Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration's removal of United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 850 Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration’s removal of United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration’s re- moval of United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Alex- ander Vindman from the National Security Council. Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman serves our country honorably and selflessly; Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman is a Purple Heart recipient and an Iraq war veteran with multiple military honors; Whereas, on November 19, 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Alex- ander Vindman testified, under subpoena, before the Per- manent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives about President Trump’s July 25 tele- phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:12 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR850.IH HR850 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 850 IH and his concerns about the call, which he reported to his superiors; Whereas at the hearing, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman said ‘‘I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honor to advance and defend our country, irrespec- tive of party or politics.’’; Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and his twin brother, Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, were re- moved from the National Security Council on February 7, 2020, in an apparent act of retaliation; Whereas the Office of the President of the United States should seek to preserve the political neutrality of the Federal Government; and Whereas blatant attempts to govern by fear, exemplified by the unwarranted and politically motivated termination of two qualified, distinguished, and dedicated public serv- ants has no place in a Nation ruled by laws: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) the actions taken by the Trump administra- 3 tion to seek retribution from witnesses of the House 4 impeachment inquiry is a cruel attack on all public 5 servants, creating fear in the United States Govern- 6 ment; 7 (2) the Trump administration must imme- 8 diately end retribution of all witnesses of the House 9 impeachment inquiry; and 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:12 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR850.IH HR850 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 850 IH (3) the Trump administration should uphold its 1 responsibility to democratic values of the United 2 States. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:12 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR850.IH HR850 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS