Jerrold Nadler

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy Chu).

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Once again, if Congress can enact a resolution putting a time limit, it can enact a resolution removing a time limit. And when the Senate passes this resolution, the ERA will be part of the Constitution. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

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

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 767, which provides for consideration of the resolution impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, I insert the following material explanatory of H. Res. 798. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, December 6, 2019. Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nadler: Pursuant to Section 2, paragraph 6 of H. Res. 660, enclosed is the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's (``Committee'') Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report, together with its appendices and the views submitted by the Committee's Minority. Additionally, as authorized by Section 3 of H. Res. 660, we are today transmitting to the Committee on the Judiciary additional records and other materials relating to the impeachment inquiry. These records and materials are being transmitted by the Committees on flash drives containing materials and records already released publicly, other records cited in the report, and certain sensitive materials. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff, Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs. Enclosures.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 767, I send to the desk the resolution (H. Res. 798) appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Madam Speaker, the resolution before us today appoints managers to prosecute the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. This trial is necessary because President Trump gravely abused the power of his office when he strong-armed a foreign government to announce investigations into his domestic political rival. He betrayed our country when he used powers of his office, including withholding vital U.S. military assistance, to pressure that government to help him win reelection. He invited foreign interference into our elections again. He jeopardized our national security. He did all of this for his personal political gain. And then he violated the Constitution by stonewalling Congress' efforts to investigate, ordering an absolute blockade of evidence. Despite that, the House was able to uncover powerful evidence that demonstrates, beyond a doubt, the President's betrayal and violations of the Constitution. But we still have not heard the whole truth because the President has refused to allow a single document to be turned over to the House in response to our impeachment subpoenas, and he has prevented us from hearing key witnesses as well. This is unprecedented. Our Speaker has led our fight to a fair trial in the Senate. Above all, a fair trial must include additional documents and all relevant witnesses. The American people have common sense. They know that any trial that does not allow witnesses is not a trial; it is a coverup. The Speaker's insistence on this point has gotten results. Just yesterday, we received critical new evidence from the President's former associate, Lev Parnas, that further proves Mr. Trump's scheme to pressure Ukraine to go after his personal political opponents. New witness testimony has become available as well, including John Bolton's announcement that he would honor a Senate subpoena. Under today's resolution, the managers also have broad authority to submit to the Senate any additional evidence the House may acquire on its own, and we will do so. The Senate is on trial. We will see whether they conduct a fair trial and allow the witnesses or conduct a coverup. Today's resolution is the next step in this serious and solemn constitutional process. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the distinguished chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Madam Speaker, two points. First, my colleagues in the minority would rather talk about anything than try to defend what President Trump actually did, because they can't. There is overwhelming evidence that the President pressured the Ukrainian Government to interfere in our election on his behalf then he covered it up. These are high crimes and misdemeanors, and we will prove that in the Senate. Second, our minority colleagues don't like our ongoing fight for a fair trial because it got results. New documents and additional witnesses have emerged that unmistakably point to the President's guilt, and we have exposed the efforts of some in the Senate majority to put on a sham trial. The American people understand that a trial without evidence, without witnesses is no trial at all but a coverup, and that will not stand. We must protect the Constitution and the integrity of our elections. That is what this is about. We must remove this President to protect our country. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I am ready to close.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I have one more speaker, and she will close.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, again, no defense. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

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

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 798.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, due to a family illness, I was not in Washington, D.C. on January 8, 2020, and, as a result, I missed three votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 2, ordering the previous question providing on H. Res. 779; ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 3, on agreeing to H. Res. 779, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 535, the ``PFAS Action Act of 2019;'' and ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 4, final passage of H.R. 2281, the ``Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020.'' I had to leave Washington, D.C. on January 9, 2020, and, as a result, I missed one vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 8, final passage of H.R. 5078, the ``Prison to Proprietorship Act.'' I was also not in Washington, D.C. on January 10, 2020, and, as a result, I missed five votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on roll call vote no. 9, agreeing to the Burgess Amendment to H.R. 535; ``no'' on roll call vote no. 10, agreeing to the Balderson Amendment to H.R. 535; ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 11, agreeing to the Pappas Amendment to H.R. 535; ``no'' on roll call vote no 12, the Motion to Recommit H.R. 535 with instructions; and ``yes'' on roll call vote no. 13, final passage of H.R. 535, the ``PFAS Action Now Act.''

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, today, this body will vote to reaffirm the fact that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution. After nearly two decades at war, President Trump has further risked the safety and security of America, our servicemembers, and our allies by escalating tensions with Iran to a dangerous new level. The Trump Administration's military airstrike targeting highlevel Iranian officials is just another example of President Trump undermining our national security by acting recklessly and without sound legal authority or reason. His rash decisions have made America less safe. War must always be our last recourse, and any escalation that brings our nation closer to a third disastrous war in the Middle East is unacceptable. The American people will not stand for it. The War Powers Act exists as a safeguard against intensifying military actions that can accidentally lead to war. It ensures that a President will engage in a public conversation with the American people about the merits of war, before deploying their loved ones. The Trump Administration must now recognize Congress's authority as a coequal branch of government and request, as well as justify, authorization for any future military activity against Iran. Additionally, the Administration must work with Congress to ensure an immediate, effective deescalation strategy that prevents further violence. While I am proud to support the War Powers Resolution, this must be the first of many steps to reassert Congress's responsibilities under Article 1 of the Constitution. I opposed the 2002 Iraq Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) and have worked for the last decade to repeal it, including most recently voting against the National Defense Authorization Act when it failed to include a House- passed repeal. I was pleased the Speaker announced plans for the House to pass Congresswoman Barbara Lee's resolution to finally repeal the 2002 AUMF and Congressman Ro Khanna's legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress. I am proud to cosponsor both of these bills. We owe it to our military and civilian personnel, our allies, and every American to ensure that Congress upholds its constitutional authority to authorize the use of military force.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam, Speaker, due to a family emergency, I was not in Washington, D.C. on December 17, 2019, and, as a result, I missed eight votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 683, ordering the previous question providing for consideration of H.R. 1158, H.R. 1865, and for adoption of H. Res. 761; ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 684, on agreeing to H.Res. 765, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1158, H.R. 1865, and for adoption of H. Res. 761; ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 685, final passage of H.R. 4183, the ``Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act;'' ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 686, final passage of H.R. 3530, the ``Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act;'' ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 687, final passage of H.R. 722, the ``Miracle Mountain Designation Act;'' ``aye'' on roll call no. 688, final passage of H.R. 2548, the ``Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act;'' ``aye'' on roll call no. 689, on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R. 1865, the ``National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act;'' and ``no'' on roll call no. 690, on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R. 1158, the ``DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Team Act.'' I also was not in Washington, D.C. on December 19, 2019, and, as a result, I missed three votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on roll call vote no. 699, the motion to recommit with instructions H.R. 5377, the ``Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act;'' ``aye'' on roll call vote no. 700, final passage of H.R. 5377; and ``no'' on roll call vote no. 701, final passage of H.R. 5430, ``to implement the USMCA.''

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation to eliminate the cap on the State and Local Tax (or SALT) deduction. Two years ago, Republicans capped the SALT deduction to force districts represented by Democratic Members to pay for the bulk of their Tax Scam. That cap raised over $662 billion in revenue for Republican tax priorities, nearly all of it from Democratic states like New York. New York State already pays $48 billion more to the Federal government than it gets back, and the loss of the SALT deduction was responsible for a $2.3 billion revenue hole in New York last year putting critical services at risk. Some of my colleagues claim that the SALT deduction will just benefit the wealthy. Wrong. In 2016, 1.2 million New Yorkers used the SALT deduction, and more than half of those taxpayers earned less than $100,000 per year. We are not talking about a loophole used by the richest Americans--many of which, I will point out, were preserved in the Republican Tax Scam. We are talking about the largest deduction for the teachers, office workers, and first responders who make up the middle class in my district. We must remove this cap and stop punishing the hard-working people of New York simply because of where they live. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 755.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.