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

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I, too, have to agree with the ranking member of the Rules Committee that this does raise serious questions for our institution and assure him that this is not a move taken lightly, but our colleagues have left us no choice.

Historically, the parties have policed themselves. Even as recently as 2 years ago, our Republican colleagues removed a Member from committees after he made a series of false and despicable statements, which were less serious than the conduct we consider here.

But, apparently, that was the old GOP. In the words of Republican Senator John Thune from South Dakota, the party of ``limited government and fiscal responsibility, free markets, peace through strength'' has become the ``party of conspiracy theories and QAnon.''

No matter how much our colleagues here today say that they disapprove of the conduct of the Representative from Georgia, they must realize that she is now the face of their party.

If today's House Republican caucus wants to embrace this behavior, the majority does not. The Member in question has advocated for insurrection and violence against elected officials and children, has challenged the safety of Members and our Capitol Police, and has promoted fringe conspiracy theories that damage our work.

Such behavior would not be tolerated in any other workplace, and it cannot be tolerated in the people's House.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know this. While they have been careful to distance themselves from their Member's remarks and actions, they have not shown the courage to hold a Member of their own party accountable when they don't have the shield of a secret vote.

They force us to take this action to stop the spread of conspiracy theories, lies, and hate in the Halls of Congress.

This isn't canceling the Representative from Georgia's voice. It is about accountability. There is no right to committee assignments, but if a Member conducts himself or herself in so disgraceful a way that she brings discredit upon Congress, and her own party cannot address the problem, then the House, as a whole, has to deal with it.

I urge my colleagues to recognize what the public has recognized in a bipartisan manner, that the indecent behavior of this Member is a threat to Congress and our government.

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