Sheila Jackson Lee: “I think it is important to take note of the importance of this debate and, as well, the respect that we as Members of…”

“I think it is important to take note of the importance of this debate and, as well, the respect that we as Members of Congress owe each other and this institution. I have long said that our longevity comes not only because of the democratic principles of our Constitution, but because there is the groundwork of the Founding Fathers and those who took to the floor to debate such raging issues as the question of slavery in the 1800s. Each time we are given the microphone, I think that we should adhere to that respect, and each time we put our pen to paper to create legislation, it should equally be based on the grounds of respect and understanding of the constitutional divisions of the three branches of government. Today I think we have failed. This is, as I said, a personal attack against the President. If we would read the resolution, we would see five items that completely dictate the failure of the Obama administration. Let me say that all of us concede the point that section 1035 that was added under the Obama administration in 2012--or, more recently-- does ask the President to give a 30-day notice to Congress. No other President has been asked to do that. The President has been very clear on his intent to close Guantanamo. Many of us have been to Guantanamo. But the issue before us was not an effort to close Guantanamo.…”