Consideration of Certain Resolutions Reported By the Committee on Rules
Floor Speech
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1300 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 1300
Resolved, That the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House is waived with respect to any resolution reported through the legislative day of July 29, 2022.
Sec. 2. (a) Section 7 of House Resolution 1289 shall have no force or effect.
(b) Clause 7(a)(1) of rule XV shall not apply through the legislative day of Friday, September 16, 2022.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler), my good friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave
The rule also allows certain legislation to qualify for the Consensus Calendar before the end of Congress.
Madam Speaker, we are here on a same-day rule, which I hope will give us the opportunity to address a critical and urgent issue: gun violence in America.
We are here because gun violence is destroying communities, tearing apart families, and making our streets less safe. This majority is going to try to do every single thing we possibly can to stop it. I don't know whether we will succeed, but we are going to try.
Democrats actually passed the Safer Communities Act, the first piece of major gun safety legislation in decades, and we sent it to President Biden's desk. We are taking action. We are getting things done, and we are trying to save lives.
Contrast that with what Republicans did to address gun violence and crime the last time they were in charge, which is absolutely nothing. Their answer to gun violence is more guns, and if that is not enough, even more guns. For God's sake, America already has more guns than people. How many guns do we need until everybody is safe?
I get it. My Republican friends are going to complain about the process. They are going to complain about same-day authority, even though they used it themselves, but let's not go there because we want to have a productive debate here.
The reality is this: This is the last day before the district work period, and this is urgent work.
Now, let me tell you, as chairman of the House Committee on Rules, I want to do whatever I can to get us to vote on and pass an assault weapons ban because I am sick and tired of the mass shootings and the terror and the fear. I am sick and tired of shattered families having to grieve.
Enough is enough. I am going to do everything I can to get this bill passed, and I am not going to apologize for that. This rule preserves that option. If it means that we stay here a little bit longer today, so be it. We need to act with urgency.
Let me just say, for the record, the assault weapons bill that we may possibly consider today went through regular order. The Committee on the Judiciary had a hearing; it was marked up. If we decide to bring it to the floor today, which I hope we will, the Committee on Rules will meet, and we will debate this, and we will vote on this. But let me just say to everybody: We have an obligation to act with urgency. We have a responsibility to address this crisis.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the gentleman used the words that we are opening the door. Opening the door to what? My friends used this all the time when they were in charge. We learned this from you. I just want to say that, for the record.
As I have said, I am not the biggest fan of same-day authority, but it exists for a reason.
In December 2018, when the Democrats were in the minority, I actually voted for a rule providing for same-day authority. I stood here and urged my Democrat colleagues to support the rule. More Republicans voted ``no'' on that rule than Democrats, believe it or not.
Madam Speaker, we are about to break for a, hopefully, productive district work period, and this rule provides us with a little extra time and flexibility to be able to consider measures that are critical to our public safety.
I hope that this rule paves the way for us to bring up an assault weapons ban. That is what I hope this rule does, and I think that is urgent. I want to do everything I possibly can to get that bill to the floor and get it passed.
The gentleman quoted me, and let me quote me, too. With regard to the same-day authority, I said on the House floor: ``This House needs to move quickly and responsibly. Everyone understands that, so I will simply say that I will be voting for this rule. I urge my colleagues to do the same, so we can finish our business and prevent another government shutdown.''
That was when you were in charge. That was what I said in response to when you brought up a same-day rule.
So, nobody is opening the door. You opened that door a long time ago. But I am going to say, again, if this paves the way for us to be able to bring up an assault weapons ban, I am not apologizing at all. I want to get that legislation to the floor. I want to have that debate. I want to have a vote on it.
People are dying all over this country. They are sick of our inaction. It is time to act. Enough is enough.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, let me just say that I think as everybody knows, Democrats are focused on inflation. Tackling inflation is certainly our top priority.
Let's take a look at the facts.
We passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to bring down costs to families, and almost every Republican voted no.
We passed the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, but not a single Republican voted with us.
What is the Republican solution on inflation?
Who the hell knows?
They haven't offered any policy ideas. They seem content cheering for President Biden to fail and for inflation to go up. In fact, Leader McConnell is holding hostage a bill to lower costs for families and to deal with the issue of prescription drugs.
The only plan I have seen from the GOP is from Senator Rick Scott, Republican, which would raise taxes on the middle class--raise taxes on the middle class--and put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block.
That is the same old same old from my friends on the other side.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record an MSNBC opinion article titled: ``The GOP keeps slamming Biden over inflation, but it has no solutions to offer.'' [From MSNBC, June 21, 2022] The GOP Keeps Slamming Biden Over Inflation, But It Has No Solutions To Offer (By Dean Obeidallah)
Republicans want you to believe that inflation in the United States is not part of a global problem but is 100 percent, President Joe Biden's fault.
Just check out their recent over-the-top rhetoric. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has blamed Biden for ``creating raging inflation.'' In a tweet, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called inflation ``#BidenFlation,'' saying it was caused by Biden's policies. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., even made a speech on the Senate floor last week focused on inflation, in which he detailed the rising prices of goods, gas, etc., all leading to the crescendo that it was Biden and the Democrats' fault.
What the GOP has left out of all its speeches, television appearances and tweets slamming Biden is even a hint of a proposal to reduce prices.
But what the GOP has left out of all its speeches, television appearances and tweets slamming Biden is even a hint of a proposal to reduce prices. Even worse than the GOP not having a plan of its own, though, is Republicans' determination to block Biden's efforts to help Americans. They've opposed his agenda to lower child care costs, create affordable housing and more. Biden made that very point in his June 14 speech about his plans to address inflation, in which he declared that ``Republicans in Congress are doing everything they can to stop my plans to bring down costs on ordinary families.''
There's no disputing that prices in our nation rose 8.6 percent in May since last year at that time, the highest rate since 1981. Food prices have risen over 10 percent since May 2021, and gas prices have skyrocketed. Just about everything we use on a daily basis costs more.
Biden candidly acknowledged this reality in last week's speech, noting that inflation is ``sapping the strength of a lot of families.'' He said he understands firsthand what this is like, noting that when he was a child growing up in a blue-collar family, ``it mattered if the price of food went up.''
A convergence of issues has caused this spike in inflation. The well-documented supply chain issues that followed Covid shutdowns drove up prices. Some of it was fueled by us, consumers who unleashed our pent-up demand to travel and buy goods after things reopened. More demand equals higher prices. Russia's attack on Ukraine added to higher gas prices, which contribute to higher prices for goods, since it costs more to transport them.
This is in no way a Biden-caused problem--unless Republicans are telling us he caused inflation worldwide, which they very well might say before November. A Pew Research Center report released just last week documented that in 37 of the 44 nations with ``advanced economies,'' the ``average annual inflation rate in the first quarter of this year was at least twice what it was in the first quarter of 2020.'' In fact, the United States during the first quarter of this year was 13 of 44 in terms of inflation, far eclipsed by countries such as Italy, Israel, Spain, Greece and Turkey.
This leads us to the hard reality that there's no easy solution for inflation; if there were, Biden would've flipped that switch months ago. And cynical Republicans know that.
At least Biden does have a plan, which, like the causes of inflation, is multifaceted.
With respect to gas prices, in addition to releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase supplies, the president last week sent a letter to U.S. oil companies demanding that they increase the production of oil and to stop unfairly profiting on Americans' need for gas. He even threatened to ``use all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term.'' In his speech last week, Biden noted that on food costs, he was ``working closely with our European partners to get 20 million tons of grains locked in Ukraine out onto the market to help bring down food prices.'' The president also explained his efforts to reduce other household costs to offset the higher gas and food prices, such as capping the cost of insulin at $35--a bill for which passed the House in March but still has not passed the Senate due to lack of Republican support.
So where is the GOP plan to address inflation? Republicans have had plenty of time to come up with one, given that they have been screaming since last summer that Biden caused inflation.
Here's the best I can find: In May, Sen. Rick Scott, R- Fla., the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, laid out his plan. ``The most effective thing Joe Biden can do to solve the inflation crisis he created is resign,'' Scott said. Then there's McCarthy, who earlier this month offered the following proposal as his ``solution'' to rising costs: ``I call on Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to hold a prime-time hearing on the out-of-control inflation their policies have created.''
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the third-ranking member of the House GOP, isn't even pretending her party has a plan. She recently said of inflation, ``House Republicans will address these crises when we earn back control of the House this November.'' Sure, America, let's trust the party of tax cuts for the wealthy to look out for the rest of us.
We all get how politics works. The party out of power blames the party in power for everything that's bad. But in this case, inflation is directly impacting the lives of all Americans. It's time Democrats and the media press every Republican who blames Biden for inflation to answer this simple question: What is the GOP plan to reduce it? Americans deserve an answer.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, since my friends want to change the subject, let's change the subject.
Republicans right now, as we are meeting here, over in the Senate are trying to kill the PACT Act, a bill to guarantee healthcare to veterans with service-related cancers. This is a bill that passed the Senate originally 84-14, and it passed the House with a majority vote of 342. Many of my Republican colleagues supported that. I appreciate that. But now Republicans are trying to kill it and play politics with it over in the Senate. They are putting politics ahead of people when, in fact, we should be putting people ahead of politics.
So while we are here having this conversation, I would urge my Republican friends to pick up the phone and call your counterparts in the Senate and say: Get out of the way and do what is right for our veterans.
My office is getting calls from veterans who were exposed to burn pits when they were overseas. I am sure my Republican friends are getting calls in their offices. You don't have to agree on everything, but I thought we all agreed on this.
Can we please tell Mitch McConnell and tell the Republicans to get out of the way and allow this bill to go forward?
That might be a good use of time right now while we are having this conversation.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, let me just say that I really enjoyed listening to my friends on the other side of the aisle. They are opposed to this rule because the process will expedite progress on behalf of the American people. Yet they are not outraged over using process to block progress for the American people.
Again, since we are changing the subject, I didn't hear anything about the veterans who right now are desperately pleading with Republicans in the Senate to pass the PACT Act. The gentleman even got extra time and didn't mention that at all.
Again, I would urge my Republicans, as we are still here today, before you leave, call Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, call your Republican counterparts in the Senate, and say: please pass the PACT Act. Please do that now.
Our veterans who are suffering from cancer as a result of their service and being exposed to burn pits are desperately pleading with my Republican friends to stop blocking it.
Do you want to be outraged about something today?
Be outraged about that.
So, again, I would urge that they do something.
Many of my colleagues on the Republican side supported the PACT Act when it came before the House.
A majority of Republicans in the Senate voted to support it; but now they are putting politics ahead of people. It should be reversed. Put people ahead of politics.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
So, Madam Speaker, I don't know who that guy who was yelling is, but I would refer him to my earlier comments on all the things that we are doing to combat inflation and the stuff that we will be rolling out in the days ahead.
But I would urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to go over to the Senate and yell at Mitch McConnell so that we can help our veterans. I mean, it is unconscionable that, as we are gathering here right now, Republicans in the Senate are blocking a bill to provide care for veterans exposed to burn pits who have cancer.
I mean, what is going on here? I mean, people who are responsible for that are unfit to serve in the United States Congress, quite frankly.
Do you want to be outraged about something? Be outraged about that at this moment. And we also should be outraged at the alarming rate of gun violence in this country. And my hope is that this same-day rule will pave the way for the Rules Committee to meet and to bring forward a ban on assault weapons so we can save lives in this country. So that is what this is all about today.
But, again, with all of the yelling and screaming, please go over to the other Chamber and yell and scream at them because right now a lot of our veterans are concerned that they will succeed in killing a bill that will provide them healthcare that they desperately need.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
So, Madam Speaker, the gentleman who just spoke was yielded time again, and again, didn't say anything about the veterans who are getting screwed by Senate Republicans right now in the other Chamber.
Right now, we should take our outrage and we should demand that Republicans get out of the way.
And, by the way, to my friend from Pennsylvania, I just went back and I read the transcript of what our exchange was in the Rules Committee, and I think I was pretty clear.
When I am looking at the transcript, I was asked last night, you know, why we needed this authority, and I said it was to consider public safety bills.
I was further asked if we would use it to consider gun legislation, and I said, yes, potentially.
Now, I don't know whether it is my Massachusetts accent or what, but I think I was pretty clear about what we were going to bring to the floor today. And, again, I hope that we will follow through with what I said yesterday.
So this idea that, oh, I didn't know--and by the way, there are times, as I said at the opening, when same-day authority is, to me, necessary. There are other times when it is not. But when they used it in an attempt to try to keep government open, I favored it.
So I don't know what the gentleman is talking about, hypocrisy. I mean, I have been in favor of it when I was in the minority, and I have been opposed to it when I was in the minority. So it all depends on the circumstances.
I think maybe my Republican friends have trouble with nuance and trying to understand the complexities of the system here. But I am totally comfortable with my position, past, and present.
And by the way, if this same-day authority means that we can bring up an assault weapons ban, I don't apologize to anybody. I don't apologize to anybody. I think it is the right thing to do.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The gentleman said we should let the Senate do its work. Exactly. The Senate Republicans are blocking the Senate from doing its work. What do my friends not understand?
Veterans with cancer are depending on Republicans to get out of the way so they can get the care that they, quite frankly, are entitled to, that they deserve.
It passed overwhelmingly originally in the Senate. It passed overwhelmingly in the House. But Senate Republicans are playing politics with the lives of our veterans.
I am outraged by that. Maybe my friends on the other side are not, but we ought to be demanding that they move immediately.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I don't think it is appropriate for my Republican friends to lecture us on hypocrisy. The last time the Republicans were in charge of this place, they ran it into the ground.
When Republicans were in charge, they broke the record for the most closed Congress in the history of the United States of America.
When Republicans were in charge and our country was on the brink of a shutdown, the Rules Committee, under Republican control, held an emergency meeting. Do you know what that emergency meeting was on? Not on emergency funding but on cheese, actually, as we were about to shut the government down. We had a major crisis, and they did an emergency meeting on cheese.
They couldn't even get their act together to keep the lights on. They literally lost the majority because of how badly they ran this place, and then they handed us a shutdown of government, the longest shutdown in history, by the way. That cost American taxpayers $11 billion.
When Republicans were in charge, I voted to give them same-day authority. I stood on this floor and urged my Democratic colleagues to support the rule because I wanted to give us extra flexibility to do the work the American people had asked us to do.
Republicans ran this place like a dictatorship, and then they tried to turn our country into one on January 6, 2021, a day that will live forever in history as a date that a twice-impeached ex-President and Republicans tried to unconstitutionally overturn a free and fair election and subvert the will of the American people in an attempted coup.
So, please do not lecture us about Democratic process or any process at all. Do not lecture us on hypocrisy.
I said last night in the Rules Committee what I hoped we would bring forward today, and I still hope we will move forward on an assault weapons ban.
Do you know why? Because people in this country are being massacred, and they are tired of thoughts and prayers. They are tired of press releases in which we say that our hearts are with the families of those who were killed.
They want action. The question is whether or not we can deliver on what the American people want.
Do you want to talk about outrage? I am outraged by the gun violence in this country. I am outraged that an 18-year-old who can't legally have a sip of beer can go into a gun store and buy an AR-15 and then go out and kill people, massacre people. Enough of this.
This rule preserves the option, if we decide to move forward, to be able to move forward. That is what this is all about. We can talk about whatever you want to talk about, but the bottom line is that is what this rule does.
We have an obligation to act with urgency. We have a responsibility to address this crisis.
The material previously referred to by Mr. Reschenthaler is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution 1300
At the end of the resolution, add the following:
Sec. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 8589) to prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission from finalizing the proposed rule titled ``The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors''. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 4. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 8589.
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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
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