The Pope's Address to Congress

Floor Speech

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Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to first thank Speaker Boehner for inviting Pope Francis to be the first Pope to ever address a joint session of Congress in his visit to the United States last week.

I know that I was not the only Member of Congress who was deeply moved by Pope Francis' address. His message was simple and honest. It crossed religious and political divides. He challenged us to do better and even invoked Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He reminded us that this Nation continues to be a land of dreams.

Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican, and we must get back to work. But I hope that his message will stay with us a little longer. And we should follow the Golden Rule. Paraphrased, we should treat others like we would like to be treated. Not only should that apply to how we treat each other in the Halls of Congress, but also to how we address the bigger problems that this Nation is facing.

From immigration reform to voting rights, each of us should place ourselves in the shoes of struggling families and work on the solution that is right for them and right for this country.

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