[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6972-H6975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) is recognized for 
60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Still I rise, Mr. Speaker, always proud to have 
this preeminent privilege of standing here in the House of 
Representatives, honored to have the opportunity to serve the people of 
the Ninth Congressional District who elected me, but also the people of 
this country, this entire country, because when they elected me, they 
elected me to become a United States Representative. As such, when I 
vote, I am voting for them, but I am also voting for the country.
  Today I rise to be grateful and to express my gratitude and my 
appreciation to the people of the Ninth Congressional District for 
allowing me this opportunity, this singular opportunity of serving in 
the Congress of the United States of America. I have been blessed.
  I thank the people who happen to live in Brazoria County for allowing 
me to serve them. It has been an honor, and it continues to be my 
honor. I, in no way, am indicating that I am about to leave the 
Congress. I think that this is an opportunity to express my gratitude. 
I plan to be here next year and until the people of the Ninth 
Congressional District decide otherwise.
  I thank the people who live in Brazoria County. I thank the people 
who live in Fort Bend County--these counties adjoin each other--and 
Harris County.
  I didn't get here because I was so smart. I am here because there 
were people who thought that I might make a difference in their lives, 
and I have tried my best to do so, so I thank them for affording me 
this opportunity.
  I thank my staff. Members of Congress get things done only when they 
have a good staff. I have an excellent staff, and I thank them for what 
they do to make it possible for me to do things that I ordinarily would 
not be able to do.
  I had a friend, Mickey Leland, who served in this Congress, and he 
reminded me on many occasions that a great person will always rise to 
the occasion, but the greater people make the occasion, so I thank 
these occasion makers, the people who make it possible for me to come 
here and stand and speak in the House of Representatives in this 
Capitol Building.
  I thank my chief of staff here in Washington, D.C., who does an 
outstanding job. I won't go through his credentials in the entirety, 
but he is a lawyer, Scott Bell. I thank Scott for the fine job he has 
done to lead the D.C. team.
  That team consists of Aaron, who is my legislative director; Raphael, 
who is a senior in the office; Jalaina, who is a legislative assistant 
in the office; Madison, who is my office administrator; and then there 
are other persons who are coming on board. I believe that Izzah will be 
on board with me. I have extended an offer to her. We will see if she 
accepts.
  My D.C. team has done an outstanding job. I am very proud of the job 
that all of the members of this team have afforded the people of the 
Ninth Congressional District of Texas.
  However, I do want to mention one standout, and that is Claudia. 
Claudia and I happened to bump into each other when she was working in 
another capacity here on the Hill. I take great pride in selecting 
people who don't apply for the job, people that I just happen to bump 
into along life's way. Such was the case with Claudia. I just bumped 
into her. We had some casual conversation, and something said to me, 
this is the person who can represent you when people first enter your 
office. I thank Claudia very much for the job that she does.
  Jalaina and I met when I was at a speaking engagement. She didn't 
apply for the job. I spoke to her for some small length of time, found 
out that she was looking for a job on the Hill. She applied, and 
Jalaina now works in the office. I mentioned her earlier. She is a 
legislative assistant in the office.
  I am proud of this D.C. team, but in Houston I have a team that has 
been with me for a very long time, and I am proud of them, as well. I 
am proud of Rachael Rodriguez, who came to me from labor. She is a 
labor-oriented person, as am I. I am a dues-checkoff member of a local 
labor union, 1550 AFSCME. As such, I am proud to say that Rachael 
Rodriguez has done an outstanding job leading the Houston team. She is 
more than capable, competent, and qualified. She has a great 
personality. She is the kind of person who respects others with her 
smiles. Rachael Rodriguez.
  Then, of course, there is Crystal Webster. Crystal is the deputy 
district director, and she does a little bit of everything. In that 
office we all take pride in getting the job done. Everybody will pitch 
in to do whatever has to be done. Crystal Webster has done an 
outstanding job. I am grateful that she has been with me for many 
years.
  The persons that I have just spoken of, Crystal and Rachael, have 
both been with me for more than a decade.
  Of course, I am honored to have in that office Clarence Holliday. We 
call him Doc. He has done outstanding work in the outreach area, also 
as a caseworker. He is just a fine man, former NAACP president out in 
Fort Bend County. He does outstanding work. I am proud to have him.
  I am also proud to have Catherine. Catherine is polyglot. She speaks 
four different languages; quite well, I might add. She connects me to 
communities that but for her I wouldn't connect with. These people are 
making a difference in the lives of the people in the Ninth 
Congressional District.
  I also am honored to have with me Sam, Sam Merchant. Sam Merchant is 
a person of Indian heritage; not Native American, Indian heritage. He 
has been with me for a number of years as an outreach person. I regret 
to say to you that Sam will be leaving the office. He has served us 
well. He is moving on to a sunset of retirement. I greatly appreciate 
the work that Sam has done for the people of the Ninth Congressional 
District.
  Of course, we have Robertine, Robertine Jefferson. Her father was my 
pastor. He passed away some time ago. I never intended to hire 
Robertine. I just happened to be at an event and found out that she was 
interested in work, and she came on board with me. She helps us with 
our events. She is an event coordinator; par excellence, I might add. 
She does an outstanding job. I could not but for her do the many 
different things that we do in the district.

  Of course, there is Teque'lia. Teque'lia is the coms director in the 
office. She came on board not so very long ago and has been very 
talented. She picks up on things very quickly, and she produces a great 
work product, so I am proud to claim Teque'lia as a member of the team 
in Houston, Texas.
  There are other persons who are not on the team by virtue of working 
in the office. I want to make sure that I acknowledge them as well 
because they

[[Page H6973]]

are in and out of the office, so thank you. Of course, there is Colbe 
who works in the office, Colbe is a receptionist out front. She drives 
when necessary, does a little bit of everything, as well. I am proud to 
have this team of workers in the Houston office, all of whom serve us 
well.
  Today, I will do two additional things, and I will depart. The first 
thing I would like to do is to thank the people that I work with here, 
people that I disagree with, people that I agree with. I think this is 
a time to put aside differences, as I heard Mr. Hoyer so eloquently 
express earlier in a presentation; put aside differences and just be 
grateful, just be grateful that you have the opportunity to serve and 
be grateful for the people that you serve with regardless of their 
political persuasions. Just be grateful. So I am grateful to all of the 
people that I serve with here, and I thank them for the work that we do 
together.
  In closing with this work, I am going to say a prayer for all of us, 
if I may, after which I will present someone else who will take the 
microphone and continue for the rest of the time that remains.
  Today, this is my prayer that I have written. I say this prayer 
before I consume any food. It is accidental if I consume food and I 
don't say this prayer because I am grateful to have the gift of life.
  I tell people that I am better than I deserve because I have been 
blessed to have the most unique gift in all of the universe, the gift 
of life. I don't know why I have it. I didn't earn it, so I have to be 
grateful for it. I try to use it in the most efficacious and the most 
beneficial way possible. I make mistakes. I am not a perfect person. I 
am a sinner, but I do try my best to treat people right. I ask for 
forgiveness; and I do ask for forgiveness more often than I probably 
should, but I do ask.
  This is my prayer, and I don't ask anybody to join me in my prayer, 
you do whatever you would ordinarily do. This is my prayer for my 
country and for the people that I serve with:
  Most gracious Creator, we know You by many names, but we also know 
that by any name, You are the Creator of all that was, is, and ever 
shall be; and I, as one of Your creations, want to take the time to now 
thank You, and I do so on behalf of the many others who may believe as 
I do.
  I thank You for Your love, Your grace, and the gift of life. I thank 
You for Your mercy and Your forgiveness throughout life. I thank You 
for Your angels to protect life. I thank You for Your creation to 
sustain life: Your air, the breath of life; Your water, the elixir of 
life; Your star that we know as Sun, the light and warmth of life; Your 
terra firma that we call Earth, the foundation and home of life.
  I today ask that You would recognize our weaknesses, our strengths, 
and give us the opportunity to serve You and Your creation so that it 
may continue as You would will it.
  I ask all of these things in the name of the Creator of all of 
creation, and I thank You.

                              {time}  1230

  At this time, I am honored to introduce someone I have the utmost 
respect for. Elected from Maryland's Fifth Congressional District, he 
is one of Maryland's finest and a Georgetown University lawyer. He 
served as majority leader twice, from 2007 to 2011 and then again from 
2019 to 2023. He is a person who has made a difference in my life and, 
in so doing, has made a difference in the lives of the people of the 
Ninth Congressional District, which I represent.
  I am so honored to have this opportunity to yield to the honorable 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), a lawyer, a former State senator, 
and still a Member of Congress. I respect and love my dear brother.
  God bless you. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. He is one of 
the great gentlemen of this institution, a man of faith, a man of great 
intellect, a man whose heart and conscience form his stances on issues. 
I am so blessed to be his friend.
  Mr. Speaker, save for the gentleman from Texas, these seats are 
empty. The House of Representatives has adjourned for the year. We have 
adjourned to go home.
  Mr. Speaker, I say we have adjourned. We won't adjourn technically 
until we finish special orders and perhaps 1 minutes. We have no more 
business, but we have an unfinished agenda, an unfinished agenda to 
confront the enemies of freedom and democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, when President Zelenskyy came to our Nation's Capital 
back in September, he visited the Declaration of Independence and the 
United States Constitution in the National Archives. Standing before 
our Nation's founding documents, he said, and I quote President 
Zelenskyy: ``It is not the evil empire but the lack of unity that can 
bring freedom to its knees.''
  He reiterated that message this week as our Members prepare and are 
currently returning home for the holidays. We get to return home and 
celebrate with our families in comfort and warmth. Mr. Speaker, the 
Ukrainians huddled amid snow and mud on the front lines of freedom will 
not have that luxury. The tens of thousands of Ukrainian children 
abducted by Putin's regime do not get that privilege. Neither do their 
families.
  Zelenskyy is right, Mr. Speaker. We do face another evil empire 
today, a new axis of evil: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and 
the autocrats in Iran and in other parts of the world and its many 
proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and others who 
all stand as threats to democracy and freedom.
  As these dictators and despots continue their assault on democracy, 
freedom, and international law, they watch whether the free world, of 
which we should be and for all intents and purposes are the leader of, 
waiting for that free world to stand together to oppose them. We will 
not have that opportunity until 25 days from now.
  These past few months, Congress had an opportunity to send them that 
message of unity and strength. We have not done that.
  Over 300 Members of the House, Mr. Speaker, voted to provide Ukraine 
additional aid all seven times it came to this floor. We are not not 
united on this issue. We simply have not brought it to the floor to 
express that unity and message to all the world.
  An overwhelming majority of Members also wanted to provide aid to 
Israel, including myself. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Johnson acknowledged the 
need to aid our allies, saying in Florida the other day: ``Ukraine is 
another priority. Of course, we can't allow Vladimir Putin to march 
through Europe, and we understand the necessity of assisting there.''
  Mr. Speaker, we have all gone home without undertaking that 
responsibility. Sadly, we apparently don't understand the urgency of 
that assistance.
  Instead of giving us a clean vote to act on that consensus, Speaker 
Johnson needlessly complicated the issue by tying it to his 
Conference's partisan proposal to overhaul our border policy.
  That decision, Mr. Speaker, was inconsistent with his cosponsorship 
of H.R. 395 back in 2017, which said the purpose of that bill was ``to 
end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill . 
. . enacted by Congress.''
  Mr. Speaker, the reason we have not acted on Israel, the reason we 
have not acted on Ukraine, the reason we have not come to the defense 
of democracy and freedom in Ukraine and to oppose terrorism in Israel, 
the reason is contrary to that one-purpose bill that Speaker Johnson 
was the sponsor of. He wants to put multiple issues in that, including 
border security, which we have been working on for 15 years but haven't 
been able to come to consensus.
  We should be and we are in consensus on Ukraine, but we did not act. 
Evidently, they think that ethical principles only apply when it is 
politically convenient.
  I agree that we need to fix the broken immigration system and address 
the situation at the border, but this is not the way to do it, not at 
the expense of the defense of freedom and democracy.
  House Republican leadership spent the last week advancing a sham 
impeachment inquiry, a bill about whole milk, and legislation about 
duck stamps while Ukraine twisted in the wind. Our House should have 
had only one priority this week--ensuring democracy's survival.
  By failing to provide this aid, our Congress signaled to our friends 
and

[[Page H6974]]

foes alike that America chooses reluctance over resolve, doubt over 
determination, and division over decisiveness. That posture of 
uncertainty puts our national security at risk.
  The America First contingent of the Republican Party sends an even 
more damaging message. Time and time again, leaders of the American far 
right praise Putin, demonize Ukraine, and spread misinformation about 
the war.
  Tucker Carlson, once one of the most-watched people on American TV, 
has become one of the most-watched people on Russian state television, 
where propagandists often play clips of his segments.
  President Trump continues to play into Putin's hands, as well. Trump 
recently said that if reelected in 2024, he would end the war in 
Ukraine within 24 hours. There is only one way to do that--give up, 
retreat, turn tail on the defense of democracy and Putin.
  In response--and this is instructive--Putin said, ``We cannot help 
but feel happy about it,'' meaning Trump's claim that he would end the 
war in 24 hours. Giving up is the only way to do that.
  Mr. Speaker, we have seen this kowtowing just recently on Capitol 
Hill. This week, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted: 
``Zelenskyy is here in D.C. today begging for your money, and 
warmongering Washington wants to give him limitless American dollars.''
  That, of course, is not true, but it warms the heart of Vladimir 
Putin. She went on to say: ``How much money will Washington spend to 
slaughter an entire generation of young Ukrainian men as Washington 
fights its proxy war with Russia?''
  I can remember, because I have been here a long time, when Republican 
friends accused the Democratic side of the aisle of too often blaming 
America first. Of course, that is what Marjorie Taylor Greene said.
  It is disgusting to say that we are slaughtering Ukrainians when 
Putin's forces are doing just that every day.
  We are doing everything possible to keep Ukrainians alive. Ukrainians 
courageously give their lives, as so many of our American forebearers 
have done, in defense of their country, in defense of their 
sovereignty, and in defense of their people's lives. Ukrainians 
courageously give their lives to defend their democracy, their country, 
and their families.
  They will continue to do so with or without our support. Our aid, 
however, may well determine whether their sacrifice leads to victory or 
defeat. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the chairs are empty.
  In another tweet, Congresswoman Greene asked: ``Why doesn't anyone in 
Washington talk about a peace treaty with Russia, a deal with Putin 
promising he will not continue any further invasions?'' Putin's 
promises have no credibility.
  ``Washington wants war,'' she said, ``not peace.''
  That is a lie. Washington wants peace, but it is not prepared to pay 
for peace with being dominated by a dictator.
  Believe me, we want peace, but we want a peace that lasts. A promise 
of peace from Putin is worthless. He is a former KGB officer turned 
dictator who has built his career one lie, one deception, and one 
betrayal at a time.
  He already broke one peace agreement, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, 
in which Putin, on behalf of Russia, agreed to respect Ukraine's 
sovereignty and borders in exchange for Ukraine's nuclear arsenal.

                              {time}  1245

  He has the nuclear arsenal. Ukraine was either the third or fourth 
largest holder of nuclear weapons in the world, and they gave them up 
in return for Putin's promise that their borders would be secured and 
unviolated.
  Then it went into Crimea, and the West's response was weak. He is in 
Crimea today, notwithstanding the fact that that is under Ukrainian 
sovereignty.
  Putin went back on that pledge when he took Crimea. He didn't stop 
with Crimea, however. He went into eastern Ukraine, and there is no 
reason to expect that he will stop with Ukraine.
  Winston Churchill once said, an appeaser is one who hopes that if he 
feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last, but surely 
the crocodile will eat him.
  John F. Kennedy shared the same wisdom in his book, ``Why England 
Slept.'' He wrote, ``Any person will awaken when the house is burning 
down. What we need is an armed guard that will wake up when the fire 
first starts or, better yet, one that will not permit a fire to start 
at all.''
  The seats in this House are empty today while the fire threatens 
democracy and freedom in Ukraine, which is the front line of democracy 
and freedom today.
  Mr. Speaker, the fire rages. Our inaction only stokes the flames. If 
you don't believe me, listen to what Russian State TV is saying. Allow 
me to quote from the transcript of a broadcast earlier this week: What 
is happening in the U.S. is beneficial for us. That is a quote from 
Russian TV, controlled by Putin.
  The seats are empty, and Putin is happy.
  They went on to say: ``Ukraine is losing. Russia is winning. This is 
it. Their funding and weapons came to an end.''
  They were relying on the United States of America, that shining city 
on the hill that stands for freedom, individual rights, democracy, 
religious freedom. That beacon on the hill is less bright today because 
these seats are empty.
  Putin said: As of now, well done, Republicans--his words, not mine--
well done, Republicans, for standing firm. That is good for us.
  ``Us'' is Russia. ``Us'' is the dictator. ``Us'' is the aggressor. 
``Us'' is the international lawbreaker, criminal, and murderer.
  Just a few hours ago, at an end-of-the-year press conference, Vladmir 
Putin said of Ukraine: ``Everything is coming from the West, but the 
free things will run out some day, and it seems it is already 
happening.''
  In other words, Putin is saying the West is retreating from the 
defense of freedom, and the seats in this body are empty.
  There is nothing that Putin and the rest of the axis of evil likes to 
see more than our Congress divided, our country divided, and our 
coalition divided. We must not give them that satisfaction.
  If we neglect to send these resources without condition and without 
delay, we fail not only the people of Ukraine, but the people of Israel 
and the people in Palestine, to whom we want to give relief and 
humanitarian aid.
  We fail the America envisioned by our Founding Fathers, a Nation with 
the courage to stand up to forces of empire and despotism. We fall 
short of the principles they enshrined in our founding documents, the 
very same documents that President Zelenskyy made his pilgrimage to a 
few months ago.
  Mr. Speaker, when we return to the Capitol on January 9, each Member 
of this Congress will face a choice. Will we, as Zelenskyy said, allow 
freedom to be brought to its knees or, Mr. Speaker, will we be standing 
strong, standing united against the evil empire.
  Regrettably, the seats are empty today.
  Every week, every day, every hour we fail to act, we risk allowing 
the enemies of freedom to make that decision for us. We must not let 
that happen.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the former majority leader 
for the outstanding presentation. I think it is an appropriate way to 
bring this to closure today. May God continue to bless him and keep 
him.
  Mr. Speaker, as I shake Mr. Hoyer's hand as he passes me by, I am 
blessed to know that sometimes fortuitous circumstances can benefit 
you.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss not to mention the newest staff member 
on my team, Eric Goodwine.
  Eric does an outstanding job for us in Houston. He not only assists 
me in the office, but he also is the principal person that gets me from 
point A to point B. Eric does an outstanding job of ensuring that 
things are arranged when I arrive at various venues, and I am proud to 
have him on the team.
  Eric, thank you again. Please forgive me for not mentioning you 
initially. All of this was from memory so charge it to being 25 three 
times and now working on my fourth 25th birthday, but there is a God 
that rules above and a fortuitous circumstance has made a difference.
  Mr. Speaker, may God bless this House, and may God bless the United 
States of America.

[[Page H6975]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________