[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13996]
[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, I rise today to commend 
each American who celebrated Constitution Day, which was last Saturday, 
September 17.
  Over the past few decades, many Americans have expressed disgust with 
our out-of-control reach of government and erosion of the very freedoms 
that we claim to protect.
  The powers of Congress are clearly laid out in article I, which is 
the most expansive article of the Constitution for a reason. Our 
Founding Fathers fully intended for power to rest with the people, in a 
legislative body.
  I'm proud to say that during this Congress, the House has taken 
significant steps to restate its constitutional authority and has given 
an earnest attempt to returning to a constitutional government.
  One example is the TRAIN Act on the floor this week, legislation 
intended to rein in the executive branch's gross regulatory overreach. 
From the debt limit debate to each spending bill considered on the 
floor, this process has been about more than just our need for fiscal 
reform. It's about the timeless principles of freedom, justice, and 
opportunity that have provided America with 224 years of prosperity and 
the future promise of our Nation, if we continue to hold these 
principles dear.

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