Protecting Our Democracy Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.

The reforms in this bill have been needed for a long time. It is just that the previous administration only brought out those needs in sharp relief. This legislation will bolster accountability, ensure that elected officials use their offices to serve the American people, not for personal gain.

James Madison wrote, ``If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.'' If we haven't noticed, we are down a few angels.

``You must first enable the government to control the governed,'' he wrote, ``and in the next place oblige it to control itself.'' How he knew.

Madam Speaker, this bill is not about looking back, it is about learning from our mistakes of the past to prevent future abuses of power. I urge support for this bill.

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