The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“EMERGENCE OF AMERICAN HEROES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8548 on Oct. 29, 2019.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
EMERGENCE OF AMERICAN HEROES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for 5 minutes.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, we are in interesting times. I think it was Confucius who said to live in interesting times is a great opportunity. It is.
Unfortunately, the rule of law and democracy are at stake. And as they are and as the Intel Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Oversight and Reform Committee have hearings--and later, there will be public hearings--we are seeing American heroes emerge.
Today, an American hero, a lieutenant colonel who earned a Purple Heart, will be testifying. Colonel Vindman listened to the conversation between President Zelensky and President Trump, and he will testify as to what happened. It won't be a memorandum; it will be what really took place on that call and why it alarmed him so much.
The administration doesn't want Colonel Vindman to testify, but he is testifying because he is a patriot, because it is his duty, and because he knows what is at stake.
What is at stake is democracy. What is at stake is our Constitution. What is at stake is our Republic.
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We have had other people testify, the Ambassador who was removed 2 months early because she refused to go along with what was taking place, and Ms. Fiona Hill. These are heroes. These are patriots.
Unfortunately, on some news networks that are mouthpieces for the administration, they have had their patriotism questioned, and they have been vilified.
This is the beginning of despotism. When heroes who come forth with proud careers of service in the State Department or the military, without a blemish on their record, and without trying to benefit financially from anybody at all, except doing their job for the United States of America, are questioned because they come forth to testify as to information that threatens our Constitution, that shows abuse of power and an effort to not comply with our Constitution and carrying out congressionally-mandated spending to protect a country fighting Russian aggression in their own territory.
These are not people like Manafort, and Flynn, and Carter Page, who wanted and got money from Ukrainians, and Turks, and Russians, and others to benefit themselves from countries that do not have our interests at heart.
So, as we live through these interesting times, let us appreciate the heroes that are emerging, giving testimony, and putting their jobs and their future security and their reputations at risk because, unfortunately, rather than being hailed as the heroes that they truly are, they are being vilified; and that is dangerous, and it is concerning to me.
Some of the people that vilify them praise people like Flynn and Manafort, who sold our country out for their own personal advancement and riches.
America, beware, and honor those who stand up for you.
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