Introduction of the America Resolution

INTRODUCTION OF THE AMERICA RESOLUTION -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 18, 2008)

* Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, yesterday was Constitution Day. On that day, 221 years ago in a cramped hall in Philadelphia, 39 men signed their names to a document that would forever change the course of human events.

* The United States Constitution is one of the most remarkable covenants ever authored by man. Grounded firmly in the Age of Enlightenment, the Constitution gave physical form to the radical ideas of Montesquieu, Locke, and Paine, who believed that the rights of man come from God and that legitimate governments arise from the consent of the governed. Our Founding Fathers blended these philosophies with common sense and tough compromises to create a new form of government dedicated to the ideas of liberty, the rule of law, civic responsibility, and popular sovereignty.

* For over 200 years, the ideas the Founders wove through our Constitution have been considered sacred. Each Constitution Day presents us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the extraordinary document these men drafted to provide us with a unified and stable Nation. In their wisdom, they sought to protect the rights and liberties of individuals by dividing power and authority between the States and the national government. The result is a system of shared roles designed to prevent any one element from gaining too much power.

* Yet today, the document at the very foundation of our Republic is often considered only as an afterthought during our debates. Even though every Member, staffer, and officer of the House of Representatives has taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution and to bear true faith and allegiance to it, too often we ignore its many constraints on our authority in the name of political expediency.

* It is essential that we never forget the guiding principles established in our Constitution and that is why yesterday I introduced the AMERICA Resolution, A Modest Effort to Read and Instill the Constitution Again.

* The AMERICA resolution requires all staff and officers of the House to read the Constitution once a year and encourages all Members of Congress to do the same. Just as we require Members and staff to know how to act ethically, we should require Members and staff to know how to act constitutionally.

* It is my hope that this small yearly effort will renew and deepen our appreciation for the genius of the Constitution and the divisions and constraints on power contained within it. The AMERICA Resolution is meant to remind lawmakers, and our staff that advises us, to stay within our country's founding framework as we conduct legislative business.

* Today I call on all Members of Congress to join me and rededicate ourselves to our founding principles of limited, constrained governance as enshrined in our Constitution. By studying our founding document, we will continue the legacy of these great men and their groundbreaking ideas, as well as develop the habits of citizenship that keep the Constitution alive and relevant for a new generation of Americans.

* I urge you all to join me and support the AMERICA Resolution.

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