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Bryan Steil

Republican 4:20 p.m.

“I want the government to say that socialism is bad. I want us to talk about this now.”

Bryan Steil

Republican 4:20 p.m.

“I want to say that socialism is bad. Socialists want to let non-citizens vote and get rid of the electoral college. That's wrong. We must have laws to make sure only citizens vote. Socialists killed many people in other countries. Socialism is bad. I want the government to say that socialism is bad.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank) for authoring this very timely resolution. Mr. Speaker, let's set the stage. Socialism has no place in the United States of America. Hard work and merit are the backbone of American Dreams, not socialism in government outcome and government control. Our Nation is at a crossroads. Across the country, socialist policies are increasingly dominating democratic politics. Members of this body openly support key elements of the Democratic Socialists of America's platform. The mayor of our largest city is a socialist. The U.S. Senator who was a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic nomination for President is a socialist. America has a choice. We can go down the path of Big Government socialism, or we can keep fighting to shrink government and help the American people keep more of their hard-earned money. The resolution condemns socialism, and it exposes the radical policies of the Democratic Socialists of America's platform. Let's quickly look through the platform. It supports giving the right to vote to 12 million noncitizens and criminals who are currently incarcerated. It supports ranked-choice voting for all elections. It calls for abolishing the electoral college and the United States Senate. These are radical policies, and they would undermine the integrity of the American election and destroy our democratic system. Now, contrast this radical agenda with what Republicans support. We believe that American elections are for American citizens only. We are focused on making it easy to vote and hard to cheat. Our goal is to strengthen election integrity. That is why we are pushing commonsense reforms like requiring photo ID and citizenship verification when individuals register to vote. Socialists are opposing these commonsense ideas because they fundamentally oppose securing our elections. Mr. Speaker, socialism is easy to elect, but it is nearly impossible to remove. That is because socialist ideology concentrates power in a way that has led to totalitarian rule, time and time again. Here at home, DSA leaders have repeatedly described our bicameral Federal Republic as inherently undemocratic. Make no mistake, if socialists are given the chance, socialists will abolish our democratic system. Mr. Speaker, socialist policies are responsible for the death of 100 million people worldwide. This resolution rejects and condemns this dangerous ideology. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Joseph D. Morelle

Democrat 4:20 p.m.

“I don't like the other party. The other party is bad. They waste time. They want to make it harder to vote. They want to keep people from voting. The other party spreads lies about our elections. The other party makes costs go up. They don't keep their promises. People don't like Congress. This is all the other party's fault. We should vote no on this.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as if we didn't waste enough time participating in yesterday's purely performative exercise at the Rules Committee, here we are again. After zero floor activity for the last 5 weeks, House Republicans have brought to the floor a nonbinding resolution calling for enactment of the SAVE America Act. I was recently asked by a constituent: ``What is a nonbinding resolution?'' And I effectively said: A nonbinding resolution is a statement of how Congress feels, but it does nothing. So here we are taking up a nonbinding resolution of how we feel. And in an ironic twist that would be comical if it weren't so sinister, this resolution, this nonbinding feeling of Congress, stokes fears of a repressive totalitarian dictatorship while in the same breath affirms House Republicans' obsession with subverting Americans' right to vote-- the same House Republicans that have ceded entirely Congress' constitutional authority to one single person. Absurd doesn't begin to describe this. This resolution, this nonbinding resolution, asks the House to condemn government ownership of private industry, yet under Donald Trump's administration, the Federal Government has spent almost $28 billion of American money acquiring stakes in dozens of private companies--$28 billion. Now, personally, I believe in capitalism, but if my Republican friends want to debate socialism, they should start with the shareholder in chief who sits in the Oval Office. Mr. Speaker, after hearing from their own constituents about the affordability crisis in America and the corruption in this administration for the past 5 weeks, House Republicans are wasting time on a vote for a resolution condemning a political philosophy, a resolution which has already passed the House, and calling for the enactment of a bill aimed at making it harder for Americans to vote--a bill which I also note has already passed this House. This bill would make it harder for married women and veterans to vote, a bill that would essentially gut mail and online voter registration, a bill that would force States to hand out voter rolls to President Trump's Department of Homeland Security. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised we are here today because one thing is clear: As costs are skyrocketing for American consumers, Republicans are afraid to face their constituents at the ballot box. The White House and congressional Republicans have failed the American people, and the only remaining option is to try to keep Americans from voting at all. They want bills like the SAVE America Act to disrupt election administration and keep millions of eligible voters away from the polls. The President has issued illegal executive orders to block ballot access for millions of Americans, including an unlawful attempt to weaponize the United States Postal Service and eviscerate vote-by- mail regimes in States across this country because the President says mail-in voting is fraudulent, even though the President himself voted twice in the last few weeks by mail. This administration has defunded and gutted the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, and its support for election administrators. And of course, the President and his allies continue to actively spread mis- and disinformation about the integrity of our elections. Maybe that is the point: to cause a lack of confidence in our election writ large and get people to question the very legitimacy of our long tradition of self-governance. House Democrats will continue to fight back because, despite continued efforts by the President and his allies, our elections are safe and secure. State and local election administrators, both Democrats and Republicans, not the President, will continue to run elections in this country. States will do it. Local and State election administrators will do it, not the President of the United States. The courts will continue to reject unlawful attempts by the Department of Justice to force States to turn over their voter rolls. As of earlier this month, the Department of Justice's record in these cases now is 0 for 23. There were 23 cases brought in Federal court, and the Department of Justice has lost every single one of them in their effort to force States to turn over voter rolls. House Democrats' objectives are straightforward. Every eligible American must have a meaningful opportunity to cast a ballot, and those ballots must be counted fairly and accurately. There is nothing more important in this moment than our collective efforts to ensure Americans are given every opportunity to render their verdict in November, and despite the best efforts of House Republicans, we are going to make sure that happens. Mr. Speaker, in a recent poll, Congress was found to have a 15 percent approval rating. Mr. Speaker, 15 percent of the American people approve of the job Congress is doing today. Some might understandably think that number is low, but frankly, after participating in this absurd exercise, I am surprised it is that high. With all due respect to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, would this entirely symbolic resolution Republicans are seeking to advance today do anything to lower gas prices? Would this pure messaging bill do anything to make your groceries less expensive? Would this resolution do anything to hold all the crooks in the White House accountable? The answer is simple. It would not. Promises were made to the American people, but they have not been kept. The American people deserve better than this. I strongly urge my colleagues to reject this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Bryan Steil

Republican 4:30 p.m.

“I took time to show this resolution is needed. People can see where they stand. The other side has bad ideas. They want to take your money. They want to take away your freedom. I want people to choose a side. You can be with us or against us.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I note my colleague said this resolution allows Members to state how they feel, where they stand. I think that is actually reasonably true. You can pull out the Democratic Socialists of America program, and you can flip to page 15 and read through some of the highlights: defund the Pentagon, free Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital, grant amnesty for all immigrants regardless of legal status. This is a chance, as my colleague says, to show how we feel and where Members stand. The American people will get to see. Do they stand with the Democratic Socialists of America or do they stand with democracy and freedom and oppose the socialist policies that we are seeing from the radical left? Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank), the author of this resolution, to speak.

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Jeff Crank

Republican 4:30 p.m.

“I want people to know where we stand. We need to vote on this resolution. It is simple. Do you support socialism or not? Some people think this is pointless. I think it is important. Socialism is bad. It is anti-American. It is unconstitutional. It takes away your freedom. It takes away your money. It gives more power to the government. People come to America for freedom and opportunity. We need to protect that. Socialists want to take over the country. They don't want you to show ID at the polls. They want noncitizens to vote them into power. They want to erode your individual liberty. We need to stand firm against socialism. We need to support this resolution. It is not hard.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, this resolution simply condemns socialism and anti-American ideas of the DSA. It is a simple up-or-down vote: Where do you stand on the anti-American platform of the DSA? Mr. Speaker, 10 to 15 years ago, we wouldn't even have to ask this question. A resolution like this would have passed 10 or 15 years ago 435-0. The Rules debate from yesterday showed that some of my friends think that this is pointless. Now, these are the same people who shut down government and didn't want to pay soldiers and employees for months on end, and we are being lectured about this being pointless? What was that? However, what we are seeing in elections across the country paint a different picture. The Democratic Socialists of America was a fringe movement a decade ago. Now, they are growing within the Democratic ranks, winning primaries, and threatening the foundation of what makes this country the greatest on Earth. Mr. Speaker, I can help my friends if they aren't sure how to vote on something as simple as this. Let me remind every Member of this Chamber: You took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. The DSA uses intimidation to shut down free speech. This is unconstitutional, and it is anti-American. The DSA's candidates' platforms stand in direct contrast to our Republic. They are in favor of getting rid of the United States Senate, open borders, defunding the police, and allowing noncitizens to vote in Federal elections. Those aren't consistent with our Constitution. DSA is an insidious movement within the Democratic Party. Let's be clear. They aren't running as Republicans. They are Democrats. There is no Republican Socialists of America. Mr. Speaker, we know where these ideas lead to: Less freedom, less liberty, less money in your pockets, more government, more taxes, and more control. These are ideas in governments that many have fled to come to the United States of America. They came here to seek freedom, opportunity, and self-government. These are things that we have sworn to protect in this body. This is no longer a fringe movement. They want to take over this country and upend our democracy and our voting laws. DSA-affiliated candidates are increasingly running for office across this country, and we are seeing what happens when they win. Democrats and DSA don't want Americans to show their IDs at the polls, so noncitizens can vote them into power. However, as soon as they are elected, they turn around and ask for your ID to enter a government-run grocery store. If we believe American elections belong to Americans and the American people, then we should have no problem saying so clearly. We should say so by adopting this resolution as a unified body because if we don't, we let this fester uncondemned. If we fail to pass this resolution and we continue to not pass the SAVE America Act to ensure secure and fair elections, they will exploit our democracy. They will mislead the public into putting them into positions of power and erode all sense of individual liberty. Freedom-loving Americans can escape New York City, but if DSA continues to run candidates and beat Democrats in Federal primaries, Americans will be the ones fleeing from their own country to escape socialist and communist ideologies. Where can they go if they can't be here in America? I encourage my colleagues to stand firm against the ideas coming out of the Democratic Socialists of America. Families are worried about the cost of living. I understand that. However, like doctors, who take the Hippocratic oath, above all else, do no harm. Socialism is harm. Socialism doesn't lower costs. It doesn't bring prosperity. Free markets and capitalism lift people out of poverty. Embracing freedom and liberty brings prosperity for people. These are the values that have guided this country for 250 years, and this body needs to ensure that it remains our guiding light. Mr. Speaker, I urge my friends to support this resolution and vote ``yes.'' It is really not that hard.

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Joseph D. Morelle

Democrat 4:30 p.m.

“I want to make it sound like the other side is wasting time. I'm going to ignore the parts of the resolution that are new and talk about the parts we already passed. I don't want to talk about socialism or voting. I want to talk about gas prices and a war instead.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. When the gentleman began to speak and said this was a simple resolution on socialism, I thought perhaps he hadn't read his own resolution because it also creates incredible barriers to people registering to vote in America and engaging in self-government, which has been the whole point of this Republic for 250 years. I am glad he did indicate, though, that this is also including efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote. However, I would say this: I know this is so important that we pass this resolution, except I would also remind the body that we passed this resolution a year ago condemning socialism, so we are doing here just the same thing. I guess next week we will do it again and again and again, but we have already done this, and we have also passed the awful SAVE America Act several times here as well. Rather than focusing on gas prices and the ill-advised illegal war in Iran, which has raised the price of groceries and gas, which has spent hundreds of billions of dollars not authorized by the Congress, we stand here talking about a resolution that has two parts, both of which have already passed. That is what we consider a critical measure to consider, a nonbinding resolution today on two things we have already done in the House, but I guess that passes for progress in some people's minds. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

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Rashida Tlaib

Democrat 4:30 p.m.

“Corporate greed is bad. I don't like corporate greed. CEOs make a lot of money. Gas prices are high. That's bad for people in Colorado. I want to blame Trump and his war for high prices, not socialism. Republicans help corporations. They give them tax cuts. That's bad. I like socialism. Democratic Socialists want universal healthcare and childcare. They want to help families. We should tax the rich. I don't want to cut programs like Medicaid and SNAP. I think Republicans want to cut them to give money to corporations.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, corporate greed is hurting Americans. It is not Democratic Socialists who are fighting for universal healthcare, childcare, and clean water. The sponsor of this resolution took $10,000 from Phillips 66, a gas company, and that is a fact. I wonder how many residents in Colorado's Fifth pulled into a Phillips 66 and couldn't afford gas because today residents of Colorado's Fifth are paying $4.26 per gallon for gas. That is higher than the national average. Colorado's Fifth District is paying the cost of Trump's reckless war. Since the start of the war, the average family in the Fifth District has paid an extra $412 for gas, and they have spent $3,700 more for basic living expenses. Yet, we are not talking about the fact that warmongering hurts our families, not Democratic Socialists. Republicans fuel corporate greed as they allow, again, the tax cuts, again allow the highest paid CEOs to give pennies to their workers. The average CEO of the largest corporation earned $17.7 million last year, yet here we go. We are not blaming the corporate donors. Instead, we are blaming the Democratic Socialists. Workers rely on Medicaid, Mr. Speaker, and SNAP because of corporate greed, yet Republicans in this Chamber are literally cutting those programs to give, what, their corporate donors $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. Yet, here we are, blaming, again, Democratic Socialists, who are trying to make life easier for our families, not the billionaire class. I proudly say, as a DSA member: Tax the rich.

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Nicole Malliotakis

Republican 4:30 p.m.

“Socialism is communism light. Socialism is the first step to communism. Socialism starts with promising free programs. It ends with shortages and a government that takes away rights. Communism and socialism destroy. They steal from people. They consolidate power for a few. Democrats and Republicans used to stand up against socialism together. Now only Republicans are standing up for freedom. Democrats are rolling out the red carpet for socialism. They want to bring a dangerous ideology to Congress. My mayor in New York City wanted government-run supermarkets and to take away private property rights. That's straight out of Karl Marx's playbook. That's what destroyed my mother's family in Cuba. Republicans stand for freedom and free markets. I hope some Democrats join us in condemning socialism and communism in the United States.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, first, let's be clear that socialism is communism light. Socialism is the first step to communism. If anybody doubts what I am saying, just listen to Vladimir Lenin, the first leader of the Soviet Union, who proclaimed the goal of socialism is communism. It begins with promises of free programs, government-controlled prices, and punishment of the supposedly wealthy, redistribution of wealth to help everyone. However, it ends with shortages, economic collapse, and a government powerful enough to take away citizens' rights, their property, and livelihoods, end the freedom of the press, and a complete takeover of the courts and judicial system. Communism and socialism destroy. It steals from the people while those who run the regime live as kings. That is the reality. It is about consolidating power for a select few. Now, since the last century, we have had Democrats and Republicans in Congress come together to condemn socialism, to stop the rise of communism in this country. Go back and read it in history: In the thirties and forties and fifties, and afterwards, they stood up against it, and they fought together, and that is why freedom always prevailed. However, now we have one side standing up for freedom, for prosperity, and for the American way of life, and we have the other side that is actually rolling out the red carpet for socialism. I believe it is because they are trying to preserve their positions here in Congress and they care more about the primary elections than they do about protecting this country. They are rolling out the red carpet and nominating people who want to bring this dangerous ideology here to the Halls of Congress. My mayor in New York City ran on an agenda of government-run supermarkets, abolishing private property rights, and seizing the means of production. Those were his words. That was his platform. Guess what, Mr. Speaker. That is straight out of the playbook of Karl Marx. That is exactly what they did to my mother's homeland of Communist Cuba. It is what destroyed her family, what took her home, what took my grandfather's small business, and what caused my family to break up and never see each other again. That is what they are refusing to condemn today. Republicans will stand on the side of freedom, of prosperity, of free markets, and of the American way of life. I hope my colleagues, at least some of them, have the guts to do what the Democrats did in the thirties, forties, and fifties, and join us on what should be a bipartisan position condemning socialism and communism in the United States of America.

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Joseph D. Morelle

Democrat 4:40 p.m.

“You want to condemn any form of socialism. But your resolution is too broad. It says the government owning shares in companies is socialism. The current president bought shares of Intel and other companies. Maybe that's socialism too by your definition. How can the government regulate companies it owns shares in? Will we procure fairly from other companies when we have a stake in Intel? I would take more care with this bill's language. Many of my colleagues would be concerned about a president having the government buy private companies. But they are quiet now even though Donald Trump did this. They would protest if Joe Biden did it. Think about it.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will just note that in the text of the resolution it talks about how socialist ideology necessitates the concentration of power, but the whereas is essentially any form of socialism. I am just sort of curious, as I read it, it denounces socialism in all of its forms. I just ask the question of my colleagues. The current administration has entered into 39 announced deals, has invested $28 billion of American taxpayer money, and $8.9 billion of that was to purchase 433 million shares of Intel. We now have a 9.9 percent stake in Intel-- which sounds like socialism to me, the government control or ownership of the means of production--15 percent of MP Materials, 5 percent of Lithium Americas, and another 5 percent of its joint venture with General Motors. Frankly, if it comes to government ownership of private industry, which it does, as a capitalist I said this, I actually voted on the resolution when it came before the House before, but I wonder: If the United States Government gets into the habit of purchasing shares and ownership of a chip manufacturer, Intel, does that mean when it comes to procurement that we are somehow compromised? Can we choose another chip manufacturer to the disadvantage of American taxpayers because we are part-owners of the company that is competing for our business? How will we regulate companies now where we have a vested interest in the profitability because the American taxpayers are part owners of that company? I would have taken a little more care with the resolution because you would have to argue that perhaps the most socialist President in recent memory is Donald Trump because he is having American taxpayers own shares of private companies. I would think there would be a number of Members on my friends' side of the aisle that would have distress about such a measure taken by an American President. I can imagine if Joe Biden was taking ownership of Intel how we would have heard people screaming about it, but they are oddly silent because the would-be dictator of America, the would-be king, has decided that he is going to invest American money in private companies. I just would be curious to see what people's response is to that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan).

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Mark Pocan

Democrat 4:40 p.m.

“This resolution is stupid. It doesn't matter. Americans worry about rising costs. The resolution ignores that. It doesn't talk about communism. But we are against socialism and okay with communism? That is stupid. The U.S. under Donald Trump nationalized companies. This resolution ignores that. That is stupid. The resolution also talks about a voter suppression act. That is stupid. This Congress lets tariffs increase the cost of groceries. An illegal war in Iran raises gas prices. A big, beautiful bill raises the cost of healthcare and utilities. Congress does not make Americans' lives easier. This resolution is stupid. It does not help Americans.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, this is a stupid resolution. This stupid resolution completely ignores the reality of what Americans are worried about today: the rising cost of living caused by the hapless GOP leadership in Congress and an inept White House. Forget about this resolution being stupid for a second. What about communism? We are against socialism but okay with communism? That is stupid. Forget about that under the U.S. with Donald Trump, we have been more socialist than many actual socialist countries by claiming U.S. Government partial ownership in over 30 companies, which is clearly ignored in this resolution. That is stupid. Forget that somehow, for some reason, the save America voter suppression act is thrown in here, an act perhaps even more stupid than this resolution itself. This is just stupid, and it is insulting to Americans trying to get by while this Congress lets tariffs increase the cost of groceries and other goods, lets an illegal war in Iran raise gas prices, and the big, beautiful bill raise the cost of healthcare and utilities. However, here today in the U.S. Congress we are dealing with none of that, not one thing to make Americans' lives easier. Instead, we are dealing with this stupid resolution, and that is just plain stupid.

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Bryan Steil

Republican 4:40 p.m.

“The resolution condemns socialism. I want it to pass. The other side talked about communism. This resolution is against communism too. The other side should vote for it. The resolution talks about election law. It is against the Democratic Socialists of America. They want to change how we elect the President and Senate. Socialism gives power to the government. Socialism is hard to remove. This resolution is good. It shows where people stand.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, per the comments that this calls out socialism and not communism, it calls out socialism in all its forms. So if the gentleman who just spoke dislikes communism, he has a great opportunity to vote for this resolution. Per the commentary about election law, this is a direct contrast between the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America who want to dramatically change the election process in the United States of America. The Democratic Socialists of America want to change how we elect the President of the United States. They want to abolish the Senate. They want to dramatically transform the democracy of the United States of America. Why? It is because socialism concentrates power. What they want to do is establish socialism, which is easy to elect but very difficult to remove. That is why this resolution is so important. It is so the American people will know where their Member stands. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) to speak on the resolution.

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Tim Walberg

Republican 4:40 p.m.

“I support this resolution. It condemns socialism. Socialism is bad. The other side supports bad socialist policies. These policies will hurt my state. Socialism is never good. It takes away freedom. I want this resolution to pass. I want to protect families from socialism.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1490 to condemn socialism and the dangerous policies being pushed by the Democratic Socialists of America, and, sadly, by my Democrat colleagues on the other side of the aisle. The United States, including my home State of Michigan, has seen a troubling rise in support for socialism's destructive policies and leaders who seek to expand bureaucratic control in every sector of Michiganders' lives. From defunding the police to letting noncitizens vote and seizing private small businesses, the DSA is promoting radical policies, Mr. Speaker, that undermine the values that have carried our Nation through 250 years and blessed the world. There is nothing democratic about socialism. All it is is a soft word for communism. I agree. It has never produced prosperity. It has only led to fewer choices, more poverty, and more government control, with the cruel loss of freedom and liberty. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to listen to what we are talking about, to ultimately get past the idea of stupid and get on the idea of genius in favor of this resolution, to reject this radical ideology and protect the rights and freedoms of hardworking Michigan and American families.

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Joseph D. Morelle

Democrat 4:40 p.m.

“I don't like what my friend said. He talked about concentration of power. But the real concentration of power is in the presidency. Congress has done little to nothing to stop it. The other side is trying to concentrate power! They want to change election rules to help themselves. This bill would disrupt elections. It would cause chaos. The other side wants chaos to get more power. We need to stop them.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I share with Chairman Steil many things we agree on. He is a good friend, but his suggestion that this is about the concentration of power--concentration of power? What we have seen in the last 2 years is the concentration of power at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue and a Congress that has done little to nothing about establishing our Article I prerogatives. When it comes to appropriations, when it comes to the impoundment of money, when it comes to the illegal activities in Iran, which has put hundreds of billions of dollars of American money spent over there, which has made us less secure, cost the lives of 18 Americans, that is a concentration of power. We ought to talk about that. We should be having that conversation about Article I powers and reestablishing Congress' rightful role. Mr. Speaker, if you want to talk about concentration of power, Republican Members, including my friend, have made clear the SAVE America Act would take effect immediately upon passage. With just 63 days before this election, this bill would upend elections in every State across this country. Regarding concentration of power, Members of this body know that States begin mailing millions of ballots just 3 weeks from now, and yet, we would pass this concentration of power to put further power concentrated in the hands of one individual at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. How are these election administrators supposed to comply with this new Federal law should it take effect? It is election malpractice, frankly. The committee heard months ago from an election director on the ground who called this effective date unworkable. The purpose of this change, which is in this resolution, is clearly to throw election administration into disarray, because elections in chaos are easier to disrupt and subvert. That is why President Trump unleashed an angry mob on the building on January 6, 2021, to create chaos, undermine confidence in our election system, and literally create a dangerous situation, all in service of overturning an election that he lost. This change is irresponsible. It is the ultimate move to concentrate power in the hands of one individual. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez), my friend.

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Delia C. Ramirez

Democrat 4:50 p.m.

“I don't like this resolution. It is against socialism. Socialism is good for working people. My colleagues are against socialism because they work for big corporations. They work for Big Pharma and insurance companies. They work for Wall Street. They work for defense contractors. They work for authoritarians and fascists. Socialism is the answer. We need socialism to help working people. My colleagues are against socialism because they are afraid of working people. They are afraid of losing power. They are greedy and power hungry. We need to fight back. We need to create a system that works for working people. We need socialism.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, whether socialism, a Twitch streamer, working-class candidates, or immigrants, my colleagues believe that there is always a bogeyman to condemn. Let's get into it. What are the actual positions they feel that we must denounce today? Is it every family having access to affordable, quality healthcare, housing, or education; or is it maybe working people retiring with dignity; families earning enough from just one job so they can put food on their table, a roof over their head, and keep the lights on; or our dollars staying in our communities and not being used to bomb children and destabilize countries across the world? Today, my colleagues thought it was a good use of people's time to come back after the August work period to come after a working people's platform and the people working to make that platform a reality. Do you know why? They are afraid to get honest about who they really work for here. Spoiler alert: It is not working people. That is okay because we have their vote records to tell us who they represent. They cut your Medicaid because they work for Big Pharma and for- profit insurance providers. They won't pass the stock trading bill because they work for Wall Street and the venture capitalists. They won't end mass detention or take on the criminal legal system reform because they work for for-profit prisons. They won't end wars and genocide because they work for defense contractors. They won't assert their authority because they work for authoritarians and fascists. As long as they and their bosses profit from the policies of racism, colonialism, capitalism, imperialism, white supremacy, and patriarchy, they don't care if you are sick, starving, deported, detained, or even dead. I bet that they take issue with those of us who are standing in their way. Bottom line, my colleagues are afraid of the American people seeing through their cowardice, greed, and lust for power. Every day, more Americans are courageously sharing their truth. The truth is that the current system we have right now doesn't work for them. It doesn't reflect our values, and it does not serve working people. It is why it is more important than ever that we don't just fight back. We are not actually lowering the cost of living right now. We are denouncing a resolution that, frankly, you have because you are so afraid of working-class people coming to the next Congress. Let me be clear: Not only do I call on my colleagues to vote against this stupid resolution, as I just heard a moment ago, but also to put this much energy into creating a world, a system, that actually works for working people.

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Bryan Steil

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I don't like what the other side wants. They want to change many things. I don't want those changes. I want to keep things the same. This resolution is good. It says that socialism is bad. I want to say that the other side is bad too.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman asked what we oppose. You can actually just pull out the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America, and it is like shooting fish in a barrel of what we oppose: defund the Department of Defense; free Palestine, with their capital in Jerusalem; provide amnesty to all immigrants, regardless of legal status. The list goes on. We oppose a lot of it. That is why this resolution is actually very relevant. The radical left is taking over portions of the Democratic Party. This isn't your grandfather's Democratic Party anymore. This is a new radicalized Democratic Party that wants to install socialism right here in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

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Young Kim

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I had a hard life. Socialism is bad. I don't like socialism. Socialists want to change America. I don't want that. I want to keep things the same. America is good. We should pass this resolution. It says socialism is bad. I want people to know that socialism is bad. I want America to stay the same.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in the shadow of war in South Korea. My family fled poverty and a bitter lack of opportunity, and my mother- in-law crossed the DMZ multiple times to rescue loved ones who were trapped under tyranny in North Korea. For me, it is unimaginable to see socialist ideas gaining traction in America today, but then I remember that socialism never advertises its track record: starvation, oppression, the loss of freedom and opportunity, and more than 100 million lives lost worldwide. Today's proponents of socialism have made their goals clear. Read them for yourself on the DSA website: abolish the U.S. Senate, replace the Presidency, dismantle the Supreme Court, and rewrite our Constitution. These radicals want to tear down everything America stands on and everything it stands for. I refuse to watch that happen. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1490 so that this generation of Americans is not fooled by the empty promises of socialism and future generations never pay the price that families like mine already have. As Ronald Reagan said: We must preserve America as the world's last best hope for mankind.

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Addison P. McDowell

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“Socialists are bad. They say they help people. But they don't really help. They just take your money. Socialists want to control you. They have money but they don't want you to have money. Socialists say they are for the people. But they are lying. This resolution says socialism is bad. I want everyone to vote for it. I want to stop socialism in America.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, the so-called Democrat Socialists want you to believe three things: one, that their ideas are somehow new and innovative; two, that everyone gets a participation trophy; and, three, that we can pay for all their false promises by simply taxing other people. Folks back home in my district know that this is absurd, and it is the antithesis of the principles that our country was founded on. The socialist wing is gaining steam in the Democratic Party. It is important that we defeat this ideology before it is too late. What I find ironic, Mr. Speaker, is that many of the leading voices for socialism happen to be quite wealthy. I find this ironic because they advocate for policies that will prevent others from attaining the same financial position that they are in. They want to pull up the ladder of opportunity. These socialists want to take more of your hard- earned money, gut the private sector, and bring permanent malaise. Socialists talk like they are champions of the people, but they live like country club members. They demand control over your work, family, and future while they lock the gates and leave you outside. We are better than this, Mr. Speaker. This resolution before us today simply condemns socialism. This is just a small step for my colleagues on the other side to join us in clearly rejecting this anti-American project. Let's be a country that continues to embrace hard work, self- determination, innovation, and liberty and rejects a culture of dependence and total government control. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

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Bryan Steil

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I want everyone to vote yes on this resolution. Socialism is bad. It makes everyone poor. We need to stop socialism. That's why this resolution is important.”

Tracey Mann

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I want everyone to vote yes on this resolution. Socialism is bad. Socialists are taking over the Democratic Party. Socialists want to take away our freedom and property rights. They want to control everything. Socialist governments have killed many people. We should not be like them. America is great because we are not socialist. We need to stop socialism.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1490 condemning socialism in all its forms. For years, we were told that socialism was a fringe movement on the left that posed no threat to our country. That is simply no longer true. Today, socialist candidates are building political machines and pushing their party further and further left in New York, Colorado, Michigan, California, and across the country. Since the election of a Democrat Socialist as mayor of New York City, DSA-affiliated candidates have run in more than 100 elections across at least half of our States. The message inside today's Democratic Party is becoming increasingly clear: Embrace the socialist agenda or step aside for someone who will. We should remember what socialism really means. It means concentrating power in government, weakening private property rights and free enterprise, and replacing individual liberty with government control. History is not ambiguous about the consequences. Socialist and Communist regimes have produced famine, repression, mass murder, and more than 100 million deaths worldwide. America became the greatest country on Earth because we rejected that model. This House should do the same today. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of Congress to vote ``yes'' and condemn socialism in all its forms.

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Bryan Steil

Republican 5:00 p.m.

“I want to know how much time I have left to speak.”

What they said. What they meant.

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