[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN CELEBRATION OF BILL OF RIGHTS 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. I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
Bill of Rights Day, which is today, December 15, 2011.
  The Bill of Rights was created to ensure a level of limited 
government. A ``parchment barrier'' was the way many of our Founding 
Fathers described documents such as the Constitution and its first 10 
amendments--the Bill of Rights.
  Our Founders viewed them as an essential guarantee on our freedoms. 
These documents would serve as a barrier to an oppressive government, 
preventing such forces from overpowering its citizenry. Our Founders 
also knew that such documents weren't worth the parchment they were 
written on unless a diligent citizenry knew of their distinct worth. 
For the protections offered under the Bill of Rights to endure, they 
knew that all citizens must understand their content and importance.
  That's why today we celebrate Bill of Rights Day--for each of us to 
better understand our Bill of Rights and to know that, without them, 
liberty cannot prosper.

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