[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9953-H9954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AND STILL I RISE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise with love for my
country at heart.
Mr. Speaker, if I appear to have a pensive persona, it is because I
am experiencing a melancholy moment, a melancholy moment because some
2-plus years ago I came to the floor of this House, stood in the well,
and called for the impeachment of the President some 2 years ago.
That moment is now at hand, and I do feel a sense of thoughtfulness,
pensiveness because, to be very honest, I am saddened about what is
about to happen. It is not something that I want to see occur in my
country. I love my country. This is not something that I came to
Congress to be a part of, but it is about to happen.
The House will vote. The President will be impeached, after which his
case
[[Page H9954]]
will go to the Senate. The Senate will have a trial. If the Senate
convicts and removes the President from office, this will bring this
ignoble chapter in Presidential history to an end. But if the Senate
does not convict, then the President is still subject to impeachment
for other acts that are impeachable.
I have always brought my Articles of Impeachment to the floor. I have
always had a rationale for my actions. I never said to just impeach the
President because he ought to be impeached. I never felt that way. I do
not feel that way currently. Impeachment is a serious undertaking, and
I always have been serious about my actions.
I do believe that, if the Senate does not convict, other Articles of
Impeachment may be considered. Currently, we are considering two
Articles of Impeachment--abuse of power and obstruction of Congress--
but there is much more to be considered. It is my opinion that we will
still have work to do if the Senate does not convict.
To this end, I want to use an example so that people will understand
the point I am making. The President himself has said that he could
shoot someone on Fifth Avenue--these are the President's words--and he
would not lose his base of support. Well, if he does that with malice
aforethought and if someone is hurt, regardless as to what happens in
the Senate, if the Senate does not convict, the President can be
brought before the bar of justice again.
This is the bar of justice for a President who commits impeachable
acts. This is the only place where the President can be brought before
the bar of justice while he is President--right here. If he does such a
thing with malice aforethought, I would bring Articles of Impeachment
before this august body for consideration.
My prayer is that the Senate will do its job and not only receive the
Articles of Impeachment but also act on them because I believe that the
President ought to be convicted and removed from office. I have said
before and say now: He is unfit to be President. My prayer is that we
will soon end this ignoble chapter in Presidential history.
I love my country, and I stand here with my love for my country at
heart, but equally as important is my love for these babies, for people
who are being harmed by what this President has done to our society. It
fits perfectly in what Alexander Hamilton called to our attention in
Federalist Paper No. 65, for what has happened to our society?
I appreciate the articles that are being brought now, but the harm to
our society has not been eradicated. We have an unapologetic President
who continues to cause harm to this society in the vein and sense that
Alexander Hamilton reminded us would be impeachment.
Mr. Speaker, I love my country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
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