[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5325-H5326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CONSTITUTION WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Massie) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, the Constitution of the United States of 
America, is the guardian of our liberties. It embodies the principles 
of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law.
  September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the framing of the 
Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention.
  It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this 
magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic 
celebrations which will commemorate it.
  To honor this year's Constitution Week, I ask my fellow citizens and 
my colleagues here to reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the 
Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms 
guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties.
  Moreover, don't forget, Madam Speaker, the Constitution does not give 
us rights, and it does not grant us rights. The Constitution seeks to 
bind our government and protect our God-given rights.
  I extend my sincerest gratitude to the members of the John Guill-
Polly Hawkins Craig Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the 
American Revolution for their steadfast commitment to honoring the 
history of our great Nation and for hosting a Constitution Week 
celebration for my constituents.


                         Continuing Resolution

  Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, we are told today that we are going to 
vote on a continuing resolution with another bright, shiny object 
attached to it.
  I feel like this legislation is insincere and unserious.
  Now, why is it unserious?
  It is unserious because we are cramming all government spending into 
one bill, and instead of deciding what to spend on, we are saying: 
Let's just spend at least as much as we spent last year and not worry 
about running any of these bills through committee or debating how much 
we should spend on things.
  It is also unserious because we spent 2 years uncovering deficiencies 
in our government. We have been stonewalled by the FBI and the 
Department of Justice with that familiar refrain: Oh, Mr. Congressman, 
that is the subject of an ongoing investigation, and it is our 
longstanding policy not to comment on that.
  They can say that in a press release, but they shouldn't be saying 
that to Congress. However they get away with it because we don't cut 
their spending every time they do that to us.
  If we would withhold the ink cartridge for one printer at the FBI, 
they would come to heel. Yet we are not going to do that in this bill, 
this continuing resolution. It is just unserious.
  It is also very insincere. It is an insult to the American people. It 
is an insult to their intelligence to bring this bill to the floor 
because it sets up a fake fight that we all know here is fake. Somebody 
come down here and tell me it is not fake. You all know it is fake.
  Here is what is even more insincere about it: The compromise has 
already been reached in a smoke-filled backroom here. They already know 
what we are going to do. It is going to be a clean CR when we get to 
September 30.
  What is the deal they have reached?
  It is the same deal they reach every year: We will let you spend a 
few billion dollars more if you let us spend a few billion dollars 
more.
  In fact, what we should be doing is correcting this country's course. 
We are on a course to financial ruin.
  I ask my colleagues: When history looks back, how will it judge you 
for what you do today on this vote?
  Will it say: Oh, well, this is a person who was unserious and 
insincere, and

[[Page H5326]]

instead of making the tough arguments and having the tough discussions 
with their voters decided to go along to get along on the path to 
financial ruin or will you be one of the people who stands up and says: 
This is unsustainable. We must stop it. I will not engage in a fake 
fight. I will not be part of this political theater.
  Will you stand your ground?
  Will you be one of those people?
  I hope you will.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the continuing 
resolution with the fake shiny object attached to it.

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