[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5018-H5020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ELECTION OF SPEAKER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The next order of business is the election
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress.
Nominations are now in order.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik).
Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Clerk, colleagues, on
behalf of the House Republican Conference, I rise today to nominate the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Jim Jordan, as Speaker of the people's
House.
We are at a time of great crisis across America, a time of historic
challenges in this very Chamber, and a time when heinous acts of terror
and evil have been committed against our great ally, Israel.
As this body convenes for the sacred responsibility to elect the next
Speaker of the people's House, I am reminded of the Book of Esther: for
such a time as this.
Jim Jordan will be America's Speaker for such a time as this:
A time when hardworking American families are struggling under the
vice of inflation, not able to afford groceries, heat, or gas because
of the trillions and trillions of dollars of reckless spending by
failed far-left government;
A time when millions are being illegally trafficked and smuggled
across our southern and northern borders due to the catastrophic and
inhumane wide-open borders of Joe Biden;
A time when violent crime is skyrocketing across America, destroying
our great cities, suburbs, and small towns, where people no longer feel
safe in their homes or in their communities;
A time when American energy production has been crushed by Joe
Biden's radical, failed, far-left policies, causing seniors, farmers,
and families to pay more at the pump and struggle with skyrocketing
utility bills;
A time when the Federal Government is weaponized against we the
people, who they are supposed to serve, stripping us of our God-given
constitutional rights and wrongfully targeting conservatives,
Catholics, and even parents at school board meetings;
A time when the people of our closest and most precious ally, Israel,
suffered the bloodiest day since the Holocaust, with acts of inhumane
evil committed by Hamas terrorists backed by Iran, grotesque
atrocities, the beheadings of babies, rapes, kidnappings, and slaughter
of women, children, and the elderly, and Israelis and Americans taken
hostage.
We are here in this very Chamber for such a time as this. Jim
Jordan will be we the people's Speaker for such a time as this.
Our friend and colleague Jim Jordan is a patriot. He is an America
First warrior who wins the toughest of fights, going after corruption
and delivering accountability at the highest levels of government on
behalf of we the people.
{time} 1245
Jim is the voice of the American people who have felt voiceless for
far too long. Whether as Judiciary chair, conservative leader, or
Representative for his constituents in west central Ohio, whether on
the wrestling mat or in the committee room, Jim Jordan is strategic,
scrappy, tough, and principled.
He is a mentor, a worker, and above all, he is a fighter. We know
that Jim Jordan is a winner on behalf of the American people.
Almost 10 years ago, many of us sat with our colleague Jim Jordan
in this very Chamber when Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered his
historic joint address--which some of our colleagues across the aisle
shamefully boycotted. Bibi pointed out that in this very Chamber, we
serve under the watchful gaze of Moses.
He said, ``Overlooking all of us in this Chamber is the image of
Moses. . . . And before the people of Israel entered the land of
Israel, Moses gave us a message that has steeled our resolve for
thousands of years. . . . Be strong and resolute, neither fear nor
dread them.''
He went on to say: ``My friends, may Israel and America always stand
together, strong and resolute. May we neither fear nor dread the
challenges ahead. May we face the future with confidence, strength, and
hope.''
On behalf of the American people, let's face the future with
confidence, strength, and hope. Let's elect Jim Jordan, our Speaker
of the people's House, for such a time as this.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. Aguilar).
Mr. AGUILAR. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, with great respect for this
institution, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the
vote of that Caucus to present for election to the office of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives the name of the Honorable
Hakeem Jeffries, the pride of Crown Heights, a Representative from the
State of New York.
Mr. Speaker pro tempore, this is not the history we wanted to make
here in the House. It is something that none of us imagined when we
were sworn into this office.
We are here because the House has been thrown into chaos. We are here
because this hallowed Chamber has been led to a breaking point by two
dangerous forces: extremism and partisanship.
The American people placed their faith in us to tackle their most
pressing issues: lowering costs, growing the middle class, and standing
up to those set on delivering a national abortion ban.
The choice before us is simple: Come together on a bipartisan path
forward or take us over the cliff. Abandon the extremism that is
preventing us from getting things done or triple down on division and
dysfunction.
A vote today to make the architect of a nationwide abortion ban, a
vocal election denier, and an insurrection insider Speaker of this
House would be a terrible message to the country and our allies.
Mr. Speaker pro tempore, it would send an even more troubling message
to our enemies that the very people who would seek to undermine
democracy are rewarded with positions of immense power.
We are talking about someone who has spent his entire career trying
to hold our country back, putting our national security in danger,
attempting government shutdown after government shutdown, wasting
taxpayer dollars on baseless investigations with dead ends, authoring
the very bill that would ban abortion nationwide without exceptions,
and inciting violence on this Chamber. Even leaders of his own
[[Page H5019]]
party have called him a legislative terrorist. He once said, ``I didn't
come to Congress to make more laws.'' His words speak for themselves.
When New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane Sandy needed Congress to
act, he said no.
When wildfires ravaged the West, destroying homes and businesses, and
those residents needed disaster assistance, he said no.
When the Mississippi River floods devastated the South and
communities across State lines needed Congress to act, he said no.
When our veterans were suffering from disease and dying as a result
of their service to our country and Congress passed a bipartisan
solution, he said no.
When our ally in Ukraine looked to Congress for additional support to
help defeat Putin, he said no.
Just before Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on Israel, he said no to
fully funding military aid for our ally.
This body is debating elevating a Speaker nominee who has not passed
a single bill in 16 years. These are not the actions of someone
interested in governing or bettering the lives of everyday Americans.
This is nothing less than the rejection of the oath that we swore to
uphold as duly elected Members of this body.
But on this side of the aisle and throughout this Chamber, I am
convinced that oath still matters. To fulfill our obligations to the
American people, we have no choice today but to vote for a leader of
both character and conviction.
When the Congress first began, we proudly stood next to him as our
leader and made a promise to every American.
House Democrats would work to find common ground on the issues that
matter most to the American people whenever possible, and we would
stand up to extremism whenever necessary.
Only Hakeem Jeffries can be trusted to keep his word. Only Hakeem
Jeffries can lead us out of the chaos and toward a path of governance.
It brings me immense pride to nominate our friend, the Democratic
leader, Hakeem Jeffries, as Speaker. He may just be the candidate with
the most votes, but he is also the candidate with the most credibility.
If the goal is to continue a 30-year march to hollow out our
Democratic institutions, weaken our democracy, and embolden extremists,
there is a candidate for you.
If the goal is to continue taking marching orders from a twice-
impeached former President with more than 90 pending felony charges,
then there is a candidate for you.
The world is watching, Mr. Speaker pro tempore. Our allies in Ukraine
and Israel are watching and waiting. Let's have this vote, but let's be
clear: A vote for the gentleman from Ohio is a vote to turn your back
on national security.
It is a vote to turn your back on a bipartisan path to fund the
government and avoid shutdowns, something we can only do if we reject
his nomination.
House Democrats are in the minority. We realize that. If House
Republicans wanted to elect a Speaker without us, then they could have.
There is still a path forward for both Democrats and Republicans to
come together to elect a Speaker who can unite us behind a common
purpose; keeping the government open on a bipartisan compromise that
won more than 300 votes just 4 months ago in this Chamber; taking an
up-or-down vote on help so Israel can defeat Hamas and Ukraine can
defeat Putin; and reassuring the American people that their legislators
have their backs.
Mr. Speaker pro tempore, it is that simple, and we can do it today.
Let's work together. Let's elect a Speaker who will reach out the hand
of bipartisanship and deliver for the American people.
That is why, once again, Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I am proud to
nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The names of the Honorable Jim Jordan, a
Representative from the State of Ohio, and the Honorable Hakeem
Jeffries, a Representative from the State of New York, have been placed
in nomination.
Are there further nominations?
There being no further nominations, the Chair appoints the following
tellers:
The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil);
The gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle);
The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk); and
The gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).
The tellers will come forward and take their seats at the desk in
front of the Speaker's rostrum. The roll will now be called, and those
responding to their names will indicate by surname the nominee of their
choosing.
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. 521]
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
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, Al (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
McClellan
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
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--200
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garcia, Mike
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
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)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
[[Page H5020]]
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
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
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
Yakym
Zinke
SCALISE--7
Diaz-Balart
Gonzales, Tony
Granger
Kelly (PA)
Rutherford
Simpson
Womack
MCCARTHY--6
Bacon
Chavez-DeRemer
Gimenez
Kiggans (VA)
LaMalfa
Lawler
ZELDIN--3
D'Esposito
Garbarino
LaLota
GARCIA, MIKE--1
Ellzey
EMMER--1
Buck
COLE--1
James
MASSIE--1
Spartz
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--0
NOT VOTING--1
Bilirakis
{time} 1345
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The tellers agree in their tallies that the
total number of votes cast is 432, of which the Honorable Jim Jordan
of the State of Ohio has received 200, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries of
the State of New York has received 212, the Honorable Kevin McCarthy of
the State of California has received 6, Lee Zeldin of the State of New
York has received 3, the Honorable Steve Scalise of the State of
Louisiana has received 7, the Honorable Mike Garcia of the State of
California has received 1, the Honorable Tom Emmer of the State of
Minnesota has received 1, the Honorable Tom Cole of the State of
Oklahoma has received 1, the Honorable Thomas Massie of the State of
Kentucky has received 1.
No persons having received a majority of the whole number of votes
cast by surname, a Speaker has not been elected.
____________________