On the recordJuly 19, 2017
Mr. Speaker, inaction from this House leaves us open to Russian cyber attacks against our democracy, and the numbers tell the story. Sixteen months since Russians attacked, this House stands mute. Eleven months since all four major U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed Putin's direct involvement, and we have done nothing. Eight Russians and Trump advisers met to discuss illegal Russian Government assistance to the Trump campaign, 3 hours of face-to-face meetings between President Trump and Putin, one of those hours with absolutely no accountability to the American people, and 98 out of 100 Senators voted in favor of new Russian sanctions 34 days ago. And finally zero. Zero action from this House to fight back. Zero show of bipartisanship that mirrors our Senate counterparts. Zero votes on the House floor to send the sanctions bill to the President. Mr. Speaker, if you allow us to vote on this bill, it will pass with overwhelming bipartisan support. And if you do not allow us to get Russia sanctions to the President's desk and put the pressure on him to sign it, you and the rest of this majority in the House will carry the weight of our failure to stand up to Russia back to your districts in August, and no one will understand how it is that you show weakness when it is strength that is required in the face of Russian aggression. That is what America expects and deserves. ____________________





