Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Calling on Vice President Pence to Convene and Mobilize the Cabinet to Activate Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to Declare President Donald J. Trump Incapable of Executing the Duties of His Office; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding.

All of us just still are speechless about what happened last Wednesday. It is just amazing that it happened here, and I condemn it in the utmost words as a violent act against the Capitol Building. We must find those who did it, and we must prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

Every time I travel to Washington, the first thing I look for, as I did today, is if I could see it from my airplane window or if I could see it driving across the Potomac, the dome. I always feel pride that the people of the Second District of Kentucky, Mr. Speaker, allow me to serve under the dome.

When I got here today, it is still here. It is still standing. It is still the beacon throughout the world. It is bruised, but it is there. It is something that we all hold dear.

The protection of this building, that dome, this building, the office buildings but, most importantly, the people who work here, not those of us who are just elected to be here but those of us who work here and in service, I have faces I have talked to tonight on the floor that--I was not on the floor when it happened, but I knew the faces of the people who were, not just my colleagues, but those standing at the doors here tonight, Mr. Speaker, who have been through so much.

We can't let this happen again. If we defeat the PQ, the amendment my friend from Oklahoma has is a bipartisan commission to examine the circumstances and the attack, as well as its aftermath.

It will be modeled after 9/11 Commission to reduce duplication and increase communication and info-sharing between relevant government entities and law enforcement. The goal is to investigate, find the facts, and deliver reports so this can never happen again, and so we can better protect the Capitol complex and, most importantly, the employees that work here, serving our great country. We will protect them moving forward.

We all want answers, and this is the most prudent step at this time. We will follow wherever the facts lead us and take appropriate actions in response.

I urge the defeat of the PQ and the adoption of the amendment.

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