Jose Luis Correa: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I know firsthand the…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I know firsthand the dangers that foreign interference in our elections present to our democracy. As a Member of Congress, it is my sworn duty to ensure that our Nation is secure from all threats, foreign and domestic. And Congress has a constitutional job to investigate allegations of misconduct by the executive branch, including the United States President. {time} 1300 The Constitution is the highest law of the land, creating a system of checks and balances to prevent the creation of a king. Congress is a coequal branch of our Nation's government, equal with the Presidency, with duties that are given to us by the Framers. This is a very sad day, and I do not take impeachment lightly; yet, I am here to do my job as a Member of Congress. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) My town sent me to Washington to work with everyone, Democrats and Republicans, to improve the lives of our communities. Sadly, we are here, today, considering the actions of the President of the United States. My vote will be to ensure that we remain a democracy, and not a dictatorship. Many of our sons and daughters have paid the price of our freedom with their blood. Our liberty and democracy must be the inheritance that we leave to our sons and daughters. A democracy exists when nobody is above the constitution, and we are all subject to the law.…”