Recognizing Celebrate Community Week

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Celebrate Community Week.

Last week, Congressman Jimmy Panetta from California and I introduced a resolution to designate the week of September 11 through September 17 as Celebrate Community Week and commemorate the efforts of local service organizations across the country.

Mr. Panetta and I are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Service Organization Caucus. The resolution recognizes the role of service organizations in promoting community humanitarian assistance while also instilling the value of giving back in our youth. We specifically applauded the Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, Optimist International, and Rotary International for encouraging and promoting community service and humanitarian assistance through their local chapters.

The Celebrate Community Week resolution highlights the critical work of our community service organizations. Volunteer service is the cornerstone of a successful, strong, and healthy community, and is an important staple of American life.

I commend our community service organizations like the Lions Club International, Rotary International, Kiwanis International, and Optimist International for everything they do to help our communities flourish. Celebrating Constitution Day

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because over the weekend, we celebrated Constitution Day. On September 17, we commemorate the signing and adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This day, where we celebrate our Constitution, originated in 1953 when the Senate passed a resolution designating September 17 to 23 as Constitution Week.

In 2004, Congress officially made Constitution Day and Citizenship Day a Federal holiday. Congress also required all publicly funded agencies and schools to provide information on the Constitution on this day.

In 2017, President Trump proclaimed September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Constitution Day serves as a celebration of our American system as well as a reminder that our government exists to serve the people and their freedom.

For 235 years, Congress has been given the responsibility by the people to represent their interests. We should behave like every day is Constitution Day and remember Congress should always serve the people as outlined in the preamble. POW/MIA Recognition Day

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 16 as POW/MIA Recognition Day.

Last Friday, we remembered the men and women our Armed Forces who served honorably and have not returned home.

At this time, almost 82,000 servicemen and -women have not returned home from the battlefield. This includes those who served in World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, and both wars in Iraq.

Those who serve in uniform have sacrificed greatly to give us the opportunity to live our lives in freedom and in peace. We thank those who served and returned home, but most importantly we remember those who served and never returned.

Last May, I introduced the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Trade Agreement Resolution. This resolution would urge our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment from our trade partners to continue to search for and recover our missing servicemembers.

Mr. Speaker, on this POW/MIA Recognition Day, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and honor our commitment to bring our servicemen and -women home. Remembering September 11

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Sunday marked the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. I rise today to remember the innocent lives we lost.

At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 flew into Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. Not long after, Flight 175 roared over Lower Manhattan into Tower 2.

While Americans around the country were grappling with the events that just transpired, a third plane, Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon.

In southwest Pennsylvania, the fourth flight, United 93, was hijacked and made the abrupt turn toward Washington, D.C. But because of the brave passengers and crew members, it crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In the days, weeks, months, and now more than two decades that followed September 11, our country joined together to face the very evil which attempted to take us down.

We will forever be indebted to our servicemen and -women who joined the fight to protect our freedoms.

While today's world has grown no less dangerous, we, as Americans, are resilient. We will never forget, not 21 years later, not ever.

May God continue to watch over our first responders, our men and women in uniform, and all those who keep us safe.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source