[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            CONSTITUTION DAY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in giving these remarks, I am saluting 
Senator Byrd.
  Just a few short blocks from this Capitol at the National Archives 
lies an old and yellowing document, encased under heavy glass.
  It is the Constitution of the United States, signed on this day in 
1787 by 39 brave Americans. They and their countrymen had just fought a 
war for liberty. And they understood that the highest goal of a 
government is to preserve and protect that liberty.
  The oldest delegate, Benjamin Franklin, was already revered by his 
colleagues as one of America's greatest statesmen. They wanted to hear 
his opinion on their work. Franklin told his compatriots in 
Philadelphia, ``I consent, sir, to this Constitution, because I expect 
no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best.''
  Over two centuries later, we can say proudly that the system of 
Government those great men devised is the best--simple in form, elegant 
in function, and firmly devoted to the preservation of liberty. Amended 
many times but never abandoned, our Constitution is the oldest still in 
use today.
  We celebrate, every year, the brilliant document our Founders gave us 
by marking September 17 as Constitution Day. Senator Byrd was the one 
who suggested that we do that. It is a day for all Americans, but 
especially schoolchildren, to learn more about the Constitution, to 
understand how it works, and to appreciate how it has guided our Nation 
through growth and change.
  I want to thank the senior Senator from West Virginia for sponsoring 
the legislation 4 years ago to mark this day and to celebrate this 
seminal document. We all know the love Senator Byrd has for American 
history, and the history of the Senate.
  He knows that you cannot truly understand how liberty is preserved in 
our country without understanding the Constitution. Thank you, Senator 
Byrd for your efforts.
  Constitution Day serves to promote civic awareness. In Kentucky, we 
take this charge seriously, and through important efforts like the 
Civic Literacy Initiative of Kentucky and other projects, we are 
working to increase civic awareness across the Bluegrass State.
  So on this day, we recognize the students, teachers, and community 
leaders in Kentucky and across the Nation who promote and protect the 
ideals of our glorious Constitution.
  And we say a special thanks for our men and women in uniform, who 
defend it.
  More than two centuries ago, the 39 signers of our Constitution gave 
us a more perfect Union through a document that endures and guides us 
here today. They understood, as we all must, that above all, Government 
serves to secure the blessings of liberty for the people of our great 
Nation.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I applaud my colleague for the statement he 
made. The Constitution is our guiding document in this great 
country. There isn't too much emphasis we can place on it. I respect 
the words of my colleague. I am confident that he speaks for all 
Senators.

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Dakota.

                          ____________________