[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 173 (Monday, October 20, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S7161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, since 1993, Congress has adopted a 
resolution to recognize this third week of October as National 
Character Counts Week, and, of course, we are in that week right now.
  As Iowa's senior U.S. Senator, I am proud to sponsor the resolution 
and share that the global headquarters for the Character Counts 
organization is located in my home State. The Robert D. and Billie Ray 
Center is located at Drake University.
  By the way, Bob Ray was Iowa's Governor for 14 years. So the location 
in Des Moines makes perfect sense to me because Iowa's values align 
with the six pillars of character promoted by the national Character 
Counts organization. These include trustworthiness, respect, 
responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
  Throughout my public service, I have strived to improve civic 
engagement and bridge divisions through respectful dialogue. Part of 
that effort includes my annual 99 county meetings, where I meet with 
Iowans face to face. No topic is off limit, and Iowans set the agenda.
  Each year, the Drake University Ray Center celebrates ``Iowa 
Character Awards'' to recognize those who embody civic values. The 
people of Spencer, IA, will receive the ``Community Character Award'' 
of 2025 in recognition of their efforts to recover from devastating 
floods the summer of last year.
  Like the courageous first responders from 9/11, emergency response 
teams from across Northwest Iowa pitched in to help the people of 
Spencer. They didn't stop to consider creed, race, gender, or political 
affiliation. They were only concerned about those who had the needs 
caused by the devastating flood. So they simply rolled up their 
sleeves, and they simply pulled together, neighbors helping neighbors. 
And, of course, that is the Iowa way.
  History tells us how important it is for elected leaders to govern by 
virtue. At the Virginia ratifying convention, debating whether or not 
Virginia should ratify the new Constitution, James Madison said:

       ``To suppose that any form of government will secure 
     liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a 
     chimerical idea.''

  The American people who elected us are counting on us to live by 
those standards. National Character Counts Week is a good time to do 
what is right.
  I yield the floor.

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