Fighting Back: “In America, right matters and truth matters.”

 
 

Representative Adam Schiff, yesterday, in closing arguments in the Senate impeachment “trial”:

“Donald Trump must be convicted and removed from office. Because he will always choose his own personal interest over our national interest. Because in America, right matters. Truth matters. If not, no Constitution can protect us. If not, we are lost.”

(Congressman Adam Schiff, video posted by C-SPAN)
)

(The CSPAN video contains text from the closed captioning that works as a rough transcript. If a transcript becomes available, it will be added to the post).
(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Congressman Brad Schneider.

(Congressman Brad Schneider discussed the bipartisan Congressional delegation to Poland and Israel to commemorate 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and Democrats’ efforts to fight antisemitism. )

Transcript: Congressman Brad Schneider Delivers Weekly Democratic Address

“Hi, I’m Congressman Brad Schneider from Illinois.

“This Monday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorializing the genocide of more than 6 million Jews, including 1.5 million children. This year’s observance holds special meaning as it is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

“Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest Nazi death camp, where more than 1.1 million people – men, women and children – were brutally murdered. The Nazis sent many people, including political dissidents, intellectuals, Roma and LGBTQ people to Auschwitz. But the vast majority of victims, 90 percent, were Jews.

“This past week, I had the solemn and profound honor to visit Auschwitz with a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“We walked through the gas chambers. We stood before the furnaces built to burn up to 1,800 bodies a day. We visited the barracks where people slept five to a rack, stacked three racks high. We saw what seemed like infinite piles of suitcases, shoes, eyeglasses and even human hair collected from the victims by the Nazi killers.

“Notably, in a place representing humanity’s greatest crime, where people were denied the ability to even pray to their God, we joined with our Polish hosts to honor the memory of the martyrs by reciting the Kaddish, the Jewish mourners’ prayer.

“At Auschwitz and in the days that followed, we all asked ourselves questions. How could the Holocaust happen? Could it happen in today’s world? And how do we ensure that such evil never happens again?

“A key lesson of the Holocaust is that we cannot remain silent in the face of rising antisemitism. Right now, that lesson is more important than ever, in the face of a dramatic increase in antisemitism around the world, and specifically here in the United States.

“In 2018, a gunman walked into the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed eleven people. It was the worst antisemitic attack in our nation’s history. But it was not the last.

“A synagogue in Poway, California. A kosher grocery in New Jersey. A Hanukkah celebration in Monsey, New York. Across the country, a staggering increase in verbal and physical assaults, vandalism and other acts of anti-Jewish hate. The numbers are horrifying.

“Globally, Jews are being told to not publicly wear a yarmulke or other outward symbols of their Jewish identity. Throughout Europe, and increasingly here at home, armed guards are posted outside synagogues, Jewish schools and community centers. Entire communities are living in fear.

“We cannot remain silent. All of us – no matter who we are, where we live or how we worship – must speak out and condemn both antisemitic words and actions, whenever and wherever hate raises its ugly head.

“In the House of Representatives, we have, and will continue to take action to confront antisemitism.

“Last year, the House passed the strongest resolution in our history to clearly state we reject antisemitic stereotypes and consider antisemitic acts and statements to be hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to our American values.

“We passed a bill to secure $90 million of funding to defend vulnerable houses of worship.

“Congress continues to help fund the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to preserve the memory, teach the lessons and lead the work to stop future genocides.

“And next week, the House will pass legislation to increase our commitment to teaching the next generation about the Shoah.

“But we aren’t just focused on antisemitism here at home. In 2016 and 2017, the House pressured the Administration to fill the long-vacant position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Finally, last year, President Trump at last appointed Elan Carr to this role to coordinate America’s response to anti-Semitism around the world.

“As for our trip, after visiting Auschwitz on Tuesday, our group flew to Israel to join delegations from 49 nations, including 41 heads of state, at a historic commemoration ceremony at Yad Vashem on Thursday. In the largest diplomatic gathering in Israel’s history, flanked by kings, prime ministers and presidents, we spoke with one common voice to honor the memories of the 6 million people lost. We celebrated the survivors and the righteous gentiles who defied the Nazis to save thousands of lives. And we renewed our commitment to fight antisemitism, now and forever.

“Finally, before returning home, the group had the chance to meet with several Holocaust survivors and hear their stories. It is said that by hearing the testimony of a living witness to the Holocaust, we are made witnesses as well. As the remaining survivors age, we must work to preserve their stories for future generations.

“Only by remembering the lives lost and speaking out against intolerance in our own time, can we live up to our sacred promise: Never Again.

“Thank you.”

~

Due to the trip, there was no weekly news conference from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi, Bipartisan Congressional Delegation Participate in Fifth World Holocaust Forum as Part of Visit to Mark 75 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz

January 23, 2020
Jerusalem – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a bipartisan Congressional delegation participated in the Fifth World Holocaust Forum Wednesday at Yad Vashem as part of the delegation visit to mark the 75-year remembrance of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Speaker Pelosi issued the following statement:

“Our delegation was honored to represent the United States Congress at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum at Yad Vashem, which was attended by scores of heads of state, government and parliament. On Tuesday, we began our trip in Poland at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where so many Jews, Poles and others were murdered. Today, we visited Yad Vashem for a moving remembrance of all those who were lost.

“Earlier in the day, I met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, and we discussed our shared commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, our efforts to continue to build upon the strong bipartisan U.S.-Israel relationship and the solemn anniversary our delegation came to Israel to mark.

“Next, our delegation was briefed on regional security threats and cooperation efforts by Lt. General Mark Schwartz, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

“The delegation met with Knesset Member Benjamin Gantz and other members of the Blue and White Party. The delegation discussed with MK Gantz the prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, regional security concerns and how we can work together to continue the essential bipartisan relationship between our countries.

“This morning, our delegation held a roundtable with civil society representatives to discuss various challenges and opportunities related to effective regional governance, economic development and security. This provided the opportunity to build on our discussions held yesterday with other civil society leaders regarding people-to-people initiatives to improve lives and create a brighter future.

“Our delegation is thankful to Ambassador David Friedman and for the work of U.S. Embassy staff in facilitating our visit to Israel.”

~

The House filed briefs in a number of legal matters this past week.

Pelosi Statement on Amicus Brief in Department of Homeland Security v. State of New York

January 22, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement as the U.S. House of Representatives filed an amicus brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing for a denial of the Administration’s request for a stay of the District Court for the Southern District of New York decision enjoining the Administration’s rule dramatically limiting admissibility and green cards for immigrants based on potential future participation in in-kind government initiatives including for food, health and housing.

More at the link.

~

Pelosi Statement on Amicus Brief in Seila Law v. CFPB

January 22, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement as the U.S. House of Representatives filed an amicus brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Seila Law v. CFPB, which supports the constitutionality of the tenure protection provision of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director, which was created ten years ago in the Dodd-Frank Act.

More at the link.

~

Pelosi Statement on Amicus Brief in Casa de Maryland v. Trump

January 21, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement as the U.S. House of Representatives filed an amicus brief today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the case Casa De Maryland v. Trump, which argues that the Administration’s cruel new policy of denying green cards to immigrants who may participate in government initiatives including for food, health and housing in the future violates the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

More at the link.

~

Pelosi Statement on Administration’s Dirty Water Rule

January 23, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement following reports that the Trump Administration would drastically roll back protections for thousands of seasonal streams, small waterways and pristine wetlands currently protected under the Clean Water Act:

“The Trump Administration’s new Dirty Water Rule is an outrageous assault on the clean water that millions of Californians and Americans across the country rely on to grow our food, preserve our diverse ecosystems and protect the health of our children and families. This shameful policy will give polluters free rein to dump pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals directly into waters, threatening the drinking water of 117 million Americans and setting us back decades in our work to clean and protect our nation’s vital water systems.

“The Administration continues to engage in a relentless effort to gut environmental protections and jeopardize the future of our families and our planet. As the existential threat posed by the climate crisis continues to endanger access to clean water and threaten our economy, the Administration should be working with experts, advocates and local communities to strengthen environmental safeguards and ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to combat this growing risk. Yet, with this latest decision, the Administration is ignoring the findings of the EPA’s own scientific advisory board which found no scientific justification for these dangerous new guidelines. Instead, the Administration is doubling down on its corrupt special interest agenda to put the profits of big polluters ahead of the well-being of our communities.

“For 48 years, the Clean Water Act’s landmark protections have defended the life-saving clean water that all Americans rely on. House Democrats will continue to oppose this dangerous, short-sighted rule as well as any other attacks on these essential protections. We are committed to working with partners and allies across the country and around the world to develop innovative, effective solutions to combat the climate crisis, and secure a brighter, more sustainable and healthy future for generations to come.”

~