Speeches

There’s a curious thing about the oath taken by every member of our armed forces. Those who defend our country never swear to “support and defend” the United States Government. They never swear to “support and defend” the United States of America. The only oath they take is to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The same oath is taken by every member of the government, from school board to President.

I rise in strong support of this resolution, which condemns an extremist group known as QAnon.

Last week, President Trump came to California to be briefed on the horrific fires now raging in California. Instead, he got a lecture from Governor Newsom and his staff on climate change.

I represent the Sierra Nevada of California. Yosemite Valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Lake Tahoe are all within my district. The Yosemite Land Grant Act, signed by President Lincoln in 1864 was the first time the Federal Government set aside land for “public use, resort and recreation … for all time.”

The Confederacy was fundamentally an attack on our Constitution and the founding principles of our nation, and it should never be romanticized or honored. I have no problems with lawfully removing monuments that specifically honor this rebellion. That’s not what this bill does.

Thirteen years ago, I partnered with California State Senate Democrats in advocating for an open records act for complaints against police officers. Five years ago, I co-sponsored Hank Johnson “Stop Militarizing the Police Act.” This year, I co-sponsored Justin Amash’s bill to end qualified immunity for public officials. So if the majority was seeking bi-partisan support for police reform – they would have had it. If they had sought consultation, compromise and cooperation, if they had reached across the aisle, they would have found many sincere allies among Republicans.