Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1156. Since the COVID-19 pandemic's start, Democrats have gone after the criminal fraud rings that stole from our pandemic unemployment insurance programs and empowered our partners across the Federal Government. Today's Republican bill is so hypocritical. It completely ignores President Trump's illegal termination of the nonpartisan inspector general responsible for that very work. Before he was fired, it was Inspector General Larry Turner's leadership investigating UI fraud that resulted in over 2,000 individuals charged, 1,400 convictions, and more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars recovered. In fact, it was IG Turner who had recommended that Congress extend the statute of limitations in the first place. It is outrageous that Republicans now want to act on the IG's recommendation but refuse to address the illegal firing of IG Turner and 18 other nonpartisan inspectors general across the Federal Government. Further, Republicans refuse to even consider my and Congress Member DelBene's amendment, which would have extended the statute of limitations for 6 additional months and would have allowed for the full 10-year extension only if the President either reappoints IG Turner or appoints another Senate-confirmed individual for the role. This would have been the responsible thing for Congress to do.…”