Lloyd Doggett

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, at the end of a long series of votes today, I missed the final vote on Representative Crenshaw's misnamed Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, which would prohibit Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for youth. I would have voted No, just as I did when Republicans proposed this outrageous policy earlier this year. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 361, and NAY on Roll Call No. 362.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. This would be the key vote?

Mr. DOGGETT. While we are thankful for this belated decision of four Republicans here at the last minute to join the discharge petition, unless they join us in voting in favor of this action on the previous question, there is nothing that can be done this year because the Speaker will continue to obstruct premium relief for Americans.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, in a bill that they call ``big'' and ``beautiful,'' Republicans have approved the biggest reduction in access to healthcare in American history. They rejected my amendment in committee to maintain the tax credits that make the Affordable Care Act truly affordable. Now, after shutting down the government for weeks, delaying further weeks, they offer this sorry bill, this loser, wrapped up in a bow for Christmas. To Andrew and his family down in Austin, this phony bill means zero relief on premiums, premiums that are going to spike for his family by nearly $2,000 per month. It means nothing for Russell, a prostate cancer survivor just 2 years away from Medicare, wondering how he will afford the screenings and any necessary care. For a mother in Austin, who contacted me about the stop-loss provision that is reinforced in this bill, it means the possibility that after her 3-year-old child was diagnosed with cancer, they will lose all their coverage. These are real-life stories from my neighbors who have been forgotten by Republicans in their rush to provide more tax benefits for their billionaire buddies. They forget the struggles of so many working Americans. Republicans have made over 70 attempts to destroy the Affordable Care Act, which they all opposed. They peddled junk insurance policies that would deny essential consumer protection benefits under the Affordable Care Act. They could even make matters worse with one provision in this bill that will allow the reinstituting of preexisting conditions that were used to bar coverage for so many people before the Affordable Care Act. This is their commitment to deny healthcare, to provide no relief on premiums that are soaring. In short, it means replacing ObamaCare with nothingcare.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, we all mourn the loss from the tragic attack on two National Guard members here in Washington last week. Yet, once again, the master of distraction seeks to avoid any accountability for his role in this tragedy. Only 7 months earlier, the Trump administration granted asylum to the assassin. Big unanswered questions for the President: What specific vetting was done with regard to the 3 years that this assassin lived here in America? Was his post-traumatic stress from his prior violent work considered? Was the caseworker who reported his possible radicalization interviewed and reviewed? Was his inability to even get a job a factor? Did this review include biometric information, checking social media platforms, and other steps? Instead of blaming all immigrants and blaming Biden, how about just looking in the mirror and figuring out what went wrong here in this regime and how to fix it in order to avoid another tragedy? Americans deserve accountability and answers.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Mucchetti, my chief of staff, for concluding 25 years of devoted service. Prior to coming to Congress, he worked with me at the Texas Supreme Court as a briefing attorney. Thereafter, he practiced law and then took his Texas know-how to the United Nations in Geneva before returning here to lead my congressional team. Through shutdowns, wars, and so much history, including a record differently numbered congressional districts, Michael has been there as a steady hand, quiet in credit, relentless in our efforts, a mentor to many, and kind to team members and constituents. He has advocated for peace and nonviolence, protecting our most vulnerable, increasing access and opportunity, advancing equal justice, and defending a democracy where every voice can be heard. He embodies the best of public service: wisdom, integrity, and compassion. He has been less an employee and more a brother-in-arms. Thanks to his remarkable family, Kiki, Anna, Austin, Connor, and Torben. It has been a privilege and an honor.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this rule further erodes the system of checks and balances that has served our democracy so well. Republicans, through it, are surrendering more and more unrestrained power to President Trump. This rule is but another step on the march to tyranny. Trump is seeking to create a master file of information on every single American, a digital ID tracking your movements, where you live, where you work, when you see a doctor, how much money you have, even child support agreements, and much more. Today, Republicans are simply rubberstamping that plan, the very kind of surveillance and intrusion that Libertarians have always opposed. Today, these Republicans are blocking us from presenting any resolution of inquiry concerning the Trump administration, like the one that I introduced on June 11 to demand the facts from the administration about all of its wrongdoing, including what confidential information it has accumulated on each American. Your data becomes fully public and available to President Trump even as the Epstein files remain fully buried. Republicans are keeping the American people ignorant of what Trump is doing with their private data: Ignorant of how he may use it against his political enemies or his business competitors, ignorant of what he may do if you have ever expressed any criticism of him, his family, his policies, or maybe you just expressed support for someone that with his latest whim he is opposed to. Now he will have a master file that includes you to persecute and even prosecute. Too intimidated by this self-proclaimed king, Republicans are empowering what could become a police state. To shed light on this descent into authoritarian darkness, to let the American people know how their own government is centralizing their personal data, I introduced a resolution of inquiry demanding that the administration produce all the information related to the creation of this vast searchable database with its handpicked contractor, Palantir, a company that one Silicon Valley executive accused of building the infrastructure of the police state. I do agree with one Republican, Representative Warren Davidson, who does believe in freedom and has described Trump's deal with Palantir as dangerous and has said when you start combining all these data points on individuals into one database, it really essentially creates a digital ID, and it is a power that history says will eventually be abused. With this administration, ``eventually'' will be very soon. A vote for this rule is a vote to bury the truth and allow the Federal Government to track Americans and invade their privacy with no restraint. I strongly urge my colleagues to stand up for freedom and reject this rule.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew. Born Demetrios Arhondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gokceada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew. His formal office is Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, a historic title dating to the sixth century. The role of the Ecumenical Patriarch as the primary spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian world and transnational figure of global significance has increased exponentially during the tenure of His All- Holiness. He has co-sponsored international peace conferences, as well as meetings about racism and fundamentalism, bringing together Christians, Muslims and Jews for the purpose of advancing greater cooperation and mutual understanding. He has advanced Christian-Muslim relations in such places as former Yugoslavia, advocating for peace-building measures to diffuse global conflict in the region, while supporting many traditionally Orthodox countries emerging from decades of wide scale religious persecution and oppression behind the Iron Curtain. Moreover, he has initiated international meetings and theological conversations with Muslim and Jewish leaders to promote mutual respect and religious tolerance on a global level, proving a pioneer in interfaith encounters and traveling to Muslim countries rarely visited by Christian leaders. He has organized international, inter-faith and inter-disciplinary symposia and summits to address ecological problems of the world, earning him the title ``Green Patriarch'' and prestigious international awards. His efforts to promote religious freedom and human rights, his initiatives to advance religious tolerance among the world's religions, together with his work toward international peace and environmental protection, have justly placed him at the forefront of global visionaries as an apostle of love, peace and reconciliation. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress. The Guardian recognized him as one of the world's leaders in raising environmental awareness. And, in its category of Leaders and revolutionaries, Time Magazine named him as one of the world's most influential people. Now, he is being rightfully honored with the Templeton Prize, previously received by Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among others. Congratulations to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on this honor and I thank him for his life of service.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, at 3:35 in the morning, a favorite time of Republicans for taking up this bill, we consider a travesty. The Senate took an ugly bill, went out and whipped it with an ugly stick, and made it even uglier with 17 million Americans going without health insurance; a 17 percent increase in electric rates; and the largest nutritional assistance cut in American history, leaving Americans hungry. The independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget condemns this as exploding our debt, spiking it to new record highs, and accelerating the insolvency of Social Security and Medicare. One thing remains the same: It takes from those with the least and gives to those with the most, lining the pockets of the super-rich with millions in tax giveaways. It is mean. It is cruel. It is wrong. That is why it is being taken up at this hour of the morning, as they have done throughout this process. Let's reject this ugly bill and stand up for Americans.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, where lies are king, the truth is the enemy. Institutions that spread knowledge are defamed as ``enemies of the people.'' NPR and PBS are targeted here today precisely because they are so good at delivering the truth. Like millions, I tune into both of them daily. Trump tweets: `` . . . RADICAL LEFT' `MONSTERS THAT SO BADLY HURT OUR COUNTRY!'' What hurts Trump are facts when he demands flattery. This attempt to quash thorough, objective NPR and PBS reporting is a sign of Trump's weakness, of his drive toward tyranny. Trump doesn't want a country of engaged, informed Americans. He prefers those who salute on command, like for his North Korean-style, taxpayer-funded, wasteful $45 million birthday bash this Saturday. Reject these dangerous DOGE cuts and defend the right of the American people to know.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, breaking yet another promise, Republicans are cutting Medicare by $500 billion. On October 1 of this year, every Medicare healthcare provider will see a 4 percent cut, and that will occur year after year as seniors try to find someone who will accept Medicare. On January 1, millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act will lose their access to a family physician. Medicaid for those in nursing homes and for half the babies born in my hometown of Austin is cut. Almost 14 million Americans will lose their access to healthcare. The new Trump school voucher sabotage plan atop State vouchers incentivizes removing students from public schools. Meanwhile, our national debt, soaring by trillions from Republicans who talk fiscal responsibility but serve their cult leader, the deficit hawks have become chicken hawks tonight in submission to Trump, the self-described king of debt, all to reward billionaires with even more tax breaks.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Johnson calls our soaring national debt the ``number one threat'' to our Nation. The Republican Senate leader says that it is a ``ticking time bomb'' just before he lights the fuse with this sorry resolution that hikes the debt by $6 trillion. The independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget urges us to reject this ``unprecedented level of fiscal recklessness.'' Republicans are borrowing trillions more so Elon and his billionaire buddies can get more. Already a wrecking ball to our democracy, Trump, the self-described ``king of debt,'' is king today with his schemes to spike the debt as the Musk DOGE charade wrecks public services and Trump's ``beautiful'' tariff wrecks our economy and heads us straight toward a recession. With soaring debt, plummeting markets, and a measles outbreak, I have to give the Republicans credit for turning America red, but not the way we expected.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, brokers who sell stocks and mutual funds have long been required to file a report in January of each year on Form 1099. They send it to their customers. They send it to the Internal Revenue Service. Many honest taxpayers out there right now have been collecting their 1099s from a bank or a securities broker to attach when they pay their taxes. Well-established crypto exchanges, like Coinbase and Binance, are required to do the same thing this year. Why is it that Republicans are coming here today and saying: We want these decentralized finance crypto exchanges to be exempt from what everyone else in the financial service industry does? The answer is two words. The answer is the same answer as to why it is we are about to see a new spending bill approved tonight. It is the same answer as to why Republicans are insistent on a reconciliation bill that will add literally trillions of dollars to our national debt as they boast about being fiscal conservatives who are cutting healthcare in this country. It is the same answer as to why Republicans cannot find their tongue when Elon Musk goes rampaging through our civil service. The President is responsible for dismissing more veterans than any President in the history of the United States. It is the same answer that exists when the same rampage is undermining Social Security and the ability of the Social Security system to pay those checks that have been the lifeline for so many individuals who are seniors or individuals with disabilities. The answer, in short, is: Donald Trump. Shortly before he became President, Mr. Trump began raking in tens of millions of dollars in fees by launching his own meme coin, and the Trump family launched World Liberty Financial, which seeks to become a future decentralized finance. As usual, the Trumps don't want to play by the rules that apply to mere commoners. King Trump, as he has described himself, plays by different rules for the royalty. Of course, disclosure and transparency are an absolute anathema to this administration, for whom lies are the currency of the realm. Getting a special interest exemption from a pesky 1099 disclosure makes tax evasion and money laundering so much easier for the wealthy Republican donors who have been using these decentralized exchanges. This bill, designed to exempt crypto fraud, is consistent with the sudden decision last week of Trump's SEC to halt prosecuting fraud against a Chinese businessman who, just coincidentally, invested $75 million in the Trump family's World Liberty Financial. In this administration, friends don't prosecute friends, or certainly not friendly investors. Despite President Trump's claim that he must launch a trade war and impose a 25 percent tax on Americans who purchase anything from Canada in order to stop the estimated fraction of 1 percent of the fentanyl that enters our country from that longtime ally, today's bill opens the door to rewarding drug traffickers in fentanyl, cocaine, and whatever, as well as terrorists. My colleagues need not take my word for it. We can turn to a Republican, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who said: ``Cryptocurrency has played an increasingly prominent role in the global fentanyl trade . . . both in terms of . . . manufacturing and trafficking of fentanyl and in laundering drug cartels' criminal proceeds.'' He says: ``This is particularly true of so-called `decentralized' crypto exchanges,'' for which this bill provides a totally unjustified special treatment. According to the nonpartisan FACT Coalition, cryptocurrency is becoming attractive to hostile actors like Hamas, who seek ways to sidestep sanctions. The risks are especially severe with decentralized finance platforms, which are enabled to operate outside the traditional regulatory oversight that applies to others. I further note that, when we talk about fiscal responsibility, this bill will add $4 billion to our national debt. Republicans can't even question that. It is like the $8 billion in one of the gifts the majority gave to the oil industry last week. With $4 billion here, $8 billion there, and $4 trillion or so with the Republican tax bill to provide more tax breaks to people like Elon Musk and the people who were seated in the front row at the President's inauguration, it adds up. Those Republicans who have been telling us that we have a great national security problem with our national debt are so concerned about it that they are going to add trillions of dollars more, and $4 billion is nothing to ignore, which this bill does and does not pay for. We should reject this new Trump special interest legislation that will just result in more corruption in this administration, a loophole that would be exploited by wealthy tax cheats, drug traffickers, and terrorist financiers, for which there is absolutely no reasonable justification.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, today Republicans offer a truly remarkable answer to unemployment insurance fraud, and that is to make a big cut in those who are already fighting unemployment insurance fraud and abuse. Likely gone will be the resources for providing the States access to databases that they use to prevent fraud by confirming identities. Once again, arithmetic is just simply not a Republican friend. They cut $5 million from antifraud efforts that are going on today to produce a savings of $500,000 over a 10-year period according to the independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which estimates that any additional recoveries from their sorry bill of overpaid benefits would be insignificant. This rash Republican move comes on top of Elon Musk's slash-and-burn rampage through our government. Who knows how many civil servants have already been fired whose principal responsibility is to fight fraud; not only the fraud that has occurred in the past but some shyster who has come up with a new approach? As the sponsor of antifraud legislation myself, legislation which Mr. Smith has refused to consider to prevent some bilking of Medicaid, I can tell the difference between a real antifraud measure and one advanced on behalf of administration extremists who don't believe in unemployment insurance in the first place. This bill's true objective is to penalize working Americans who, through no fault of their own, both lost their jobs during the pandemic and then received mistaken amounts of overpayment thereafter. Now, years later, instead of accepting responsibility for the failure of the first Trump administration in improperly making those overpayments done first by the Trump administration itself and in failing to establish safeguards so that there would not be overpayments, Republicans instead are shifting the blame from Trump's wrongs to workers that did not commit the wrongs in the first place. This bill is just another part of the Trump-Musk fake war on fraud, waste, and abuse--big claims, big, big claims, no proof of genuine savings. Really it is all about wrecking programs like unemployment insurance that the extremist Project 2025 said they wanted to eliminate even though they don't actually help taxpayers. One thing we can be sure of is that with Trump we have no accountability, no transparency, and no watchdogs. That is why he moved quickly to fire at least 17 inspectors general in different agencies, including the Department of Labor Inspector General Larry Turner. At the very time he was fired, Mr. Turner received no cause for being fired, of course, because the real cause was they didn't want a watchdog there. He was about fighting fraud. He was prosecuting large, sophisticated criminal rings responsible for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars in other ways. Make no mistake, if they had really wanted to target those who are taking this money unfairly in a criminal way, they would have taken Mr. Davis' amendment to prioritize those who are doing the most damage. I believe that Trump, Musk, and House Republican enablers here today are much more interested in brash declarations than in genuine savings. They have made clear that their number one priority in our committee is not unemployment fraud but more tax breaks for plutocrats by shifting more of the tax burden to working families and irresponsibly increasing by trillions of dollars the size of our national debt. I would urge rejection of this bill.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, half the children in my hometown, and probably more in Mr. Green's, are at risk of losing their care as seen in our Children's Hospital. Medicaid is a lifeline to individuals with disabilities. He was passionate. He was emotional. He is deeply committed to protecting the vulnerable. He should not be censured for the way in which he expressed his passion and his concern and his love of justice.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, Al Green is my friend and, for that matter, so is Mr. Newhouse, though I don't know him quite as well. I think this motion is a serious mistake. I sat here in this House the night that President Obama made his state of the Union speech, and Joe Wilson from South Carolina jumped up and said: ``You lie.'' Nothing was done about that. Mr. Green engaged in conduct that I chose not to participate in, though I found that a number of my constituents wished I had joined him. He expressed his strong views in a way that I would not have voiced them myself, but he left this Chamber voluntarily after doing so. To censure him now sets us back. It does not move us forward toward a more bipartisan and a more respectful House. Indeed, I think many Americans will be surprised that Republicans get upset about decorum on anything. There was no Republican objection when President Trump decided to pardon the criminals that were responsible for the deaths of police officers in this building when they defended us on January 6, sprayed them with bear spray, and harassed and harmed so many officers. There has been no Republican concern about decorum when the President fired the head of the Office of Ethics at the White House, when he fired the watchdogs of about 17 different Federal departments and agencies, the inspectors general that are designed to uphold and check out corruption and waste in our government. There has been no outrage when President Trump decided that he would take on General Milley for being the patriot that he is and seek to obtain revenge on him. What Mr. Green was talking about was outrage about something that is very important. There are 700,000 seniors in Texas who rely on Medicaid and nursing homes.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I would ask for a moment of silence to honor Congressman Sylvester Turner and to ask that when the House adjourns today, that it adjourn in his memory.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Fletcher for her words. It is great to have all the members of our delegation here. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), the dean of the Republican members of the Texas delegation.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, it is a shocking blow to lose the strong voice of Congressman Sylvester Turner. I have known him for over 40 years. As an attorney, he worked to represent the most vulnerable. He served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives. As a lifelong Houstonian, mayor for 8 years, he always put Houston and Houston concerns about education and opportunity at the forefront. Emanuel Cleaver, who is right behind me here, and I represented the House just a few weeks ago, the night before we were all sworn in, at a celebration that Sylvester organized for Houstonians who were here for this event. It was really a joyous celebration. There were so many Houstonians there who were proud of his service as mayor. He had much of the same staff who worked with him as mayor who had signed on to work with him either here or in Houston. It was clear that he was prepared to hit the ground running as a new Member of Congress. He brought an immense amount of personal experience and experience working with people of all political affiliations and none. His life has been cut abruptly short. He demonstrated a tenacity and courage that we can all emulate. Only last night, he was sitting just a few rows back here, yet today he is gone. It is a reminder of all the uncertainties that each of us face in life. For me, it is a reminder of an oft spoken prayer by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, who said: ``Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.'' Sylvester lived that prayer. We send our prayers and condolences to his staff, who I know are shocked by this; to his family; and to the countless lives that he touched in Houston and elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher), one of his best friends.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this is the Republican wreckonciliation because it makes a wreck of our Nation's finances and it makes a wreck of the lives of so many of our fellow Americans. Republicans are so very troubled about our Nation's debt that they want to add trillions more to it. In fact, according to the bipartisan Citizens for a Responsible Federal Budget, they want to make it bigger by about $4 trillion deeper in debt. Elon Musk's DOGE--it is dodge also--is a sideshow for a multi-ring circus of deception and lies designed to create the illusion that billions are being saved from waste, fraud, and abuse when DOGE itself is the abuse. Even with these fake savings, the insatiable demand of these Republicans for additional billionaire tax breaks requires denying opportunities to middle-class families; denying access to a family physician, first by slashing hundreds of millions from Medicaid for which Trump professes to love and cherish; wrecking Medicaid which pays for half the babies born at Seton hospital in Austin and half the children that go to the Children's Hospital there. Millions of Americans will lose health protection, and millions more will lose educational opportunity. For those who are facing a dreaded disease like cancer, Republicans are cutting innovative medical research in the hope for a cure. With the looming threat of a flu pandemic, there would be a 40 percent cut of staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. All of this represents more Republican broken promises. Remember last month when Trump was going to drastically bring down grocery prices? The only thing that is drastic is the pain of this Republican budget. Now Trump tells us we will have a golden age in America. With this budget imposing so many burdens on our finances, the sick, the hungry, and students, we see who gets the gold. It is those billionaires that were on the front seat of his inauguration as working families are betrayed.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, Putin and Trump: a dictator and a wannabe, and another destroyed Ukrainian city. Thousands have been murdered and thousands of children have been kidnapped. Trump disgracefully voted yesterday with North Korea and Russia to blame the murdered, not the murderer. Trump is joining a rogues' gallery of lesser dictators to deny Putin's murderous invasion, his war crimes, and a demand that he return occupied Ukrainian territory. Trump, ``the great appeaser,'' is joined in this appalling wrong by House Republican accomplices. While Ukrainians dodge bullets and missiles and are risking death daily, most of the House Republicans seem scared into silence by the threat of a very mean Trump tweet. By its silence, this Republican white flag surrender caucus is emboldening our adversaries to replace the world order established by both Democratic and Republican leaders since World War II. If we fail Ukraine, our democratic ally, we fail the rule of law. Let's unite to resist the appeasement of Putin and seek a victory for self-determination, democracy, and freedom.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, very small instances--President Trump's excuse last night for freeing the violent January 6 criminals. To the 140 dedicated police officers who were injured that day, to the officer who was crushed in a door and had to protect his eye from being gouged out, to the officer who was punched with a flagpole, this was hardly Trump's ``day of love.'' Now, he has released these criminals back to their communities. One boasted of buying guns. Another would: Turn up the heat in the spirit of vengeance--total disrespect for law enforcement, unleashing a heightened threat to the safety of families and communities across this country. By freeing the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, Trump seems to be following the example of the authoritarian leaders he has admired in telling them to ``stand back and standby''--his private militias, available to crush any opposition at the slightest dog whistle.

Mr. DOGGETT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate what is not at stake today, and that is tax relief for the hostages. The IRS issued an order on October 1 as it had issued an order previously. If we pass no legislation, they have protection. That has never been denied here. Indeed, we offered other protection. The Constitution was used as an argument against our approving that very relief. Mr. Beyer and others have a bill that could easily have been taken up here in the House, but no. They want to hold the hostage tax bill itself hostage for their other unfortunate purposes. The second thing that is not at stake is our opposition to terrorism. Everyone, Republican and Democrat, oppose terrorists and we want to do all that we can to prevent terrorists from affecting this country, affecting Israel, the Middle East, and any other part of the world. We have laws on the books today to do just that. They have been used against terrorist organizations. They have been used against those who support terrorist organizations, but they have been used with regard to due process. The only reason they have this bill up here is to empower future Presidents to ignore those two vital words of ``due process.'' Let's talk a little about what is at stake here. Mr. Smith presented to this body a letter that he sent the IRS on September 24. I have that letter here. It was one of nine letters he sent to the IRS on the 24th, and he is complaining that less than 2 months later, they have not acted on all nine of his letters. He says that he is only interested in protecting legitimate nonprofits, not any illegitimate nonprofits. Well, if we look at his letters as I have, we find out what he considers to be ``material support to terrorism'' that he wants to prohibit, and it is the very kind of thing that is at stake in this bill that a future President, our President-elect, could use to undermine civic organizations all over this country. One of the organizations that he wants to deny, wants to terminate their nonprofit status, the material support that they provided to terrorism was that they had a protest and they engaged in civic disobedience. Surprisingly, I would say, the same organization he complains about has protested one of my speeches. I believe America is stronger when we provide and permit dissent in all its forms, as long as it is done in a proper way. Let's think a little bit about civil disobedience. There are today 151 Members of this Congress who are women. Does anyone think they would be here if the suffragettes had not had the willingness to engage in civic disobedience and be taken to jail from out in front of the White House? We have 64 African-American Members in this Congress today. Does anyone think that had it not been for the Freedom Riders, for those who put their lives on the line to protect the right to vote, who engaged in civil disobedience and did not obey the laws of Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, does anyone think we would have moved our country as far as it has despite its many successes, its many shortcomings? We have made some progress, and those who are willing to put their lives on the line and, yes, engage in civil disobedience, they have contributed on the whole to this being a fairer and more just country, and to deny, to terminate the life of a civic organization because they choose to engage and face the penalties of civil disobedience, but not the elimination of their right to exist as a nonprofit organization. Protests are inconvenient. The one I had was inconvenient. Sometimes they are misconceived. They get out of hand, but over our Nation's history, nonviolent protests and acts of civil disobedience have made this a more equal country. We all live in a better Nation today because people and civic organizations have stood up for our democratic values and our fundamental freedoms, even when we found their conduct to be most disagreeable. Now, there has been much made in this debate of the fact that some of us have switched our positions. We have been called flip-floppers. I voted for this part of this legislation three times, including the times in committee, though, I did ask in committee that it be amended to address the very concerns I am raising today. But what is the answer to those who may change their vote today, as many will, and vote ``no''? The answer is, we listened to our constituents, and the Republicans who support this bill, they were listening also, but as you can tell from the frequent flyer miles they have been earning going back and forth to Mar-a-Lago, they were listening to one person. We were listening to constituents from all over this country. Now almost 300 organizations expressed concern and fear about what will happen in the next 4 years under a vengeful President against these organizations who this chairman says are not legitimate because they protest. They sometimes engage in civic disobedience. Let me tell you a little bit about who those organizations are and how they cover and involve so many people across this country. The American Civil Liberties Union has its work cut out over the next 4 years with regard to what is already happening. The American Public Health Association may not agree with destroying ObamaCare and denying and making people who are poor who rely on Medicaid pay for tax cuts for the rich. The Brennan Center is another voice for civil society and civil liberties in our country. Planned Parenthood has been attacked by one extremist group as a terrorist organization because it recognizes that abortion care is healthcare. The AFL-CIO, the Service Employees Union, the United Auto Workers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, these are the kind of employee groups and professionals that serve our country whose voice is being heard, who many of my colleagues who, like I, once voted for this bill, have listened to them and the impact that they think this bill under the incoming President will have on their ability to function and defend working people. The League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club are attacked by extremists as being eco-terrorists sometimes when they don't automatically approve every mine that gets opened, every destruction of native lands that occurs, and stand up and speak up for the environment.

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Bush).