[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            CONSTITUTION DAY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, September 17 is 
Constitution Day. On that day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention 
met for the first time in Philadelphia to sign the document. It was 
then sent to 13 States to ratify.
  In a speech to the Senate in 1850, Henry Clay said, ``The 
Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the 
generation that then existed, but for posterity--unlimited, undefined, 
endless, perpetual posterity.'' He has been proven correct. The 
Constitution is an enduring document--the world's longest surviving 
written charter of government.
  More than two centuries have passed and the Constitution perseveres 
with few changes despite the many challenges. The document bequeathed 
to us is the most precious gift to the United States of America--our 
status as free citizens.
  Many countries would have stopped a minister in Florida from making 
threats to burn a Koran, but even he has the rights of the 
Constitution, no matter how much we disagree with what he threatened to 
do.
  I have signed onto a measure honoring and supporting September 17, 
2010, as Constitution Day, and I would challenge all citizens to read 
their Constitution on that date each year. It will help your 
understanding and strengthen your values.

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