REMEMBERING PRINCIPLES THAT BUILT AMERICA

On 2026-09-15, Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS-1) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING PRINCIPLES THAT BUILT AMERICA" in the House.

REMEMBERING PRINCIPLES THAT BUILT AMERICA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [House] [Page H5627] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING PRINCIPLES THAT BUILT AMERICA Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, as America celebrates 250 years of independence, we should remember what has made this country great for two-and-a-half centuries: faith, strong families, hard work, personal responsibility, service to our neighbors, respect for those who defend our country and our communities, and the fundamental belief that government should serve the American people, not control them. These values are alive and well in Kansas. I often say that the Big First District is the pilot light of America because the principles that built this country are still burning brightly in the communities I get to represent. Today, our country faces a clear choice about the direction we are headed. Republicans believe in securing our borders, supporting law enforcement, strengthening our military, unleashing American energy, protecting our farmers and ranchers, and allowing hardworking Americans to keep more of the money that they earn. We believe parents should have a say in their children's education. We believe government should live within its means. We believe Washington should get out of the way so families, small businesses, and communities can thrive. We have watched as, time and time again, Democrats have offered a fundamentally different vision: more government spending, higher taxes, more regulation, weaker borders, and more control in Washington. Over the last two years, Republicans have worked with President Trump to move our country in a different direction. We secured historic tax relief for working families, restored order at our southern border, cut burdensome regulations, strengthened American agriculture, and brought common sense back to Washington. There is more work to do. The decisions our country makes in November will determine whether we continue down a path of freedom, opportunity, security, and American strength, or return to the failed policies that families across Kansas continue to reject. Madam Speaker, I believe deeply in this country. The American experiment has survived for 250 years because every generation has accepted the responsibility of preserving it for the next. Our responsibility now is clear: defend freedom, restore common sense, keep government accountable to the people, and leave our children a country that is stronger, safer, and freer than the one we inherited. 100th Anniversary of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's 100th anniversary. GCSAA was founded in 1926 as the National Association of Greenkeepers of America by Colonel John Morley. GCSAA has now grown into a professional association, representing more than 20,000 members in more than 78 countries, and is headquartered in my Congressional District in Lawrence. For a century, the men and women represented by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, or GCSAA, have played an essential role in one of our Nation's favorite pastimes. They understand turf, water, soil, weather, pest management, equipment, and conservation. They manage not only the course that golfers see, but the natural resources and the ecosystems that surround it. Perhaps the best way to understand the importance of golf course superintendents is through the words of one of golf's greatest ambassadors, Arnold Palmer, who said, ``The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and all golf course superintendents are probably the most important entity that we have in golf.'' That is a powerful statement from a man who knew the game better than almost anyone. Madam Speaker, let us recognize the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America for a century of excellence and service. Let us thank the thousands of professionals who work behind the scenes to make the game possible. Let us congratulate GCSAA on 100 years of keeping the game of golf on course and its commitment to making the next 100 years even better. ____________________