Steny Hoyer: “Isn't that wonderful. I voted for all of them, either by voice vote or by card. They were bills that we all agreed with.…”

“Isn't that wonderful. I voted for all of them, either by voice vote or by card. They were bills that we all agreed with. But more closed rules on this floor, including today's bill that we passed, than any Congress in recent memory. My question to the majority leader was: Will he bring to the floor a free-standing bill which provides that children will not be separated from their parents--which John McCain says is inconsistent with the decency of the American people--so that we can vote on that proposition and that proposition only. The majority leader has not answered that question. He talks about voting ``present,'' which he didn't like. I am sorry he didn't like it, but I would vote ``present'' again to express my opposition, the only way it was possible to do, because, unlike his characterization, I did not want to say to ICE agents, ``I do not respect you.'' Therefore, I did not want to vote against a resolution, the resolved clause of which I agreed with. But it didn't deal with the most critical issue. It could have--it didn't--and it is nonbinding. To argue about that is to dissemble about the question that I asked. I am prepared to end this because I don't think we are going anywhere.…”