[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 12 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E79-E80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE 58TH INAUGURATION

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 23, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a person of faith, I wish President-
elect Donald Trump nothing but the best as he becomes the Commander-in-
Chief of our nation.
  On November 8th 2016, many of us were deeply wounded and it was a 
very difficult time. For me, the concern was for so many of my 
constituents who had worked so hard for a different result; and the 
many young people who were for the first time engaged in the democratic 
process that were seemingly so disappointed. They were looking for 
hope.
  After the election, although still very concerned, I was willing to 
give the President-elect the appropriate time, as he moved through his 
transition, to address the American people with a message of unity. 
Unfortunately, the transition was not as smooth as I believe many of 
us, as Americans, would have wanted it to be. The call for unity and 
the embracing of all Americans simply did not come. The moments of 
attack continued. However, many of us still continued to listen.

[[Page E80]]

  As a senior Member of the Homeland Security Committee and Ranking 
Member on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Homeland Security, 
Terrorism, and Investigations, I take national security very seriously. 
I was appointed to the Homeland Security Committee in the aftermath of 
the heinous, murderous, and horrific terrorist attack on September 9, 
2011. The intelligence community is part of my day to day work.
  In the midst of moving toward the inauguration, stark, provocative, 
sobering, and difficult facts came to our attention. All of America's 
intelligence agencies confirmed the detrimental cyber-attack by high 
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, to steer the 
election toward one candidate, Mr. Trump, and away from the other 
candidate. Rather than accept their report, President-elect Trump chose 
to make a full force attack on the brave men and women serving in our 
intelligence community and disparaged their commitment to serving our 
nation. There are moments in a public official's life that you always 
put country over self. That did not happen and the disappointment was 
piercing.
  As a Member of the Judiciary committee, one of my proudest moments 
was the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But an even 
prouder moment was the enormous number of votes the legislation 
received from both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. 
And when all the Members went to the White House for the signing of the 
legislation by a sitting Republican President, we celebrated America's 
love affair with the precious right to vote. President George W. Bush 
signed that legislation into law only to now come to 2016 to face huge 
examples across the nation of voter suppression in this election with 
newly minted laws that suppressed the voting rights of so many 
Americans and particularly many in minority communities. The President-
elect gave these voting abuses no credence.
  Further, the President-elect has every right to select his or her 
cabinet. However, it is very difficult when his choice for the nation's 
highest law enforcement officer, who is supposed to be the arm of 
justice for the most vulnerable in our nation, and that person holds 
consistent positions against civil rights and against voting rights.
  So, I deliberated on my decision over a period of time. I did not 
boycott this ceremonial inaugural event. I have decided in good 
conscience I could not go. John Lewis, a man who bled for freedom made 
his choice and made his decision without rancor or hysteria. But that 
was not the tone of the response he received; and John did not call for 
any boycott. This is not a boycott. This is an act of conscience. The 
President-elect could not refrain from a full-fledged personal attack 
on Congressman John Lewis. He failed to offer even a small olive 
branch.
  The State of the Union will be the President's first message directly 
to Congress and the American people on how he will lead--that I will 
attend--and I am committed to working for my constituents and all of 
the American people. I hope the new President will do the same.
  So my principles revolving around justice and fairness, an unfettered 
election, the duty that I have to the national security community and 
the recognition of the provocative and criminal intrusion by the 
Russians into our election causes me to be reflective on January 20.
  Finally, I did enjoy greeting my constituents as they came to the 
inauguration. But as so many Americans, I will be waiting on that olive 
branch to be extended to all of us by this President; thereby giving us 
an opportunity to heal, to mend, and for him to recognize that 
Americans have very similar aspirations and values, and to remember 
that those who did not vote for the ultimate victor still deserve 
dignity and respect in this country.

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