[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3177-3178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING THE CONGRESSIONAL CONSTITUTION CAUCUS' WEEKLY CONSTITUTION 
                                  HOUR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I come here today to announce 
what we begin as hopefully a regular occurrence here on the House 
floor. Members of the Congressional Constitution Caucus will use these 
opportunities to highlight for our colleagues and for the Nation the 
need, justification, and plan to ensure that our government is 
operating consistently with our Founding Fathers' intent, and that is 
limited, leaving most authority over domestic issues to the States, 
local governments, and the people themselves.
  As the founder of this caucus, a caucus dedicated to the adherence of 
the 10th amendment, I strongly believe that this body must begin to be 
more squarely focused on these important constitutional principles that 
we have already heard tonight.

[[Page 3178]]

  Before I begin, let me express my sincere gratitude to my friend from 
Utah, who has volunteered to lead this effort here on the floor, this 
important education effort, but has also been a consistent and long-
time champion of the notion of a limited and effective and efficient 
Federal Government. He routinely fights to ensure that his home State 
and the other States as well are entrusted with the authority and 
oversight promised to them as each was admitted to this Union.
  I look forward to working with the other members of the caucus, as 
well, who share the sentiment that our Federal Government has taken far 
too much authority over programs that State governments have 
traditionally been much more effective in administering. And I invite 
my other colleagues to join with us.
  This is really as old as our Nation itself. Our founders were very 
clear when establishing our system of government. They intended to set 
up a republic of sovereign States capable of self-governing, with a 
small, central government with clearly defined and limited powers.
  Only the powers specifically limited and set out in the Constitution 
are to be administered by the Federal Government. All others are to be 
left to the States, local governments, or to the people themselves.
  Dividing sovereignty between the Federal Government and those of the 
States and localities prevents an unhealthy concentration of power at 
any one level of government, and this is something that James Madison 
in The Federalist No. 51 wrote is a ``double security'' for the people.
  Unfortunately, throughout the last few generations in particular, the 
intent of the 10th amendment, that of a limited and efficient central 
government, has basically melted away. There are those who support a 
bigger, more centralized government. They believe that a government-run 
bureaucracy can make the best decisions for the American people. They 
believe the good is in higher taxes. Well, sir, I strongly disagree. As 
a Member of the House Budget Committee, I am very much aware of where 
this leads our government, an overbloated Federal Government, consumed 
by deficits of over $400 billion that delivers sub-par public service.
  Congress on almost a daily basis allows our government to grow, to 
push us further into debt and to take away from the limits imposed on 
the historic day when the Constitution was first ratified. What every 
Member of Congress needs to ask themselves each time they slide their 
card into one of these spots and votes, they must ask, does the bill I 
am voting on violate the U.S. Constitution? Does it take away the 
rights promised to our constituents and put them in the hands of the 
bureaucracy here in D.C. instead?
  Mr. Speaker, I remind this body, the Constitution does not only 
protect the rights of the people, it also protects the rights of the 
States. This is our responsibility, to remember them when we write, 
debate and vote on legislation here in this Chamber.
  What I am urging here is not only a political philosophy that most 
would argue has drifted from the mainstream, but a most important one 
that has affected our budget, and a gloomy budget forecast it has been 
for the future.
  This is what the caucus is about, these weekly information sessions. 
It is really well past time that we turn a critical eye on to the 
Federal Government. This will be how we will lower our deficit, grow 
our economy and ensure that America remains that ``beacon on the 
Hill.''
  Now, aside from being informational, this caucus also seeks to make 
specific legislative gains in the name of governmental efficiency and 
constitutional adherence. We will support legislation that seeks to 
return power and authority back to where it belongs, to the States, to 
the local governments and to the people.
  So, to close, I look forward to working with my friend from Utah and 
other members of this caucus and other Members of this body, from both 
sides of the aisle, as we work each week in the days and weeks ahead. 
We owe nothing less to our constituents and to generations, both past 
and future, to defend this great experiment of American republicanism 
and democracy.

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