Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-05-21

A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE

TaxesEnvironmentCrime & Justice

Context

On 2026-05-21, Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-2) delivered a floor speech titled "A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE" in the House.

Full Text

A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)] [House] [Page H3682] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE (Mr. Neguse of Colorado was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, John F. Kennedy once said that ``there are few if any issues where all the truth and all the right and all the angels are on one side.'' Mr. Speaker, this is one of those issues. Five years ago, I stood here on the House floor, just a few feet from where I stand today, as the worst nightmare of our Framers and our Nation's Founders came to life, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, this citadel of democracy, attacked police officers, and attempted to enter this Chamber and subvert the peaceful transfer of power. Donald Trump, on the very first day that he was sworn in, in his second term, pardoned 1,600 individuals who were convicted of crimes connected to January 6. Felons, people who attacked police officers here on Capitol Grounds, he pardoned them, gave them a get-out-of-jail- free card. Now, 15 months later, he again does the unthinkable. He sues the Federal Government that he administers and attempts to secure a $10 billion shakedown from the IRS. When that fails, when he realizes that that isn't politically palatable, that the American people won't tolerate Donald Trump signing a $10 billion check of their hardworking money to himself, he dispatches the Acting Attorney General, his former personal attorney, to negotiate a so-called settlement. The outcome? A nearly $2 billion slush fund, where the Department of Justice will pay rioters who attacked our Capitol. These individuals will be paid with your money, the money of hardworking taxpayers. It is unconscionable. It is corrupt. My Republican colleagues in this Chamber do nothing about it. Where is the Speaker? Where is Mike Johnson? How can he look the officers who guard him every day in the eye, knowing that the people who attacked those officers will now be paid out of this Trump slush fund? It is outrageous. If there were ever a time for political courage, now would be it. There are a handful of Republicans who have said publicly that they abhor what this is, just a handful. The Speaker of the House of Representatives--let me say it clearly--Mike Johnson owes the country an answer. Will he allow these rioters, these convicted felons who assaulted Capitol Police officers, to be paid with taxpayer dollars out of this slush fund? If not, what does he intend to do to stop it? We have a bill that has been introduced. I believe it will be bipartisan. There are Members of the U.S. Senate on both sides who are pushing to try to stop this from materializing. The Speaker could end it today. We are not asking him for much. Show a modicum of courage. ____________________

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A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)] [House] [Page H3682] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] A TIME FOR POLITICAL COURAGE (Mr. Neguse of Colorado was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, John F. Kennedy once said that ``there are few if any issues where all the truth and all the right and all the angels are on one side.'' Mr. Speaker, this is one of those issues. Five years ago, I stood here on the House floor, just a few feet from where I stand today, as the worst nightmare of our Framers and our Nation's Founders came to life, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, this citadel of democracy, attacked police officers, and attempted to enter this Chamber and subvert the peaceful transfer of power. Donald Trump, on the very first day that he was sworn in, in his second term, pardoned 1,600 individuals who were convicted of crimes connected to January 6. Felons, people who attacked police officers here on Capitol Grounds, he pardoned them, gave them a get-out-of-jail- free card. Now, 15 months later, he again does the unthinkable. He sues the Federal Government that he administers and attempts to secure a $10 billion shakedown from the IRS. When that fails, when he realizes that that isn't politically palatable, that the American people won't tolerate Donald Trump signing a $10 billion check of their hardworking money to himself, he dispatches the Acting Attorney General, his former personal attorney, to negotiate a so-called settlement. The outcome? A nearly $2 billion slush fund, where the Department of Justice will pay rioters who attacked our Capitol. These individuals will be paid with your money, the money of hardworking taxpayers. It is unconscionable. It is corrupt. My Republican colleagues in this Chamber do nothing about it. Where is the Speaker? Where is Mike Johnson? How can he look the officers who guard him every day in the eye, knowing that the people who attacked those officers will now be paid out of this Trump slush fund? It is outrageous. If there were ever a time for political courage, now would be it. There are a handful of Republicans who have said publicly that they abhor what this is, just a handful. The Speaker of the House of Representatives--let me say it clearly--Mike Johnson owes the country an answer. Will he allow these rioters, these convicted felons who assaulted Capitol Police officers, to be paid with taxpayer dollars out of this slush fund? If not, what does he intend to do to stop it? We have a bill that has been introduced. I believe it will be bipartisan. There are Members of the U.S. Senate on both sides who are pushing to try to stop this from materializing. The Speaker could end it today. We are not asking him for much. Show a modicum of courage. ____________________