Hal Rogers: “Mr. Speaker, throughout our country's storied history, we've witnessed some truly extraordinary efforts from the floor…”

“Mr. Speaker, throughout our country's storied history, we've witnessed some truly extraordinary efforts from the floor of this hallowed Chamber to address our country's most dire needs. We've stood united, setting geographic and party labels aside, to pass legislation that pushed our country forward. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, in the shadow of 9/11, in the wake of numerous natural disasters, this body has traditionally responded by pulling together to produce results for the American people. But today, Mr. Speaker, sadly, is not one of those extraordinary moments. Thousands of pages of text, given to us at midnight last night, the Speaker even preventing it from being read to us by the House Clerk, 90 minutes of debate only--some Members will not even be allowed to speak a word for or against this monstrosity--and $790 billion of spending, the largest bill ever to pass through this body. Hardly any Member, Republican or Democrat, was allowed to help work and write up this bill. This bill was written by the Speaker of the House, with absolutely no collaboration with the Republican side of the aisle and, frankly, little with even Democrats. The principles of democracy are being compromised here today, now. The American people deserve better. The Members of this Chamber deserve better. And our Founding Fathers expected better.”