Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Removing A Certain Member From Certain Standing Committees of the House of Representatives

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise to support H. Res. 72, legislation I never hoped to author.

My resolution would remove Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments. We have already heard today a lot about precedents, so let me explain the precedents which brought us here.

Congresswoman Greene advocated for the execution of a leader of this House. She advocated for the execution of former President Obama. She encouraged violence against law enforcement and has a long record of racist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic comments.

She spread cruel conspiracy theories, even claiming the horrific mass school shootings in Sandy Hook and Parkland were staged, and even stalked a young survivor of one of those tragedies, calling him a ``coward.''

These are unprecedented comments and actions by a Member. No one else on this floor has called for violence against other Members and law enforcement. Only one Member has done that and refused to back down, and that is the real precedent we are dealing with today.

We have also heard about regrettable conduct before taking office, a so-called statute of limitations on bad behavior. Prior to her floor remarks this afternoon, Congresswoman Greene spent this entire week doubling down on her promotion of violence, bigotry, and conspiracy theories.

Her response to her critics just yesterday was: ``I won't back down. I'll never apologize.''

We have also heard today about revenge and whataboutism. Greene herself threatened that when Republicans wield the gavel, Democrats will face a similar fate.

And if a Democrat proposes violence against Members and peddles dangerous lies and conspiracy theories, then refuses to renounce them and our caucus refuses to police it, then punishment would be in order.

That is the reality of what we are dealing with today with Congresswoman Greene. We are dealing with conduct that brings shame on this House and a pointed refusal to denounce or internally police it by Republicans.

Congresswoman Greene's past support and present reaffirmation for violence, intimidation, lies, and racism is dangerous. It is exactly the kind of conduct that helps fuel domestic terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I don't take this threat of violence lightly. Two years ago, a pipe bomb, one of 16 sent around the country in my name, sat in my district office for more than 24 hours with my staff handling and moving around it before anyone knew or told them it possibly contained an explosive device. None of my staff signed up for that kind of threat. No one should be terrorized at work.

But what delivered that bomb to my office was not just one disturbed man. It was the culmination of endless lies, conspiracy theories, and hate that drove someone to violently attack his political rivals.

We all saw that unfold again with deadly consequences here in the Capitol on January 6. We can't afford to have these kinds of violent threats continue and certainly not from someone in this very House. This is not about whether we find Marjorie Taylor Greene's speech offensive.

The point here is that she has promoted and advocated violence. Denying her a seat at committee tables where fact-based policies will be debated and crafted is an appropriate punishment and restraint of her influence.

Congresswoman Greene chose a dangerous and harmful path into this House, one filled with deliberate lies that fomented violence. Once elected and seated here as a sitting Member, she then also chose not only to stand by, but affirm those words and actions.

A deathbed, mild walk back of a couple of wild conspiracy theories just moments ago is not enough to prevent her future harm. Importantly, there was no apology for the hurt and harm caused, and she did not express regret for the stalking of a teenage mass-shooting victim; nor for life-threatening statements she made or promoted against the leader of this House, and so much more.

Now that she has made her choices, the House must limit the future harm and violence that she can invite on this body. The deceptive and inflammatory conduct that fueled such violence cannot be tolerated anywhere, certainly not in this House.

We can take an important step toward restoring integrity, security, decorum, and truth in this House by removing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments.

While it is an action we do not take lightly, it is the necessary course of action in the face of her extraordinary behavior that is unbecoming of a Member of Congress.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot here today so, in closing, let me remind my colleagues that we were sent here, not only to uphold the Constitution, but to uphold the standard of conduct.

Let me share with you what should have happened. What should have happened is some remorse for the pain that the gentlewoman from Georgia has caused and to acknowledge that pain, the damage that she has caused, the violence she has advocated.

I would have hoped that she would have realized, like so many of us have, the awe and gravity of serving in this institution and that, despite all the harm that the words and actions she has taken have caused, that now that she is a Member of this body, she truly understands and is sorry she stalked the teenager who was a victim of a mass shooting; sorry that she actually suggested that our leader of the House of Representatives should meet a bullet as her end; sorry that she suggested that President Obama should have his life snuffed out.

But none of that happened, and that is why she has forfeited the right to serve on committees in this House of Representatives.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source