[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12818-12819]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CONGRESSIONAL CONSTITUTION CAUCUS

  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 would like to begin this 
evening with a quote that I think pretty well sums up very neatly the 
theme for this week's Congressional Constitution Caucus time here on 
the floor as we are here each week at this time. That quote is: ``For 
most Americans, the Constitution has become a hazy document cited on 
ceremonial occasions, but forgotten on the daily transactions of 
life.'' Arthur Schlesinger.
  As we have come to this floor in the past and pointed out, we will 
continue into the future, until this Congress and future Congresses 
reverse the course of straying from the Constitution, straying and 
drifting away from the original intent of this constitution, that very 
finally crafted document with its sections and verses, its guidelines, 
its limitations on powers of the government

[[Page 12819]]

that it is written to impose. We do this because we realize that this 
Congress has turned from what the Founding Fathers had originally 
intended from the times of the original debates with the anti-
Federalists of the day.
  We may wonder why we have turned from this original course of this 
Nation. We wonder is it because of times and age, is it different today 
than in the past? Is it because we have lost the fact that at one time 
we were under tyrannical rule and we no longer are? Maybe.
  But perhaps, Mr. Speaker, it is because we simply don't cherish this 
document, the U.S. Constitution, like the Founders once did.
  So through these weekly constitutional hours, we are here to help 
educate, help illuminate, help to inform this body and the American 
public on the intricacies, the nuances, the rule of law, the 
circumstances and the times that inspired the Founding Fathers, all 
those things that make up the United States Constitution. It is the 
single most ingenious political document ever devised. And while we 
will continue to come to the floor to give these orations on the deeper 
meanings of this document and what this body can do to better live by 
them, tonight let me come here to stress a far simpler way to 
understand the Constitution.
  Let me simply say that we should each take the time to simply sit 
down and read it. Those who are in a position to make our Nation's laws 
should do so being fully versed in the laws that guide us here as well, 
and those are written right here in the Constitution. And that is why I 
am so proud to come and support my good friend from Texas, Mr. Conaway, 
who just spoke a little bit ago, on his bill, H.R. 883. It is a piece 
of legislation that every Member of this House should sign up in 
support of and support hopefully in September. It is the AMERICA Act of 
2006, A Modest Effort to Read and Instill the Constitution Again and 
take the commonsense approach by stating that Members of Congress take 
the oath of office to uphold the Constitution and using the powers 
delegated to them under the Constitution, so Members and staff should 
take the time periodically to sit down with that Constitution.
  And I might just say on an aside when I mention staff, there is 
member of staff of the U.S. House of Representatives who has not only 
taken time to read the Constitution, but this woman has also taken the 
time to put together a book on the Constitution. It is called ``The 
Constitution Translated For Kids.'' So if a Member of the staff can 
take the time to write a book on it and can write a book for kids to be 
able to read the Constitution, then I think it becomes the obligation 
of each Member of Congress to sit down with this Constitution as well.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Constitution is very clear on the rights that it 
protects and the protections of the guidelines for this Nation provided 
for a limited in scope and nature of Federal Government, it is vitally 
important that we write our laws and perform all of our other official 
duties with this in mind. We owe it all to our constituents as well as 
in the past and into the future. For how can we uphold the Constitution 
if we are simply unclear as to what it says?
  Our collective efforts in this Constitutional Caucus is in large part 
because we feel that the Congress has drifted beyond its constitutional 
limits. Enacting and living by recommendations of the AMERICA Act of 
2006 will be helpful to set that ship aright again.

                              {time}  2315

  It will be helpful to make sure that we abide by the Constitution.
  So I simply suggest that Members need not wait also until this 
legislation is passed by this House. They actually can do it right 
today. They can sit down and read the Constitution.
  And I make this final suggestion that if anyone is in need of a 
Constitution, feel free to contact my office and we will humbly provide 
them with one.

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