[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H8890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WE SHOULD LISTEN TO WOMEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I am a member of the Judiciary Committee 
in this body, and, unfortunately, the Framers of the Constitution 
didn't give my committee or this Chamber a role in vetting and 
confirming the President's nominee to the Supreme Court.
  But in the House, we pride ourselves as being the people's House 
because we are in constant contact with our constituents. So while I do 
not have a vote in the process, I do have a voice. As an elected 
Representative, I feel a sacred responsibility to raise my voice.
  First of all, I don't care when the allegations of sexual assault 
came forward. I don't care about whatever schedule Senator Chuck 
Grassley thinks is more important. I don't care about the impending 
fall term of the Court or the timing of Robert Mueller's next 
indictments in his investigation of the Trump White House and campaign.
  In the case of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we should listen to the women. 
We should always listen to the women, but in this case, multiple women 
have come forward to risk their lives and reputations because they 
believe the truth about Judge Kavanaugh must come out before he is 
confirmed or rejected by the Senate.
  Women in this country should know that if you come forward to make 
credible allegations against anyone, you will be respected and you will 
be heard.
  Do you want to know why so few sexual assaults are reported in this 
country? Well, it is unfolding on the national stage: Why didn't she 
report it? Why didn't she do something more? Why didn't she say 
something earlier?
  It is always she, she, she, when we know that sexual assault is not 
her fault, and fear of coming forward is not her fault either.
  They didn't believe Bill Cosby's accusers until they did, or Harvey 
Weinstein, or Speaker Hastert's, or a hundred other people I could name 
here today, until we did.
  When the stakes are this high, we shouldn't be imposing deadlines or 
ultimatums or requiring victims to conform to our timetables, as 
Republican Senators have done. And by high stakes, I don't mean just 
the lifetime appointment of a judge, but this is an important moment 
for young men and young women in this country. They are watching, and 
they are learning.
  We should be leading by example and allowing victims to come forward, 
be respected, and be heard.
  Do I want my grandson to learn a lesson that sexual assault while he 
is in high school could follow him for the rest of his life? You are 
damn right I do.
  Do I want young men to learn that behavior that hurts other people, 
no matter how drunk or how high they are, is unacceptable? You are damn 
right I do.
  Do I want young women to not be afraid to come forward, no matter 
when they are ready to? You are damn right I do.
  Look, I am not saying you need to believe Judge Kavanaugh's accuser, 
but as a Congress and as a country, we need to listen to women.
  Now, I will admit that I would not vote for Judge Kavanaugh whether 
or not the current allegations are true or Republicans steamroll the 
victims to fast track his appointment. I believe in a woman's right to 
control their own reproductive system, regardless of what men think. 
So, yeah, you can bet I would vote against him.
  I believe freedom of religion should extend to all, including those 
of the Muslim faith, who should be able to worship and move around just 
like everyone else. So you can bet I would vote against Kavanaugh.
  I believe people should marry whomever they want, whomever they love. 
I oppose a judge who thinks a sitting President is above the law right 
now when we need as a Nation an independent judiciary to hold 
politicians, even the President, accountable, which is another reason I 
wouldn't vote for Judge Kavanaugh.
  But what is important right now is not how I feel about Judge 
Kavanaugh. What is important is that we lead by example. We need to be 
clear that the days of, ``Boys will be boys,'' or, ``It was just locker 
room talk,'' are over.
  Mr. Speaker, the Senate should take as much time as is needed to take 
very seriously this situation. They should take it seriously for our 
daughters, for our sons, for you, and for me, too.

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