[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 29, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1719-H1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1900
CELEBRATING FAITH MONTH
(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mrs. Miller
of Illinois was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the
majority leader.)
General Leave
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this
Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in recognition
of Faith Month, a time that we set aside each year in this body to
share the importance of our faith and how it inspires us in public
service.
We just celebrated the greatest event in human history: the
resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When Christ ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, he
promised that the Holy Spirit would comfort and guide us. He also left
us with Scripture that provides answers to every problem we face.
Our Founding Fathers acknowledged the importance of God's Word and
the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
In his ``Notes on the State of Virginia,'' Thomas Jefferson wrote:
``God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a
Nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a
conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift
of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I
tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His
justice cannot sleep forever.''
Our first freedom, religious liberty, even finds its roots in
Scripture in that God gives every man and woman the freedom to accept
or reject His free gift of salvation.
Patrick Henry acknowledged that: ``It cannot be emphasized too
strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by
religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been
afforded asylum, prosperity, and the freedom of worship here.''
When the Constitutional Convention was about to fail, Benjamin
Franklin called the delegates to prayer and declared: ``I have lived,
sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I
see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a
sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable
that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in
the sacred writings that `except the Lord build the House, they labor
in vain that build it.'
``I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without His
concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better
than the builders of Babel.''
You can't design a building without a firm foundation, and that is
why our Founders made sure our Republic was founded on Judeo-Christian
principles.
The Bible contains the answer to every major political issue we face,
whether it be life, marriage, family, or the difference between a man
and a woman.
The Bible gives warnings to nations, governments, and rulers on how
to properly lead its citizens. The Bible teaches us how to treat each
other with dignity and respect and provides the ultimate source of
purpose and contentment: a life committed to Jesus Christ.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank my very good friend (Mrs.
Miller of Illinois), a very strong lady of faith, for this Special
Order. We really appreciate this.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to recognize and to celebrate what we call
Faith Month, a time when we proudly and openly give voice to the faith
that strengthens and sustains so many of us who serve up here and all
across this great Nation of ours, both here in Congress and, as I said,
the United States of America that was built, as my good friend Mrs.
Miller said, based on the Judeo-Christian Bible and faith that we were
handed by our forefathers.
America was built on this foundation, as she said, of religious
liberty: the very first freedom enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Our
Founders understood that faith was not just a private matter but a
powerful force for good in public life.
I get so weary of hearing people say: Oh, we don't want to hear about
politics in church or we don't want to hear about church in Congress.
Well, politics in church has become something--if it has to do with
morals and good and evil, then it is not politics, folks. That is
church.
We will talk about this very thing. It says right there before us:
``In God We Trust.'' We know where our Forefathers stood on this issue.
Without a doubt, we are going to continue this great thing called the
United States of America and what we were built on.
We will honor this tradition. We recognize that faith is not
something to be hidden away but is something to be lived out boldly and
with joy. The Scripture reminds us that we are called to be a light on
a hill, not to hide this light under a basket but to let it shine for
all to see.
Each of us comes from very different backgrounds here and with very
different traditions, but the thread of faith that is woven through the
fabric of our national story, we must always remember to honor that.
Our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our Declaration of
Independence are built on those principles, those Biblical principles.
From prayers whispered on battlefields long ago to hymns sung in
chapels, from the simple faith of farmers to the heartfelt petitions of
families, faith has carried America through many, many trials, through
triumphs and every moment in between, win or lose. Sometimes we profit
when we lose, because we learn and we make ourselves better people that
way.
During this Faith Month, I am very proud to stand alongside my
colleagues right here and speak of my Christian faith right on this
very floor.
I encourage every other Member to please join us to lift up the faith
that guides us, to celebrate the freedom that protects us, and to
remember that enduring truth that has been proclaimed from generation
to generation: ``Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.''
May we never take our religious freedom for granted, may we steward
it wisely, and may we always seek to lead, to serve, and to govern with
humility, with conviction, and that unwavering faith.
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, our Founding Fathers, including
George Washington, did not shy away from expressing their religious
beliefs.
In 1854, Congress made the statement: ``The great, vital and
conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the
pure doctrines and the divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.''
That is Congress, 1854.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs.
Harshbarger).
Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak
on faith tonight.
You know, the Bible so beautifully defines faith. In Hebrews 11:1, it
says: ``Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of
things not seen.''
This Nation is in the midst of spiritual warfare--make no bones about
it--for the soul of not only America but for the world. There is an
assault on Christianity, and we have to be diligent in sharing our
faith if we profess to be Christians.
As my colleague, Mr. Babin, just quoted, Psalm 33:12 declares:
``Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.'' America is a Nation
that is blessed, in
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large part, because we are rooted in Judeo-Christian values.
I want to speak about faith as it pertains to politics. During the
earliest beginnings of our Nation, it was abundantly evident that
Christianity played a formative role in shaping our Nation's founding.
Christian principles shaped the Founders' thinking in a profound way.
They believed that humans are created in the image of God with an
informed conscience of what is right and what is wrong. They believed
that humans are inherently sinful, and because of that, we always would
need laws and a system of checks and balances. They believed God is the
source of moral standards and that legislation should be in agreement
with the moral law. They believed that religious liberty is a God-given
right and must be protected.
There was a British politician who served in the late 1700s, early
1800s. He was against the slave trade, and he devoted his life to
promoting Christian values. His name was William Wilberforce. He wrote:
``I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having
such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess.
Faith is a subject of such importance that we should not ignore it
because of the distractions or the hectic pace of our lives.''
He goes on to say: ``I would suggest that faith is everyone's
business. The advance or decline of faith is so intimately connected to
the welfare of a society that it should be a particular interest to a
politician.''
Being a Christian in a secular society is not an easy task, but we
have examples who left benchmarks for not just our country to follow
but for the world to follow.
This generation of leaders has a tremendous opportunity to leave a
Christ-honoring legacy that can possibly change not only our country
but the world. We should let our faith be the catalyst for every
decision that we make.
I am thankful, as a Christian, I can share my faith from a platform
that very few people will ever have the opportunity to share from, and
that is right here in the House of Representatives.
Wilberforce's work is an example to generations going forward to
integrate faith, reason and courage into our engagement with those we
have been called to serve.
I am honored to be part of Faith Month ``for such a time as this.''
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is such a privilege to be
able to meet with you and other legislators to pray for our Nation.
To quote another one of our Founding Fathers, Patrick Henry,
Revolutionary general, legislator, the voice of liberty, ratifier of
the U.S. Constitution, and Governor of Virginia. He said:
``Righteousness alone can exalt America as a Nation. Whoever thou art,
remember this and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage
it in others.''
One of the verses that I came to Washington, D.C., with to be a plumb
line for me, to remind me, is II Corinthians 5:9: So whether we are at
home or away--this is the Apostle Paul--we make it our aim to please
Him, knowing that we are going to give an account for what we have done
in our bodies whether for good or for evil.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), my
good friend.
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Miller for her outward
expression of faith and for being such a light here in this body to all
of us, for her leadership and also putting together this Special Order
tonight recognizing Faith Month.
Today, we are not only connected through our positions as public
servants but also by the moral fabric of our Nation. This fabric is our
Christian faith which ties together the sacrifice of our Founding
Fathers with the dedication of today's leaders.
Faith Month holds profound significance across this land, serving as
an all-encompassing reminder of the spiritual guidance that shapes our
lives and the variety of beliefs that enrich our Nation and our
Nation's rich heritage.
{time} 1915
I believe that our Constitution is God-breathed, and so I ask the
question: Where is our Nation today?
I am a member of a ministry, The LEAD HOUSE, and we are reading
through the scriptures for, I think, our fourth year in a row.
We are in Judges right now. When you read Judges, God appointed
judges to bring about rule and obedience among Israel because, every
time that a judge passed on, Israel turned from God. Every time they
turned from God, they were attacked. In fact, it was so bad that the
Mennonites actually hid in caves in the hills. Every time, they cried
out to God. Of course, we are reading about Gideon this week.
Yet, the one thing that, I think, captures our faith is a story I
heard on Easter Sunday from our pastor in our church, and that is the
story of the crucifixion. After the crucifixion, there were 11
disciples who went away, and they feared for their lives. In fact, they
hid in a room.
Resurrection was 3 days later. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the
grave.
What that did for those 11 disciples was it gave them the power over
death. They became fearless. They started a movement that the Roman
Empire feared and were severely persecuted.
I tell you that, on Easter Sunday, over a third of the world
celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Roman Empire no
longer exists. That is the power of the resurrection, and that is the
power of faith.
As I reflect on these timeless teachings of the Bible, I am reminded
of the divine wisdom in Exodus. In those sacred passages, God
established laws and governance to uphold justice and righteousness.
Just as Moses, the only full face here, looks down on this body today
and as we look at the flag, In God We Trust, really?
Do our actions actually align with the purpose that God set before us
of restraining evil and promoting good in our society? What this proves
is our belief in God must be reflected and represented in our daily
lives, not simply spoken.
We are a nation founded in the Judeo-Christian value of family.
Joshua 18 is one of the greatest promises in the scriptures. God told
Joshua, who, of course, followed Moses:
``Do not let this book of law depart from your lips. Be careful to do
what it says, meditate on it night and day, and you will be prosperous
and successful.''
This is the first book in the Bible that I memorized, and I say it
every day. What I have discovered in my time here in Congress and in
business and whatnot is that, unlike when I grew up, we have become a
Bible-illiterate culture.
Why do we meditate on God's Word? Like Abraham, whose faith was
credited to him as righteousness, we must trust in God's promises. They
are abundant throughout his scriptures, and we must live obediently to
His Word, or America will end up like Rome.
Let us seek God's blessing and protection as we navigate through the
complexities of governance, acknowledging his sovereignty over all
things.
It is during this time of such division that I often lean on the
words of Mark 3:24, reminding us that a kingdom divided against itself
cannot stand. America is at a tipping point. It is through our
collective faith and drawing near to the Word of God that we find the
path to unity, truth, and freedom.
During this special month, we are reminded of the profound impact of
our faith. It is the beacon of hope, guiding us through life's trials
and triumphs, and it unites us in a bond stronger than any earthly tie.
I hope those watching me tonight will join with me and reaffirm our
commitment to worship the Lord and to draw strength and inspiration by
meditating on His Word morning and night and be careful to do what it
says.
May God bless each of us abundantly and guide our Nation as we walk
in faith and righteousness, and may we never forget that we are, in
fact, one nation under God.
Mr. Speaker, may God's grace be with us all.
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Allen
for his faithfulness to show up to pray together for our country and to
always be bold to share his faith.
I also thank the gentleman for the compliment that I am a light out
here, but I do say along with the First Book of Peter 2:9: `` . . .
proclaim the
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excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light.''
What is the darkness? The darkness is sin. It is what has afflicted
mankind since the Garden of Eden, and it causes humans to be self-
consumed, rebellious, and foolish. Yet, we should draw near to the Lord
and come boldly to his throne in time of need.
Hebrews says: ``Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman),
my good friend.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I am
honored to be able to speak here and that Congresswoman Miller has
yielded me time to talk about Faith Month here.
When our country was founded, John Adams said that our country was
made for a moral and religious people and totally unfit for every other
kind.
We, therefore, must be especially concerned--and I realize there are
many good people who do not go to church--that church attendance has
fallen so overwhelmingly in the last 40 years, particularly in the last
20 years. I believe it has fallen 25 percent in a very short period of
time.
I think we should be very concerned that the number of people who say
that they don't believe in God of any sort has, from the statistics
that I have seen in the Gallup poll, gone up by about 9 to 1 over the
last 40 years.
Our country will be protected if we turn to God and ask for
forgiveness. We will be given the wisdom and the good fortune to make
our country the Bible-believing country that it has been through most
of our history. We will get back to the moral country that we all
envision the United States to be.
However, if we continue to go down the path of rejecting God and just
thinking that all the wonderful blessings that we have are going to
show up automatically, we will be in deep trouble.
I, like the other speakers tonight, ask the American people to ask
for forgiveness and ask for God's wisdom and ask us to make the
appropriate decisions that America again become the moral and religious
country that John Adams wanted us to be.
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his
comments.
Mr. Speaker, I remind everybody again that our Founding Fathers did
not shy away from sharing their faith.
Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Surgeon
General of the Continental Army, ratifier of the American Constitution,
father of American medicine, Treasurer of the U.S. Mint, father of
public schools under the Constitution, said: ``By renouncing the Bible,
philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects. It is
the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published.''
Daniel Webster said: ``The Bible is a book . . . which teaches man
his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality
with his fellow man.''
``Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.''
``The Christian religion--its general principles--must ever be
regarded among us as the foundation of civil society.''
I conclude by saying that I begin almost every morning by reading
Psalm 25, and I encourage us as a country to read that and pray over
it. I have almost gotten it memorized.
Psalm 25 reads:
``To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust; let me
not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who
wait on You shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are
wantonly treacherous. Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your
paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my
salvation; for You, I wait all the day long.''
God's Word unites, and I believe this body would function a lot
better if we took a little time each morning to pray and meditate on
this Psalm. It is Psalm 25.
What a privilege that we get to share our faith on the floor of the
United States House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I thank each of my colleagues for participating in this
year's Faith Month Special Order. I especially thank the ladies of
Concerned Women for America for their work in sharing their faith
across our great Nation.
Mr. Speaker, may God continue to bless our Nation, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
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