Defending America's Values and Protecting America's Communities

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing me.

My friend and colleague is discussing the deterioration of traditional American values in our Nation this evening, and I think it is appropriate that we as a nation take pause and reflect upon our own lives, our own families and our histories, the traditions and cultures which we represent, the men and women we strive to be as we seek, from bended knee, the very deepest part of ourselves, the whisper of our Lord Himself within us, His spirit that dwells there, to seek perhaps the best part of us, the undiscovered and sometimes difficult-to- recognize truth that He has placed within our breast.

During the course of my life--I am 59 years old. I was born in 1961, the seventh of eight children. I have witnessed the deterioration of traditional American values.

As a failed and fallen man, arisen myself, redeemed by the blood of our Lord and savior, I have contributed to the demise and deterioration of our society in my small part. I struggle as a man.

Our journey, if you will, is to recognize that we are imperfect and to seek that perfection, for our Nation itself was founded by imperfect men who were driven by perfect intent.

The founding words of our original documents include, ``in order to form a more perfect Union.'' This is a very humble statement by men of wisdom and great stature of spirit. ``In order to form a more perfect Union'' are words that recognize that we are imperfect men.

Therefore, during this time, this era of turmoil and tribulation and violence and mob rule, great division--included amongst that division is this Chamber--I think it is appropriate that my friend, that my brother brings this to the focus of the Nation today.

Growing up in high school in the seventies, attended high school in the seventies, every vehicle in the parking lot, a country school, had a rifle or a shotgun in the back glass, maybe a pistol under the seat, maybe all three. We didn't have school shootings.

When I began college in 1979 at LSU, I began to work my way through college as a carpenter. The company I worked for, we did historical renovations. In order to qualify, Mr. Speaker and my friend, for the historical plaque for that renovation, a certain process had to be followed. We had to determine the original structure of that residence. You could tell by the nature of the cut, whether it was a power cut or hand cut, how old it was; and with careful review and knowledgeable eyes, you knew exactly how that home was originally built. This is what fascinated me as a young man beginning college and working hard with my hands with the skills my father had taught me.

Do you know what these houses built 100 years ago in the middle of a large city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, do you know what they didn't have, Mr. Speaker and my friend?

I will answer that question to observe the rules of the House.

Do you know what those houses did not have 100 years ago? Locks. They had no locks.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I ask us all to reflect on what happened to that country. What happened to the country that was bequeathed unto us, a country where the parking lots of high schools were filled with vehicles with weapons and we had no school shootings, a country where homes were built in cities with no locks? What happened to that country?

I am prayerful that the answer to what happened to that country lies, as it always has, deep within us as men and women, as children of God. And we must seek, as a nation and within this Chamber, by this body, we must seek the guidance of our savior, His whisper deep to guide us through these troubling times.

I am thankful for men and leaders like my friend Representative Arrington, who has, by the grace of God, brought this topic to the floor today, and I am humbled that he would allow me to rise unscripted and address my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the American people, whom I love.

Let us return to the civility, love, and respect that founded our Nation, for therein is born courage and the will to move forward through any challenge.

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