Hoyer Floor Remarks in Opposition to Amendment on FY 2026 FSGG Appropriations Bill

"I thank the gentleman for recognizing me. I presume this is a message amendment. I presume that because I know that the gentleman who offered it is bright, knowledgeable, and knows this amendment is clearly unconstitutional. I'm sure he's read the Constitution. He talks about it from time to time, and, of course, the language of the Constitution is very clear for exactly the reason that the founders did not want us to be able to monetarily penalize them for judgments with which we disagreed because they wanted an independent judiciary; ' a nation of laws, not of men. ' A nation of laws that are not compromised by threats of cutting salaries, changing lifestyles so that the judiciary would be unlike England, who had a king who made the laws, [but] that it would be the Parliament and the courts. So, I would suggest that we withdraw this amendment. With all due respect to my friend from Texas, because surely, he would not want to go against the Constitution of the United States of America.

"I also want to say that I am honored to serve as the Ranking Member. I'd rather be Chairman, but I'm honored to serve as the Ranking Member with the distinguished Member of this body, Mr. Joyce. And, if he would like me to yield to him now, I will. If not, I want to thank him for his leadership of our committee, which has been collegial and positive, and I think has led to this resolution today. But I urge strenuously - and by the way, let me mention to the gentleman from Texas, he is protected by the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chairman, Mr. Sessions, from the great state. I want to tell him that the gentleman who offered this amendment is protected by that same Constitution of the United States from having this done to him. And surely, he would want to do unto others as he would want done to him. I urge strenuously [for] the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time."