[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22911]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 29, 2009

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, Billy Stokes is the founder and senior 
partner of the law firm of Stokes, Williams, Sharp and Davies in 
Knoxville, Tennessee. He was one of the highest-ranking state officials 
during the administration of former Governor Don Sundquist.
  Like most Americans today, he is worried about our Country's future. 
He has given a lot of thought to where we are and where we are headed 
as a nation, and he has written to me with a proposal for a ``Bill of 
Rights for the New Millennium.''

                 Bill of Rights for the New Millennium


                 I. We the People of the United States:

       This means all of us;


               II. In Order to Form a More Perfect Union:

       We pledge to cooperate and communicate with members of the 
     opposing party to address and to resolve issues affecting our 
     Nation in a civil manner;
       Communication and cooperation does not require abandoning 
     our core principles;
       The Federal Government will not impose its will on state 
     and local governments;


                        III. Establish Justice:

       The right of the people to seek redress and remedy in the 
     Courts will not be impeded;
       Those who seek to demean or simply profiteer by abusing our 
     judicial system through frivolous lawsuits will not be 
     tolerated.


                    IV. Insure Domestic Tranquility:

       Lines of communication from the citizenry to the Goremment 
     will be open and welcome;
       Citizens will not be intimidated or insulted for 
     petitioning the government through their elected 
     representatives, to be heard;


                   V. Provide For the Common Defense:

       The greatest and most honorable military in the history of 
     the world will be maintained and supported;
       We will use our might to protect our freedoms and will 
     protect the USA from enemies of such freedoms, state-
     sponsored or otherwise; foreign or domestic, by all means 
     necessary;


                    VI. Promote the General Welfare:

       We will see that access to adequate healthcare is available 
     to all Americans;
       The helpless will be helped;
       Meaningful opportunities for success will be open to all 
     who are willing to work;


  VII. Secure the Blessings or Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity:

       We will support the principles of hard work that this 
     Nation is built upon;
       While taxes are necessary, hard work and success will not 
     be punished by attempts to redistribute wealth gained 
     thereby;
       We cannot and will not pile debt upon our children and 
     grandchildren;


VIII. WE WILL DEFEND AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA AT ALL TIMES.

                          ____________________