James P. McGovern

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 33 wordsI yield myself the balance of my time. Let me, first of all, respond to something the gentlewoman from North Carolina said about Republicans trying to protect our children. I would just ask, ProcedureThe question · 7 wordswhere the hell are the Epstein files? Claims · 36 wordsWe have forced resolutions on this floor to be passed, to demand a release of these files.¹ Congressman Massie came to the floor.² Again, he has another resolution.³ Still, we have no compliance with the law. Positioning · 14 wordsWe know that this administration is up to their eyeballs in the Epstein files.PositioningUnearned certainty The question · 13 wordsWhen is that going to happen? When is that going to be released? Positioning · 6 wordsI mean, talk about protecting children.PositioningOff point Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 33 wordsyou know when Republicans send us home this week, what exactly will be cheaper? Will groceries cost less? Will rent go down? Will anybody’s electric bill shrink? Will health insurance premiums come down?Positioning Claims · 25 wordsThe answer is no. Not one damn thing on the agenda this week will address the affordability crisis. Nothing. Congress will have condemned socialism again.⁴ Aside · 4 wordsMission accomplished, I guess.Aside Positioning · 84 wordsYou know that tells you everything about the priorities of this Republican majority. Whenever the conversation gets uncomfortable, they change the subject. Why are groceries so expensive? Socialism. Why are healthcare costs so expensive? They showed socialism. Why did Trump start another new war in the Middle East? You must be a Socialist for asking the question. When are you going to release the Epstein files? When is that going to happen? Socialism, socialism, socialism. It is literally insane. It is Trump derangement syndrome.Positioning Claims · 25 wordsMeanwhile, the President’s big win this week is pretending to rename Lake Ontario after getting into a trade war with our closest ally and neighbor.⁵ Positioning · 61 wordsThis is nuts. This Chamber ceases to be a serious body when we don’t call this stuff out and when we don’t actually bring bills to the floor that address the real needs of the American people. The American people are not stupid. They know who is focused on listening to their problems and who is focused on playing political games.Positioning The ask · 8 wordsWe should be working to lower costs, period. Claims · 123 wordsContrary to what Trump says, affordability is not a made-up word, and it does have a definition. People cannot afford to pay everyday expenses. They can’t afford their groceries. They can’t afford their rent. They can’t afford to fill their gas tank up. They want lower healthcare costs. They want lower housing costs. They want lower energy costs. They want lower grocery bills. They want an end to the corporate giveaways and tax loopholes that let big companies jack up prices and gouge consumers. You know, they want an end to giving these corporations the ability to cheat on their taxes and to avoid accountability. That is what people want us to do, not fight absurd culture wars and debate far-right fringe garbage. The ask · 22 wordsIf our Republican colleagues want to have another debate about socialism, fine, let’s have it. Waste more time passing more nonbinding resolutions. Claims · 22 wordsAt the end of the day, people are going to vote based on their bank accounts, pocketbooks, grocery bills, and gas prices. Positioning · 103 wordsPeople look at life through their kitchen window. They are tired of all of this bs that is being talked about in this Chamber. They are sick of a Congress that debates trivial issues passionately but important ones not at all. They want to know when we are going to care about them. They are sick and tired of a Congress that gives tax breaks to entities, that gives big donations to political parties and political candidates. They want to know when they come first. My friends, you have failed miserably to deliver on your promise to make life more affordable for people.Positioning Claims · 11 wordsPeople are counting on us. They want us to do better. Positioning · 4 wordsYou have a chance.Positioning Promise · 24 wordsWe will work in a bipartisan way to try to deal with some of these high costs the people are faced with right now.Vague promise Claims · 7 wordsNo, we come back after a recess, Positioning · 37 wordsand this is what we are dealing with. This is garbage. This is a waste of time. This is an insult to this Chamber. It is an insult to the American people. They will remember in November.PositioningOff point The ask · 5 wordsVote ``no’’ on this rule. Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 8 wordsI yield back the balance of my time.Procedure