Sheila Jackson Lee: “It is my privilege as well to come to the floor of the House and pay tribute to our outgoing chair of the Congressional…”

“It is my privilege as well to come to the floor of the House and pay tribute to our outgoing chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Before I do that, however, I believe it is important to say to this body that our charge and responsibility is to ensure the governance of this Nation. As the appropriations omnibus unfolded, I believe the continuing resolution that has been put forward is evidence of the nonresponsibility and the nonthought of those who have the obligation to govern this Nation. I believe it is important to raise the question of where is the objectivity. The continuing resolution is to fund the Nation's homeland security. That means that we are saying to those who just lost their lives in Yemen, to the Americans who have been seen being beheaded by ISIL, to Boko Haram, al Shabaab, to al Qaeda, and many other franchise terrorists that America will stand bare and unprepared, that her national security will be in jeopardy. Mr. Speaker, it is crucial that we speak against a continuing resolution that funds homeland security partially. Let me also say that I believe in this great Nation. I believe in the Constitution, and I fully realize that the executive order that was issued by the President dealing with the humanitarian relief and the discretion by agencies, prosecutorial discretion, is within the context of his authority under article II.…”