Leader McCarthy and Chairman Goodlatte Announce Reading of U.S. Constitution on House Floor

Press Release

On Friday, January 9, 2015 the U.S. Constitution will be read aloud from the floor of the House of Representatives. The House Rules Package (H. Res. 5) will be adopted by the House on January 6, 2015 and will include the reading at the request of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06).

Chairman Goodlatte will lead the reading of the Constitution beginning at 9:00 a.m. The reading is open to all Members who are interested in participating and is expected to take between one and two hours. Members will read the Constitution and amendments on a first come, first served basis. Leader McCarthy and Chairman Goodlatte released the following statements about Friday's reading:

Leader McCarthy: "The Constitution tells us that we, as representatives of the people, have explicitly limited powers granted to us by the people for a short period of time. It makes clear that the people come first, and that government exists for the benefit of the people. In deference to our Constitution, Republicans began a tradition: On the House floor, at the beginning of each and every Congress, we read aloud the Constitution from the preamble to the 27th amendment. In this reading, we recommit ourselves to defending and preserving the Constitution in all of our actions as public officials."

Chairman Goodlatte: "This week Members of Congress will come together on the floor of the House of Representatives to read aloud the U.S. Constitution, the very document we as Members swear an oath to uphold. There is no better way to start the 114th Congress than by reflecting on and recommitting ourselves to the fundamental founding principles enshrined in the Constitution."

The U.S. Constitution was first read at the beginning of the 112th Congress when Republicans regained the majority.

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