[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 118 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RESTORING POWER TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. McCormick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this body that our 
role as Members of Congress is not just to pass laws and allocate 
funding. We are the people's House because we are the closest to the 
people.
  We have the most crucial duty to oversee the executive branch and 
hold the bureaucracy accountable for their actions. Since the founding 
of our Nation, this oversight function has been a cornerstone of our 
democracy.
  Yet, time and time again, we see witnesses from the executive branch 
refusing to answer the questions of the people. They quibble over 
details and dodge questions. Our hearings have become political 
theater. Witnesses act like teenagers caught out after curfew.
  The deep state evades the constitutional oversight authority that the 
people's House is supposed to yield. This authority is the way our 
Founders intended to keep the Federal bureaucracy in check.
  Enough is enough. This cannot continue. It is time to take a stand 
and restore the power of the people's House. We must ensure that the 
men and women who would act like rulers over the American people, 
despite never being elected, and then intentionally withholding 
information from the United States Congress, finally face consequences.

  Under title 2 of current law, their duplicity is already illegal. 
Refusing to answer the people's questions that are deemed ``pertinent 
to the question under inquiry'' is currently punishable by a fine or 
imprisonment. The application of this law, however, has been lost to 
history.
  Just this year, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director 
Christopher Wray, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro 
Mayorkas, and many others blatantly and boldly violated the law and 
have gleefully and unabashedly refused to answer questions in hearing 
after hearing. They have zero respect for the American people and no 
fear of the United States Congress.
  At a hearing on June 4, Attorney General Garland was asked if the 
Supreme Court's then-pending decision on obstruction charges would 
change the Department of Justice's actions in prosecutions related to 
January 6. Garland's response was: ``I don't answer hypotheticals.''
  In November of last year, at a hearing of the Homeland Security 
Committee, Secretary Mayorkas simply refused to answer when asked by 
Vice Chairman Guest how many daily apprehensions constituted a crisis 
at the southern border.
  Just today, the Director of the Secret Service, Dr. Kimberly Cheatle, 
refused to answer nearly every single question she was asked by Members 
on both sides of the aisle about the egregious security failures of 
July 13.
  This is what we have experienced over and over again. That is why I 
am introducing the STOP the SWAMP Act. Our legislation will make it 
clear that those bureaucrats who refuse to answer the questions of the 
American people will be permanently disqualified from Federal 
employment. It will further empower committee chairs and ranking 
members, Members from both parties, to refer cases to the Department of 
Justice for prosecution.
  Lastly, it would give the United States Congress more tools to 
withhold the salaries of those who obstruct our oversight efforts. We 
cannot allow the swamp, the entrenched bureaucrats in Washington who 
believe they know better than the people they are supposed to serve, to 
continue to dodge oversight of Congress and rule by fiat over the 
American people.
  We must stand up for the American people and demand transparency and 
honesty from those who serve in our government. Our Republic's survival 
hinges on it.
  It is time to send a clear message that we will not tolerate any 
attempts to undermine our oversight role. We are the voice of the 
people, and we will not be silenced.
  Together, we can stop the swamp and ensure that our government is 
truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.

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