[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, today I come with a heavy heart, deeply 
concerned about the future of our democracy, and I am not alone.
  People approach me everywhere I go, whether I am traveling back and 
forth to Atlanta or around our country. They believe, they truly 
believe, that our Nation is descending into darkness.
  They never dreamed that the United States, once seen as a beacon of 
hope and as an inspiration to people striving for equality and justice, 
would be falling into such disgrace. I share their concerns for the 
future of our country.
  It keeps me up at night. We took an oath to protect this Nation 
against all domestic enemies and foreign enemies.
  Sometimes I am afraid to go to sleep for fear that I will wake up and 
our democracy will be gone and never return.
  At every turn, this administration demonstrates complete disdain and 
disregard for ethics, for the law, and for the Constitution.
  They have lied under oath. They refuse to account for their actions 
and appear before legislative bodies who have the constitutional right 
to inquire about their activities.
  The people have a right to inquire, they have a right to know.
  The people have a right to know whether they can put their faith and 
trust in the outcome of our elections.
  They have a right to know whether the cornerstone of our democracy 
was undermined by people sitting in the White House today.
  They have a right to know whether a foreign power was asked to 
intervene in the 2020 election.
  They have a right to know whether the President is using his office 
to line his pockets.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of this Nation realize that if they had 
committed even half of these possible violations, the Federal 
Government would be swift to seek justice.
  We cannot delay. We must not wait. Now is the time to act.
  I have been patient while we tried every other path and used every 
other tool.
  We will never find the truth unless we use the power given to the 
House of Representatives, and the House alone, to begin an official 
investigation as dictated by the Constitution.
  The future of our democracy is at stake. There comes a time when you 
have to be moved by the spirit of history to take action to protect and 
preserve the integrity of our Nation.
  I believe, I truly believe, the time to begin impeachment proceedings 
against this President has come.
  To delay or to do otherwise would betray the foundation of our 
democracy.

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