[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 105 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SERVICE, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, it is an honor and a privilege to serve 
the people of Missouri and of this great country. Those of us who were 
elected in 1994 came here with a mandate from the people to change the 
way Washington does business. We were asked to reopen the door of self-
government and to respect the liberties which have made our democracy a 
model for the world.
  With this mandate before us, I want to share with my fellow Senators 
the pledge that every Member of my office has taken. It is a pledge of 
service, of commitment, and of dedication. It is a pledge we want to 
share with the American people. I ask unanimous consent that it be 
printed in the Record. 
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             Oath of Office

       We do solemnly swear that we will support and defend the 
     Constitution of the United States against all enemies, 
     foreign and domestic; and that we will bear true faith and 
     allegiance to the same.

         Statement of Belief, Purpose, Principle, and Practice

       We dedicate ourselves to principled public policy. We 
     believe that Americans are endowed by their Creator with 
     certain unalienable Rights, and among these are life, liberty 
     and the pursuit of happiness. The power we exercise is 
     granted by Missourians and the American people; we serve to 
     secure their rights. Our commitment is to respect diverse 
     political views and serve all people by whose consent we 
     govern.
       As people of liberty reach for opportunity and achieve 
     greatness, our nation prospers. A government that lives 
     beyond its means and reaches beyond its limits violates our 
     basic liberties, and the nation suffers.
       We dedicate ourselves to quality service. America's future 
     will be determined by the character and productivity of our 
     people. In this respect, we seek to lead by our example. We 
     will strive to lead with humility and honesty. We will work 
     with energy and spirit. We will represent the American people 
     with loyalty and integrity. Our standard of productivity is 
     accuracy, courtesy, efficiency, integrity, validity, and 
     timeliness.
       We hold that these principles are a sacred mandate. We take 
     responsibility for these standards.

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