William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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Mr. JORDAN.

For 53 days, 7\1/2\ weeks, Portland, Oregon, has been burning. Three weeks ago, we saw the Democrats' response on the House floor. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Chairman Nadler, said antifa is imaginary. Tell that to the people of Portland, who have seen antifa for 53 days rioting, looting, stealing, destroying property, and attacking police officers.

This amendment is no good. This amendment limits the authority of the President under the Insurrection Act when he needs to ``suppress insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.''

The Insurrection Act has been used by many Presidents to address domestic violence and riots, including Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Kennedy. Both parties have used it when necessary, but now that President Trump mentions using this to address the widespread violence and destruction across the Nation, the Democrat majority wants to put restrictions on it.

I tell you what. The police chief in Chicago, where 49 officers were systematically attacked by the mob Friday night, just said he would welcome Federal help to deal with what the mob is doing. He knows antifa is not imaginary. And Andy Ngo, the journalist who was attacked by antifa, knows it is not imaginary.

This amendment is not what we need to be adopting. This amendment would mean that the President cannot use non-Federal law enforcement resources under the law that authorizes him to suppress insurrection.

Why in the world would we want to limit the options of the President to deal with the situation we find ourselves in?

Under Federal law, it is a crime to incite, assist, or engage in such conduct against the United States. This amendment, as I said, would limit the President's available options and resources to address real threats to our Union.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, before yielding to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), I would just point out they are Federal law enforcement officials protecting Federal property in Portland, and they do identify themselves when they arrest someone, and they have identification on both shoulders. What else do you want them to do?

If you come in in a marked car, you are going to get a brick through your window. Holy cow. They are behaving exactly the way anyone with common sense would and consistent with the rule of law that you would want them to behave in the situation they find themselves.

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Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I would just add that this is not just about identification, which the law enforcement do identify themselves with the insignia and patch on both shoulders. When they are arresting someone, they tell them what Federal agency they are from. This is also about limiting the President's ability to use the Insurrection Act.

There are two parts to this amendment. Both are bad; both are wrong. Therefore, I would urge a ``no'' vote.

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