Question of Personal Privilege

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for this opportunity, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.

Madam Speaker, I am 72 years old. I have no children. But if I had a daughter, I would name her Alexandria, because my name is Alexander.

If I had a daughter, I would want her to be bold; I would want her to be courageous; I would want her to speak truth to power; I would want her to be just like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The name means helper of humankind, and that is what she is about the business of doing.

Madam Speaker, I salute Ms. Ocasio-Cortez for the positions that she has taken.

Madam Speaker, this is not the first time we have heard this ``b'' word used by people in positions of authority. A higher office in this country has corrupted the discourse. It came from a higher office, and we all took it for granted. We just assumed, well, that is just a person saying something.

``SOB": You are talking about the mother. This is unacceptable. It is absolutely unacceptable.

I believe that we must change the tide of discourse in the country, and I believe that what Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has said is something that all of us should take notice of.

She spoke from her heart, as she usually does, by the way--a brilliant head with a compassionate heart.

Madam Speaker, I am proud of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. I will stand with her not only today, but in the future. I don't have to agree with everything she says to respect her dignity, to respect her humanity.

And finally this. I grew up in a home where scatology was commonplace. I don't think ``scatologist'' is a word, but if such a word existed, there were many scatologists in my home. ``Scatology'' is a word.

I learned early on how that impacts the psyche of people. We cannot allow what happened to go unnoticed, which is why I am here today.

Madam Speaker, this scatology with the ``b'' word is something that demeans every woman when it is used. I will stand against it, and I will stand with the Honorable Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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