pejoratively label as career bureaucrats. Adam Schiff: (01:24:09) And why? Because they have the courage to do their lawful duty to answer a subpoena, to come and testify. And for this, they're called career bureaucrats. Well, we should have more career bureaucrats of that caliber. I'm pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Costa. Nancy Pelosi: (01:24:31) Gentleman's recognized for one minute. Jim Costa: (01:24:33) Madam Speaker, I arise with a heavy heart. The two most difficult votes any member of Congress ever has to cast a vote to go to war or to impeach. Today, I will vote for the articles of impeachment. Jim Costa: (01:24:46) Over the last few months listened carefully to my constituents. I've weighed all the available information to determine whether or not the president committed any wrongdoing. There are disturbing facts from this administration that informed 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 Ukraine for an investigation of former Vice President Biden and that 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. And then the president openly acknowledged that China and Ukraine should investigate Mr. Biden. There's much more evidence pointing to the president violating his own oath of office. Jim Costa: (01:25:28) I have not made this decision lightly, but I must uphold my own out 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 and I yield back the balance of my time. Nancy Pelosi: (01:25:48) Gentlemen from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:25:50) Thank you Madam Speaker. It is interesting to say, and I appreciate anybody who would come and give testimony, but it is interesting to see that the same chairman who just spoke eloquently about those who testified without to actually dismiss completely almost anything by Mr. Volker or Mr. Morrison. But again, I will say at least they had the ability and the willingness to come and testify, unlike the chairman who wrote a report, sent it to judiciary and didn't. With that I yield minute and a half to gentlewoman from Texas, Miss Granger. Nancy Pelosi: (01:26:16) Gentlelady's recognized for a minute and a half. Jackie Speier: (01:26:18) Madam Speaker, I arise today in strong opposition to the politically driven articles of impeachment that had 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've used any and all undemocratic and unfair means necessary to try and remove him from office. My vote today is 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. Jackie Speier: (01:26:53) This will not go anywhere in the Senate. So all Democrats have accomplished is postponing the important work of the American people sent their elected officials to Washington to do. This endless crusade of Democrats to remove the duly elected President of the United States has put partisan politics above the issues that Americans face today. It's time Democrats stop playing partisan games that hurt hardworking taxpayers. It's time for the American people to be Congress priority again. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no and I yield back the balance of my time. Nancy Pelosi: (01:27:28) Gentlemen from California. Adam Schiff: (01:27:33) Thank you Madam Speaker. I am more than delighted to refer to the testimony Ambassador Volker and Mr. Morrison. Ambassador Volker who acknowledged that in retrospect he should have recognized that when they were calling for investigations of Burisma, it really meant the Bidens, and that 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 mic and announce these sham investigations. Happy to refer to their testimony as well. I'm now happy to recognize the gentlewoman from California for two minutes, Representative Speier. Nancy Pelosi: (01:28:26) Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes. Jackie Speier: (01:28:27) Thank you Madam Speaker. My father fled Nazi Germany for America because he saw what happened when the 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. Jackie Speier: (01:28:53) 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 negotiations with Ukraine. There's no question that President Trump promoted the Russian hoax, that Ukraine attacked our election in 2016, a canard that has been proven to be a lie, a Russian lie. Jackie Speier: (01:29:44) The only question is his motive. The fact is his conduct and crimes are reprehensible and unquestionably impeachable. When I vote today, my father's 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. Nancy Pelosi: (01:30:10) Gentleman from Georgia. Doug Collins: (01:30:11) Thank you Madam Speaker. I'll see how this is playing out.