Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon, thank you very much Mr. Mayor for your kind words of welcome, Mr. Cuellar for your kind invitation to be here and for your tremendous leadership in the Congress of the United States. I love coming here, in this week that we observe the births of our Presidents, in particular, George [Washington] our founding father, and our founding mother, George Washington and Martha Washington. Since the first time I came here for this observance, I have bragged about how patriotic Laredo is – a city that is 96 percent Hispanic. That’s a source of great pride. But to be that proud of heritage, but deeply patriotic is an all-American ideal. And I like to tell people all around the country, you may have been to observances of Washington’s birthday or President’s day, but until you’re in Laredo, that week to see the series of events, the great emphasis that is placed on it you haven’t seen the most patriotic observances of our founding father and founding mother.

Congressman Castro.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you for joining us on this very important topic today.  Not too long ago this morning I filed H.J. Res 46, the privileged resolution that will give the Congress the opportunity to vote on terminating the national emergency declaration that President Trump declared to fund his border wall. 

“The Trump Administration’s Gag Rule strikes a staggering blow to women’s basic health rights. This outrageous assault on the health care of vulnerable and underserved women and families would choke off their access to affordable contraception, critical health information and preventive health care, gravely undermining the health and strength of America.

“Hi, I’m Congresswoman Lucy McBath and I’m proud to represent Georgia’s 6th Congressional District.

President Trump’s emergency declaration proclamation undermines the separation of powers and Congress’s power of the purse, a power exclusively reserved by the text of the Constitution to the first branch of government, the Legislative branch, a branch co-equal to the Executive.

Speaker Pelosi.  Good morning, everyone.  Very honored to be here with the distinguished delegation from the Congress of the United States.  This is only part of the representation from our country that has been in Europe in the past several days. 

“Our delegation’s visit came at a critical time for the United States, NATO and the European Union.