[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HOLD A VOTE TO AUTHORIZE AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

  (Mr. WITTMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
partisan impeachment inquiry currently under way by House Democrats. 
They have elected to make this a closed-door, partisan process with no 
fairness, transparency, due process, or accountability to the American 
people.
  It is absolutely necessary for the Speaker to hold a vote in the full 
House to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry. Regardless of which 
party held the majority in the past, there has been an authorization 
vote because it allows the House to adopt procedures that will provide 
for the minority to be an equal part of this process.
  We cannot even get access to testimony from the secret hearings. 
Considering impeaching a duly elected President should be significant 
enough to demand transparency, due process, and an open and fair 
proceeding.
  In wake of this partisan exercise, we have abandoned the work of the 
people. We should be passing legislation that is bipartisan to lower 
the price of prescription drugs and approving the USMCA that will 
create millions of jobs for hardworking Americans.
  We cannot afford to put these priorities on the back burner, and I 
know the folks in my district agree.

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