Congressman Gonzalez Condemns Restrictions on Floor Debate
115th Congress Now Most Closed Congress in History
WASHINGTON—On Tuesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) spoke on the House Floor to condemn the House Majority's restrictive process as they break their own closed rule record, making the 115th Congress the most closed Congress in American history.
There have now been 84 closed rules this Congress, which block all amendments from both Democratic and Republican Members on policies such as veteran services, healthcare, and job creation. These important policies deserve a debate – and a vote – on the House Floor, yet they are routinely blocked.
Recently, Congressman Gonzalez testified before the House Committee on Rules about his amendment to S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act of 2018, that would have added the congressman's deported veterans bill, H.R. 3429, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, to the legislation. However, the Rules Committee failed to make his amendment in order, preventing it from being considered by the full House.
Watch the congressman's floor speech by clicking the image below:
Thank you to my friend and distinguished member of Congress, Mr. Hastings, for providing me with the opportunity to speak today on behalf of deported veterans.
Mr. Speaker, setting the record for the most closed Congress is not a proud accomplishment.
Our job is in our title: Representatives! We represent the people of our districts and the people of the United States of America.
According to the most recent Gallup poll, 78% of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.
Can you blame them?
When I came to Washington, I heard from constituents and Americans across the country about the injustice of deported veterans.
I heard from Arnold Giammarco from Connecticut, who was deported to Italy after coming to the United States at the age of 4 and honorably serving in our Army for 6 years—reaching the rank of Sergeant.
I heard from Gerardo Armijo, a Purple Heart recipient in my district who was brought to the United States as an infant. He served two tours in Iraq and was diagnosed with PTSD after he suffered major injuries from an IED blast.
When the VA failed to see him in a reasonable amount of time, he resorted to illicit drugs for some relief from the wounds of war. He was caught and deported.
These stories are flooding in from all corners of the globe. We are deporting honorably discharged veterans after promising them citizenship!
This is a disgrace!
I yield back the balance of my time.