[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4016-H4017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CHARACTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reflect on 
moral character, which is essential to the promise of America in order 
for us to flourish.
  I am reminded that we stand on the shoulders of so many who have gone 
before us and impacted our lives in many ways--members of our greatest 
generation--who bravely fought tyranny and oppression during World War 
II. They were driven by honor, duty, and country. They were selfless, 
not drawing attention to themselves or seeking to be a celebrity or a 
hero. They are the models for character that we must always celebrate 
and remember. They would never admit it, but they are heroes, heroes 
for bravely and humbly doing their part to protect our freedom.
  Madam Speaker, why is character so important? Why does it matter? It 
is because our character--who we are and the decisions that we make 
when we are tested--is foundational to the rule of law.
  In this body, we talk a lot about the Constitution, our God-given 
rights, bills and laws, checks and balances, the rules and the 
procedures that govern debate, the branches that make up this 
government, and so on. All of these pieces of our government are 
significant, but they are lifeless and have no meaning without the 
spirit of good faith.
  If we, representatives of the people, don't lead with moral 
character, America doesn't stand a chance against corruption and the 
breakdown of trust with the people we serve. It is on us, each one of 
us, doing our part for what is righteous, what is just, and for what 
will keep America free.
  President Reagan once said:

       Freedom isn't passed down to us in the bloodstream; it has 
     to be fought for.

  In other words, freedom involves choices, and that is precisely why 
character matters.
  Every single day, every single moment, our character is tested. In 
politics, it is tested by the temptations of power, palace intrigue, 
ambition, and personalities.
  I won't blame either side of the aisle, Madam Speaker, but these are 
the smoldering fires that burn around us that threaten our institutions 
and our laws.
  Did you know that only 3 percent of Americans trust the government 
will do the right thing--3 percent. Forty-six percent of Americans say 
that they have very little confidence in Congress. That is a crisis of 
confidence, and it is a call for reformation of character, so that 
people will trust and can trust that their representatives will always 
act in good faith on their behalf.
  Again, it starts with us being better examples, not for the glory or 
the recognition, but because it is the right thing to do. We must be 
countercultural to the divisiveness that has taken hold of modern 
politics today. That means stopping the blame game, honoring another's 
argument, even when we disagree, and acknowledging, and even 
celebrating, our differences without attacking the other side's 
character. That is the way that we will come together to find out how 
we can make tough decisions without kicking the can down the road.
  I fear what may come if things do not change. As Abraham Lincoln 
famously said, ``A House divided against itself cannot stand.'' The 
strength of our Nation, our Constitution, our laws, and our 
institutions have no greater guardians than us. It is this government 
of

[[Page H4017]]

the people, by the people, and for the people.
  We must take this responsibility seriously or, again, we won't have a 
fighting chance to rebuild the trust of ``we, the people'' and keep the 
promise of America alive. I have said it before in the well of this 
House: this is the promise that will keep us free and empower the next 
generation to shine. For their sake, our character, the spirit that 
leads us to do what is right and just, must be our guide so our House 
will forever stand.

                          ____________________