[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE POWER IS IN THE PEOPLE

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am embarrassed that Congress is going home 
today for 2 months after having done nothing about this outrageous use 
of guns in America. We are going home because it is an election year. 
We have 2 months to be with our constituents.
  I hope that all constituents will approach their elected officials 
and ask them, their Members of Congress, and particularly the 
Republicans who are holding up this vote: Are you going to vote on this 
in September when you come back? Are we going to enact these laws? 
Because, if they are not, you can withhold their vote. You have the 
power. The power is in the people.
  Let's take back our country. Let's ask every elected official, school 
board member, city council, and water board, which have jurisdiction 
over real estate: What have they done to enact gun legislation?
  California, which is the State I am from, has taken those actions: we 
have banned assault weapons; we require background checks; we have 
waiting periods before you can buy ammunition. We have done more than 
any other State. Guess what? The courts have upheld this.
  We can do this. This is what elected officials are asked to do--to 
fix things that are broken and, particularly, in a crisis.
  You, the voter, take back this country. Make your elected officials 
respond.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Donovan). Members are reminded to direct 
their remarks to the Chair and not to the viewing audience.

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