Congressional Record/Volume 167/Issue 4/House
House of Representatives
The House met at noon and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Swalwell).
DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
The Speaker pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker:
Washington, DC,
January 6, 2021.
I hereby appoint the Honorable Eric Swalwell to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day.
Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
PRAYER
The Chaplain, Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer:
O God, our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of discord and trouble. Mountains crumble, waters rage, nations roar, and yet we need not be afraid, for even now You abide with us in these times of great discord, uncertainty, and unrest.
We, who have pledged to defend our Constitution against all enemies, we pray Your hedge of protection around this Nation. Defend us from those adversaries, both foreign and domestic, outside these walls and perhaps within these Chambers, who sow seeds of acrimony to divide colleagues and conspire to undermine trust in Your divine authority over all things.
The journey of this experiment in democracy is perilous and demanding, fraught with anger and discontent. But wise rulers still seek You.
So help us, God, to find You in the midst of us.
So help us, God, to see Your gracious plan even in the events of these days.
So help us, God, to serve You and this Nation with Godliness and dignity.
We lay before You the gifts of our hopes, our dreams, our deliberations, and our debates, that You would be revealed and exalted among the people.
We pray these things in the strength of Your holy name.
Amen.
THE JOURNAL
The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to section 5(a)(1)(A) of House Resolution 8, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings is approved.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Speaker pro tempore. Will the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Mann led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE TO COUNT ELECTORAL VOTES
The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, and the order of the House of January 4, 2021, the Chair announces the Speaker’s appointment of two Members as tellers on the part of the House to count the electoral votes:
The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren); and
The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE
The Speaker pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Clerk of the House of Representatives:
Office of the Clerk,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, January 5, 2021.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Speaker: Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, I have the honor to transmit a sealed envelope received from the White House on January 5, 2021 at 5:05 p.m., said to contain a message from the President regarding additional steps addressing the threat posed by applications and other software developed or controlled by Chinese companies.
With best wishes, I am,
- Sincerely,
Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk of the House.
ADDRESSING THE THREAT POSED BY APPLICATIONS AND OTHER SOFTWARE DEVELOPED OR CONTROLLED BY CHINESE COMPANIES—MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 117–6)
RECESS
The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until approximately 12:55 p.m. today.
Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 6 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
□ 1255
AFTER RECESS
The recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker at 12 o’clock and 55 minutes p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker. As the House comes to order for this important, historic meeting, let us be reminded that each side, House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, each have 11 Members allowed to be present on the floor. Others may be in the gallery. This is at the guidance of the Attending Physician and the Sergeant at Arms.
The gentlemen on the Republican side of the aisle will please observe social distancing and the agreement to have 11 Members on each side so that we can honor the responsibility to this Chamber of this House of Representatives.
Please exit the floor if you do not have an assigned role from your leadership. You can share with your staff if you want to have a few more, but you cannot be that close together on the floor of the House with that many people in here.
I thank the Senate, and the Democrats and Republicans, for following the rules.