[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H721-H722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF AMERICAN PERSEVERANCE

  (Mr. Mann of Kansas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, 250 years ago, history was marked by patriots 
who proved that freedom belongs to the people; not the powerful.
  This year, our Nation will celebrate 2\1/2\ centuries of freedom not 
granted by kings or governments but endowed by God.
  America's story is unmatched. It is a story of perseverance, faith, 
sacrifice, and self-government. From Lexington and Concord to the 
present day, generation after generation has answered the call to 
preserve this great experiment in liberty.
  As we approach America's 250th birthday, we have much to celebrate. 
We celebrate the principles enshrined in our founding documents: 
limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and 
the rule of law. We celebrate a Constitution strong enough to endure 
great challenges, and we celebrate people who have always risen to meet 
the moment when freedom was tested. Through it all, the Nation 
persevered.
  Kansans know the story very well. Our statehood was forged in the 
fire of that very struggle. Kansas entered the Union as a free State, 
shaped by men and women who believed deeply that liberty was worth 
fighting for.
  Kansas didn't just inherit freedom; they helped to defend it. From 
the frontier to the heartland, Kansas has always stood on the side of 
opportunity, hard work, and moral clarity.
  Over the course of our Nation's history, Kansas farmers and ranchers 
helped to feed a growing nation. Kansas innovators helped to fuel our 
economy. Kansas servicemembers answered the call in every major 
conflict to protect this country at home and abroad. The values that 
built Kansas--faith, grit, service, and responsibility--are the same 
values that built America.
  Those patriotic values were embodied by Kansans like President Dwight 
D. Eisenhower and Senator Bob Dole, whose leadership helped to guide 
America through defining moments in our history and shape the course of 
the Nation.
  As we reflect on 250 years of our Nation's history, this anniversary 
is not only about looking back, but it is about looking forward and 
deciding what comes next. The next chapter of the American story 
requires strong leadership. It requires leaders who believe in this 
country, who aren't afraid to defend its principles, and who understand 
that with hard work and prayer, America's best days are yet to come.
  I am grateful that, as we approach this historic anniversary, we once 
again have strong leadership in the White House from President Donald 
Trump.
  President Trump leads with confidence in America's greatness. He 
believes in secure borders, strong families, energy dominance, and an 
economy that rewards work. He understands that, both at home and 
abroad, American strength is not something to apologize for but 
something to preserve and protect. American strength makes the world a 
better place.
  The world is watching as America is led by a President who puts our 
country first and is not afraid to stand up for the values that have 
defined us for 250 years. He believes in the American experiment, and 
his commitment to celebrating our Nation's history brings out 
patriotism in all of us.
  Mr. Speaker, America's 250th anniversary should not just be a 
celebration. It should be a recommitment: a recommitment to the ideals 
that launched this Nation; a recommitment to the Constitution that 
binds us together through popular sovereignty; a recommitment to the 
faith in God that has steered us through stormy seas time and time 
again; and a recommitment to ensuring that the next generation inherits 
a country that is freer, stronger, and more prosperous than the one we 
inherited.
  From the Big First District of Kansas to every corner of this great 
Nation, Americans are proud of our past and hopeful for our future.
  May we honor those who came before us, rise to the responsibilities 
of 250 years of independence, and ensure that the United States of 
America remains the greatest Nation on Earth for centuries to come.

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