[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H5873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                              {time}  1030
                      ANOTHER ABDICATION OF DUTIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it has become quite apparent 
over the past few months that House Democrats just don't want to show 
up for work. They rallied behind proxy voting the moment the idea was 
conjured up, and ever since, they have become complacent in their 
duties.
  The American people are showing up to work because their livelihoods 
depend on it. But when it comes to Democrat Members of Congress, it is 
the exact opposite. What a stark contrast.
  For months, my Republican colleagues and I have made the trip from 
our districts to Washington to conduct the business of the people's 
House in the open. We have been present at committee hearings, votes, 
and other important functions, but it certainly seems that our Democrat 
colleagues don't share that same level of commitment.
  What does that tell you about them?
  Mr. Speaker, we can't ignore the fact that we are in the middle of a 
global pandemic, but that does not mean that we get to abdicate our 
duties as Members of Congress. Members of the United States Senate have 
shown up to conduct their business.
  So why isn't the House doing the same?
  What is concerning most of all is that the initial endeavor to 
implement proxy voting has now evolved into something more asinine: 
vote by text.
  This attempt to consolidate power by Speaker Pelosi is just another 
feeble move, and one that runs counter to the operation of this 
deliberative body that has stood for hundreds of years, yet House 
Democrats seem perfectly content with this idea.
  The American notion of showing up to work and fulfilling your duties 
seems to be a foreign concept to them. If they spent their time 
working, and less time looking for ways to get out of work, we would be 
making progress.
  This is not an effective way to legislate and, in the end, the 
American people are the ones who will bear the brunt of this imprudent 
course of action.
  The people's House must return to regular order, and if we keep 
kicking the can down the road on conducting business in the open, this 
institution will become rife with complacency. It is time we get back 
to work. Stop the delays. Stop the political ploys. The American people 
are counting on us.

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