[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4289-H4290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    I WILL NOT GO ALONG TO GET ALONG

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, once again I rise as a person who 
loves this country. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a person who refuses to go 
along to get along. I rise as a person who will speak truth to power 
and truth about power.
  I rise today, Mr. Speaker, because in our country, our children are 
being murdered in schools. Our children are prognosticating that 
eventually it will come to the school that they happen to attend. Our 
children are concerned about their safety in what should be one of the 
safest places for them on Earth: the schools that they attend.
  I rise, Mr. Speaker, because there are parents who have sent their 
children to school and never have had them to come home again. I rise 
because these parents are suffering, because our Nation is suffering. 
There is great pain within the population.

[[Page H4290]]

  People of goodwill understand that we must do more than have moments 
of silence, words of prayer, expressions of condolences. People expect 
those of us who have been elected to the Congress of the United States 
of America to do what they sent us here to do, that is, have 
legislation brought to the floor, allow for some debate, and then take 
a vote. It is expected that we would vote on the legislation that is 
pending.
  We have more than 100 pieces of legislation dealing with gun safety 
pending before the House, and it is not being acted upon.
  I rise to ask, Mr. Speaker, that you bring this legislation to the 
floor of the House of Representatives so that the people can express 
their voices, can express their concerns, can take their positions by 
and through their legitimately elected Representatives. It is time, Mr. 
Speaker, for you to act, for you to bring the legislation to the floor 
so that we may vote on it.
  If there is someone who truly believes that the solution to this 
violence, to this killing, to these murders, if there is someone who 
believes that the solution is a good guy with a gun, put that solution 
into legislation, Mr. Speaker, and let's vote on whether the solution 
is a good guy with a gun.
  Mr. Speaker, I will not go along to get along.
  Mr. Speaker, you have indicated that you won't be returning to 
Congress. Well, Mr. Speaker, if you are not going to do your job, if 
you are not going to brin legislation to the floor--by the way, all of 
it, not Democratic legislation, not Republican legislation. This is not 
about Democrats; it is not about Republicans. This is about our 
children, who are being murdered in schools.

  If you are not going to bring that legislation to the floor, you 
ought to just step aside. This is bigger than you. It is bigger than 
all of us. It is about our children and how they are being murdered in 
schools. It is time to take the courage that has been embedded within 
your soul and your constitution and bring that legislation to the 
floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I speak truth to power. I speak truth about power. There 
is a problem. Mr. Speaker, you are the problem.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair.

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