[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 180 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5214-H5218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1700
RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges
of the House and offer the resolution I previously noticed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ellzey). The Clerk will report the
resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 773
Whereas George Anthony Devolder Santos, known as George
Santos, was elected to represent New York's 3d Congressional
District in the House of Representatives on November 8, 2022;
Whereas after election day, it was revealed George Santos
lied about a significant portion of his background, including
his education and previous employment;
Whereas George Santos has a long history of misrepresenting
his and his family's connections to major events, including
the Holocaust, the September 11th terrorist attacks, and the
Pulse nightclub shooting;
Whereas, on May 9, 2023, George Santos was indicted on 13
counts of wire fraud, money laundering, stealing public
funds, and lying on Federal financial disclosure forms to the
House of Representatives;
Whereas a Federal grand jury indicted an aide to George
Santos' campaign on charges of wire fraud and identity theft
for defrauding potential donors by impersonating Speaker
Kevin McCarthy's former Chief of Staff;
Whereas, on October 5, 2023, George Santos' former campaign
treasurer pled guilty to falsifying campaign finance reports,
including lying about a $500,000 loan that George Santos
claimed to have donated to the campaign himself;
Whereas, on October 10, 2023, George Santos was federally
charged with an additional 10 criminal counts;
Whereas the additional charges were serious in nature,
including conspiracy to commit offenses against the United
States, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device
fraud, false statements to the Federal Election Commission,
and falsifying records to obstruct the commission;
Whereas the indictment outlined a vast amount of evidence
against Santos, including conversations he held with his
former campaign treasurer outlining plans to commit the fraud
he is charged with;
Whereas these charges indicate that George Santos engaged
in serious financial fraud throughout his 2022 campaign for
the House of Representatives;
Whereas George Santos stole over $44,000 from donors by
charging their credit cards without authorization;
Whereas George Santos directly profited from his fraudulent
actions, including transferring money to his own bank account
to buy luxury items and pay off personal debts;
Whereas George Santos engaged in election fraud throughout
his 2022 campaign by deceiving voters regarding his
biography, defrauding donors, and engaging in other illegal
campaign behavior; and
Whereas, as a result of these actions, George Santos is not
fit to serve his constituents as a United States
Representative: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That, pursuant to article I, section 5, clause 2
of the Constitution of the United States, Representative
George Santos, be, and he hereby is, expelled from the House
of Representatives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The resolution qualifies.
Pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, the gentleman from New York (Mr.
D'Esposito) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Santos) each will
control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues on this floor, we were
elected with a commitment to work on both sides of the aisle to
represent our constituents and the American people.
Unfortunately, we learned very early into Mr. Santos' term that he
was elected under false pretenses, which made it clear that he cannot
represent the great constituents of Nassau County and across this
country.
Since he was elected in November of 2022, we have learned about
countless lies, deceptions, and 23 charges against Mr. Santos.
It is in the best interest of the constituents of New York's 3rd and
all Americans that he is expelled from the House of Representatives.
The lies, the deceptions about September 11 terrorist attacks, his
education, his work history, his faith, the fact that he was Jew-ish,
claiming that his grandparents escaped the horrors of the Holocaust. We
also saw that he pled to a crime in Brazil.
I was one of the first Members of Congress to call for his
resignation, doing so in January.
In May, I motioned for an expulsion resolution to be referred to the
Committee on Ethics, asking for a thorough and expedient investigation,
as there were not yet two-thirds ``yes'' votes needed from this Chamber
for him to be expelled.
Despite my desire to see Mr. Santos no longer serving in Congress, I
believed that this would be the quickest way to rid him from the
institution, and I thanked that committee. They recently released a
memo interviewing over 40 witnesses, reviewing over 170,000 pages of
documents, doing their due diligence.
Just weeks ago, Mr. Santos' former campaign treasurer pled guilty to
falsifying campaign finance reports, including lying about a $500,000
loan that Mr. Santos claimed to have donated to the campaign himself.
Days later, Mr. Santos was charged with an additional 10 criminal
counts. These charges included conspiracy to commit offenses against
the United States of America, aggravated identity theft, and the
indictment outlined a vast amount of evidence against Mr. Santos.
All you have to do is look at the lies and deceptions in the
resolution and details of the indictments--multiple indictments--to see
that Mr. Santos is a stain on this institution and not fit to serve his
constituents in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, over the last days I have heard from many Members saying
that there is due process, that there is precedent.
Well, I stand before you today, Mr. Speaker, in saying that if we are
going to set a new precedent today, that we are against lying
fraudsters coming to the House of Representatives, then I am all for
that precedent. I will add to that, Mr. Speaker, that many individuals
have come to Washington, D.C., to rid us of the swamp.
Well, today, we have an opportunity to set a new precedent and to
remove someone from the House of Representatives that is not properly
representing
[[Page H5215]]
the people of New York's Third Congressional District.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota).
Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and fellow Long
Islander, Mr. D'Esposito, for yielding me time to speak for my fellow
New York colleagues who are joining us this afternoon.
New Yorkers from Queens and Nassau Counties deserve better than
George Santos--a total fraud and serial liar--representing them in
Congress. Each day that Mr. Santos is allowed to remain a Member of
Congress, my New York neighbors to the west are being denied real
representation in these Halls. That is because their Representative is
incapable of getting a bill passed, a project funded, or even sitting
on a committee because he lacks the minimum amount of trust necessary
of a Member of Congress.
Today, the best way to support my fellow New Yorkers and overcome
George Santos' fraud is to expel George Santos from the House of
Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Santos has said expelling him before he is formally
charged and found guilty would create new precedent in this body, one
that could have negative consequences for generations.
Respectfully, Mr. Speaker, I disagree. The consequences and
precedents for not expelling him for his lies and fraud have the
potential to do far more damage to this institution.
I would submit today that we have an opportunity to set a new
standard, a new precedent, that if a candidate for Congress makes his
entire life up in order to defraud voters and donors and subsequently
those voters reasonably rely on that candidate's lies to elect him or
her, that we, the House of Representatives, will exercise the authority
given to us in the Constitution to expel that Member.
George Santos' lies are more widespread than even the most
untrustworthy politicians, and these lies were necessary to get him
elected.
George Santos didn't just lie about his family's business dealings,
like President Biden did, Santos lied about everything about his
professional background, from his family's wealth to working for
Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Santos committed this fraud, this election fraud, to create an
entirely new persona that voters and donors could support. Santos'
treasurer, his conspirator, recently pled guilty to their criminal
conspiracy, which included faking a six-figure loan to the campaign
to induce more contributions.
George Santos didn't just lie about attending a school on full
scholarship or finishing in the top half of his class, like President
Biden did, rather, Santos went much further.
To defraud voters and to swindle donors out of millions, George
Santos lied about his entire education; not that he graduated in a
certain part of his class, not that he received a specific award. Those
lies are reserved for other slimy politicians and are worthy of
different kinds of rebuke, less than expulsion.
George Santos lied about attending and graduating from Baruch
College, meanwhile, he never attended Baruch. He never took one class.
The fabulist even made up an entire fictional story about how he was a
star on the school's volleyball team.
George Santos thinks that we are fools, Mr. Speaker. George Santos
didn't just lie about being at Ground Zero on the day after September
11, like President Biden did, George Santos went much further, saying
that his mother was in the south tower on
9/11 and escaped only to later die from a 9/11-related illness.
Santos lied about his association with 9/11 to win over Long Island
families, families of cops and firefighters and other innocent people
who died on 9/11, and whose hearts were ripped out that fateful day.
He did it as part of a broader scheme to defraud voters and donors to
get him elected to Congress.
To further defraud voters and swindle donors out of millions, George
Santos even lied about being Jewish. Like his lies about his
association with 9/11, Santos lied about being Jewish as part of a
calculated attempt to win over voters in the district that Santos is
attempting to trick who has a strong Jewish population.
George Santos says the decision of whether he should remain in
Congress should be left up to the people of New York's Third District.
I would argue that these New Yorkers were robbed of this opportunity
when they were duped into voting for a fictitious candidate to
represent them in Congress.
George Santos has stated himself that he lied about several parts of
his life, including his education, and his mother dying as a result of
9/11. Today, 78 percent of his constituents support his expulsion from
Congress.
George Santos also falsely claims that his expulsion is barred by the
Constitution's 5th and 14th Amendment's due process clauses. Yet, the
due process clauses do not apply to House proceedings such as
expulsions. Moreover, the Constitution more broadly affords the accused
the knowledge of the accusation against him, the opportunity to be
heard, the ability to confront his or her accuser, and to be afforded a
speedy trial.
Mr. Speaker, as of today, each of those conditions has been met.
Nothing in the Constitution gives George Santos the right to endlessly
stall and to abuse his office to seek a more preferable conviction or a
plea deal.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Santos' behavior has shown a consistent disregard
for the principles of bipartisanship, servant leadership, good
governance, and civil discourse. He has shown no interest in being a
serious Member of this Chamber or to do the people's work.
A Member of Congress should be committed to the betterment of the
Nation and willing to compromise for the greater good. His actions and
statements have demonstrated a concerning lack of this commitment.
Mr. Speaker, let's get the people of New York's Third District some
decent representation. Let's raise the bar here in the House of
Representatives. Let's hold one of our own accountable. Let's expel
George Santos.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
{time} 1715
Mr. SANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Goldman).
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this
resolution to expel George Santos from Congress, as I did in May when I
cosponsored a similar expulsion resolution that the sponsors of today's
resolution, my Republican colleagues from New York, did not support.
I agree with everything that my Republican colleagues have said here
today, but everything they have said here today was also true in May
when they voted to protect George Santos.
Has there been anything that has changed? Nothing about the numerous
lies that Mr. Santos admitted himself to making in order to deceive his
voters into electing him, nothing about his status as an indicted
criminal defendant. Yes, there has been a superseding indictment with
more allegations of criminal conduct, but he is still presumed innocent
until proven guilty, as my New York friends relied upon in May when
they voted to protect George Santos from expulsion.
Nothing has changed from the Ethics Committee, even though one of my
colleagues from New York said that the Ethics Committee would expedite
its investigation and release a report 60 days from the date of that
May vote. Well, we are now 175 days since then and there is no ethics
report that would prompt a change of heart.
One thing that has changed is that Mr. Santos' campaign treasurer
pled guilty to fraud and admitted under oath that she conspired with
Mr. Santos to fabricate a nonexistent $500,000 loan to his campaign,
but the resolution drafted by my friends from New York does not even
mention that new fact.
What really has changed since May? Is it because we are learning
revelations of connections between Mr. Santos and our other Republican
colleagues from New York serving in this body? Maybe. There is
certainly one
[[Page H5216]]
thing we know that is motivating this change of heart: the 2024
election.
I know that the people of New York care about integrity. They care
that one of their Republican Representatives is a liar and a fraud.
They care about the fact that Mr. Santos has done nothing to serve his
constituents yet still provides a loyal and vital vote to the
Republican Party.
George Santos hangs like an albatross around the necks of every
single Republican from New York. They don't care any more today about
integrity or morality or the reputation of this institution than they
did in May when they voted to protect Mr. Santos. They just care about
their reelection in 1 year, when they know that their support for
George Santos is going to be a problem.
Mr. Santos should be expelled from Congress today for the same
reasons that he should have been expelled in May. He himself admitted
to numerous lies that he made during the campaign to deceive the
voters. He is only walking these Halls and voting on this floor because
of those lies. Now, we have additional testimony that he conspired to
commit fraud.
Democrats will once again vote to expel someone who should never have
had the honor of walking these Halls and voting on legislation
affecting the American people. The only question is whether Republicans
care more about honor and integrity than they do about political power.
I hope the answer is yes, but I fear the answer is no.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
First, I recognize some of the comments from my colleague, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman) when he asked what has changed.
What has changed is that there are an additional 13 charges in an
indictment with a campaign treasurer pleading guilty. What has changed
is that when we had discussed this back in May, when he cosponsored
that legislation, I made it very clear that I was in support of it, but
I also know how to count and realized that we did not have two-thirds
of the House. Perhaps we won't this evening.
What I do know is that the Ethics Committee has been working hard, as
they issued a memo, as I referred to a few minutes ago, reviewing over
170,000 pages of documents, interviewing 40 witnesses, and issuing
subpoenas. Things have changed.
I find it very hard to take advice about serving constituents, Mr.
Speaker, from a gentleman who has outright supported a rogue DA like
Alvin Bragg in New York City, who has turned one of the greatest cities
in this country into an outright disaster. Just ask your constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Lawler).
Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I will say, listening to the
sanctimoniousness of my colleague from New York is quite priceless,
talking about politics. This is a gentleman who couldn't even condemn
the New York City DSA in an op-ed and, in fact, was more upset that I
introduced a resolution condemning them than the actions of those
individuals within the New York City DSA that supported the Hamas
terrorist attack on Israel. That is precisely because of politics,
because his district is one of the most progressive districts in
America. He couldn't muster the courage to even condemn the New York
City DSA, so save us your sanctimoniousness sitting over there with
your smug look.
Mr. Speaker, nobody wants to be in a situation where they are
expelling a Member of Congress. It is serious, and it comes with weight
and gravity because that individual was elected by their constituents
to serve and to represent their district. You don't expel a Member for
being a jerk. You don't expel a Member for something they said. You
expel a Member for their conduct.
The conduct of Mr. Santos has been embarrassing and unbecoming and
unfit for public office. Lying about your background, lying about your
life experiences, making up events that didn't occur in an effort to
bamboozle voters into believing that you are the right person to
represent them, is wrong, fundamentally wrong. It is why all of us
called for Mr. Santos to resign when this information came to light.
The resolution that was brought about in May was referred to the
Ethics Committee for two reasons. Number one, there was not two-thirds
of the vote to expel; and, number two, you wanted to allow for a
process to get more information that Members could hang their hat on in
a vote. That process is ongoing. We all would have liked to have seen
it resolved more expeditiously than it has been, but given the
voluminous amount of lies, it has taken time.
What has changed since May is that you have a guilty plea by the
treasurer who was involved in this scam who has laid out precisely what
happened, and you have a superseding indictment, 13 additional felony
charges, outlining precisely what happened.
Yes, Mr. Santos will get his day in court, but for the purposes of
this body, we now have more than enough information from a court of
law, with the guilty plea of his treasurer, to expel him from Congress.
When you can sit with a straight face and say that you attended an
institution like Baruch College or that you were a volleyball superstar
and recite this on a nationally syndicated radio show, when you can
make up the fact that your mother was in the Twin Towers on September
11 with not even an ounce of shame or remorse, you are unfit to serve.
All of us, being from New York, remember that day precisely. I was in
my fifth day of freshman year of high school. The number of my
classmates whose parents were in the building, whose parents didn't
come home, the number of first responders in each of our districts who
still today are dying from 9/11-related illnesses, this is not
something you joke about or you lie about. It is unfit.
We, as Members of this body, despite the political nonsense that just
came out of my colleague's mouth from New York, we, as Members of this
body, have tried to allow for a process to take place, allow for a
process in which the Members of this body can be confident that Mr.
Santos should be expelled from Congress.
That process has been allowed to play out, both in the Ethics
Committee and here today. Based on the conviction and guilty plea of
his treasurer and the admission of the fraud that was perpetrated upon
donors, upon the NRCC, upon former Speaker McCarthy's chief of staff,
that is more than sufficient evidence and information to expel Mr.
Santos from Congress.
There is not enough time to go through the litany of lies that Mr.
Santos has engaged in during his campaign and during his time in
Congress, including just recently a claim that his 5-year-old niece was
kidnapped by Chinese Communist Party spies.
All of us take seriously the oath that we took. All of us want to
uphold the integrity of this institution. We are willing to take on a
member of our party not for political gain, not because we think this
is fun, but because it is right.
I would ask my colleague from New York, name me one time you ever
stood up to your party. You couldn't even muster the courage to
denounce the New York City DSA.
We will do what is right. We have brought this resolution forward,
and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of Mr. Santos'
expulsion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks
to the Chair.
Mr. SANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for
closing.
Mr. Speaker, efforts taken by other Members in this body to act as
judge, jury, and executioner are unconscionable and reckless to our
Republican system of government and to the integrity of this body.
I stand today to continue to prove my innocence of these allegations
and charges leveled against me. I would like to say I understand the
point of view of my colleagues, but I don't.
{time} 1730
One can't say that they are pro-Constitution and at the same time act
as judge, jury, and executioner.
Where is the consistency, Mr. Speaker?
The actions taken within this body are delicate, and consistency is
essential. Now is not the time to set a dangerous precedent.
[[Page H5217]]
Consider this: The last time a Member of Congress was expelled was in
2002, following a criminal conviction. In fact, both expulsions in the
last two centuries took place after the defendants had been convicted.
To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I would like to
remind you that many of you are supporting another Member of Congress
who is under investigation--it is the second time he has been
indicted--and even one who recently pleaded guilty to a crime. Rather
than calling for their resignation, here we are.
I must warn my colleagues that voting for expulsion at this point
would circumvent the judicial system's right to due process that I am
entitled to and desanctify the long-held premise that one is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
It is unconscionable to think that this body, which is at war with
the DOJ over their politically motivated practices, would blindly
accept their accusation against a member of another branch of
government.
We were each elected to Congress because our constituents supported
our pledge to uphold the Constitution, protect our liberties, and put
their needs first. We swore with our palms to the Bible to do so.
This expulsion, unfortunately, is politically motivated by some
Members within this body. They believe that by attempting to expel me,
they will garner political points, capitalize on political fundraising,
and receive congratulations from those who do not approve of my voting
record.
During this Congress, we have seen the world set aflame, our allies
attacked, recession looming, crime out of control, an unprecedented
border crisis, and the diminishment of American power, prestige, and
respect at home and around the globe. We should focus on solving these
pressing issues that plague our Nation and that affect our citizens
every single day. Instead, we are prioritizing petty politics and
undermining the integrity of our system of government, all for
political cheap gains.
Pettifog all you want, but you can never say I am not committed to
serving my constituents of New York's Third Congressional District. I
have strived to build relationships and institutional acumen to
represent and legislate for my people back home. Since I took office,
over 1,100 cases for constituents have been solved, key relationships
with stakeholders in the district have been built, and a fresh voice of
common sense and servant leadership has returned to New York.
My office has no strings attached to political parties and
apparatuses back home, so I am free to represent them openly here
without the overlords of the GOP over my head in New York and Nassau
County.
My office has done instrumental work regarding passports,
collaborating with State and local agencies, working with the
Department of State throughout this ongoing Israel crisis for
constituents overseas, and countless other requests.
In addition, I am proud to have two fully staffed district offices
serving the constituents of New York's Third District, participating in
the service academy nominations for dozens of exceptional candidates
from Long Island and Northeast Queens, and being involved in the
Congressional Art Competition.
One of my highest honors of being in Congress was presenting a Purple
Heart medal to a World War I hero's surviving family member after years
of them attempting to garner this from my predecessor. I will never
cease to honor those who have defended this Republic and our homeland.
From my involvement in assisting residents of New York's Third
District being held hostage by Hamas terrorists to my contributions in
the effort to close the migrant shelter at the Creedmoor facility in
Bellerose, being a champion for the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings
Point, and my resolve to clamp down on China's growing influence
against American interests, there is one thing consistent and
unwavering, and that is dedication to selfless service. This motivates
me to work day in and day out on behalf of them and to represent their
interests and values.
I am proud to have one of the most conservative voting records in the
118th Congress and the most conservative voting record in New York's
delegation. I will never apologize for voting in line with conservative
principles and my district.
Let us remember our commitment to justice ensures that the
presumption of innocence is upheld in all cases.
I requested that my evaluation be based on the work I do in this
body, and you granted me a reprieve earlier this year on the advice of
former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. I am asking the Chamber to
please uphold those same principles today.
I hope that my colleagues come to their senses and recognize that the
perilous consequences of a trial by media are damaging. The loss of the
presumption of innocence establishes a dangerous precedent that
threatens the very foundation of our legal system, and we risk losing
the trust that the American people have placed in us by passing
judgment without due process.
If we work together, we can protect the integrity of our system and
the rights of all citizens.
I am fighting tooth and nail to clear my name in front of the entire
world, Mr. Speaker. It hasn't been easy, but I am fighting by God's
grace.
On a final note, as we wear these pins and stand within these
Chambers as elected Members of Congress, we cannot speak out of both
sides of our mouths. Promising to uphold the principles of the
Constitution while simultaneously trampling on the principles that
underpin our fundamental rights granted by the Constitution is
hypocrisy.
I hope that the House will understand the scope of this vote and have
the courage to do what is right, not what is politically expedient.
I stand firmly in my innocence and my passion to represent the people
of New York's Third District if the voters would continue to have me.
It is their responsibility and their responsibility alone to elect or
remove me from Congress.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to make my case directly to
you.
For God, for country, for liberty. God bless the United States of
America, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I first would point out that constitutional due process
doesn't apply here.
We have the facts. They have been outlined over the last 10 months,
and the facts are that Mr. Santos actually admitted to those lies and
deceptions.
He references the concern of this body and the fact that we may be
losing trust. I want to let everyone in on a stark reminder. Coming
from New York, New Yorkers don't agree on much of anything, but 78
percent of the individuals who live in the Third Congressional District
do not want George Santos as their Representative, so it seems to me
that trust has already been lost.
Like my colleagues mentioned, this is not something we want to do. In
fact, I wasn't elected to Congress, nor were my colleagues here from
New York, to entertain issues like this. While Mr. Santos referenced
the work that needs to be done here in the 118th Congress, like
fighting the out-of-control spending from the Biden administration,
holding President Biden accountable for his lies and deception and
failure to uphold the Constitution, securing our southern border,
keeping our communities safe, making this country energy independent--
yes, that is the work that we want to do. That is the work that our
neighbors sent us here to do. Each time we attempt to do that work, we
are sidetracked by yet another story involving George Santos.
So you see, we are here today because we have heard all the facts. We
know what is at stake, and yes, we understand that there is a
precedent. But, by God, if there is ever a time that the American
people want to see a new standard, want to see a new precedent set on
Capitol Hill, I think now is the time. They have watched over the last
3 or 4 weeks while we tried to find our new Speaker of the House. This
government was on hold, and we couldn't do the work of the American
people.
Do you know what? They are looking at us and want us to be held to a
higher standard. That is why we are putting this resolution on the
floor, not because we want to and not for political points.
[[Page H5218]]
This resolution would have been put forth by me whether I represent a
bright red district or the brightest of blue districts. This is about
doing the right thing. It is about putting this institution first, and
it is about giving the people of the Third Congressional District the
opportunity to be represented.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the resolution.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the adoption of the
resolution.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
____________________