[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 6 (Friday, January 6, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H41-H43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page H41]]

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                        House of Representatives

  The House met at 10 p.m., and was called to order by the Clerk.
  The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the 
following prayer:
  Dear God, it seems this evening we may be at last standing at the 
threshold of a new Congress.
  I am not done yet.
  Should we, with Your blessing, find our way through the doorway this 
night, cause us to consider carefully what we have learned on the way.
  Turning to You each day, we asked for Your help in our deliberations, 
and You answered us. But Your answer was to allow us to suffer the 
anxiety, uncertainty, and aggravation that follows when we choose to 
allow healthy debate to devolve into contentious and unproductive 
argument.
  And yet, in Your mercy, You transformed this foray into discord into 
an opportunity to learn to find common ground with unlikely partners. 
Would that this be a habit we continue.
  Remind us that while the spirit of dispute can be traced to our 
government's earliest days, we have served this country best when we 
sought to reconcile our differences with compassion, kindness, 
humility, gentleness, and patience. May we be more willing to wield 
these fruits of Your spirit in our future discourse with one another.
  We pray Your continued mercy on us. May Your anger with us last but a 
moment and Your favor a lifetime. And for all that we endure this 
night, allow joy to come in the morning.
  In the hope found in Your name, we pray.
  Amen.


                              the journal

  The CLERK. The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day's 
proceedings and announces to the House the approval thereof.


                          pledge of allegiance

  The CLERK. The Representatives-elect will please remain standing and 
join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
  The CLERK led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:

       I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of 
     America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation 
     under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

  The CLERK. The question recurs upon the election of a Speaker. The 
tellers will please come forward and take their seats.
  The Clerk recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Clerk, I am honored to rise tonight to nominate my 
good friend, the gentleman from California, Kevin McCarthy, to serve as 
Speaker of this House.
  Madam Clerk, it has been a long week, and a lot of attention has been 
placed upon us here in the House, but then again, I state that to the 
most famous woman in Washington this week. It was a better joke as 
written, actually, than delivered.
  I want to start by thanking the men and women who make this House 
run. From the janitorial staff to the parliamentarians, to the 
doorkeepers, to the Sergeant at Arms, to the Capitol Police officers, 
to the men and women that make this institution run, we thank you.
  On this day and as a source of charity, we would even thank the 
Capitol press corps for sitting on floors. That, too, was actually 
funnier on paper than how it delivered. I don't know why you asked me 
to do this, Kevin.
  Look, the President has called this process an embarrassment. Talking 
heads have labeled this chaos and a mess, and some would call it 
shambolic, even. But it is called democracy, and this is a hallmark of 
a free society where every voice and every vote counts.
  We know it is messy, but open and transparent debate is what sets us 
apart from authoritarian regimes.
  In order to outcompete our adversaries, we must adhere to the 
principles that make our Nation, this Nation, our constitutional 
Republic, great. That starts with a free and open exchange of ideas, 
and that is exactly what we have done this week.
  To some, it may have felt like Congress was on hold, but the 
alternative, a government that assembles with no input from the 
Representatives elected by the people, is a far worse alternative than 
these constitutional principles we are adhering to in this complicated 
process of setting up the House.
  Over these last few days, Kevin McCarthy has allowed this process to 
work among House Republicans, and he has empowered Members to come 
together to find consensus on behalf of conservative policy and a 
greater involvement of all voices throughout our Conference.

                              {time}  2210

  We have all played a part, whether you are the dean or a Member who 
has just been waiting for 4 days and voting loyally. It is Kevin's 
leadership style, a leadership style that has been lacking in this 
institution for too long.
  It is the same style Kevin employed with each of us as we developed 
our policy proposal, a Commitment to America, a plan that works to 
secure our border and stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities; 
to give Chairman Comer and Chairman Jordan the tools they need to hold 
the Biden administration accountable for their failures; to take China 
on and end the President's COVID emergency powers that have been abused 
far too many times; to finally reopen the people's House, empower our 
standing committees, and get people back to regular order here on the 
House floor; and countless other conservative solutions that are very 
powerful and good for constituents in Bakersfield, California, or 
Lincolnton, North Carolina.
  Madam Clerk, I am one of the few Members left on the Republican side

[[Page H42]]

who has had the pleasure of serving with Kevin for the entirety of his 
tenure in the House.
  In those years, I have worked closely with Kevin in a variety of 
different capacities, and he is a good friend. But serving with him in 
these capacities has meant that I have heard every one of his stories. 
I have heard the story of Kevin O's Deli way too many times. I don't 
know if you have heard, but he won the lottery as well. I could recount 
those stories chapter and verse. He is a dear friend. But all of you 
have heard these stories, too.
  Also, I have been able to watch him from a front-row seat as he has 
grown as a leader and especially this week how he has grown as a 
leader.
  He knows more about Members than they know about themselves. If your 
spouse is sick, he may send flowers or fruit before I did, actually, on 
that story. But he cares so much about Members, not for politics, but 
because he cares about people.
  He is unflinchingly optimistic. The glass is always half full. That 
is a hell of a trait, especially this week. He is relentless. The man 
does not quit.
  It was Kevin that led Republicans back to the majority in this House, 
the only Republican institution in Washington this day. Kevin has led 
us through these challenges the last few days, and Kevin is the right 
person to lead us over the coming 2 years.
  That is why, at the direction of the Republican Conference, I advance 
the name of Kevin McCarthy as the next Speaker of the United States 
House of Representatives.
  The CLERK. The Clerk recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Aguilar).
  Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for 
Speaker of the House.
  Madam Clerk, House Democrats are united behind the son of a social 
worker and substance abuse counselor, a leader who is deeply involved 
in his community and a tireless advocate for the least, the lost, and 
the left behind. He is a voice for the people. Madam Clerk, this is the 
people's House.
  Two years ago today, duly elected Members of this body gathered here 
to certify the results of a free and fair election. In doing so, we 
participated in a tradition that makes our democracy a marvel and the 
envy of the world, a peaceful transfer of power.
  But this body is more than a ceremonial Chamber, Madam Clerk. This is 
a workplace where hundreds of men and women endure long, difficult 
hours before they punch out and go home to their families, where good 
people come to work each day and maybe steal a quiet moment to 
themselves to look up at the ceiling or to look at the paintings or the 
statue of Abraham Lincoln and to thank God for the blessings of liberty 
because this place is so much more than a Chamber or even a workplace. 
``It is,'' in Lincoln's words, ``a sign we intend the Union shall go 
on.''
  I am not just talking about the Members either, Madam Clerk. I am 
talking about you and your staff, the custodial staff, the floor staff, 
the institutional staff, our congressional staff, the Sergeant at Arms, 
our beloved Chaplain, and the Capitol Police. I am talking about the 
people who make this House work, the people who Hakeem Jeffries will 
never take for granted.
  Two years ago, Madam Clerk, we witnessed this place under siege by a 
violent mob who desecrated this building and the other Chamber. But 
this feels a little familiar. Today, we adjourned amidst utter 
confusion, only this time we are returning in the dark of night not to 
cast a vote to bring this country together and to do our jobs, but one 
that will set the path toward division and default.
  So if we are forced to be here this evening because of the chaos and 
crisis on the other side, it is only fair to point out, Madam Clerk, 
that the same individuals who fanned the flames of January 6, who told 
their followers and their followers' followers that they needed to 
fight back, and who challenged the swearing in of Members based on a 
bogus claim of fake electors, may well be in charge of the people's 
House, if they can ever agree on who can lead them.
  That is why House Democrats stand united behind Hakeem Jeffries. 
Hakeem is the only candidate in this race for Speaker who will defend 
this democracy. He is the only candidate in this race willing to call 
out the lie that the election was stolen, and he is the only candidate 
in this race who thinks that everyone involved on January 6 ought to be 
held accountable, regardless of the positions they hold in power.
  For justice and truth, and in memory of the lives lost on January 6, 
I nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.
  The CLERK. The Reading Clerk will now call the roll.
  The tellers having taken their places, the House proceeded to vote 
for the Speaker.
  The following is the result of the vote:

                             [Roll No. 18]

                             McCARTHY--216

     Aderholt
     Alford
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bean (FL)
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Bost
     Brecheen
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Burlison
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carey
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Chavez-DeRemer
     Ciscomani
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Cole
     Collins
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     D'Esposito
     Davidson
     De La Cruz
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duarte
     Duncan
     Dunn (FL)
     Edwards
     Ellzey
     Emmer
     Estes
     Ezell
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Finstad
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Flood
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fry
     Fulcher
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia, Mike
     Gimenez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hageman
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hern
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Houchin
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Hunt
     Issa
     Jackson (TX)
     James
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Kean (NJ)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kiggans (VA)
     Kiley
     Kim (CA)
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaLota
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Langworthy
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lawler
     Lee (FL)
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Luna
     Luttrell
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McCormick
     McHenry
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (OH)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Mills
     Molinaro
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Moran
     Murphy
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunn (IA)
     Obernolte
     Ogles
     Owens
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reschenthaler
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Santos
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Self
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Strong
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Van Orden
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (NY)
     Williams (TX)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Yakym
     Zinke

                             JEFFRIES--212

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Balint
     Barragan
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bowman
     Boyle (PA)
     Brown
     Brownley
     Budzinski
     Bush
     Caraveo
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Casar
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Cherfilus-McCormick
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crockett
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (NC)
     Dean (PA)
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Deluzio
     DeSaulnier
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Foushee
     Frankel, Lois
     Frost
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Garcia, Robert
     Golden (ME)
     Goldman (NY)
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Hoyle (OR)
     Huffman
     Ivey
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson (NC)
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Kamlager-Dove
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Landsman
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Lee (PA)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lynch
     Magaziner
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McGarvey
     McGovern
     Meeks
     Menendez
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moskowitz
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Mullin
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Nickel
     Norcross

[[Page H43]]


     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Peltola
     Perez
     Peters
     Pettersen
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Quigley
     Ramirez
     Raskin
     Ross
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Ryan
     Salinas
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Scholten
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Sorensen
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Stansbury
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Swalwell
     Sykes
     Takano
     Thanedar
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tokuda
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Vasquez
     Veasey
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)

                               JORDAN--2

     Biggs
     Good (VA)
       

                                BIGGS--2

     Crane
     Rosendale
       

                        ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--2

     Boebert
     Gaetz
       

                             NOT VOTING--0

                              {time}  2315

  The CLERK. The tellers agree in their tallies that the total number 
of votes cast is 432, of which the Honorable Kevin McCarthy of the 
State of California has received 216, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries of 
the State of New York has received 212, the Honorable   Jim Jordan of 
the State of Ohio has received 2, the Honorable   Andy Biggs of the 
State of Arizona has received 2, with 2 Members-elect voting present.
  No Member-elect having received a majority of the votes cast, a 
Speaker has not been elected.

                          ____________________