Raising A Question of the Privileges of the House

Floor Speech

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Mr. GIMENEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.

On September 30, while the House considered crucial legislation to avoid a government shutdown, Representative Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm to disrupt proceedings, a crime for which he pled guilty. Let me repeat that again. A crime for which he pled guilty.

As a career firefighter, who served for 25 years in the city of Miami, 9 years of which I served as its chief, I know just how serious this is. Every time a firefighter responds to an alarm, they are placing themselves and the public at risk.

While that is a risk that we are willing to take to protect life and property, we should never put our first responders and the public at risk by pulling a false alarm. In fact, in 2021, over 40 police and firefighters died and were killed while responding to an alarm.

While Representative Bowman initially claimed that he pulled the alarm thinking it would open a locked door, we know that that was a blatant lie.

After pulling the alarm, Representative Bowman can be clearly seen on camera ripping down the emergency exit signs and fleeing the scene. He had every opportunity to alert Capitol Police to his mistake but chose not to.

Had it been a simple mistake, I wouldn't be here. It wasn't a simple mistake.

It is disgraceful that a Member of Congress would go to such lengths to break the law and put first responders and the public at risk to prevent the House from voting to keep government open so our Federal workers can receive their paychecks.

For obstructing the House, putting first responders and the public at risk, and breaking D.C. laws, Representative Bowman should be censured before the House.

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