for our country, a long day for our Republic.
Let us dispense with this. Let’s do the right thing. Let’s honor our oath. Let’s certify the results, and let’s get back to the work of the American people.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).
Ms. Lofgren. Madam Speaker, our duty today is significant but straightforward. We must count the votes of the electors as cast in the electoral college and announce the results.
As discussed, our roles and responsibilities are established by the Constitution and Federal law, and they are clear. The facts before us are also clear. Pennsylvania submitted one slate of electors, as chosen by the voters of the State. The slate was certified according to State law. Now those lawful results must be counted and announced.
Despite disinformation and any number of false claims that you may have heard, including here today, as former Attorney General Barr said: “We have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”
This is not simply a conclusory statement. The results of the election have been litigated. The record is clear: The lawsuits challenging the election results failed. They failed because there is simply no evidence to support these baseless claims.
Now, it is one thing to tweet a belief, quite another to provide actual evidence. These cases failed because there is no evidence. Judges ruled in the lawsuits that the 2020 election was sound.
It should come as no surprise that Republican officeholders have recognized the election results as legitimate and accurately determined in an election that was conducted safely, securely, and with integrity.
We all take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. As we near the end of the task before us, let’s remember the beginning of the Constitution. Before Article II and the 12th Amendment, which spell out the electoral college, and before Article I, which creates Congress, the Constitution begins with the preamble. The preamble is short and bold: “We the people.”
The people spoke in historic numbers. Their votes have been counted. Their choice is clear. It is time, as the law requires, to announce the state of the people’s vote.
The violence and disorder inflicted on our democracy by seditious rioters today is an indication of why adherence to our Constitution is so vital.
I urge all of us to stand up for law, for democracy, for our Constitution, and to stand up for America and reject this objection.
Mr. Meuser. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the objection.
The Speaker. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. Meuser. Madam Speaker, a day that was intended to debate the importance of election integrity and the rule of law tragically became a day that will be a black mark in our Nation’s history. Nevertheless, the work of this House must go on, as America will go on.
We must all sincerely thank the Capitol Police and Metro Police for their selfless actions today, putting their safety and lives on the line to protect this House. The lawlessness and violence of today must be condemned, just as all violent protests must be condemned.
Nevertheless, the fact remains, a large number of Pennsylvanians are enormously frustrated with actions taken by elected and appointed officials in Pennsylvania, which have led to a high level of distrust for this past election.
We have the United States Constitution, which is the reason we have been and will continue to be a great country and a country of laws.
The U.S. Constitution is unambiguous, Madam Speaker, in declaring that State legislatures are the entity with the authority to set election procedures and to enact any changes to election law. Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 states: “The times, places, and manner of holding elections … shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof.”
The authority of election procedures lies with the State legislature, period.
In Pennsylvania, this authority was indisputably usurped by the Pennsylvania Governor’s office, by the Pennsylvania secretary of state, and by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
These unlawful actions include, but are not limited to, accepting ballots past 8 p.m. on election day; inconsistent application of verified signature requirements for in-person ballots versus mail-in ballots; authorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than 24 hours’ notice, leading to inconsistent preparedness between counties; and authorizing the use of unsecured drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute.
If such unlawful actions are to be accepted, what do we have to look forward to next year? The Pennsylvania secretary of state allowing online voting because it may be raining in Philadelphia? It was a free-for-all.
Madam Speaker, it was back in 2005 when then-Minority Leader Pelosi, while leading 31 Democrats as they objected to the Presidential elector certification, as they did in the last three Presidential elections when a Republican won, stated quite well, actually:
The Members of Congress have brought this challenge and are speaking up for their aggrieved constituents, many of whom have been disenfranchised in this process. This is their only opportunity to have this debate while the country is listening, and it is appropriate to do so.
Thank you for those words, Madam Speaker. They were appropriate then, as they are now.
If there is an American ideal that all citizens, regardless of party affiliation, can agree upon, it is that we must have election integrity. We should not certify these electors, which were derived by unlawful actions and a result of inaccurate vote tallies.
Madam Speaker, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).
Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the objection.
Tonight, my heart is heavy as we consider the dark acts that transpired in this Chamber today. But, Madam Speaker, the American people can be assured that violent and irrational attacks on this body cannot derail the constitutional responsibility that lies in front of us.
This has always been about upholding the law. It has always been about protecting government of, by, and for the people. Preserving the rule of law is more important than ever.
We must acknowledge that unconstitutional acts unduly impacted the Presidential election in Pennsylvania. Contrary to law, the supreme court extended the deadline for mail-in ballots for 3 days beyond the election day. Contrary to law, the secretary of the Commonwealth discarded mail-in ballot signature verification safeguards. These leaders took advantage of a deadly pandemic and seized the State legislature’s rightful authority.
I took an oath to uphold the law and defend the Constitution. I pledged to protect free and fair elections. I cannot, in good faith, certify electors that were selected under an unlawful process.
I will object to the electoral college certification to protect the will of Pennsylvania voters, to uphold the law, to restore trust in our electoral system, and, ultimately, to save our Constitution.
At Gettysburg, which is in my district, President Abraham Lincoln spoke about the great task of ensuring government by, of, and for the people shall not perish from the Earth.
Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition.
The Speaker. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, nearly 7 million Pennsylvanians showed up to vote in the 2020 elections. They cast their votes for Democrats and Republicans up and down the ballot, including the entire U.S. House delegation, the entire State house, half of the State senate, and other State and local races.
Since the election, there have been allegations of widespread election fraud in Pennsylvania; but, remarkably, the 20 suits filed by the Trump campaign, Pennsylvania Republicans, and others challenging the results in Pennsylvania have never claimed that there was voter fraud.
