[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING REMOTE VOTING BY PROXY AND PROVIDING FOR OFFICIAL REMOTE 
 COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO A NOVEL 
                              CORONAVIRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. GUY RESCHENTHALER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2020

  Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 965, 
which is nothing more than a power grab by my Democrat colleagues that 
would upend over 200 years of precedent and have serious constitutional 
and institutional repercussions.
  Across our nation, millions of Americans go to work every day to help 
their communities and defeat the COVID-19 outbreak. They expect their 
elected officials to do the same. But under the proposal put forth by 
House Democrats, 20 members would control Congress, while the rest stay 
home and cede their votes.
  Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution states, ``a Majority of 
each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may 
adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance 
of absent Members.'' At a time when traveling took days to weeks, 
rather than mere hours, our Founding Fathers recognized that while 
inconvenient, being physically present was necessary for good 
governance. And despite recent legislative sessions, which prove 
Members of Congress can conduct regular business in a safe manner, 
Democrats want to recklessly alter the U.S. House of Representatives as 
our founders designed it.
  In addition to throwing out 230 years of tradition, H. Res. 965 
stifles the voices of tens of millions of Americans. As long as these 
rules are in place, House leadership will control every step of the 
legislative process. Rank and file members will be cut out of lawmaking 
completely, in turn denying the people they represent a seat at the 
table.
  Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rules Committee Ranking Member Tom 
Cole, and Administration Committee Ranking Member Rodney Davis put 
forward a detailed plan for how the House can continue operations 
during this crisis. House Republicans stand ready to find bipartisan 
solutions that ensure members can fulfill their constitutional duties.
  But the resolution proposed by House Democrats is not the answer.
  Mr. Speaker, our country has faced serious challenges since its 
founding, including the Spanish influenza. For the first time in our 
history, a single party is taking advantage of a crisis to jam through 
unprecedented and unconstitutional changes that will forever alter this 
institution. I strongly oppose H. Res. 965, which will devastate our 
democracy and silence the People's voice.

                          ____________________