Raising A Question of the Privileges of the House

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to explain why I did what I did, and I did it with intentionality. The President indicated that he had a mandate.

I said to the President: ``You do not have a mandate to cut Medicaid.''

I have constituents who need Medicaid. They will suffer, and some will die if they don't get Medicaid.

I heard the Speaker when he said that I should cease. I did not, and I did not with intentionality. It was not done out of a burst of emotion. I was emotional about it, but I did it with intentionality.

I think that, on some questions, questions of conscience, one has to be willing to suffer the consequences. I have said that I will. I will suffer whatever the consequences are because I don't believe that people should be without good healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I stood up for my constituents then. I am standing up for my constituents now. I am grateful to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for what he has said. I am grateful to those who have been standing with me.

I will tell my colleague on the other side of the aisle: I appreciate him. I have no anger. The officers who escorted me out were kind to me. I don't blame the Speaker for anything.

Mr. Speaker, I would do it again. I have to be candid with the gentleman. I am not trying to insult him in some way. This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience. There are people suffering in this country because they don't have healthcare.

I will close with this: On some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than to not stand at all. This is where I stand.

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