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WITHOUT OBJECTION, A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS ON
THE QUESTION ON SUSPEND THE
RULES AND PASSING H.R. 4251, AS
AMENDED, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY TITLE.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 369, H.R. 4251, A BILL
TO AUTHORIZE ENHANCE AND REFORM
CERTAIN PORT SECURITY PROGRAMS
TO INCREASE SUFFICIENCY AND
RISK-BASED COORDINATION WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
AYE.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES --
MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YAPED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
-- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 402.
THE NAYS ARE 21.
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE
PASSING H.R. 4005
WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY
TITLE.
UNION CALENDAR 252.
H.R. 4005, A BILL TO DIRECT THE
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO CONDUCT A STUDY AND REPORT
TO CONGRESS ON GAPS IN PORT
SECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES
AND A PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE -- THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA?
CAN I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
NAYS.
ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THIS
VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL
RISE AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL
COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE
VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
SMOO
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 411.
THE NAYS ARE 9.
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
WOULD MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR,
CLEAR THE WELL AND THE AISLES?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS RISE?
MR. SPEAKER,
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-A-1 OF
RULE 9, I RISE TO GIVE NOTICE
OF MY INTENT TO RAISE A
QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF
THE HOUSE, THE FORM OF THE
RESOLUTION IS AS FOLLOWS.
MR. SPEAKER, THE HOUSE IS
NOT IN ORDER.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
I ASK MEMBERS ON THE MINORITY
SIDE TO TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
RAISING A
QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF
THE HOUSE.
WHEREAS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM HAS
INTERFERED WITH THE WORK OF AN
INDEPENDENT AGENCY, PRESSURED
AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE BY
COMPELLING THE PRODUCTION OF
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO AN ONGOING
CASE, SOMETHING THAT
INDEPENDENT EXPERTS SAID COULD
SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE THE
AUTHORITIES THOSE CHARGED WITH
ENFORCING THE NATION'S LABOR
LAWS THE.
AND WHICH THE HOUSE ETHICS
MANUAL DISCOURAGES BY NOTING
THAT FEDERAL COURTS HAVE
NULLIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE
DECISIONS ON GROUNDS OF DUE
PROCESS AND FAIRNESS TO ALL OF
THE PARTIES WHEN CONGRESSIONAL
INTERFERENCE WITH ONGOING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES MAY
HAVE UNDULY INFLUENCED THE
OUTCOME.
WHEREAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM ROLLED BACK
PRECEDENCE INCLUDING BY
AUTHORIZING SUBPOENAS WITHOUT
THE CONCURRENCE OF THE RANKING
MEMBER OR A COMMITTEE VOTE BY
REFUSING TO SHARE DOCUMENTS AND
OTHER INFORMATION WITH THE
RANKING MEMBER AND RESTRICTING
THE MINORITY'S RIGHT TO CALL
WITNESSES AT HEARINGS.
WHEREAS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM IS
JEOPARDIZED ONGOING CRIMINAL
AND ONGOING CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION BY PUBLICLY
RELEASING DOCUMENTS THAT HIS
OWN STAFF ADMITTED WERE UNDER
COURT SEAL.
WHEREAS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM HAS
UNILATERALLY SUBPOENAED A
WITNESS WHO WAS EXPECTED TO
TESTIFY AT AN UPCOMING TRIAL
DESPITE PRECEDENTS AND
OBJECTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, THAT COULD CAUSE
COMPLICATIONS AT THE TRIAL AND
COULD JEOPARDIZE A CRIMINAL
CONVICTION.
WHEREAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
IS ENGAGED IN AN EXPRESSION OF
CONFUSION THROUGH THE USE OF
REPEATED INCORRECT AND
UNCOOPERATED STATEMENTS IN THE
COMMITTEE'S FAST AND FURIOUS
INVESTIGATION.
WHEREAS THE CHAIRMAN OF
OVERSININGT GOVERNMENT REFORM
HAS CALLED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF THE UNITED STATES A LIAR ON
NATIONAL TELEVISION WITHOUT
CRAB RATING EVIDENCE AND HAS
EXHIBITED BEHAVIOR WHICH COULD
RESULT IN JEOPARDIZING AN
ONGOING COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION
INTO OPERATION FAST AND
FURIOUS.
THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISAPPROVES OF THE BEHAVIOR OF
THIS CHAIR FOR INTERFERING WITH
ONGOING CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS, INSISTING ON A
PERSONAL ATTACK AGAINST THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED
STATES AND FOR CALLING THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED
STATES A LIAR ON NATIONAL
TELEVISION WITHOUT CRAB RATING
EVIDENCE, THEREBY DISCREDITS TO
THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSE.
UNDER
RULE 9, A RESOLUTION OFFERED
FROM THE FLOOR BY A MEMBER
OTHER THAN THE MAJORITY LEADER
OR THE MINORITY LEADER AS A
QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF
THE HOUSE HAS IMMEDIATE
PRECEDENCE ONLY AT A TIME
DESIGNATED BY THE CHAIR WITHIN
TWO LEGISLATIVE DAYS AFTER THE
RESOLUTION IS PROPERLY NOTICED.
PENDING THAT DESIGNATION, THE
FORM OF THE RESOLUTION NOTICED
BY THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS
WILL APPEAR IN THE RECORD AT
THIS POINT.
THE CHAIR WILL NOT AT THIS
POINT DETERMINE WHETHER THE
RESOLUTION CONSTITUTES A
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
THAT DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE
AT THE TIME DESIGNATED FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, BY THE
DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE REPORT
NUMBER 112-546.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE REPORT.
HOUSE CALENDAR
NUMBER 140.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FIND ERIC H.
HOLDER JR., ATTORNEY GENERAL,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IN
CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR
REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH A
SUBPOENA DULY ISSUED BY THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
708, THE REPORT IS CONSIDERED
AS READ.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
ISSA, SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, BY THE
DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE
RESOLUTION 711.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
711, RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING
THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FIND ERIC H.
HOLDER JR., ATTORNEY GENERAL,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IN
CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR
REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH A
SUBPOENA DULY ISSUED BY THE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
.
GOVERNMENT REFORM.
THE
RESOLUTION IS CONSIDERED AS
READ AND SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR
50 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT
REFORM, OR THEIR DESIGNEE.
AFTER DEBATE ON THE RESOLUTION,
IT SHALL BE IN ORDINARY TO
CONSIDER A MOTION TO REFER, IF
OFFERED, BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, MR. DINGELL, OR HIS
DESIGNEE, WHICH SHALL BE
DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES
EQUALLY DIVIDED BY A PROPONENT
OR OPPONENT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. ISSA, AND GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, MR. CUMMINGS, WILL
EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR WRECK -- 25 MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL INTO THE
RECORD FOR BOTH RESOLUTIONS
MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE RULE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RECOGNIZE MYSELF -- I YIELD
MYSELF TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD BE
HERE TODAY.
I NEVER THOUGHT THIS POINT
WOULD COME.
THROUGHOUT 18 MONTHS OF
INVESTIGATION, THROUGH
COUNTLESS AREAS OF NEGOTIATIONS
IN ORDER TO GET THE MINIMUM
MATERIAL NECESSARY TO FIND OUT
THE FACTS BEHIND FAST AND
FURIOUS AND THE *** OF BRIAN
-- BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN
TERRY, I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT
IN TIME WE WOULD REACH AN
ACCOMMODATION SUFFICIENT TO GET
THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME PRESERVING THE
ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR
COMMITTEE HAS MAINTAINED THE
ABILITY FOR THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE THEIR
ONGOING PROSECUTIONS, NEITHER
THE MAJORITY NOR MINORITY HAS
ALLOWED ANY MATERIAL TO BECOME
PUBLIC THAT COULD COMPROMISE
THAT.
HOWEVER, THE FACTS REMAIN FAST
AND FURIOUS, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE PERMITTED SALE OF MORE
THAN 2,000 WEAPONS THAT FELL
INTO THE HANDS OF THE MEXICAN
DRUG CARTELS WAS BOTH RECKLESS
AND INEXCUSABLE, AND IT CLEARLY
WAS KNOWN BY PEOPLE BOTH CAREER
PROFESSIONALS AND POLITICAL
APPOINTEES FROM THE LOWLIEST
MEMBER ON THE GROUND IN PHOENIX
TO HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE HERE
FOR TODAY.
TODAY WE ARE HERE ON A VERY
NARROW CONTEMPT, ONE THAT THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN HIS
WISDOM AND ASSISTANCE HAS
HELPED US TO FASHION.
LET IT BE CLEAR WE STILL HAVE
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ON A
MYRIAD OF AREAS RELATED TO
OPERATION FAST AND FURIOUS, BUT
TODAY WE ARE ONLY HERE TO
DETERMINE OVER THE 10 MONTHS
FROM THE TIME IN WHICH THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
WAS LIED TO, GIVEN FALSE --
LITERALLY THE REVERSE STATEMENT
THAT NO GUNS WERE ALLOWED TO
WALK.
DURING THAT 10 MONTHS BEFORE
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FINALLY
OWNED UP AND RECOGNIZED THAT
THEY HAD TO COME CLEAN, THAT IN
FACT FAST AND FURIOUS WAS ALL
ABOUT GUNWALKING.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
MAINTAINED A SERIES OF
DOCUMENTS, MANY OF THESE
DOCUMENTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN AND WITH
THE VERY INDIVIDUALS AT THE
HEART OF THE DECISION TO GO
FORWARD WITH FAST AND FURIOUS.
THEREFORE WE HAVE FOCUSED OUR
LIMITED CONTEMPT ON THOSE
DOCUMENTS.
IF OUR COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO
RECEIVE THE DOCUMENTS IN
TOTALITY THAT SHOW WHO BROUGHT
ABOUT THE DISHONEST AT THE SAME
TIME TO CONGRESS AND WHO
COVERED IT UP FOR 10 MONTHS, WE
BELIEVE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
BACKTRACK TO THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO ULTIMATELY BELIEVED IN FAST
AND FURIOUS, FACILITATED FAST
AND FURIOUS, AND ULTIMATELY MAY
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRIAN
TERRY'S DEATH.
I YIELD MYSELF AN ADDITIONAL 15
SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I WON'T READ
EVERYTHING THAT'S IN MY OPENING
STATEMENT.
I WILL READ JUST ONE MORE
THING.
THESE WORDS WERE SAID ON THE
2008.
WHEN SPEAKER PELOSI SUPPORTED
CONTEMPT.
SHE SAID, CONGRESS HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY OF OVERSIGHT OF
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
I KNOW THAT MEMBERS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE TAKE THE
RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
OVERSIGHT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL
OBLIGATION TO ENSURE AGAINST
ABUSE OF POWER, SUBPOENA
AUTHORITY IS A VITAL TOOL OF
THAT OVERSIGHT.
SPEAKER PELOSI, 2008.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
HE MAY CONSUME.
RECOGNIZED FOR AS MUCH TIME AS
TODAY, MR.
SPEAKER, IS A HISTORIC DAY IN
MANY WAYS.
ON THE ONE HAND IN A LANDMARK
DECISION BY CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN
ROBERTS, THE SUPREME COURT
UPHELD THE HEALTH CARE BILL
ENSURING THAT MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES WILL FINALLY
HAVE ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE AND
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF THE HOUSE
ARE ABOUT TO PLUNGE INTO THE
HISTORY BOOKS AS SOME OF THE
MOST EXTREME AND PARTISAN EVER.
RATHER THAN WORKING TOGETHER IN
A BIPARTISAN WAY TO CREATE JOBS
AND HELP OUR NATION'S ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, THEY ARE RUSHING TO
THE FLOOR UNDER EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES WITH A CONTEMPT
RESOLUTION THAT IS RIDDLEDLE
WITH ERRORS AND MOTIVATED BY
PARTISAN POLITICS.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE
ALLEGATIONS OF GUNWALKING AT
A.T.F., I WAS OUTRAGED.
I FULLY SUPPORTED OUR
COMMITTEE'S GOALS OF FINDING
OUT HOW IT STARTED, HOW IT WAS
USED, AND HOW IT MAY HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATH OF
BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN
TERRY.
I MADE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT
WHICH I WILL KEEP TO THE TERRY
FAMILY TO CONDUCT A RESPONSIBLE
AND THOROUGH INQUIRY.
BUT TODAY'S CONTEMPT VOTE IS A
CULMINATION OF ONE OF THE MOST
HIGHLY POLITICIZED AND RECKLESS
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS IN
DECADES.
AFTER RECEIVING THOUSANDS OF
PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, CONDUCTING
TWO DOZEN TRANSCRIBED
INTERVIEWS, AND HEARING
TESTIMONY FROM THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL NINE TIMES, HERE ARE
THE FACTS.
FIRST, THE COMMITTEE HAS
OBTAINED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL AUTHORIZED,
CONDONED, OR KNEW ABOUT
GUNWALKING.
CHAIRMAN ISSA ADMITTED THIS
JUST YESTERDAY BEFORE THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LIED TO
CONGRESS OR ENGAGED IN A
COVER-UP.
WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT
THE WHITE HOUSE HAD ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE GUNWALKING
OPERATIONS.
CHAIRMAN ISSA ADMITTED THIS ON
"FOX NEWS SUNDAY" THIS PAST
WEEKEND.
DEMOCRATIC -- DEMOCRATS WANTED
A REAL INVESTIGATION.
CHAIRMAN ISSA REFUSED 10
DIFFERENT REQUESTS TO HOLD A
HEARING WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF
A.T.F., THE AGENCY THAT RAN
THESE MISGUIDED OPERATIONS.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
DURING THIS ENTIRE
INVESTIGATION NO MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO POSE A
SINGLE QUESTION TO THE HEAD OF
A.T.F. AT A PUBLIC HEARING.
HOW COULD YOU HAVE A CREDIBLE
INVESTIGATION OF GUNWALKING AT
A.T.F. AND NEVER HOLD A SINGLE
HEARING WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE AGENCY IN CHARGE?
THE ANSWER IS, YOU CAN'T.
BASED ON THE DOCUMENTS WE KNOW
-- WE NOW KNOW, THE GUNWALKING
IN FACT STARTED IN 2006.
YESTERDAY CHAIRMAN ISSA SAID
THIS ABOUT THE MISGUIDED
OPERATIONS DURING THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION AND I QUOTE,
THEY WERE ALLLE FAILURES, END
OF QUOTE.
THE COMMITTEE HAS OBTAINED
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE THAT
FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MCCASEY
WAS PERSONALLY BRIEFED ON THESE
BOTCHED INTERDICTION EFFORTS
DURING HIS TENURE AND THAT HE
WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE
EXPANDED.
CHAIRMAN ISSA REFUSED TO CALL
MR. MCCASEY FOR A HEARING OR
EVEN FOR A PRIVATE MEETING.
DURING OUR COMMITTEE'S YEAR AND
A HALF INVESTIGATION, THE
CHAIRMAN REFUSED EVERY SINGLE
DEMOCRATIC REQUEST FOR WITNESS.
INSTEAD OF TAKING ANY OF THESE
REASONABLE STEPS AS PART OF A
CREDIBLE AND EVENHANDED
INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE
FACTS, HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS
RUSHED THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
FLOOR ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER IT
WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE.
IN CONTRAST, DURING THE LAST
CONGRESS, HOUSE LEADERS
CONTINUED TO NEGOTIATE FOR SIX
MONTHS TO TRY TO AVOID CONTEMPT
IN THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S
INVESTIGATION.
MR. SPEAKER, SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
SEEM ALMOST GIDDY ABOUT TODAY'S
VOTE.
AFTER TURNING THIS
INVESTIGATION INTO AN ELECTION
YEAR WITCH-HUNT, THEY SOMEHOW
CONVINCED THE SPEAKER TO TAKE
IT TO THE FLOOR.
AND THEY ARE FINALLY ABOUT TO
GET THE PRIZE THEY HAVE BEEN
SEEKING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR,
HOLDING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN
CONTEMPT.
THEY MAY VIEW TODAY'S VOTE AS A
SUCCESS, BUT IN REALITY IT IS A
SAD FAILURE, A FAILURE OF OUR
LEADERSHIP, A FAILURE OF OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS, AND
A FAILURE OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
-- CALIFORNIA.
MILLION ISSA: THE GENTLEMAN
FROM -- I'LL LEAVE HIS
STATEMENT WHERE IT LAY.
I NOW YIELD THREE MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, THE DISTINGUISHED
CONGRESSMAN MEEHAN, A FORMER
U.S. ATTORNEY IN THAT DISTRICT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT
POLITICS.
THOUGH THERE ARE SOME IF THEY
WANT TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS
BECAUSE OF YOU YELL AT IT LONG
ENOUGH IT WILL DEFLECT THE
TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
IT'S NOT ABOUT GOTCHA.
AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR MYSELF.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
PERSONIFIES THE PURSUIT OF
JUSTICE AND I WANT TO SEE HIM
DO WELL, BUT IT IS ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AGENT BRIAN TERRY IS DEAD,
PROTECTING OUR BORDER, AND 5 3
DAYS LATER THE -- 563 DAYS
LATER THE TERRY FAMILY STILL
DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT OCCURRED.
WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT THE
VERY AGENCY THAT INITIATED FAST
AND FURIOUS, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, UNDER ATTORNEY GENERAL
ERIC HOLDER, CALLED THE
OPERATION FATALLY FLAWED AND
THEN THE WAGONS GOT CIRCLED.
IT'S ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF
POWERS.
AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT MAY BE
AT TIMES, IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL
TENET AND STRENGTH OF OUR
DEMOCRACY THAT CONGRESS IS
GIVEN NOT JUST THE POWER BUT
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO EXERCISE
ITS DUTY -- OVERSIGHT OVER THE
EXECUTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BY
THEIR OWN ADMISSION THINGS HAVE
GONE GLARINGLY WRONG.
BECAUSE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
HAS STUBBORNLY RESISTED THE
TEMPT INQUIRIES OF CONGRESS,
OVER OPERATION FAST AND
FURIOUS, THERE'S SO MUCH WE DO
NOT KNOW.
BUT BECAUSE WHISTLE BLOWERS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE WERE OUTRAGED
MISCHARACTERIZATIONS, THERE IS
A GREAT DEAL THAT WE DO KNOW.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DEALING WITH A SYSTEMATIC
EFFORT TO DEFLECT ATTENTION
AWAY FROM THE DECISIONS AND
DETERMINATIONS THAT WERE MADE
AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHERE
INFORMATION WAS BROUGHT
DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS AT THE
HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTAINED
IN WIRETAP AFFIDAVIT THAT LAID
OUT IN EXPLICIT DETAIL THE
MATTERS RELATED TO FAST AND
FURIOUS.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS A FAMOUS
QUOTATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE ABOUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL NOT BEING TO WIN CASES
BUT TO ASSURE THAT JUSTICE IS
PURSUED AND RETAINED.
MR. SPEAKER, IT IS INCUMBENT
AND A RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS
HOUSE TO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED TO
DO IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AND TO
SUPPORT THE REQUEST THAT WE BE
GIVEN THE DOCUMENTS TO OBTAIN
THE FACTS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
DRAW THE CONCLUSIONS WHICH I
BELIEVE ALLOW US TO GET TO THE
BOTTOM OF THIS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD TO THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
QUIGLEY, TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THOSE BRINGING THIS CONTEMPT
VOTE SAY THEY WANT TO TALK
ABOUT GUNWALKING AND HOW TO
STOP IT.
CONVERSATION.
OK, LET'S HAVE THAT
THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STOP GUN
TRAFFICKING AND KEEP OUR A.T.F.
AGENTS SAFE.
THE A.T.F. WHICH IS THE SAME
WELL, THEN, LET'S PROPERLY FUND
NUMBER OF AGENTS SINCE 1970.
THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STOP GUN
TRAFFICKING.
THEN APPOINT A PERMANENT A.T.F.
DIRECTOR WHICH THE AGENCY
HASN'T HAD IN SIX YEARS.
THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STOP GUN
TRAFFICKING, LET'S PASS SOME
LAWS WHICH ACTUALLY DETER STRAW
PURCHASERS.
STRAW PURCHASERS CONCURRENTLY
BUY THOUSANDS OF AK-47'S, LIE
ON THEIR PAPERWORK, AND THE
PENALTY IS EQUIVALENT TO A
MOVING VIOLATION.
THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STOP GUN
TRAFFICKING, LET'S GIVE THE
AGENTS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR, THE ABILITY TO
TRACK MULTIPLE PURCHASES OF
LONG GUNS.
THESE LONG GUNS INCLUDE
AK-47'S, ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND
50 CALIBER SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER
RIFLES, THE WEAPONS OF CHOICE
FOR INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTELS.
THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STOP GUN
TRAFFICKING, LET'S CLOSE THE
GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE WHICH
CURRENTLY ALLOWS ANYONE TO
PURCHASE ANY GUN THEY WANT
WITHOUT A BACKGROUND CHECK.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ABUSERS, THOSE WITH SEVERE
MENTAL ILLNESS, EVEN THOSE ON
THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST CAN
CURRENTLY WALK INTO A GUN SHOW
AND PURCHASE ANY GUN THEY WANT.
2,000 GUNS WERE ALLOWED TO WALK
TO MEXICO, BUT THE TRUTH IS
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GUNS A
CROSS OUR BORDER EVERY YEAR
BECAUSE OF THOSE LAX GUN LAWS.
THOSE BRINGING THIS CONTEMPT
VOTE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION AND AREN'T SERIOUS
ABOUT STOPPING GUN TRAFFICKING.
THEY SIMPLY WANT TO EMBARRASS
THE ADMINISTRATION, EVEN THOUGH
THE COMMITTEE'S 16-MONTH
INVESTIGATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL KNEW ABOUT
GUNWALKING, EVEN THOUGH THERE
IS NO EVIDENCE THE WHITE HOUSE
INVOLVEMENT IN GUNWALKING, ALL
OF WHICH CHAIRMAN ISSA ADMITTED
ON NATIONAL TV LAST WEEK.
SO IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT GUN TRAFFICKING, LET'S BE
CLEAR, THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS
.
I YIELD BACK.
NOT SAFETY.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT MR. SPEAKER, THE --
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS
THE REFUSAL OF TURNING OVER
DOCUMENTS, NOT WHETHER OR NOT
IT WAS HIS LIEUTENANTS OR HE
FURIOUS.
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN FAST AND
WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
THE DISTINGUISHED FORMER
CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN, MR. SENSENBRENNER,
FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
THIS ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION.
AND IT'S ABOUT CONGRESS' MAP
DATE TO DO OVERSIGHT -- MANDATE
TO DO OVERSIGHT OVER BOTH
EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES
OF GOVERNMENT.
THE PRESIDENT IS ASSERTING
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO ATTEMPT
TO SHIELD THESE DOCUMENTS.
AND HE IS RELYING ON A TYPE OF
PRIMPLING CALLED THE
DELIBERATIVE PROCESS PRIVILEGE.
HOWEVER, THAT PRIVILEGE
DISAPPEARS WHEN CONGRESS'
INVESTIGATING EVIDENCE OF
WRONGDOING.
AND IN 1997 THE U.S. COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA CIRCUIT WROTE IN PART,
MOREOVER, THE PRIVILEGE
DISAPPEARS ALTOGETHER WHEN
THERE IS ANY REASON TO BELIEVE
OCCURRED.
THAT GOVERNMENT MISCONDUCT HAS
IN ANOTHER CASE, IT WAS DECIDED
BY THE FIRST CIRCUIT IN 1995,
IT SAYS THAT THE GROUNDS THAT
SHIELDING INTERNAL GOVERNMENT
DELIBERATIONS IN THIS CONTEXT
DOES NOT SERVE THE PUBLIC
GOVERNMENT.
INTEREST IN HONEST, EFFECTIVE
THERE HAS BEEN MISCONDUCT
THAT'S ALREADY A MATTER OF
PUBLIC RECORD IN TWO INSTANCES.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WROTE
SENATOR GRASSLEY IN JANUARY OF
2011 SAYING THAT THE A.T.F.
SANCTION GUNWALKING ACROSS THE
BORDER WAS FALSE AND IT TOOK
THEM NINE MONTHS TO RETRACT
THAT LETTER.
SO THEY ALSO LED CONGRESS, AND
THEN NINE MONTHS LATER THEY
SAID, OOPS.
MAYBE HE WITH DID MISLEAD
CONGRESS AND WE'LL WITHDRAW THE
LETTER.
IN MAY, 2011, THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL TESTIFIED BEFORE THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THAT HE
FIRST HEARD OF OPERATION FAST
AND FURIOUS A FEW WEEKS BEFORE
THE HEARING.
OVER SIX MONTHS LATER, HE
CONCEDED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE
SAID A FEW MONTHS.
NOW, THIS VERY CLEARLY SHOWS
THAT CONGRESS HAS GOT THE
PROLIFERATION TO GET THE -- TO
THE BOTTOM OF THIS, AND THAT
THE ASSERTION OF THE EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE BY THE PRESIDENT AND
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT
BASED IN LAW.
WE OUGHT TO GO AHEAD AND DO OUR
JOB AND DO OUR OVERSIGHT, AND
IT'S TOO BAD THAT THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO TRY
TO DO IT.
TO OBSTRUCT CONGRESS' ABILITY
PASS THE RESOLUTION.
THE
EXPIRED.
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
CONNOLLY, TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THE 112TH
CONGRESS IS THE FIRST IN
HISTORY TO HOLD A CABINET
MEMBER IN CONTEMPT.
WHEN THEY SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT
POLITICS, YOU CAN BE SURE IT'S
ABOUT POLITICS.
THE MAJORITY'S IRRESPONSIBLE
AND UNPRECEDENTED CONTEMPT VOTE
BRINGS DISHONOR TO THIS HOUSE
WHICH HAS BEEN SO CLOUDED IN
JUDGMENT, THAT IT'S INCAPABLE
OF ADDRESSING A FUNDAMENTAL
SEPARATION OF POWERS CONFLICT
IN A SERIOUS AND FAIR FASHION.
IN REFUSING TO ENGAGE IN GOOD
FAITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE MAJORITY
HAS EXPOSED THIS CONTEMPT
CITATION FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS,
AN EXTRAORDINARILY SHAMEFUL
POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT AIMED AT
TRASHING AN HONORABLE MAN.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE'RE RUSHING TO THE FLOOR,
RESOLUTION.
THIS UNPRECEDENTED CONTEMPT
YESTERDAY, RANKING MEMBER
CUMMINGS SENT A LETTER TO THE
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTING 100
ERRORS, OMISSIONS,
MISCHARACTERIZATIONS OF FACT
CONTAINED IN THE CONTEMPT
CITATION ITSELF.
RUSHED OUT OF OUR COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK ON A PARTY LINE VOTE.
ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE CONTEMPT
CITATIONS FLAWS ARE SIMPLY
MISLEADING, OTHERS HAVE
SIGNIFICANT LEGAL DEFICIENCIES
AND THEY CONTAIN FACTUAL ERRORS
THAT CALL INTO QUESTION THE
CONTEMPT CITATION ITSELF.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON PAGES 4 AND 5,
THE CHARGES SENIOR OFFICIALS AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
HEADQUARTERS ULTIMATELY
APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED
OPERATION FAST AND FURIOUS.
HOWEVER, THE CONSEMPT CITATION
FAILS TO MENTION THE COMMITTEE
HASN'T COVERED NO EVIDENCE --
CONTEMPT CITATION FAILS TO
MENTION THE COMMITTEE HASN'T
COVERED NO EVIDENCE.
ON PAGES 16, 17, 19, 0, 21, 22,
25, 26 AND 27, THE CONTEMPT
CITATION WITH NOT PRODUCING A
SERIES OF DOCUMENT THAT THE
CHAIRMAN ONLY RECENTLY
ACKNOWLEDGED, THE DEPARTMENT IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM
PROVIDING DUE TO THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT ON ONGOING PROSECUTIONS.
IN FACT -- I WOULD ASK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR AN EXTRA 20
SECONDS.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 20 SECONDS.
YOU HAD TO HIS
OWN SUBPOENA TO DELETE
DOCUMENTS IN THIS OWN CATEGORY
BUT HIS CONTEMPT CITATION HAS
NOT CAUGHT UP WITH HIS MOST
RECENT VERSION OF HIS SUBPOENA.
CLEARLY THE MAJORITY HAS NOT
TAKEN THE NECESSARY TIME TO
PROPERLY WEIGH THIS VERY
SERIOUS CHARGE.
REGRETTABLY, THIS DEEPLY FLAWED
AND SHODDY CONTEMPT CITATION IS
EMBLEM ATTIC OF THE MAJORITY'S
RECKLESS RUSH TO JUDGMENT
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY TROUBLED OF
SOME OF THE VERY HOSTILE
QUESTIONING AND THE UTTER AND
COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT GIVEN
TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
UNITED STATES.
WHEN THIS CHAPTER OF
CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY IS
WRITTEN, IT WILL BE NOT A BRAVE
SHINING MOMENT.
IT WILL BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS,
A CRAVEN, CRASS, PARTISAN MOVE
THAT BRINGS DISHONOR TO THIS
BODY, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
EXPIRED.
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I NOW YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE VERY
DISTINGUISHED AND VERY ALWAYS
PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE FROM NEW YORK, MS.
BUERKLE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS STEADFAST
WORK ON BEHALF OF TRUTH AND
TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
FAST AND FURIOUS.
MR. SPEAKER, SYRACUSE, NEW
YORK, IN THE HEART OF MY
DISTRICT, IS ROUGHLY 2,500
MILES FROM RICO RICO, ARIZONA,
WHERE BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN
TERRY WAS TRAGICALLY SHOT AND
KILLED BY AN AK-47 ASSAULT
RIFLE THAT THE UNITED STATES
KNOWINGLY ALLOWED INTO THE
HANDS OF A SUSPECTED GUN
TRAFFICKER.
YET, EVERY TIME I'M HOME, IT IS
THE ISSUE FIRST AND FOREMOST ON
THE MIND OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
I LISTEN TO THEIR CALLS, TO
THEIR EMAILS AND OUR TOWN
HALLS.
TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED, WHO KNEW WHAT AND
WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT.
THEY ASK ME, THEY ASK
WASHINGTON, THEY ASK THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HOW
COULD THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT, THE PILLAR OF HOPE
AND FREEDOM, ALLOW FOR ONE OF
THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVES, ONE
OF THEIR OWN GOOD GUYS TO BE SO
HELPLESSLY GUNNED DOWN BY A
SUSPECTED CRIMINAL?
MR. SPEAKER, I'M EMBARRASSED TO
SAY AFTER 56 DAYS I STILL
DON'T HAVE -- 562 DAYS I STILL
DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THEM.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS
EXPIRED.
MAY I HAVE ONE
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR 10
SECONDS.
IS THIS THE HOPE
THAT THE AMERICANS WERE
SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE IN?
OUT OF THE SUPPOSEDLY MOST
TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IN THE
HISTORY OF OUR NATION?
IT IS MY HOPE, MR. SPEAKER,
THAT THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
WILL SEE THROUGH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
AFTER IT IS PASSED IN THE HOUSE
TODAY.
HOWEVER, WE MUST NOT BE
MISTAKEN, EVEN IF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS PROSECUTED, THE CASE
IS NOT CLOSED.
WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT GUNS
LEAKED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM --
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS
EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE
GENTLELADY 10 SECONDS.
MR. SPEAKER, AFTER
TODAY'S VOTE WE MUST CONTINUE
OUR EFFORT TO FIND MORE ANSWERS
THAN THERE ARE QUESTIONS
RELATING TO THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S CATASTROPHIC
FAST AND FURIOUS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE
ANSWER AND THE FAMILY OF BORDER
PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY AS
WELL.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES, A MEMBER OF THE
MISSOURI, MR. CLAY, TWO
COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, AS A
MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, I KNOW THAT THE
OPERATIONS CONDUCTED
BY THE A.T.F. UNDER BOTH THE
PREVIOUS AND CURRENT
ADMINISTRATIONS WERE ABSOLUTELY
WRONG.
BUT THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS
HOUSE IS FOCUSED ON SHAMEFUL
ELECTION-YEAR POLITICAL
POSTURING INSTEAD OF THE REAL
ISSUE.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LONG AGO
ENDED THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING
THESE GUNS TO WALK ACROSS THE
BORDER, PUTTING COMMUNITIES IN
MEXICO AT GREAT RISK, BUT THE
SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE
RELENTLESSLY PURSUED A BASELESS
PARTISAN ATTACK ON ATTORNEY
GENERAL HOLDER AND THE
PRESIDENT HAVE IGNORED THE
DESPERATE PLEAS OF THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT.
TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN GUN LAWS
AND CURB TRAFFICKING THAT GAVE
RISE TO THE STRATEGY IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
IN ON THE REAL
ISSUE WOULD TAKE TIME AWAY FROM
THEM PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE
OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY.
THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE CLAIM TO BE CONCERNED
ABOUT POWERFUL ASSAULT WEAPONS
CROSSING THE BORDER INTO MEXICO
ILLEGALLY.
BUT HOW CAN THEY BE COMPLETELY
FINE WITH THOSE SAME POWERFUL
ASSAULT WEAPONS BEING SOLD
RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY
LEGALLY PUTTING OUR COMMUNITIES
AT EVEN GREATER RISK?
THIS IS MORE -- NOTHING MORE
THAN A POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT.
THE DISGRACEFUL POSTURING THAT
I HAVE WITNESSED AT LAST WEEK'S
MARKUP IS CONTINUING ON THE
FLOOR TODAY.
I AGREE IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE
COME TO THIS, BUT WE ARE HERE
DEBATING THIS RESOLUTION SOLELY
BECAUSE OF THE MAJORITY.
THEY CREATED THE SCANDAL AND
AN
ELECTION SEASON JUST TO SPEAR
AN HONORABLE PUBLIC SERVANT AND
TO EMBARRASS HIS BOSS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT
RESOLUTION.
THIS PARTISAN, UNPRECEDENTED
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE DISTINGUISHED
BOEHNER.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, JOHN
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, THE
RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, IS
I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FOR YIELDING.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW WE GOT HERE
AND TO KNOW THE FACTS OF THIS
CASE.
THE CONGRESS ASKED THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT FOR THE FACTS
RELATED FROM THE FAST AND
FURIOUS AND THE EVENTS THAT LED
TO THE DEATH OF U.S. BORDER
PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT
PROVIDE THE FACTS AND THE
INFORMATION THAT WE REQUESTED.
INSTEAD, THE INFORMATION CAME
FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE
DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE WHO WANTED
TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IN ADDITION TO NOT PROVIDING
THE INFORMATION, THE
ADMINISTRATION ADMITTED
MISLEADING CONGRESS, ACTUALLY
DETRACTING A LETTER IT HAD SENT
10 MONTHS EARLIER.
I THINK ALL THE MEMBERS
UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY
SERIOUS MATTER.
THE TERRY FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW
HOW THIS HAPPENED AND THEY HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR
ANSWERS AND THE HOUSE NEEDS TO
KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED AND IT'S
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO FIND
OUT.
SO THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE
ISSUED A LAWFUL AND NARROWLY
TAILORED SUBPOENA.
WE'VE BEEN PATIENT, GIVING THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLY SO THAT
WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
THIS FOR THE TERRY FAMILY.
WE HAVE SHOWN MORE THAN ENOUGH
GOOD FAITH, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE
HAS CHOSEN TO INVOKE EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE.
THAT LEAVES US NO OTHER
OPTIONS.
THE ONLY RECOURSE LEFT OF THE
HOUSE IS TO CONTINUE SEEKING
THE TRUTH AND TO HOLD ATTORNEY
.
GENERAL IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS
NOW, I DON'T TAKE THIS MATTER
LIGHTLY, AND I WOULD FRANKLY
HOPE IT WOULD NEVER COME TO
THIS.
THE HOUSE'S FOCUS IS ON JOBS
AND THE ECONOMY, BUT NO JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT IS ABOVE THE LAW AND
NO JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS ABOVE
THE CONSTITUTION WHICH EACH OF
UPHOLD.
US HAVE SWORN AN OATH TO
SO I ASK THE MEMBERS OF THIS
BODY TO COME TOGETHER AND TO
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT
WE CAN SEEK THE ANSWERS THAT
THE TERRY FAMILY AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
LET ME JUST SAY
-- I YIELD MYSELF ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
LET ME SAY IN
RESPONSE TO THE SPEAKER, WE TOO
ARE SADDENED BY THE DEATH OF
BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE, SERVICE TO
2010.
HIS COUNTRY ON DECEMBER 15,
BUT, MR. SPEAKER, DESPITE --
BUT DESPITE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE CLAIMED, THIS CONTEMPT
VOTE IS NOT ABOUT GETTING
DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW HOW
GUNWALKING WAS INITIATED AND
FURIOUS.
UTILIZED IN OPERATION FAST AND
THE ONLY DOCUMENTS IN DISPUTE
ARE DOCUMENTS CREATED FAST AND
FURIOUS ENDED AND AFTER BRIAN
TERRY'S DEATH, BUT WE PLEDGE TO
CONTINUE TO FIND ALL THE
ANSWERS WITH REGARD TO THE
DEATH OF BRIAN TERRY.
WITH THAT I YIELD THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. LYNCH, TWO
MINUTES, A MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WOULD ADD THAT WE HAVE 31
DEMOCRATS THAT SIGNED A LETTER
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE
AFTERMATH OF AGENT TERRY'S
DEATH TO FULLY COOPERATE IN
THIS INVESTIGATION.
HOWEVER, I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS CONTEMPT
RESOLUTION.
WHILE CRITICISM OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR
OVERSIGHT OF THE SO-CALLED GUN
WALKING OPERATION DURING BOTH
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION,
CRITICISM MAY BE WARRANTED, A
FINDING OF CONTEMPT AGAINST A
SITTING ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
UNITED STATES IS MOST CERTAINLY
NOT.
AND DETERMINING WHETHER THIS
HOUSE SHOULD HOLD OUR HIGHEST
RANKING NATIONAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN CONTEMPT
OF CONGRESS, LET US REMEMBER
THAT UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, THE
MAJORITY OF OUR COMMITTEE HAD
BEEN DEMANDING THE PRODUCTION
OF DOCUMENTS THAT OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS LEGALLY PROHIBITED
FROM DISCLOSING.
AND THAT HAS CAUSED MUCH OF THE
DELAY HERE.
IN OTHER WORDS, MR. HOLDER
WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE LAW AND
LIKELY COMPROMISED EXISTING
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS IF HE
ADHERED TO THE MAJORITY'S
UNREASONABLE REQUEST FOR
MATERIALS RELATING TO ONGOING
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS,
FEDERAL WIRETAP COMMUNICATIONS
AND UNDER JUDICIAL SEAL AND
DUMONTS ALSO SUBJECT TO GRAND
JURY SECRECY RULES.
LET US ALSO BE MINDFUL WE ARE
CONSIDERING THE EXTENT OF
COOPERATION OR NONCOOPERATION
OF AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HAS
APPEARED BEFORE CONGRESS ON
NINE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHOSE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED
OVER 7,600 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS
TO OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATORS AND
WHO CONTINUES TO OFFER
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMMODATIONS TO
EXTRAORDINARY AND EVER-CHANGING
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.
THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO DENY
ANY AND ALL DEMOCRATIC REQUESTS
TO PUBLICLY QUESTION, UNDER
OATH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
INCLUDING FORMER DIRECTOR OF
KEN MELSON, THE HEAD
OF THE VERY AGENCY THAT HELD
THE GUN WALKING OPERATIONS SUCH
AS FAST AND FURIOUS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WHAT BEGAN AS A
LEGITIMATE AND COMPELLING
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT
--
INVESTIGATION HAS DETERIORATED
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 15 SECONDS.
IN CLOSING I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE TO OPPOSE THIS CONTEMPT
RESOLUTION AND I YIELD THE --
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN,
MR. WALBERG.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THERE IS NO JOY IN
TODAY'S ACTION BUT THE FACT
REMAINS, 18 MONTHS AFTER U.S.
BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY
WAS MURDERED, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO HOLD
ANYBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
MISTAKES OF OPERATION FAST AND
FURIOUS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT
AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
COMMITTEE, I HAVE WITNESSED
FIRSTHAND THE STONE WALL BIG
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER.
AT EVERY QUESTION, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT HAS REFUSED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THEY KNOW
ABOUT THE GUN WALKING TACTICS
THAT LED TO AGENT TERRY'S
DEATH.
MOST RECENTLY, THEY HAVE HID
BEHIND THE PRESIDENT'S
ERRONEOUS CLAIMS OF EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE, AN ACTION THE
PRESIDENT DENOUNCED AS LACKING
TRANSPARENCY WHEN HE WAS
CAMPAIGNING.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS STOOD IN
OPEN DEFIANCE OF CONGRESS'
MORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL
OBLIGATION TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT
OF THIS AFFAIR.
THE FAMILY OF AGENT TERRY
DESERVES TO KNOW WHO APPROVED
FAST AND FURIOUS.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHO
HAD THE POWER TO STOP THIS
PROGRAM BEFORE HE WAS MURDERED
AND THEY NEED AN EXPLANATION AS
TO WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE TOOK NINE MONTHS TO
WITHDRAW THEIR FALSE DENIAL
THAT THEY HAD EVER LET GUNS
WALK TO MEXICO.
THE AISLE --
TO SOME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN
15 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
TO SOME IT SEEMS
FINE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
AUTHORIZED THIS OPERATION STILL
WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
THEY WOULD RATHER PLAY POLITICS
RATHER THAN UPHOLD CONGRESS'
RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE
ANOTHER 2,000 FIREARMS DON'T
END UP IN THE HANDS OF MEXICAN
DRUG CARTELS AND IT'S ABOUT
BRINGING CLOSURE TO THE TERRY
FAMILY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS RESOLUTION AND HONOR THE
MEMORY OF BRIAN TERRY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM M.D.
I YIELD TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
M.D., MR. HOYER, FOUR MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, THE
MINORITY WHIP, IS RECOGNIZED
FOR FOUR MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS
A SAD DAY FOR THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
IT IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE DAY FOR
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT IS A DAY IN WHICH THE
MAJORITY PARTY ASKED US TO TAKE
AN ACTION THAT HAS NEVER BEEN
TAKEN IN THE HISTORY OF
AMERICA.
NEVER ONCE HOLDING A CABINET
OFFICER IN CONTEMPT.
OF THE -- IN CONTEMPT OF THE
CONGRESS.
NOW THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS
CONTEMPT CITATIONS.
SOME PROMOTED BY DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEES AND SOME PROMOTED BY
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEES.
THE AVERAGE TIME BETWEEN
COMMITTEE ACTION AND
CONSIDERATION ON THE FLOOR OF
THE HOUSE IS 87 DAYS.
TIME TO REFLECT ON AN
EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT
ACTION.
WITH CONSEQUENCES BEYOND THE
KNOWLEDGE OF ANYBODY SITTING
HERE TODAY.
NOW I WANT TO TELL THE CHAIRMAN
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK
THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARILY SUPERFICIAL.
I THINK THE CHAIRMAN HAS FAILED
TO CALL WITNESSES THAT COULD IN
FACT GIVE RELEVANT, COGENT
TESTIMONY.
-- TESTIMONY ON THE ISSUES TO
BEAR.
THAT OUGHT TO BE DONE.
THAT IS WHY I WILL STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE MOTION OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.
DINGELL, WHO HAS SERVED HERE
LONGER THAN ANY OF THE REST OF
US, AND WHO IS ONE OF THE
STRONGEST GUN CONTROL RIGHTS
SUPPORTERS IN THIS CONGRESS,
AND WHAT HIS MOTION SAYS IS,
LET US REFLECT, LET US BRING
THOUGHTFUL JUDGMENT, LET US NOT
EVERY TIME THAT THERE IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE
CONFRONTATION OVER COOPERATION
AND CONSENSUS.
THAT HAS BEEN THE HISTORY OF
THIS CONGRESS.
COMPETITION OVER CONSENSUS
EVERY TIME.
AND AMERICA IS SUFFERING
BECAUSE OF IT.
I ASK MY FRIENDS ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE,
WHO KNOW ME, TO BE A BIPARTISAN
MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
THAT BELIEVES IN THIS
INSTITUTION.
AND WHO CARES ABOUT ITS ACTIONS
AND THE PRECEDENT THEY WILL
SET.
DON'T DO THIS.
VOTE FOR THIS MOTION TO REFER.
GIVE THE CHAIRMAN THEY HAVE
OPPORTUNITY HE SHOULD HAVE
TAKEN BEFORE TO HAVE A FULL
HEARING, CALLING FORMER
ATTORNEY GENERAL MCCASEY,
CALLING THE FORMER HEAD OF THE
A.T.F.
CALLING AGENTS WHO WERE
PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THIS
PROCEEDING.
I VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE ARE
VERY FEW MEMBERS WHO WILL VOTE
ON THIS ISSUE WHO HAVE READ THE
COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS.
VERY FEW MEMBERS WHO HAVE READ
THE MINORITY REPORT OR THE
MAJORITY REPORT.
YET THEY ARE ABOUT TO TAKE A
HISTORIC VOTE TO DO WHAT HAS
NEVER BEEN DONE BY ANY
CONGRESS, 111 CONGRESSES DID
NOT TAKE THIS ACTION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT REPUBLICANS
OR DEMOCRATS.
THIS IS ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION.
OUR COUNTRY.
OUR RESPECT.
FOR A NATION OF LAWS NOT OF
MEN.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.
WE OUGHT NOT TO BE VOTING AS
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
WE OUGHT TO BE VOTING AS
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS COMMITTED TO JUSTICE
AND FAIR PROCESS.
I REGRET THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE
THIS COMMITTEE HAS FOLLOWED
THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE POLITICAL
MOTIVATIONS MIND THIS
RESOLUTION ARE CLEAR AND POSE A
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO
THIS NATION.
MAY I HAVE 30 ADDITIONAL
SECONDS?
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.