[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 168 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CREATING A SHADOW CABINET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, last week is done. As Democrats, we simply 
failed to convince the American people we have better ideas to solve 
their problems, but we do.
  Now, we need to dust ourselves off and get ready to fight. We can't 
let Donald Trump's extreme MAGA agenda go unanswered or unopposed. Zone 
defense isn't going to work. We are going to have to go man on man.
  Here is an idea on how to organize our opposition. We need to borrow 
from our British friends and appoint a shadow cabinet to fight back 
against the worst abuses of a second Trump administration.
  The special relationship between the United States and Britain 
extends not just to our strength on the global stage but also to our 
shared commitment to democracy. Across the Atlantic, the British have 
something we don't: a team from the opposition that mirrors the 
government's own Cabinet members.
  They watch the Cabinet closely, publicly challenging, scrutinizing, 
and offering new ideas. It is another form of checks and balances, a 
quiet guardrail that holds those in power accountable. With a shadow 
cabinet, there is no hiding.
  Each decision by the government faces a ready counterpoint, not just 
from the media and voters, but also from political leaders poised to 
step in. Shadow cabinet members can also become the clear point people 
for advocacy and grassroots organizers, making it easier to unify and 
amplify the solutions that those in power are ignoring.
  It is democracy's insurance policy, and it strengthens the 
government, too. There is no room for lazy ideas when rivals stand 
ready to step in.
  What would a shadow cabinet look like here in the United States? We 
certainly would make it our own, an American version. We have an 
amazing wealth of talent on the Democratic side of the aisle in 
Congress, people loyal to the Constitution and ready to be the 
watchdogs for an out-of-control Trump administration.
  Democratic Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer in the Senate 
could appoint 26 Members of Congress to go one on one with each member 
of Donald Trump's Cabinet.

                              {time}  1045

  If Trump attempts to weaponize the justice system against his 
political opponents with Matt Gaetz at the helm, we could see incoming 
Senator Adam Schiff as our shadow attorney general, arguing against 
replacing our independent prosecutors with Trump loyalties.
  If Trump seeks to eliminate the Department of Education, 
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, a former teacher of the year, could step up 
as shadow education secretary to loudly defend public education in the 
United States.
  If Trump orders Marco Rubio to hand Ukraine and much of Eastern 
Europe to Vladimir Putin, Congressman  Greg Meeks, as shadow secretary 
of state, could be a strong voice in support of maintaining 
international relationships and protecting democracy at home and 
abroad.
  Senator Michael Bennet as shadow treasury secretary and Congresswoman 
Suzan DelBene as shadow commerce secretary could help ensure the middle 
class and small businesses have a voice in government and call out 
Trump's proposed tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.
  As shadow defense secretary, Congressman Adam Smith, a great 
Representative for the people of Washington, and not a FOX News host, 
could counter Trump's threat to use military force against his 
political opponents and work to ensure the Department of Defense stays 
loyal to the Constitution and not some wannabe dictator.
  Senator Tammy Duckworth could argue against cuts to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs that would delay the benefits and care our 
servicemembers have so rightly earned.
  If Trump hands over the EPA to Big Oil ally Lee Zeldin, we could see 
Congresswoman Kathy Castor pushing back for environmental protection 
and conservation to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink.
  If Trump pushes to ban abortion nationwide, Congresswoman Rosa 
DeLauro could step in as shadow secretary of health and human services 
to defend women's right to choose and argue against the gutting of 
Medicare by Trump and his cronies.
  Mr. Speaker, new times require new solutions. The shadow cabinet 
isn't just about opposing extreme MAGA attacks on our government; it is 
also about making clear what we stand for, not just what we are 
against. It is time to show, not just to say, what we believe in: 
justice, accountability, and democracy.

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