Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Removing A Certain Member From Certain Standing Committees of the House of Representatives

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I have been clear for a long time that the comments made by Mrs. Greene prior to being elected a Member of Congress are completely inappropriate and, in fact, I have spoken directly to her to express that. And we had a long conversation, frankly, similar to the one that we just heard on the floor a few minutes ago, Madam Speaker, where we heard Mrs. Greene herself come and give a full account of things she has done in her past.

In fact, at the end, she said: Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins. She has actually held herself to account as many of us have as well.

I wonder if that same new standard that is being talked about today is anticipated to be applied equally by the majority's side to people who have done things egregious and haven't given account and, in fact, on those things, as sitting Members of Congress, not what happened in 2018, 2019, that we all decry.

But, Madam Speaker, if the things that happened in 2018 and 2019 were so egregious that they warrant the unprecedented step of removing a Member of Congress from all committees by the majority party against someone in the minority party, if that was so egregious, why then did not a single Democrat object to that last week when that issue came before this Congress on this floor and she was added to those committees?

This is the resolution that added her to the committees. Not a single Democrat last week--not in 2018 or 2019--last week, not a single Democrat objected. But now this new standard seems to be applied.

This morning, we continued a great tradition in this Congress, the National Prayer Breakfast, where Republicans and Democrats come together and leaders from the entire world come together to pray. Today, things like forgiveness were freely discussed.

I want to read John 8:7.

So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Madam Speaker, we need to stop casting stones at each other and rise to the level where we are going to start spending every day on this House floor, not fighting battles of the past but fighting for the hardworking families of this country who are counting on us to come together.

I ask that the leadership withdraw this resolution and let's get back to work for the American people.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source