Joseph Morelle

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I note that it has been a vigorous debate, and I continue to argue that this bill, in the strongest terms, should not be passed. I just note, particularly for Members who spoke here today, for instance, in my dear friend Chairman Steil's district, 165,000 women in his district have a different name on their birth certificate than on their current photo ID, and 346,000 residents of Wisconsin's First District lack a passport. It would cost them nearly $45 million for those people to purchase a passport. For the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller), 150,000 women in her district have a different name on their birth certificate, and 414,000 residents in her district lack a passport. It would cost them $53 million. For Mr. Burchett's district, 176,000 women have a different name on their birth certificate, and 390,000 residents don't have a passport, which would cost them $50.8 million. Mrs. Luna has 170,000 women in her district who have different names on their birth certificates than on their photo IDs, and 319,000 of her residents lack a passport. It would cost $41 million to purchase that for all of them. Ms. Tenney has 145,000 women in her district who have a different name on their birth certificate and 420,000 residents without a passport. It would cost them $54 million. Mr. Speaker, you have an estimated 170,000 women with a different name on their birth certificate, and 397,000 residents lack a passport. The list goes on and on. That is the impact of this. Here is the truth, Mr. Speaker: President Trump wants to take over American elections this November to maintain his tenuous grip on power. Republicans have a singular purpose in supporting the SAVE America Act: helping the President get what he wants. That is what they are always about: helping the President get what he wants, not the American people. Republicans are falling over each other to help Donald Trump nationalize the 2026 midterm elections. Don't take my word for it. This is what the President is trying to do. He says it. He always says the quiet part out loud. He said: ``We''--meaning the Republicans--``We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.'' That is what the President said. That is why this bill forces States to surrender your personal, private information to the Department of Homeland Security, to the Department that has unleashed ICE brutality on the streets of America against American citizens. The bill is so extreme that even a Republican Senator said this week that she opposes it, calling it Federal overreach. In response, in just a moment, I will offer a motion to commit. This motion to commit would send this bill to committee with an instruction to strip the provision that gives your address, your personal information, to the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the text of my amendment to the motion to commit. Mr. Morelle of New York moves to commit the bill S. 1383 to the Committee on House Administration with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: Page 15, strike line 17 and all that follows through page 16, line 9.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I warn Republicans that a vote against this motion to commit is a vote to send American citizens' data to the Department of Homeland Security. A vote against this MTC is a vote to put Kristi Noem and Donald Trump and ICE and the Department of Justice in charge of the midterm elections this fall. Mr. Speaker, I urge all to vote ``yes'' on the motion to commit because Kristi Noem should not control our elections. Donald Trump should not control our elections. We, the American people, the people of the United States, control our elections. Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of the main motion and support of the motion to commit, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to commit at the desk.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3705, which is, I believe, the original companion to H.R. 469. I thank my friend and fellow House administrator and fellow House appropriator Mrs. Bice for her comments and her support of this important legislation. As I have previously noted on the floor, this bipartisan legislation would authorize the Architect of the Capitol to bury a time capsule on July 4th, 2026, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to be opened on our Nation's 500th anniversary in the year 2276. The items in the capsule will be determined by bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders and include written materials relating to the anniversary, representations of notable legislative and institutional milestones, and a message from this Congress to our future colleagues in the 244th Congress. I did say last year that I hope to be there at the opening. I am not sure that is possible, but I will do everything I can. This year's celebration of America's anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of the American experiment. Our Nation has faced countless tests to our strength and our unity, including a civil war, two world wars, natural disasters, and more. Yet through each of these profound challenges, this country has endured and continues to strive toward the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago. During this time of deep division and heightened partisanship, this anniversary reminds us of our shared responsibility to uphold the values of liberty and equality that have defined this Nation for two- and-a-half centuries. I, again, thank the Semiquincentennial Commission for its leadership and planning for this momentous occasion. I particularly commend my colleague, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, for her leadership in advancing the bill. I also want to recognize the service of a fellow New Yorker, former House Representative Joe Crowley, whose time and talents have made an indelible mark on the Commission's achievements. I look forward to seeing the items chosen for the time capsule, which I may not be able to see when they are opened, but I do encourage my colleagues to support this measure. It is an important measure. It is an important part of our history and our legacy, and I look forward to its passage. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), who is the author of the bill.

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, I think for all the reasons that have been described, this is an important part of maintaining the history of the last 250 years and making certain that we preserve this so that future generations will know how we got here and how we see the world. I agree with Mrs. Bice that books may not be particularly relevant 250 years from now, and I suppose we should not write in cursive because people won't know what that means. But this is really important. I think it is a reflection of the amazing American experiment, and I look forward to the bill being signed. I hope and I pray that 250 years from now we will have moved toward, in the words of Jefferson, ``a more perfect Union.'' Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate a remarkable woman, Helen Pluta, whose life was defined by compassion, generosity, and unwavering commitment to others. Helen's contributions to Rochester are profound and lasting. Alongside her late husband, Andy, she helped build the Pluta Cancer Center that began as a vision for compassionate, patient-centered care and continues today as a place of hope and healing that has served thousands of patients and families in our community, including my own. Helen gave of her time, her spirit, and her heart, bringing warmth and laughter wherever she went. Helen and her entire family's generosity opened doors and eased burdens. Their dedication reminds us what it means to truly care for your neighbor. We mourn her passing, but we also give thanks for a life of service, love, and profound impact. Rochester is a better place because Helen Pluta walked among us.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed Roll Call votes No. 191, No. 192, and No. 193 on July 14, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 191; YEA on Roll Call No. 192; and YEA on Roll Call No. 193.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the 16th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, a decision that disfigured our political landscape, reorienting power away from voters and toward corporate and wealthy special interests. In Citizens United, a 5-4 conservative Court majority endorsed almost unlimited political spending by corporations and wealthy individuals, and alongside several subsequent Federal Court rulings, demolished longstanding limits designed to prevent undue influence in our politics. It is well beyond time for Congress to pass a comprehensive campaign finance reform package to protect our constituents from the widespread political corruption that Citizens United unleashed. Since 2010, more than $10 billion in corporate and dark money has saturated every aspect of our politics. Super-PACs and dark money groups now spend vast sums to influence, and sometimes determine, election outcomes while shielding their donors from public scrutiny. Compounding the problem, the Federal Election Commission has too often failed to enforce the law, leaving voters vulnerable and unable to discern who is trying to influence them and why. We know that transparency is a baseline requirement for a functioning democracy. We know, too, that its absence erodes public trust in politics and fuels the belief that the system is rigged for wealthy elites and insiders. Most troubling, however, is that Citizens United threatens to compromise the incentives of those of us who serve in public office. House campaigns now require previously unimaginable sums of money. Members spend far too much time courting wealth or corporate donors rather than engaging with constituents. Americans reasonably question whether this imbalance helps explain why policies related to taxes, healthcare, corporate regulation, and environmental protection so often favor powerful interests over working families, families who are struggling with an affordability crisis that this administration has exacerbated. While Citizens United greatly harmed our body politic, we will not let it prove fatal. In a 1938 address to Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a stark warning: `` . . . the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself.'' House Democrats recognize the fierce urgency of this warning. At the request of Leader Hakeem Jeffries, I am coordinating a comprehensive anticorruption legislative agenda to restore fairness, transparency, and a requisite principle of our Republic, that government must serve the people, not the highest bidder. This sweeping agenda will address corruption across all three branches of government as well as, critically, unfettered corporate influence in our broken campaign finance system. The package will include pieces of legislation that House Democrats have long championed, like the DISCLOSE Act, that will shine a light on the dark money donors that seek to purchase the outcomes of our elections. It will fundamentally reform the FEC, so our Federal campaign finance laws no longer go unenforced. Indeed, at present, the FEC has no quorum and cannot function in a law enforcement capacity at all. House Democrats will put a cop back on the beat. Vitally, House Democrats will move to ratify a constitutional amendment to overturn the horrific Citizens United decision. House Democrats will ensure this package reflects the pressing reform interests of Americans from coast to coast, Americans who demand an end to the culture of corruption endemic in Washington. While Citizens United did not create every problem in our politics, it has undeniably enhanced the power of the wealthiest few at the expense of the many. When a single billionaire spends more on an election than countless thousands of voters combined, the principle that every voice counts equally in our political system withers. We must, and we can, remedy the rot at the deeply misguided Citizens United decision introduced into American politics. As ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, the committee with jurisdiction over campaign finance legislation, I look forward to continuing to work to restore trust and honesty to American governance.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Monroe Red Jackets high school football team, led by Coach Terrell Cunningham and New York State Gatorade Player of the Year Messiah Hampton, who made history as the first-ever Rochester City School District Class B State champions. This team showed what is possible when talent meets determination, when hard work rises above the challenges we face, and when young people refuse to be defined by the obstacles in front of them. They believed in each other. They believed in themselves. They showed New York State what Rochester pride looks like. This championship brings hope. It brings hope for the students who have proven their dreams are within reach, for a school that showed excellence thrives here, and for a community that has so much to be proud of. We thank the players, coaches, families, and fans for reminding us that greatness lives right here in Rochester. I cannot wait to see what all these young people go on to do. We congratulate the Monroe Red Jackets.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Don Stevens, the legendary voice of the Rochester Americans, as he calls his final season behind the microphone. For four decades, Don has called over 3,300 games for the Amerks and became the longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in the American Hockey League. From Calder Cup runs to cold weeknights downtown, he has been the soundtrack of winter in Rochester calling games from a press box at the Blue Cross Arena that now proudly bears his name. Known as the dean of AHL broadcasters, a member of the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame, and a two-time winner of the James H. Ellery Memorial Award for media excellence, Don has served in roles from public relations director to TV host, and founded the AHL Broadcasters and Writers Association. We thank Don for the memories, the excitement, and for making Amerks hockey sound like home. I wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Rochester's own Chuck Mangione, a world-class musician whose unique sound carried our city's spirit to every corner of the globe. Born and raised in Rochester, Chuck never forgot where he came from. From his early days playing alongside his brother, Gap, as The Jazz Brothers, to studying at and later leading the Eastman School of Music's jazz program, Chuck's commitment to his hometown never wavered. His flugelhorn gave us classics like ``Feels So Good,'' earned Grammy Awards, and became the soundtrack to unforgettable moments. In Rochester, we remember Chuck not just for his fame but for his generosity, joy, and the pride he shared in our community. He leaves a legacy that will keep our city swinging for generations. May we honor him by celebrating our hometown music the way Chuck always did.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional leader and champion for innovation in Rochester, New York: Theresa Mazzullo, who is retiring after an extraordinary tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Excell Partners. Her years of service have left an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial landscape of Upstate New York. Since stepping into the role in 2006, Theresa has guided Excell Partners through a period of remarkable growth. What began as a small seed fund has, under her leadership, evolved into a venture capital organization overseeing more than $80 million in assets. She played a pivotal role in establishing Excell as a cornerstone supporter of emerging companies across the region, most recently through the creation of the Upstate Biotech Venture Fund to bolster life sciences startups. Beyond stewarding the firm's investments, Theresa has been a driving force in strengthening the broader innovation ecosystem. She has led efforts in governance, compliance, fundraising, and community engagement, drawing upon more than three decades of experience in business and finance--including founding her own small business. Her insight and dedication have shaped the strategic direction of Excell and the communities it serves. Her commitment to the region extends far beyond her executive responsibilities. Theresa has contributed her expertise to numerous boards and advisory groups, helping influence economic development initiatives and supporting the continued growth of entrepreneurial networks throughout Upstate New York. Her leadership was recently honored with the Upstate Capital Association of New York's Ecosystem Champion Award, a testament to her collaborative spirit and her long- standing dedication to the region's success. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and deep gratitude that I recognize a dear friend, Theresa Mazzullo, for her remarkable career and enduring contributions to the Rochester community. Her legacy will continue to benefit our region for years to come.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Lucien A. Morin, who passed away this year at 104. Lu, as he was known to all, was a proud World War II veteran. He began his public career as a Henrietta Town Justice who literally held court in his own home. He then served in the very first Monroe County legislature and as county manager before being elected the first-ever Monroe County Executive. He spent his entire life answering the call to serve. Lu brought practical wisdom and fairness to each role he took on and led with a spirit of collaboration and a belief that public service should uplift everyone. This was evident in his landmark Morin/Ryan legislation, which strengthened the finances of local governments and our local schools. Lu Morin leaves us a legacy of integrity and a deep faith in our community. I was honored to know him, to work with him, and to call him my friend. May we continue to carry his extraordinary example forward.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Judith Cannan, Chief of the Policy, Training and Cooperative Programs Division (PTCP) at the Library of Congress on her retirement after nearly 50 years of service and thank her for her extraordinary dedication to the institution. Her exemplary career has left an enduring mark on the profession, the global library community, and on generations who have benefitted from her dedication, scholarship, and leadership, Born in Birmingham, England, and raised in New Zealand, Ms. Cannan earned her bachelor's degree from Victoria University of Wellington and a diploma in library science from the National Library School. Before joining the Library, she served as a serials cataloger at Cornell University, experience that would lay the foundation for her lifetime of professional service. Ms. Cannan joined the Library of Congress in 1976, and from 1977 to 1985 served as Head of the English Language Serials Cataloging Section. She later became the first Chief of the Technical Processing and Automation Instruction Office, the precursor to what is now the PTCP. Over her decades of service, she played a central role in some of the Library's most significant transitions: the implementation of its first integrated library system in 1999; national and international training for the new cataloging standard in 2013; and the recent shift toward a linked open data environment through the BIBFRAME initiative. A widely respected authority in serials cataloging, Ms. Cannan authored two monographs and numerous journal articles that guided practitioners through periods of extensive change. Her scholarly contributions shaped the field and continue to influence catalogers around the world. When the Library's training functions merged with the Policy and Standards Division to form PTCP, Ms. Cannan was entrusted as its first Chief. In this role, she oversaw professional training across the Library Collections and Services Group and led the secretariat for the Program for Cooperative Cataloging, an international community of 700 member institutions. Her steady leadership, deep subject expertise, and unwavering commitment to professional development strengthened the Library and the broader community it serves. In 2023, Ms. Cannan was recognized with two of the American Library Association's highest professional honors: the ALA Medal of Excellence and the ALA Core Margaret Mann Citation--fitting acknowledgments of a career defined by excellence, service, and innovation. Judith Cannan's legacy at the Library of Congress is profound. Her leadership strengthened one of our Nation's most treasured institutions, elevated the standards of cataloging worldwide, and her commitment to mentoring and training ensures future librarians are well prepared to carry this mission forward. Her nearly half-century of service exemplifies the very best of public stewardship. We are grateful for her longtime commitment to the Library and wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary public servant, distinguished leader, and dear friend from Rochester, New York, Jim Brown, who is retiring after more than three decades of dedicated service to the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Jim Brown began his tenure at the Convention Center on April 4, 1994, and over the course of 30 years, built a career defined by professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the success of Rochester's premier event facility. He held several key positions, including Event Manager, Director of Operations, Building Manager, and Facility Manager, before being appointed Executive Director on October 8, 2014. In every role, Jim led with humility and purpose, ensuring that the Convention Center served as a welcoming, world-class venue for both residents and visitors. Under his leadership, the Floreano Convention Center strengthened its reputation as a hub for regional and national gatherings, driving economic development and fostering community engagement. Jim's deep understanding of operations, combined with his steady guidance and collaborative spirit, helped modernize the facility and expand its impact across the Greater Rochester region. His ready smile and warm personality have been the hallmark of his tenure, and his decades of service reflect not only professional excellence but also a genuine commitment to the people and institutions that make Rochester thrive. Across every stage of his career, Jim Brown has exemplified dedication, leadership, and service. His contributions have enriched Rochester's cultural and economic landscape, strengthened professional standards in the venue management field, and supported countless colleagues, businesses, and community partners. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and deep appreciation that I recognize Jim Brown for his remarkable career and his enduring contributions to the Rochester community. His legacy of service will continue to benefit our region for years to come, and his leadership will be greatly missed.

Mr. MORELLE

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6019. Last week's bill to fund the government included a provision, added quietly in the dead of night, that facilitates the transfer of millions of taxpayer dollars from the United States Treasury to the personal bank accounts of eight Republican Senators, and not just any Senators. They were Senators who may have had knowledge of or even participated in efforts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election, efforts that culminated in a violent attack on this very institution. Since many of my Republican colleagues seem determined to forget the reality of that day, allow me to remind you that, during this attack, Capitol Police officers were maimed while protecting the lives of the very Senators now seeking to enrich themselves at the taxpayers' expense. Officers lost eyes. They lost fingers. They suffered traumatic brain injuries and had their spinal disks smashed. One was stabbed with a metal fence stake. Another suffered a heart attack after being repeatedly tased. Some tragically lost their lives. Others were so severely injured that they could no longer continue to serve in law enforcement. The plot to overturn the 2020 Presidential election led multiple grand juries, both State and Federal, to bring felony charges against its organizers and participants. These charges were based on actions like promoting fake elector slates, urging State officials to find votes to change the election outcome, and urging Vice President Pence to stand just a few feet from here behind that very dais and violate the United States Constitution. According to public reports, one of the eight Republican Senators now eligible for this taxpayer-funded windfall testified before one of those grand juries. At the conclusion of the testimony, that Republican Senator reportedly embraced the prosecutor and lauded the work of the grand jurors as cathartic. That same Senator announced just yesterday that he intends to seek his payout of tens of millions of dollars from Federal taxpayers. It should be clear to everyone here: Under no circumstances should the power entrusted to us as Members of Congress be used to line your own pockets, period, full stop. Anyone who voted for this appalling provision, including all but two House Republicans just last week, should feel ashamed of themselves. As these Republican Senators and House Members know, phone records are among the most routine tools used in criminal investigations. They do not reveal the content of any conversations. They simply show which numbers were called, which numbers called them, and when those calls were made. They are essentially phone bills. If these Republican Senators genuinely believe that their civil liberties were violated or if they are interested in changing the law relating to subpoenas, then they are better positioned than literally anyone on planet Earth to hold hearings, draft legislation, and debate proposed changes in the open. That is not what this is all about. This is about ensuring the law applies to every other American, just not to them. Let me repeat that: This law applies only to them, not even Members of the House of Representatives, nor should it--not to every other American citizen; just them. This kind of self-serving, self-dealing, one-sided get-rich-quick scheme at the expense of taxpayers is why Americans are so disgusted with this Congress, and it is why I expect that many of those who supported this provision will be dismissed next November. This lucrative carve-out masquerading as legislation isn't an isolated occurrence. It is part of a broader pattern: the weaponization of the Department of Justice and the United States Treasury to reward allies and to punish perceived enemies. Let me briefly highlight just a few other examples. Earlier this year, the Trump Department of Justice agreed to a $5 million settlement with an estate of a January 6 rioter who was killed while attempting to violently breach this Chamber just outside those doors. As the chief of police of the Capitol Police said at the time: ``This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement nationwide, especially to those with a protective mission like ours.'' According to public reporting, Department of Justice is also negotiating a settlement of up to $50 million to disgraced former General Michael Flynn over the purported wrongful prosecution, even though he confessed to the crimes for which, incredibly, he now says that he was wrongly prosecuted. You can't make this up. Other reports indicate that President Trump is seeking $230 million from taxpayers for himself personally for prior investigations into his conduct. Let's not forget on day one of this administration when President Trump issued blanket pardons to over 1,000 criminals convicted of January 6 crimes, including members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who assaulted Capitol Police officers. Just last week, a militia member who participated in the riot was re-pardoned for a completely unrelated gun charge--pardoned twice. What have we heard from congressional Republicans about all of this: about legalized payoffs to Republican Senators, about get-rich-quick schemes unfolding within the Federal Government, and about rewards for friends and retribution against opponents? We have heard absolutely nothing. The silence is deafening. Last I checked, this is the United States Congress, not the Russian Duma. We do not create a protected class of elites who can siphon off public money, reward their friends, punish their political opponents, and insulate themselves from accountability. That is not what we are, or at least we weren't until last week, when nearly every single House Republican voted for this disgraceful provision of law after rejecting Democratic amendments to strip it from the bill. My Republican colleagues had every opportunity to stop this provision from ever becoming law, but they voted for it anyway, and now they just want to turn around and say: Just kidding. We didn't mean it. What are we doing here? Let's review the sequence of events. Senate Republicans snuck this outrageous provision into a bill to reopen the Federal Government after months of Republicans insisting that they would only accept a clean funding bill. I can't tell you the number of times, with all due respect, that I heard Speaker Johnson say it over and over again. House Republicans went right along with this. Now, straight-faced, worthy of an Academy Award, they want to pretend that the Senate may repeal the payoff they just made law? As we head into the fourth and, I pray, final year of this majority, I didn't think anything could shock me more. I was wrong. The American people are sick and tired of this. They are sick and tired of watching politicians come to Washington to get rich while everyday Americans suffer through an affordability crisis that Republicans don't appear interested in confronting. They are sick and tired of watching Republicans block a tax credit that will lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans after passing a partisan budget that will throw millions more off of Medicaid, only to turn around and create a slush fund for themselves. I represent Rochester, New York, the city that Frederick Douglass chose to make his home and to publish The North Star. Douglass reminded us: ``The life of a nation is secure only when the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.'' Ask yourselves: Is sneaking this self-enriching provision into what was supposedly a clean funding bill honest, truthful, or virtuous? I think we all know the answer. In fact, I am so opposed to this corrupt provision that I actually voted against it last week. I look forward to hearing my colleagues on the other side of the aisle try to explain why they did not. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I need to say, as someone who served on the House Rules Committee for 4 years, that we clearly could have put on the floor and made in order an amendment to strike this provision from the bill that had been passed by the Senate. Most people who took social studies in elementary school understand the bill has to pass the Senate and the House before it is sent to the President. Had we had the opportunity, we would have voted on an amendment. I guarantee it would have passed this House and you would have had the full support of Democrats to strike that provision, and then we could have sent it back to the Senate. We weren't forced to do this last week. There was an amendment made in the Rules Committee that the Rules Committee Republicans rejected, which would have made in order an amendment that would have stripped this provision from the bill. That should have been done and could have been done. People made a conscious decision, on the other side of the aisle, not to include that amendment and make it in order. We shouldn't have to be here today trying to mop up the mess that has been created. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw).

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I have enormous respect for my colleagues and particularly those that serve on the Rules Committee, but this could have been dealt with last week. There was no reason to pass this. By the way, Democrats were fighting for tax breaks and subsidies that makes health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans who go to work every day. We couldn't do that because the Speaker and Senator Thune, the majority leader, insisted it had to be a clean CR. It had to be a clean continuing resolution with no other provisions, yet somehow this got in there. This wasn't clean. There is nothing clean about this. By the way, last week when we were considering this, had we made the amendment in order that we seem to be considering right now, it would have passed, presumably overwhelmingly, if what I am hearing from my colleagues is true. We could have sent the bill back to the Senate. I am sorry. I know we didn't want to impose on them and their time to take this out. By the way, what these Republican Senators are saying was such an egregious abuse is something that every American is subject to, every single one of the 340 million Americans blessed to call this country our home have to go through, except these Senators because they think it is outrageous. By the way, if you took this to its logical conclusion, a Senator that might participate in the overthrow of the United States Government, let's just say hypothetically was coordinating to do that, could not have the Department of Justice look at their phone records. It is the same thing they can do to every other one of the 340 million Americans, but not these Senators. God, no. They can't have that if there is some reason to suggest that they might have information that the Justice Department can't do it. By the way, that wasn't the rule back when this happened in 2022. They are doing it retroactively. They are changing the law and going back 3 years and allowing them to sue the United States taxpayers for millions and millions of dollars. Last night, a United States Senator said he intends to sue for tens of millions of dollars under this provision. I can't imagine anything that would cause more anxiety to American taxpayers than to see this debate and understand what happened. Respectfully, I appreciate it, but we could have dealt with this last week. We should have dealt with this last week. We shouldn't be here. I will support the bill, but by the way, there is no guarantee that the United States Senate is going to take this up. This may all be for show just to make people feel guilty about having voted for this or wanting to convince voters back home that they really weren't complicit in giving this extraordinary bonanza to a handful of elitists who feel somehow aggrieved by the fact that they had information that might have actually been really helpful about looking at the potential overthrow of the 2020 Presidential election. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I hope today's debate was about more than simply a press release, about people trying to absolve themselves, and not just another waste of taxpayer time and money misleading the American people about the intentions of Senate Republicans. The Senate should act on this measure. They should act on it today. Rarely in life is there a second chance to do the right thing. I urge my colleagues here to do the right thing, and I certainly urge Members of the Senate to do the right thing, as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.