On Tuesday, Representative Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the House Chamber during President Donald Trump's (R) Address to the Joint Session of Congress for heckling and disrupting proceedings. He has been censured by the House of Representatives with a 224-198 vote.
What Happened?
Almost immediately during the Address to the Joint Session of Congress, Rep. Green stood up and began heckling President Trump, and after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) reminded Rep. Green to keep decorum, Green heckled again and again, leading the Sergeant of Arms to remove him.
Vice President JD Vance (R) was seen smiling throughout the fanfare and was physically motioning for hecklers to get out of the chamber.
Following the display, Rep. Green shared with reporters that his outbursts toward President Trump were about his belief that Trump does not have a "mandate to cut Medicaid," and that he wanted to make those thoughts known. Green acknowledged that he would face any punishment given to him.
Since then, Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the resolution to censure Green and it passed.
10 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to censure Al Green, including Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).
When a representative is censured, he or she must stand in the House well and hear the reading of the resolution as a form of public condemnation from their colleagues.
However, Democrats stood in the House well and began to sing "We Shall Overcome," a popular Civil Rights Era song. This delayed proceedings, but ultimately, Rep. Green was censured.
What Happens When A Representative Is Censured?
27 members have been censured, the most recent was former Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in 2023. The most recent was former Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in 2023.
Other than the public humiliation, there aren't any punishments that come with being censured. However, a stripping of committee assignments can occur but is not required.
