Rep. Cleaver’s Statement on Vote to Oust Kevin McCarthy From Speakership
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after voting in favor of the motion to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“When Democrats had an identical majority in the House of Representatives just one year ago, Speaker Pelosi reached across the aisle to pass historic legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, Honoring Our PACT Act, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Respect for Marriage Act, National Defense Authorization Act, and so much more—because the American people sent us to Washington to deliver real results for our communities.
“However, since the opening of the 118th Congress, Kevin McCarthy has actively opposed bipartisanship in the People’s House, fomented chaos and crises by kowtowing to the most extreme members of his caucus, and failed to follow through on the most basic of bipartisan agreements time and time again.
“The American people deserve leaders that will put families before political theater and partisan brinksmanship—which is something Speaker McCarthy has proven incapable of doing. I could not in good conscience support such an individual for the esteemed position of Speaker.”
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.