Floor SpeechCeremonial2024-09-18

CONSTITUTION WEEK

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On 2024-09-18, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) delivered a floor speech titled "CONSTITUTION WEEK" in the House. The speech addressed the environment.

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CONSTITUTION WEEK

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)] [House] [Pages H5325-H5326] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONSTITUTION WEEK The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) for 5 minutes. Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, the Constitution of the United States of America, is the guardian of our liberties. It embodies the principles of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law. September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention. It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate it. To honor this year's Constitution Week, I ask my fellow citizens and my colleagues here to reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties. Moreover, don't forget, Madam Speaker, the Constitution does not give us rights, and it does not grant us rights. The Constitution seeks to bind our government and protect our God-given rights. I extend my sincerest gratitude to the members of the John Guill- Polly Hawkins Craig Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for their steadfast commitment to honoring the history of our great Nation and for hosting a Constitution Week celebration for my constituents. Continuing Resolution Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, we are told today that we are going to vote on a continuing resolution with another bright, shiny object attached to it. I feel like this legislation is insincere and unserious. Now, why is it unserious? It is unserious because we are cramming all government spending into one bill, and instead of deciding what to spend on, we are saying: Let's just spend at least as much as we spent last year and not worry about running any of these bills through committee or debating how much we should spend on things. It is also unserious because we spent 2 years uncovering deficiencies in our government. We have been stonewalled by the FBI and the Department of Justice with that familiar refrain: Oh, Mr. Congressman, that is the subject of an ongoing investigation, and it is our longstanding policy not to comment on that. They can say that in a press release, but they shouldn't be saying that to Congress. However they get away with it because we don't cut their spending every time they do that to us. If we would withhold the ink cartridge for one printer at the FBI, they would come to heel. Yet we are not going to do that in this bill, this continuing resolution. It is just unserious. It is also very insincere. It is an insult to the American people. It is an insult to their intelligence to bring this bill to the floor because it sets up a fake fight that we all know here is fake. Somebody come down here and tell me it is not fake. You all know it is fake. Here is what is even more insincere about it: The compromise has already been reached in a smoke-filled backroom here. They already know what we are going to do. It is going to be a clean CR when we get to September 30. What is the deal they have reached? It is the same deal they reach every year: We will let you spend a few billion dollars more if you let us spend a few billion dollars more. In fact, what we should be doing is correcting this country's course. We are on a course to financial ruin. I ask my colleagues: When history looks back, how will it judge you for what you do today on this vote? Will it say: Oh, well, this is a person who was unserious and insincere, and [[Page H5326]] instead of making the tough arguments and having the tough discussions with their voters decided to go along to get along on the path to financial ruin or will you be one of the people who stands up and says: This is unsustainable. We must stop it. I will not engage in a fake fight. I will not be part of this political theater. Will you stand your ground? Will you be one of those people? I hope you will. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the continuing resolution with the fake shiny object attached to it. ____________________

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CONSTITUTION WEEK Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)] [House] [Pages H5325-H5326] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONSTITUTION WEEK The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) for 5 minutes. Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, the Constitution of the United States of America, is the guardian of our liberties. It embodies the principles of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law. September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention. It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate it. To honor this year's Constitution Week, I ask my fellow citizens and my colleagues here to reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties. Moreover, don't forget, Madam Speaker, the Constitution does not give us rights, and it does not grant us rights. The Constitution seeks to bind our government and protect our God-given rights. I extend my sincerest gratitude to the members of the John Guill- Polly Hawkins Craig Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for their steadfast commitment to honoring the history of our great Nation and for hosting a Constitution Week celebration for my constituents. Continuing Resolution Mr. MASSIE. Madam Speaker, we are told today that we are going to vote on a continuing resolution with another bright, shiny object attached to it. I feel like this legislation is insincere and unserious. Now, why is it unserious? It is unserious because we are cramming all government spending into one bill, and instead of deciding what to spend on, we are saying: Let's just spend at least as much as we spent last year and not worry about running any of these bills through committee or debating how much we should spend on things. It is also unserious because we spent 2 years uncovering deficiencies in our government. We have been stonewalled by the FBI and the Department of Justice with that familiar refrain: Oh, Mr. Congressman, that is the subject of an ongoing investigation, and it is our longstanding policy not to comment on that. They can say that in a press release, but they shouldn't be saying that to Congress. However they get away with it because we don't cut their spending every time they do that to us. If we would withhold the ink cartridge for one printer at the FBI, they would come to heel. Yet we are not going to do that in this bill, this continuing resolution. It is just unserious. It is also very insincere. It is an insult to the American people. It is an insult to their intelligence to bring this bill to the floor because it sets up a fake fight that we all know here is fake. Somebody come down here and tell me it is not fake. You all know it is fake. Here is what is even more insincere about it: The compromise has already been reached in a smoke-filled backroom here. They already know what we are going to do. It is going to be a clean CR when we get to September 30. What is the deal they have reached? It is the same deal they reach every year: We will let you spend a few billion dollars more if you let us spend a few billion dollars more. In fact, what we should be doing is correcting this country's course. We are on a course to financial ruin. I ask my colleagues: When history looks back, how will it judge you for what you do today on this vote? Will it say: Oh, well, this is a person who was unserious and insincere, and [[Page H5326]] instead of making the tough arguments and having the tough discussions with their voters decided to go along to get along on the path to financial ruin or will you be one of the people who stands up and says: This is unsustainable. We must stop it. I will not engage in a fake fight. I will not be part of this political theater. Will you stand your ground? Will you be one of those people? I hope you will. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the continuing resolution with the fake shiny object attached to it. ____________________