Protecting Our Democracy Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, setting aside the Democrats' neurotic obsession with all things Donald Trump, this measure has many provisions that would receive bipartisan support if the bill's author were so inclined.

But when we speak of protecting democracy, we need to remember what democracy is. It is the process by which the sovereign people, through elections, decide who will control and direct the powers that we entrust to our government.

``The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.'' If the executive branch begins to operate independently of the President, the will of the people is thwarted and democracy is diminished.

For example, the Tenure of Office Act limited the President's authority to remove Cabinet officers, a dangerous concept ultimately repealed by the Congress and repudiated by the Supreme Court. Provisions in this bill, such as those that interfere with Presidential appointments, cross that very bright constitutional line.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.

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