Pete Aguilar: “Pro tempore, with great respect for this institution, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of…”

“Pro tempore, with great respect for this institution, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of that Caucus to present for election to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives the name of the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, the pride of Crown Heights, a Representative from the State of New York. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, this is not the history we wanted to make here in the House. It is something that none of us imagined when we were sworn into this office. We are here because the House has been thrown into chaos. We are here because this hallowed Chamber has been led to a breaking point by two dangerous forces: extremism and partisanship. The American people placed their faith in us to tackle their most pressing issues: lowering costs, growing the middle class, and standing up to those set on delivering a national abortion ban. The choice before us is simple: Come together on a bipartisan path forward or take us over the cliff. Abandon the extremism that is preventing us from getting things done or triple down on division and dysfunction. A vote today to make the architect of a nationwide abortion ban, a vocal election denier, and an insurrection insider Speaker of this House would be a terrible message to the country and our allies. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, it would send an even more troubling message to our enemies that the very people who would seek to undermine democracy are rewarded with positions of immense power.…”