[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WHERE IS THE GOP?

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2017, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) is recognized 
for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to follow Mr. Rush, who was 
my Congressman growing up all through high school and actually in 
elementary school.
  Mr. Speaker, at this very moment, House Republicans are racing out of 
Washington. Families are being torn apart; children are being ripped 
from the arms of their mothers; and women who have fled horrific 
violence are being deported back to their abusers. Yet my Republican 
colleagues are nowhere to be found.
  Where are they, Mr. Speaker?
  House Republicans are fleeing the scene of an accident. They are 
running from the shame and embarrassment of yesterday's vote on the GOP 
immigration bill. They are headed for the exits while thousands of kids 
cry in cages at our borders tonight.
  That is right, with the world watching and with a humanitarian crisis 
unfolding right here in America, Speaker Ryan and the House Republicans 
simply just gave up and went home.
  The other party fought for weeks behind closed doors. They traded 
accusations and insults, many of which were quickly leaked to the 
press. Yesterday, they finally put an immigration bill on the House 
floor, and it failed by the largest margin in recent memory.
  But instead of allowing a vote on a true compromise, like the 
Aguilar-Hurd legislation, Speaker Ryan and his leadership team decided 
to call it quits. They chose to put their fingers in their ears while 
thousands of kids are crying out for their mothers.
  Mr. Speaker, 121-301. That was the vote yesterday, and 121-301 tells 
the story of a Republican Conference in crisis. When he officially 
retires, 121-301 should be in the first line of any story written about 
Paul Ryan's speakership.
  If Republicans aren't interested in governing, they should at least 
step aside and let Democrats take over. If Speaker Ryan isn't 
interested in actually solving problems, he should get an early start 
on his retirement, because right now, it sure looks like House 
Republicans are more interested in fighting each other than fighting 
for the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, we have been hearing a lot about civility as of late. 
Republicans are upset that Members of this body have said mean things 
about the President. Republicans whine on FOX News about the White 
House press secretary being turned away from a restaurant. Republicans 
writing in the opinion pages are wringing their hands about the 
deterioration of our public discourse. Give me a break already.

                              {time}  1330

  Isn't it time that we worried less about the lack of civility in our 
politics and more about the lack of humanity in our government?
  Here is all I ask: When my Republic colleagues are enjoying their 
fireworks and barbecues with their loved ones next week, I hope they 
will spare a thought for the mothers separated from their loved ones 
because of Donald Trump's outrageous cruelty. And I hope, just for a 
minute, that my Republican friends will pause and think about their own 
responsibility for this tragedy.
  I hope, just for a moment, that they will stop to wonder what future 
generations of Americans will say about the leaders of today who opted 
for silence or civility in the face of so much human suffering.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

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