Providing for Adoption of H. Res. 979, Recommending that Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten be found in Contempt of Congress, and Adoption of H. Res. 980, Authorizing Committee on the Judiciary to Initiate or Intervene in Judicial Proceedings to Enforce Ce

Floor Speech

Providing for Adoption of H. Res. 979, Recommending that Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten be found in Contempt of Congress, and Adoption of H. Res. 980, Authorizing Committee on the Judiciary to Initiate or Intervene in Judicial Proceedings to Enforce Certain Subpoenas

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 982, a resolution recommending that the House find White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas properly issued by the Judiciary Committee.

-Recommending the House cite someone for contempt of Congress is a significant step, one that I support under only the most necessary circumstance. Regrettably, it is a step that must be taken. Since assuming office in 2001, the Bush Administration has repeatedly thumbed its nose at Congress, ignored our constitutional mandate as a check upon the executive branch.

-This resolution comes after the Judiciary Committee attempted for months to gain access to information requested by the committee. The Congress has a responsibility to investigate this matter and therefore, the White House' refusal to cooperate with the Congress leaves us no choice.

-Testifying before the House Rules Committee yesterday, my colleague JOHN CONYERS said that he had written nine letters over more than 8 months trying to resolve this matter. But despite properly issued subpoenas, the White House had ``determined that it has the unilateral authority to prevent Mr. Bolten from providing us with a single piece of paper and to prevent Ms. Miers from even showing up at a committee hearing.'' Madam Speaker, the President is wrong and we have a responsibility to the American people to correct him.

-If the executive branch can disregard congressional subpoenas in this way, we no longer have a system of checks and balances. That is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it is our responsibility to protect it. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues today in support of the resolution.

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