House clerk reads resignation of Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA) from the House:"I hereby submit my resignation effective 11:59pm on Sunday,October 4, 2020 as United States representative of the 14th District of GA." He was 1st elected in 2010 & was not running for re-election this fall.
"One of the last votes I cast as a US Rep was in favor of the bipartisan reforms crafted by Select Cmte on the Modernization of Congress,which I've been honored to help lead.I can think of no better way to leave the People's House."-@RepTomGraves (R-#GA14) c-span.org/video/?c491199…
Resignation letters by Georgia GOP Rep. Tom Graves to Speaker Pelosi and GA Governor Kemp from Congress are printed in the Congressional Record. His resignation from the House is effective Sunday at 11:59pm.
.@RepTomGraves (R-#GA14) wrote a farewell letter that was printed in Congressional Record: "Now, it is time for the next season in life. I will be forever grateful for the incredible privilege of serving my country and my
community as a member of Congress."
Graves (R-GA): "For my final words entered into the Congressional Record as a member of Congress, I want to share the most essential lesson learned over the past decade: the importance of relationship building."
Graves (R-GA): "Tone, rhetoric and civility are crucial to opening doors to new and unexpected relationships with lawmakers from across the political spectrum."
Graves (R-GA): "Often the best policies are the product of broad perspectives and creativity, with input from people who bring experience from different walks of life."
Graves (R-GA): "I can think of no better embodiment of that ideal than the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (where he served as Vice Chair)...Serving on the Select Committee is the perfect capstone to my career in public service."
Graves (R-GA) concludes his farewell letter to Congress: "May God bless every person in this institution, those serving now and those who serve in the yrs to come,with the wisdom,strength & compassion to advance this great and glorious cause we call the United States of America."
"God bless America, and God bless Georgia. Go Dawgs." Rep. Tom Graves (R-#GA14),a graduate of University of GA,in his last words printed in Congressional Record as Mbr of Congress after serving since June 2010.His resignation is effective Oct 4 at 11:59pm. congress.gov/congressional-…
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Justice Alito responds to Senate Judiciary Chair Durbin: "There is no valid reason for my recusal in this case. Sen. Durbin’s letter expressed the view recusal is necessary because I participated in 2 interviews that resulted in 2 articles about my work that appeared in the WSJ."
Alito: "There was nothing out of the ordinary about the interviews in question. Over the years, many Justices have participated in interviews with representatives of media entities that have frequently been parties in cases before the Court."
Altio: "We are required to put favorable or unfavorable comments and any personal connections with an attorney out of our minds and judge the cases based solely on the law and the facts. And that is what we do."
220-213: House on a near party line votes approved the rules for 118th Congress under a Republican majority. Rules package allows 1 mbr to force a vote on removing the House Speaker by offering a motion to vacate the chair. TX Rep Tony Gonzales was the only Republican to vote No.
McCarthy: House-approved rules package for the 118th includes “Rules that empower Members to debate & legislate are replacing rules that silenced their voice & centralized power. Rules that increase transparency are replacing rules that kept lawmaking hidden behind closed doors.”
McCarthy: “And rules that reopen Congress to We the People are replacing rules like proxy voting that kept this floor empty.”
Diaz-Balart:"I am a long-standing advocate against discrimination of all types. I, however, cannot support any effort that undermines religious liberties by failing to provide legitimate safeguards for Faith-Based orgs. that object based on their deeply-held religious beliefs."
Diaz-Balart (R-FL) on his Yes to No vote on final marriage equality bill: "It is unfortunate the Senate missed an opportunity to protect marriage equality while also guaranteeing religious freedom."
Salazar (R-FL): “I am disappointed to see the final House version of the Respect for Marriage Act did not include full protections for churches and Americans with sincerely held religious beliefs."
Senate unanimously passed legislation tonight to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall with a bust in the U.S. Capitol, replacing the bust of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision, located near the old Supreme Court Chamber.
The bill specifically “directs the Joint Committee on Congress on the Library to remove the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Capitol and to obtain a bust of Thurgood Marshall for installation in the Capitol or on the Capitol Grounds.”
Senate Rules Chair Klobuchar; “The Capitol is our most recognizable symbol of democracy, a place where all Americans have their voices represented and heard. We must ensure that its art reflects the values on which our country stands.”
258-169-1: House passed marriage equality legislation to protect same-sex & interracial marriage under federal law.39 Republicans voted Yes.Owens (R-UT) voted Present.Passed Senate 61-36 w/12 Republicans voting Yes last month.Respect for Marriage Act now heads to President Biden.
47 Republicans voted in July voted for the House version of the Respect for Marriage Act. The Senate changed the bill to include the bipartisan Baldwin-Collins compromise, which 39 House Republicans voted for today.
39 House Republicans voted Yes in support of the final version of the Respect for Marriage Act including House GOP Conference Chair Stefanik, former chair Cheney and Outgoing NRCC Chair/Incoming Majority Whip Emmer. clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll5…