[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 22841-22842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            CONSTITUTION DAY

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 734) expressing the support for and honoring 
September 17, 2009 as ``Constitution Day,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 734

       Whereas the Constitution of the United States was signed on 
     September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 States;
       Whereas the Constitution was subsequently ratified by each 
     of the original 13 States;
       Whereas the Constitution was drafted in order to form a 
     more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic 
     tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the 
     general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for the 
     citizens of the United States;
       Whereas the Constitution has provided the means and 
     structure for this Nation and its citizens that is 
     unparalleled by any other country;
       Whereas the Constitution's contributions to the welfare of 
     the human race reach far beyond the borders of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the House of Representatives continues to strive to 
     preserve and strengthen the values and rights bestowed by the 
     Constitution upon the United States and its citizens;
       Whereas the Constitution is recognized by many to be the 
     most significant and important document in history for 
     establishing freedom and justice through democracy;
       Whereas the Constitution deserves the recognition, respect, 
     and reverence of all people in the United States;
       Whereas every person in the United States should celebrate 
     the freedom and responsibilities of the Constitution;
       Whereas the preservation of such values and rights in the 
     hearts and minds of United States citizens would be advanced 
     by official recognition of the signing of the Constitution; 
     and
       Whereas September 17, 2009, is designated as ``Constitution 
     Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses support for the goals and ideals of 
     ``Constitution Day''; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  On behalf of the Oversight Committee, I now present House Resolution 
734 for consideration. This resolution expresses support for the goals 
and ideals embodied in Constitution Day. House Resolution 734 was 
introduced on September 10, 2009, by my colleague, Representative 
Robert Latta of Ohio, and favorably reported out of the Oversight 
Committee on September 24, 2009. In addition, this resolution enjoys 
the support of over 60 Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 734 expresses our support for 
Constitution Day, which is routinely celebrated on September 17. Eleven 
years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 55 
delegates from the first American States came together in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, to create a Constitution for a Federal Republic. After 
much hard work and careful deliberation, the Constitution of the United 
States was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 
States.
  As the supreme law of the United States, the Constitution provides 
the basic structure for the organization of the American Government. It 
is no exaggeration to say that the United States Constitution is one of 
the most important documents in history, often referred to as a living 
document. This framework from our representative and democratic system 
of government has served the American people for over 200 years, making 
it the oldest Federal Constitution still in use in the world. With its 
separation of powers, its checks and balances and preservation of 
rights, the Constitution is a worthy example to burgeoning democracies 
everywhere.
  Furthermore, the values and principles it enshrines continue to be 
central to our Nation's identity. I am sure my colleagues share my 
pride in serving, protecting, and defending the United States 
Constitution, and I am pleased that we are taking the opportunity today 
to honor this most treasured document of our democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House 
Resolution 734.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my

[[Page 22842]]

distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio, the author of H. Res. 
734, Mr. Latta.
  Mr. LATTA. I thank my colleague.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 734, which I 
introduced on September 10, honoring and supporting Constitution Day. I 
have always been grateful that so many of our country's greatest 
leaders and statesmen were able to be on Earth at the same time and 
place to draft the Constitution. Within this document are the 
fundamental principles of the American system of liberty. Our 
Constitution has been that beacon upon the hill, that guiding star at 
night in that shining city that millions of people around the world 
have long been guided by within their own countries.
  The Constitution took 4 hard, acrimonious months from May to 
September 1787 to actually bring it to fruition through their hard 
labor. Again, the citizens that attended the convention in Philadelphia 
were some of our greatest leaders and scholars of government and 
history: Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Morris, and Washington. Many 
different ideas were brought to the convention. Were they only 
empowered to amend the Articles of Confederation? There is great debate 
about that. Could they go farther and start from scratch? Many a 
discussion was held in Philadelphia's boarding houses and taverns.
  These members began debates on creating three branches of government: 
legislative, executive, and judicial. James Madison, the Father of our 
Constitution, was one of the first to arrive in Philadelphia, and he 
brought with him his specifically researched ideas while others had 
theirs. You know, it turned out to be a very hot summer that year. 
There was no air conditioning. Secrecy was enforced. The proceedings 
mandated that all windows and doors be shut. Tempers flared, but 
through it all they worked because these men knew that they were 
creating a document that would be there for a Nation and for the ages.
  The birth of a new Nation was being watched by the powers around the 
world. As mentioned, 55 delegates attended the Constitution Convention 
with 39 of them signing the document. What emerged was a document 
containing 4,400 words. The story goes that when asked what kind of new 
government was formed, Benjamin Franklin replied, ``A Republic, if you 
can keep it.'' The Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written 
constitution of any form of government in the world.
  Again, personally I marvel at what these individuals did and what 
they could accomplish in 4 months. Today, citizens should look to 
guidance from our Forefathers. All Americans should read this great 
document because, since the Constitution's ratification, it has been 
the framework for our great Nation. Not only did great men bring forth 
great ideas, but for 222 years, this great experiment that we call 
America has been paid for by hundreds of thousands of lives, the lives 
of our brave military men and women. Let the living always remember to 
give thanks to our honored dead, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice 
that the Constitution of the United States remains our guiding light.
  Too few citizens today have read this important document and 
understand its importance. It is short, and it should be learned, and 
it should be studied. The preamble of our document states that ``We the 
People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, 
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of 
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this 
Constitution for the United States of America.'' The words ``We the 
People'' affirm that any power of the Federal Government is given to by 
the people of this great land, and we in Congress must always remember 
that.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time, and 
I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the passage of H. 
Res. 734, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 734, which expresses support for and honors September 17, 
2009, as ``Constitution Day.'' September 17 is the day that our United 
States Constitution was signed in 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 States, 
including from Connecticut, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott, and 
Roger Sherman, whose statue resides in the crypt of this Capitol 
building.
  My home State of Connecticut has a strong and proud connection to the 
founding principles and documents of this country. Roger Sherman was 
the only man to sign the Articles of Association, the Declaration of 
Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. 
Connecticut itself is known as the Constitution State, for its 
enactment of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the first written 
constitution of its kind.
  The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was adopted by the Connecticut 
Colony in 1639 and established a government for the Connecticut Colony, 
based on the yearly election of a governor and six magistrates, two 
from each town in the colony. These officials were chosen by the count 
of a written vote, and all freedmen who resided in the colony and had 
taken an oath of fidelity were eligible to cast their vote.
  The Fundamental Orders established limits on the powers of 
government, emphasizing the power of the people to elect their leaders 
and act against them should those leaders ignore their concerns. 
Further, it defined the operating procedures of a government 
established by the people, of the people, and for the people, ensuring 
each elected magistrate a vote in matters of governance, and the 
governor a vote only in the event of a tie.
  Many of the principles in the eleven sections of the Fundamental 
Orders of Connecticut later were echoed in the familiar cadences of our 
great Constitution, which continues to represent the American ideal of 
a government consisting of a body of officials elected by the people to 
serve in their best interests.
  It was Roger Sherman's ``Connecticut Compromise,'' made during the 
Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which ensured fair representation for 
large and small States in the 
bicameral legislature which defines our body of Congress.
  As a high school history teacher, I had the privilege of studying, 
learning, and teaching the Constitution. It is the innovation and 
undiminished endurance of the ideals of our Constitution for which I 
rise in support of House Resolution 734 to express support for and 
honor September 17, 2009, as ``Constitution Day.''
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their remarks and 
support of this resolution. I urge them to support Mr. Latta and his 
lead sponsorship of this resolution in support of the goals and ideals 
of Constitution Day, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
House Resolution 734.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 734, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A resolution expressing 
support for the goals and ideals of `Constitution Day'''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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