[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4474-H4475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BRING THE BILLS FOR A VOTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I don't like being here. I had meetings I 
had to cancel. I had phone calls I had to put off. But I am committed 
to doing everything I can to get two votes on the floor--just two. They 
are simple issues: no fly, no buy, and closing the gaping loopholes in 
background checks for the purchase of a gun. That shouldn't be a

[[Page H4475]]

problem. I don't know anybody who opposes those items.
  We can't get a bill on the floor because the Republican majority is 
afraid of their own position. They are scared to let the American 
people know where they stand on these issues.
  Just yesterday, we had to use a legislative gimmick called a motion 
to recommit, which nobody in America understands--I didn't understand 
it before I got here--but it was the only way we could get the issue on 
the floor. And even then, when Mr. Thompson offered it, it was ruled 
out of order.
  Through machinations of rule on rule on rule, we weren't even allowed 
to vote on that. The item was ruled nongermane and a motion was made to 
lay it on the table. The only vote we got was to overrule the ruling of 
the Republican chair to lay it on the table.
  The people who voted to lay it on the table yesterday voted to allow 
terrorists to buy weapons. The people who voted to lay it on the table 
yesterday voted to allow criminals and terrorists to continue to buy 
guns under our current gaps in the background check law. That is what 
that vote was.
  Now, I know no Republican who voted that way will go home and explain 
it to their constituents. They will say: Oh, no, it was just a 
procedural motion. And many of them will probably get away with it. 
That is a shame.
  What I don't understand is why people claim this is somehow against 
due process--and, by the way, the bills have due process in them; 
written by a Republican during a Republican Presidential 
administration--when there is plenty of due process. If anybody wants 
to add more, we will add more.
  No one was concerned about due process when they voted for the 
PATRIOT Act that allowed the NSA to listen to everybody's cell phone 
conversations. No one was caring about due process when Americans 
grabbed people from around the world and kept them under lock and key 
for as long as we want. But now we are concerned about it. God forbid 
we offer an amendment to deal with their concerns.
  All I want is a vote. All I want is Members of this body to have the 
courage of their convictions. If you think those bills are bad, bring 
them to the floor and vote ``no'' and go home and explain it to your 
constituents. I do it all the time. That is why I came here. I thought 
that is what we did.
  We are not supposed to be the people who hide. We are supposed to be 
leaders. Lead. Don't cower in fear behind political nonsense and 
gimmickry because you haven't got the courage of your convictions.
  This issue will not go away. The American people are tired--and have 
been for a long time--of politicians who refuse to stand up and be 
counted for their principles.
  We don't mind disagreements. I don't mind losing on an issue here and 
there. I do mind not being given the opportunity to debate and vote on 
the important issues of the day, issues that everybody in America 
wants. Mr. Speaker, that is why I am here.
  We will debate the merits another time--if we are lucky--but it will 
not go away, and you cannot hide from your refusal to allow a vote on 
these two simple, commonsense proposals.

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