Date: 2010-03-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

from Texas. Its always a historic pleasure to be able to sign legislation that can change millions of lives. It is a rare opportunity for Members of Congress. no matter how long they may serve. to be able to serve the people and then to be able to grant the people privileges that they would not have had but for the acts of this Congress. So I stand here today very proud of the fact that just a few hours ago. the President of the United States. the Vice President of the United States. the Democratic leadership and Members. signed legislation that would provide opportunities for 32 million Americans. Polling over the last 24 hours have characterized Americans as enthusiastic. uplifted. and happy. Quite contrary to some of the unfortunate drama that played out over the last 3 or 4 days as we were debating on the floor of the House. Today. in Roll Call. a local Hill paper. the headline reads. "House decorum is fraying." It cites a comment about House Democratic leaders may have lost control of this body. I beg to differ with them. They are wrong. This institution is sacred and the House Democratic leadership maintains that sacredness. But. tragically. those who differed with us took to tactics that I believe calls for an apology by the Republican leadershipthe actions of Members on the balcony that were beyond the pale. holding up posters that denigrated House leadership on the balcony of the United States House of Representatives. signs that were inappropriate. Certainly. I have no control. and welcome the First Amendment rights of anybody. including the protestors. Interestingly enough. more than a hundred thousand had gathered on Sunday for immigration reform. Polite. orderly. respectful. and getting their point across. But lo and behold. there were some who decided to disrespect this institution. And Im offended. Yes. there can be cheers. There can be boos. We do that. It is the order of the day. But to call out words that are offensive to our fellow Members is unacceptable. I rise today calling on our leadership to ask for an apology from the minority and to have a review and an investigationthats a too harsh wordbut a review of the actions of those who decided to hold signs and I believe disrespect the institution. So were not losing control of this body. Individuals may have acted inappropriately. But I will assure you that the debate that was carried on by Democrats were on the issues. albeit you may have agreed or disagreed. It was respectful. And we won the vote. Thank God. we won it on behalf of the American people. But they are my friends on both sides of the aisle. I claim them. But the point is that this kind of behavior is unacceptable and offensive. We must learn that there are some things more important than our individual opportunity to express ourselves as Members of Congress outside of this body. It is the institution and the respect that its held over the years for the institution that is known as the most powerful lawmaking body in the world. We are owed. then. the duty and responsibility of acting like we have the respect for this body. If no one else does. we need to have it. Madam Speaker. the behavior was unacceptable. The behavior was without description and without comparison. And Im offended by the insults to the Democratic leadership. Theyve got tough skins. But its not Democratic leadership. It is the Speaker. the Majority Leader. It is the majority whip. the majority chairperson of the Democratic Caucus. It is the vice chairperson and a variety of leaders. Not one did I see on a balcony holding up any untoward message that would have offended the minority. The time comes now when well take back this House in a way that all of us can respect this institution. Im grateful that we had the courage to do what was right for the American people.