[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 1, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1383-H1384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PROTECTING THE LEGAL COMMUNITY

  (Mr. Espaillat of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, the legal community has a longstanding 
tradition of representing historically underrepresented communities in 
important constitutional and historic landmark cases. Right now, the 
President and his cronies are shaking down the legal world in an 
unprecedented manner. These law firms have provided services to our 
underrepresented communities in a pro bono manner for decades.
  In the past few weeks, the President has targeted law firms that he 
has deemed a threat against his goals to impose an illegal agenda. 
Through his executive orders, he has threatened the revocation of 
government security clearances and prohibitions on entering Federal 
buildings to these law firms.
  Two of the law firms--Skadden; and Paul, Weiss--immediately settled 
to avoid sanctions and committed a collective $140 million in pro bono 
work to support the Trump administration's agenda.
  Other targeted law firms--WilmerHale; Jenner & Block; and Perkins 
Coie--continue to challenge these orders in court. These law firms have 
been responsible for providing free pro bono work in support of 
disenfranchised communities for decades.
  Mr. Speaker, Trump is doing this to stop them from successfully 
arguing against his executive orders and the harms and effects they may 
have on America.
  In addition, many of our colleagues across the aisle have introduced 
at least seven bills to impeach Federal judges who have ruled against 
the Trump agenda.

                              {time}  1045

  They attempt to cripple our judicial branch of government which 
guaranties a delicate balance in our democracy and in our Republic. 
Many of these judges have been instrumental in pausing Trump's attack 
on birthright citizenship, and preventing ICE from going into sensitive 
locations such as churches, synagogues, funeral homes, schools, and 
emergency rooms.
  This is what they are trying to do. They are trying to impose this 
very aggressive agenda against protections from the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, and, of course, they are attempting to dismantle the 
one system that has given us all the ability to rise together, the 
public education system.
  House Republicans are carrying out Trump's attack by insisting that 
we take up legislation that would severely limit the judicial system's 
ability to

[[Page H1384]]

issue rulings that have a nationwide, positive effect on communities.
  Mr. Speaker, there has been a longstanding tradition of unrepresented 
communities resorting to the judicial system when all else has failed. 
When all else has failed, communities go to the court to get relief. 
When it has been extremely hard to fight against larger, richer, and 
more powerful entities and to hold them accountable, communities go to 
the courts.
  Rulings like Brown v. Board of Education, Obergefell v. Hodges, and 
Roe v. Wade have been instrumental in ensuring that all communities 
have equality and protection under the law.
  Mr. Speaker, these are dangerous times. The chapters of history have 
told us time and time again that when fascism sticks its ugly head out 
the window, it is the courts that they go after so that it will prevent 
common folks from entering that institution and getting relief and 
justice.
  We must fight to stop the administration's attack. To not do so would 
mean to damage the balance of power and to permanently fracture our 
democracy.

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