[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SETTING STRAIGHT THE RECORD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise.
  And I rise today with love of country in my heart and a belief that 
the record has to be set straight.
  The record has to always reflect the truth, and there is a truth that 
is being obscured.
  I want to set the record straight because there seems to be a belief 
that, if you have committed acts of bigotry, if you have been a racist, 
if you have been engaged in homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, there 
seems to be a belief that, if you can do one thing, somehow that thing 
will eradicate and eliminate all of the bigotry that you have 
perpetrated.
  I rise to correct the record because I want the record to show that 
at least one person came to the floor of this Congress and made it 
clear that, yes, unemployment may be low for African Americans--yes, it 
may be low--but it is still twice that of Anglo Americans, generally 
speaking.
  Yes, you may have signed a bill to deal with some aspects of criminal 
justice in a just way, and that is appreciated. But there is still more 
work to be done. But notwithstanding the fact that there is more work 
to be done, it is still appreciated.
  But the record has to be set straight, and here is what the record 
should show: that that does not eliminate the bigotry emanating from 
the Presidency.
  Eliminating bigotry does not occur because you signed one bill. It 
does not occur because unemployment is low. It does not occur.
  If you want to have the record reflect that you have done something 
to atone for your bigotry, then you have to do something a little bit 
more than to simply sign a bill.
  And I am not saying to you that an apology is in order. I say to 
people: Tell the truth. Just tell the truth.
  Say: I was wrong when I instituted a policy that separated babies 
from their mothers that emanates the type of bigotry that we don't 
condone in this country.
  Say: I was wrong when I said there were some good people among those 
who were the racists, the bigots, the xenophobes and homophobes in 
Charlottesville.
  Say: I was wrong when I said that you don't have to be so kind when 
you are taking persons into your care, custody, and control and you are 
part of the constabulary, you are part of the policing force in this 
country.

  Just say you were wrong if you want to atone. Signing bills won't do 
it. Going to church won't do it.
  Asking forgiveness will cause you to be forgiven. And I will forgive 
you, but that doesn't mean that you are no longer going to be 
sanctioned for your bigotry.
  I want to thank those who have stood and made their points clear as 
it relates to bigotry.
  I am listening to these morning programs now. They are all talking 
about bigotry emanating from the Presidency, not necessarily in those 
words. They are talking about the racism that the President 
perpetrates.
  I appreciate what they are saying, but we have got to do more than 
talk about it. We cannot allow a President to remain in office who has 
engaged in this kind of bigoted conduct.
  It is time for us to take a stand here on the floor of the House of 
Representatives.
  There were no fine people in Charlottesville. You ought not separate 
babies from their mothers. You ought not have policies that would 
condone bigotry and encourage others to engage in it.
  I believe that we have a duty to take a vote, and at some point in 
the near future we will take another vote, notwithstanding the Mueller 
report.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

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