[4:24] think you guys are feeding us on

[5:18] Mike Che from the podium. Mike

[5:21] Che 123. mic check 12345 from

[5:21] the podium.

[5:24] 123

[14:03] Testing members could we please

[14:03] be seated?

[14:04] thank you.

[14:48] To of 5:45 having arrived, the

[14:49] house will come to order. M

[14:50] members, please take your seats.

[14:52] Sergeants at Ars, please close

[14:53] the doors of the house.

[14:57] M members today is a special

[14:57] day.

[15:02] Today we celebrate the 250th

[15:04] anniversary of the United States

[15:06] Declaration of Independence and

[15:10] the 250th anniversary of the

[15:11] constitution of this

[15:11] commonwealth.

[15:14] As you know, our commononwealth

[15:16] of Pennsylvania was founded as a

[15:17] holy experiment.

[15:25] In the charter of privileges

[15:27] granted by our founder, William

[15:27] Penn

[15:30] to the inhabitants of

[15:33] Pennsylvania and territories in

[15:34] 1701, Penn wrote

[15:38] Because no people can be truly

[15:42] happy though under the greatest

[15:44] enjoyment of civil liberties if

[15:46] abridged of the freedom of their

[15:50] consciences as to their

[15:51] religious profession and

[15:51] worship.

[15:56] I do hereby grant and declare

[16:00] that no person or persons

[16:02] inhabiting this province or

[16:04] territories shall be in any case

[16:08] molested or prejudiced in his or

[16:11] their opinion or state because

[16:14] of his or their conscientious

[16:15] persuasion or practice.

[16:19] In honor of our legacy of

[16:22] religious tolerance. Prayer

[16:24] today will be offered by 6 of

[16:26] our colleagues. 3, during this

[16:30] first session and there will be

[16:32] 3 after recess in our second

[16:34] session. All three members

[16:36] praying today in each session

[16:39] will be highlighting their

[16:42] various faiths and highlighting

[16:44] the rich religious diversity

[16:45] that exists in our great

[16:47] commonwealth.

[16:52] At this time, prayer will first

[16:53] be offered by our colleague,

[16:53] Representative Freeman

[16:57] followed by our colleague

[16:59] Representative Brown and

[17:00] followed by our colleague

[17:01] Representativehan.

[17:04] Immedily after the prayer, we

[17:06] will recite the pledge of

[17:08] allegiance and today we will

[17:08] also s

[17:13] M members and guests, please

[17:13] rise asabbel.

[17:26] Thank you madam Speaker

[17:33] Please join me in a moment of

[17:33] prayer and reflection

[17:37] The pursuit of freedom inspires

[17:37] the soul.

[17:40] and its attainment empowers the

[17:41] most ordinary of people.

[17:44] We convene in special session in

[17:46] this most historic of places to

[17:48] commemorate and celebrate the

[17:50] 250th anniversary of the

[17:52] declaration of Independence and

[17:53] the birth of our nation

[17:56] a moment in time that marks the

[17:57] beginning of our long journey in

[17:57] the attainment of freedom.

[18:01] We cannot help but be moved by

[18:02] the inspiring civic prose of the

[18:03] declaration

[18:06] which imparted to all of

[18:08] humanity the self-evident and

[18:09] universal value of equality.

[18:12] that all are created equal

[18:16] The subsequent expansion of the

[18:18] right to vote and of civil

[18:19] rights in the course of American

[18:20] history would even give fuller

[18:22] meaning to our concept of

[18:22] equality over time.

[18:28] This magnificent document

[18:30] proclaims that we have endowed

[18:32] by our Creator with certain

[18:34] unalienable rights and that

[18:35] among these are life, liberty

[18:36] and the pursuit of happiness

[18:38] which are the defining

[18:40] aspirations of every member of

[18:42] the human race in their quest

[18:43] for a better

[18:46] It is written, and I have taken

[18:49] this from a passage in my

[18:49] Hebrew Union prayer book.

[18:52] It is written that when justice

[18:53] burns within us like a flaming

[18:54] fire.

[18:56] when love evokes willing

[18:57] sacrifice from us

[19:00] when to the last full measure of

[19:01] selfless devotion

[19:03] we demonstrate our belief in the

[19:04] ultimate triumph of truth and of

[19:05] righteousness.

[19:08] then goodness enters our lives,

[19:09] and we can begin to change the

[19:10] world.

[19:13] There is no denying that the

[19:14] declaration of Independence

[19:15] changed the world

[19:18] and set in motion the long and

[19:20] steady march of society toward

[19:21] the realization of democracy and

[19:22] equality.

[19:25] May God bless the United States

[19:26] of America and this

[19:26] commononwealth of Pennsy

[19:46] Let us bow our heads in prayer

[19:50] Heavenly Father

[19:54] we come before you with grateful

[19:57] hearts, mindful of the great

[19:59] blessings you have bestowed upon

[20:00] our nation and our commonwealth.

[20:03] As we gather here

[20:06] in historic Congress Hall to

[20:09] mark the 250th anniversary of

[20:09] the United States.

[20:13] We remember with gratitude those

[20:16] who came before us and had the

[20:18] courage to establish a nation

[20:22] founded on liberty, justice, and

[20:23] the dignity of every person.

[20:27] Lord, for 250 years you have

[20:29] blessed this nation through

[20:31] times of triumph and times of

[20:31] trial.

[20:35] We thank you for the freedoms we

[20:35] enjoy.

[20:40] For those who have sacrificed to

[20:41] protect them.

[20:44] and for the opportunity to carry

[20:45] this great American story

[20:45] forward.

[20:49] We ask your blessing upon this

[20:52] historic gathering and upon all

[20:53] those who serve the people of

[20:53] Pennsylvania.

[20:56] Grant us wisdom

[21:00] to make decisions with courage

[21:00] and humility.

[21:03] strength to stand for what is

[21:04] right.

[21:08] and compassion to remember the

[21:09] people and communities.

[21:11] we have been entrusted to serve.

[21:15] Help us to be good stewards of

[21:16] our freedoms and blessings.

[21:21] May we honor the sacrifices of

[21:22] those who came before us

[21:26] and worked together to leave our

[21:28] commonwealth and our nation

[21:30] stronger for the generations yet

[21:31] to come.

[21:34] We ask you to bless our elected

[21:35] officials.

[21:37] our families, our communities

[21:40] and all who call Pennsylvania

[21:41] home.

[21:44] May your guidance lead us

[21:46] Your truth unite us.

[21:49] and your peace remain with us.

[21:52] We ask this throughrt our Lord.

[21:53] Amen.

[22:07] Let us pray

[22:10] Bismmil LaakmaniRahim.

[22:13] Alhamtalilarabiaramin.

[22:15] irraman e Rahim.

[22:17] Maliki Yomeddin

[22:21] Iyakinabbaduwa Iyakins stayin

[22:22] Edina serratal Mutikim.

[22:26] Seratal ladina and amta arahi

[22:30] Wari Makdobi Alihimwa aling.

[22:31] Amen

[22:34] In the name of God

[22:38] the most beneficent, the most

[22:39] merciful

[22:40] Praise be to God

[22:43] Lord of all worlds

[22:46] Guide us on the right path.

[22:49] The holy Qoran which Thomas

[22:49] Jefferson

[22:51] owned a copied and studied

[22:55] teaches us that God made people

[22:55] and tribes.

[22:59] so that we may better understand

[23:00] each other.

[23:04] Lord, we are grateful to gather

[23:06] in this historic hall where the

[23:07] values of our nation were

[23:07] shaped.

[23:11] Lord, just as you blessed so

[23:13] many of the founders of our

[23:16] nation with a vision, courage

[23:18] and inspiration to shape the

[23:20] lives of generations to come.

[23:22] Bless this chamber so that we

[23:24] too may have a profound and

[23:26] lasting impact on the lives of

[23:27] Pennsylvanians.

[23:30] and Lord, just as the founding

[23:32] fathers concluded the

[23:32] declaration of inndependence

[23:36] with a firm reliance on the

[23:38] protection of divine

[23:40] provideence. May you continue to

[23:43] grant us that protection and may

[23:44] we carry on with that same

[23:47] commitment to mutually pledge to

[23:49] each other our lives, our

[23:52] fortune, and our sacred honor so

[23:52] that we may best serve the

[23:53] commonwealth.

[23:55] In your name we pray

[23:55] Amen.

[24:02] To lead us in the singing of the

[24:04] Star Spangled Banner, the chair

[24:06] recognizes the gentleman from

[24:06] Luzerne County, Representative

[24:07] Pashin

[24:16] I'd like to invite everyone

[24:20] to demonstrate your love for

[24:21] this country and sing with me.

[24:29] Oh say, can you see by the

[24:34] dawn's early light what so

[24:38] proudly we haveil at the

[24:43] twilight last gleing whose broad

[24:48] stripes and bright stars through

[24:50] the perilless fight

[24:52] or the

[24:55] m par t tree

[24:58] were so gallantly stre.

[25:02] and the rockets

[25:03] re la

[25:09] the bobsting in

[25:14] gave proof through the night

[25:19] that our flag was still there.

[25:26] Oh say does that star spangle

[25:30] yet

[25:33] or the and of the

[25:39] free and the

[25:42] of

[25:44] the bra

[25:49] a,

[25:49] America.

[25:55] God bless all Marr.

[26:12] Sergeants at arms will open the

[26:14] doors of the house. M members

[26:15] and guests, please take your

[26:15] seats.

[26:33] M memberers and guests please

[26:34] rise.

[26:38] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[26:44] of the United States of America

[26:49] ice for all.

[26:55] M members and guests please take

[26:55] your seats.

[27:04] Without objection, the approval

[27:06] of the journal from Tuesday,

[27:08] September 8hth, 2026 will be

[27:09] postponed until printed.

[27:15] Are there requests for leaves of

[27:15] absence?

[27:17] The chair recognizes the

[27:17] majorrity whip

[27:20] who indicates there are none.

[27:21] The chair recognizes the

[27:23] minority whip who indicates

[27:24] there are none. The chair's

[27:26] about to take the master roll

[27:27] call. M members will proceed to

[27:27] vote.

[28:03] Have all the members voted? Have

[28:04] all the members voted? The clerk

[28:05] will record the vote.

[28:09] 203 members having voted on the

[28:10] master roll call. a quorum is

[28:11] present.

[28:14] Colleagues, it is both an honor

[28:16] and a privilege to welcome you

[28:17] to my hometown.

[28:20] the city of brotherly love and

[28:22] sisterly affection. The

[28:25] birthplace of America's

[28:28] democracy. A democracy that we

[28:30] all cherish and we strive every

[28:34] day to uphold. I'd also like to

[28:36] welcome our special guests in

[28:38] our chamber for the day. We've

[28:39] been joined by the gentle lady

[28:40] from the first date of the

[28:44] United States, the madam Speaker

[28:46] from Delaware, Speer Melissa

[28:47] Minorbrown. Wel.

[28:56] We've also been joined it will

[28:58] soon hear from the chair of

[29:02] America 250 PA Pat Burns and

[29:04] Cassandra Coleman, the executive

[29:07] director for America 250PA of

[29:10] course Pat and Cassandra along

[29:12] with their entire America 250 PA

[29:15] team has been so instrumental in

[29:18] making today's historic session

[29:19] possible. Thank you.

[29:30] I'd also like to s extend a

[29:32] special welcome to the more than

[29:34] 80 students who have spent the

[29:36] entire day here with us,

[29:38] participating in a civic

[29:39] education program that was

[29:40] offered by our partners at

[29:43] America 250 pA and it was

[29:44] designed to deepen their

[29:46] understanding of our democracy

[29:49] and Pennsylvania's unique role

[29:51] in shaping it. They're watching

[29:52] our historical session just a

[29:54] few blocks away at the National

[29:56] Constitution Center. Today

[29:59] I'm doing some personal

[29:59] reflecting of my own.

[30:04] I'm thinking about the first

[30:07] time I visited these sacred

[30:10] spaces as a child.alking across

[30:12] Independence Mall, seeing the

[30:14] Liberty Bell as a little girl

[30:16] learning about history. My

[30:19] grannny, God rest her soul, was

[30:20] the first person to bring me

[30:22] here. and what I remember the

[30:24] most about that day, I was in

[30:27] about 2nd grade was the Betsy

[30:28] Ross House. That was something I

[30:30] could say easily, came right off

[30:31] the tongue. She played an in

[30:34] s tru ment al role and I learned

[30:38] all about her. After our tour

[30:40] for the day, we went to Rrietts

[30:41] and I remember her friend with

[30:43] us saying, why would you order

[30:44] spaghetti? It's a rib place

[30:45] Well

[30:46] needless to say

[30:50] I could never have imagined

[30:54] that 35 years later,

[30:59] I would ever be hereresiding

[31:01] over legislative session in this

[31:01] hoallowed hall.

[31:12] I am hopeful that so many of our

[31:13] students from across the

[31:14] commononwealth who are watching

[31:16] right now and participated in

[31:18] our programs today. Some who

[31:20] it's literally their first time

[31:22] I met with Paige fromres

[31:24] representative Anderson's

[31:26] district. She's in the 12fth

[31:28] grade and it was her first time

[31:29] here. She's here with her

[31:31] parents and here until tomorrow.

[31:33] and we talked about what the day

[31:34] has been like for her and Paige

[31:36] I will let the members of the

[31:38] judiciary know that they talked

[31:39] a little too long today.

[31:43] But seriously, the truth of the

[31:45] matter is for everyone who's

[31:46] watching our live stream or

[31:48] watching it on PCn. Thank you

[31:50] also for being a part of this

[31:52] special event and sharing in our

[31:54] celebration of democracy.

[31:56] Special shout out to mama

[31:58] McClinton who is watching. Hi

[31:59] mom.

[32:07] I also wanna to thank the good

[32:08] lady from Philadelphia for

[32:10] welcoming us into her district.

[32:12] she reminds most of us on a

[32:15] regular basis that she serves

[32:18] the same community and sits in

[32:19] the same legislative seat as Ben

[32:21] Franklin. Representative Mary

[32:22] Isacson. thank you.

[32:23] for the warm welcome

[32:31] We also wanna to thank our

[32:33] friends at the National Park

[32:34] Service for hosting us today.

[32:36] The National Park Service has

[32:38] been very generous in their time

[32:40] and made sure not only that are

[32:42] we welcome to this national

[32:44] treasure right here in

[32:46] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that

[32:47] they are sworn to protect and

[32:49] uphold its rich legacy, but they

[32:51] have been very accommodating. So

[32:53] let's thank all of our friends,

[32:54] most of them in green from the

[32:55] National Park Service.

[33:04] Many people don't realize what

[33:08] else happened in 1776. We know

[33:10] about the 4urth of July. we

[33:12] celebrated in every corner of

[33:13] the commonwealth fromeriee to

[33:15] Philadelphia. But what some

[33:16] don't know is that it was on

[33:22] September 9th, 1776 when we got

[33:24] a big change here in this great

[33:25] nation. It was on the September

[33:28] 9th that we changed our name

[33:30] officially from the colonies,

[33:31] the United coonies of America.

[33:34] to the United States of America.

[33:38] So it's exciting to know 250

[33:41] years later on September 9,

[33:43] 2026, aren't we blessed thanks

[33:44] to our good neighbors and

[33:46] constituents for providing us

[33:49] this space to serve, represent

[34:02] Today, we have this privilege of

[34:03] being here in Congress Hall due

[34:05] to the work of the Pennsylvania

[34:06] Commission for the United States

[34:08] Semi-quincentennial. otherwise

[34:12] known as America 250PA. America

[34:14] 250 pa was established by the

[34:15] General Assembly. Some of us

[34:17] were here and by our governor at

[34:20] the time Tom Wolf in 2018, it

[34:22] was established to plan,

[34:23] encourage, develop and

[34:26] coordinate the commemoration of

[34:27] our 250th anniversary of the

[34:28] founding

[34:30] of the United States.

[34:32] Pennsylvania's integral role in

[34:35] that event and the impact of its

[34:37] people on the nation's past,

[34:40] present, and future. Joining us

[34:43] today are Pat Burns, chairman of

[34:45] America 250 PA as well as the

[34:47] executive director Cassandra

[34:49] Coleman, a many members of the

[34:50] commission and staff including

[34:52] our colleagues who have served

[34:54] very well. To everyone at

[34:57] Americari 250PA. We thank you

[34:58] for all that you've done to mark

[34:58] this

[35:00] historical milestone for this

[35:02] commononwealth and our nation,

[35:04] the clerk will include the names

[35:06] of the commissioners, the entire

[35:08] staff of America 250 pA in the

[35:10] journal of today's proceedings.

[35:13] At this time, the chair invites

[35:14] Chairman Burns to address the

[35:17] House and following Chairman

[35:18] Burns, we will hear from

[35:21] Executive Direor Cassandra

[35:21] Coleman. Let's welcome them

[35:22] colleagues.

[35:34] Well, good evening, everyone. My

[35:35] name is Pat Burns. I'm the

[35:36] chairman of America 250 PA

[35:40] This is just awesome to be

[35:40] with each and every one of you

[35:41] tonight in this historic place.

[35:45] I spent most of my career uh, in

[35:46] business doi building grocery

[35:48] stores, restaurants and hotels

[35:50] in our community I really truly

[35:51] love and care about.

[35:53] And I learned a few things along

[35:54] the way

[35:56] If you want something important

[35:57] to come together,

[35:59] youre you gotta to be willing to

[36:00] think big

[36:02] work hard and surround yourself

[36:03] with great people.

[36:06] That's why I wanna to start by

[36:07] recognizing my fellow

[36:07] commissioners.

[36:11] here today and also the

[36:12] leadership of Cassandra Coleman

[36:15] and her entire team from merca

[36:15] 250 pA.

[36:24] I'd also like to thank you

[36:26] the Pennsylvania House of

[36:28] Representatives and my friend

[36:30] Joanna McClinton, for your

[36:34] supports in 2018 because of your

[36:36] partnership, we were able to

[36:37] make a real impact in 67

[36:38] counties and over 400

[36:39] municipalities.

[36:44] A big part of 250th is honoring

[36:46] our past today

[36:48] we also have a chance to think

[36:48] about what comes next

[36:50] as a father and a grandfather

[36:52] I take that seriously

[36:56] The students joining us today

[36:56] and watching for the

[36:58] constitutional Center tonight

[36:59] will help us shape

[37:02] what that Pennsylvania looks

[37:03] like in decades to come.

[37:06] Our responsibility is to give

[37:07] them a strong foundation

[37:07] to build on

[37:11] That's what America 250 PA is

[37:11] all about.

[37:13] bringing generations together

[37:16] sharing our heritage and our

[37:19] values and putting together

[37:20] young people in Pennsylvania in

[37:22] a position to succeed to be like

[37:23] one of you today.

[37:25] We've got a strong team

[37:26] We've got great partners

[37:30] and we're building a bridge

[37:31] together for the future.

[37:32] and I'd like to thank each and

[37:33] every one of you for being part

[37:34] of that.

[37:34] God bless you

[37:46] Good evening everyone. Speaker

[37:48] McClinton, members of the house,

[37:50] thank you for your partnership

[37:52] and for giving America to 50PA

[37:54] the opportunity to be part of

[37:55] this remarkable day.

[37:58] I wanna also recognize our

[38:00] America to50PA chairman Pat

[38:02] Burns and our commissioners your

[38:04] leadership and support have

[38:06] helped transform an anniversary

[38:08] into a shared experience for

[38:09] Pennsylvanians across all 67

[38:09] counties.

[38:12] When we started planning for

[38:16] America's 250th anniversary. We

[38:17] knew our commonwealth had an

[38:18] extraordinary history to

[38:20] celebrate. This nation was born

[38:23] here. The ideas debated and

[38:24] decisions made in places like

[38:26] this help change the course of

[38:27] human events.

[38:30] but from the beginning we also

[38:32] knew this anniversary could not

[38:33] only be about looking backward.

[38:36] It had to belong to our young

[38:38] people that's why having

[38:40] students from across

[38:42] Pennsylvania here with us today

[38:43] means so much to us.

[38:46] The voices matter, their ideas

[38:48] matter their communities matter

[38:50] and they do not need to wait

[38:52] until they have a title, a

[38:54] degree, or decades of experience

[38:56] before they begin making a

[38:56] difference in each of their

[38:58] communities I know that

[39:00] personally. I was just 20 years

[39:02] old when I became mayor of

[39:04] Exeter Borough. I certainly

[39:06] didn't have all the answers, but

[39:08] I had people who believed in me

[39:10] who gave me an opportunity to

[39:12] serve and who trusted that I

[39:13] could learn.

[39:15] Sometimes that's all you need as

[39:18] a young person to succeed

[39:20] someone who is willing to open a

[39:22] door for you and beli and let

[39:24] you know that you belong and

[39:26] that's what all of you did today

[39:27] by bringing students here.

[39:29] to the audience watching from

[39:30] the National Constitution

[39:32] Center. I wanna speak to you

[39:34] directly for one moment. We need

[39:36] your energy. We need your ideas.

[39:38] We need your compassion, your

[39:39] creativity and your willingness

[39:40] to lead.

[39:42] 5ft0 years ago the Women for

[39:44] Greater Philadelphia created a

[39:46] time capsule and invited

[39:48] Pennsylvanians to leave messages

[39:49] for the semi-quincentennial

[39:49] generation.

[39:52] The students who joined us today

[39:55] have sent their own messages

[39:58] forward to the Pennsylvanians

[40:00] who will come together in 2076.

[40:03] That's the responsibility each

[40:05] generation inherits. We received

[40:06] something from the people who

[40:08] came before us. We take care of

[40:09] it

[40:12] we make it better and then we

[40:14] place it in the hands of those

[40:15] who come next.

[40:17] I'm a mother. I think about that

[40:19] responsibility every single day

[40:20] and when I think about the young

[40:22] Pennsylvanians I've encountered

[40:24] over the last 8 years of this

[40:27] work. I am extremely hopeful.

[40:30] Pennsylvania's future is sitting

[40:32] just down the street tonight and

[40:33] across the Commonwealth in each

[40:36] of your districts. Our job is to

[40:38] make sure that they know that

[40:40] what that we believe in them and

[40:41] then give them the opportunity

[40:42] to show us what they can do. I

[40:44] wanna thank you all again for

[40:45] your continued partnership

[40:45] and support. thank you

[40:55] The chair recognizes the

[40:56] majority leader who calls up

[41:00] House resolution 589 printer's

[41:04] number 3790 on page 5 of today's

[41:05] house calendar. The clerk will

[41:05] read the resolution.

[41:08] A resolution celebrating the

[41:10] momentous and historic occasion

[41:12] of the United States semi

[41:13] quincentennial.

[41:16] whereas the Commonwealth of

[41:18] Pennsylvania joins the rest of

[41:19] the nation in celebrating the

[41:21] momentous 250th anniversary of

[41:22] the signing of the Declaration

[41:24] of Independence and whereas

[41:26] following the passage of the

[41:28] Stamp Act in 1765, a series of

[41:30] unpopular British laws met with

[41:31] stiff opposition in the

[41:32] colonies, feeling a bitter

[41:34] struggle over whether Parliament

[41:36] had the right to tax colonists

[41:37] without the consent of the

[41:37] representative colonial

[41:38] governments.

[41:40] and whereas this struggle

[41:42] erupted into violence in 1770

[41:44] when British troops killed five

[41:46] colonists and injured 6 others

[41:47] in the Boston massacre.

[41:49] and whereas three years later

[41:52] outrage over the Tea Act of 1773

[41:54] prompted colonists to board an

[41:55] East India Company ship in

[41:57] Bostonharbor and dump its cargo

[41:58] into the sea and the now

[41:59] infamous Boston Tea Party.

[42:02] and whereas in response Britain

[42:04] cracked down further with the

[42:06] coercive acts going so far as to

[42:07] revoke the colonial charter of

[42:08] Massachusetts and close the port

[42:09] of Boston.

[42:12] and whereas resistance to the

[42:13] intolerable acts as they became

[42:14] known led to the formation of

[42:16] the first continental Congress

[42:19] in Philadelphia in 1774 which

[42:23] denounced taxation without

[42:23] represent

[42:26] and whereas when the first

[42:28] skirmishes of the Revolutionary

[42:29] War broke out in Massachusetts

[42:32] in April 1775. Fe people in the

[42:33] American colonies wanted to

[42:34] separate from Great Britain

[42:36] entirely. but as the war

[42:37] continued and Britain called out

[42:38] massive armed forces to enforce

[42:40] its will. More and more

[42:41] colonists came to accept that

[42:42] asserting independence was the

[42:43] only way forward.

[42:46] and whereas on June 7th, 1776,

[42:49] Congress meeting in Philadelphia

[42:50] received a resolution from

[42:52] Richard Henry Lee urging

[42:52] Congress to declare independence

[42:53] from Britain.

[42:56] and whereas Congress appointed

[42:58] Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,

[43:00] Benjamin Franklin, Roger

[43:01] Sherman, and Robert R.

[43:03] Livingston Jnior. to theite of

[43:06] ive on June 11th, 1776 to draft

[43:07] a declaration of independence

[43:07] for the colonies.

[43:10] and whereas from June 12th

[43:13] through 27th, 1776, Thomas

[43:14] Jefferson drafted the original

[43:16] rough draft of the Declaration

[43:17] of Independence, which was read

[43:21] in Congress on June 28, 1776 and

[43:23] whereas from July1st through

[43:25] July 4th, 1776, Congress debated

[43:26] and revised the declaration of

[43:28] Independence and finally signed

[43:30] the document on the morning of

[43:34] July 4th, 1776 to formerly sever

[43:35] political ties between the 13

[43:36] American colonies and Great

[43:37] Britain unite the colonies and

[43:38] ann

[43:40] ounce their sovereignty and gain

[43:41] support from foreign nations,

[43:41] particularly France.

[43:44] and whereas the delegates from

[43:46] Pennsylvania who signed the

[43:46] Declaration of Independence

[43:48] where George Clymer, Benjamin

[43:50] Franklin, Robert Morris, John

[43:53] Morton, George Ross, Benjamin

[43:56] Rush, James Smith, George

[43:56] Taylor, and James Wilson.

[44:00] and whereas Mister Morton broke

[44:02] the tie in the Pennsylvania

[44:02] delegation ensuring that

[44:04] Pennsylvania voted for the

[44:04] declaration of Independence.

[44:07] and whereas the declaration of

[44:08] Independence was not intended to

[44:10] be a legal framework for

[44:12] government which was later done

[44:13] by the Constitution of the

[44:14] United States but rather a

[44:16] declaration of intent to break

[44:16] away and a justification for

[44:17] doing so.

[44:20] And whereas after passage of the

[44:21] Declaration of Independence,

[44:22] copies were distributed to

[44:24] neighboring states and on July

[44:26] 6th, the Pennsylvania Evening

[44:27] Post printed the first newspaper

[44:28] rendition of the declaration.

[44:30] and whereas the first public

[44:32] reading of the Declaration of

[44:32] Independence occurred in

[44:36] Philadelphia on July 8, 1776 at

[44:38] noon when Colonel John Nixon

[44:38] read the document to a large

[44:40] crowd of people in the state

[44:41] house yard which is now

[44:43] Independence Square and whereas

[44:46] 250 years later this country

[44:47] unites to celebrate the creation

[44:47] of our nation's founding

[44:50] document and the intrepid men

[44:50] who rose up against the great

[44:52] power of Britain to assert their

[44:53] independence.

[44:55] and whereas from fireworks and

[44:56] concerts to unforgettable

[44:58] gatherings across the country,

[44:59] the United States

[45:00] semi-quincentennial Commission

[45:03] and America 250 sparked five

[45:04] days of shared moments from July

[45:07] 1st through 5th, and whereas on

[45:10] July 2nd, 2026, the official

[45:12] America 250 time capsule was

[45:12] dedicated at Independence Hall

[45:13] in Philadelphia.

[45:16] and whereas the capsule contains

[45:18] items that help tell the story

[45:20] of America at 250 and will be

[45:22] open during America's 500th

[45:25] birthday year in 2276 and

[45:26] whereas on July 3rd and 4th

[45:28] residents were encouraged to

[45:28] participate in the largest

[45:30] synchronized 4urth of July

[45:32] celebration in the United States

[45:34] history, America's block Party.

[45:36] and whereas communities across

[45:37] the country gathered for live

[45:38] music, shared moments, and local

[45:40] celebrations that reflect the

[45:41] spirit of Independence Day.

[45:43] and whereas residents are also

[45:46] encouraged to make 2026 a record

[45:47] setting year of volunteer

[45:48] service by giving back whether

[45:50] performing service projects or

[45:52] providing donations and whereas

[45:55] on July 5, 2026, the country

[45:56] entered the after the fireworks

[45:58] phase of the national

[45:59] celebration continuing through

[46:02] the end of 2026 and whereas

[46:04] residents are encouraged to

[46:04] reflect on what the journey to

[46:07] the 250th anniversary has meant

[46:08] to you through prayer, continued

[46:10] celebrations and convenings or

[46:11] other traditions such as sharing

[46:11] a meal.

[46:14] and whereas rosi Rios, chair of

[46:15] the United States

[46:16] Semi-quincentennial Commission

[46:20] said America's 250th anniversary

[46:21] is about more than reflecting on

[46:22] our past. It's about honoring

[46:24] the contributions of individuals

[46:25] who built this country, the

[46:26] innovations that put this

[46:28] country on the map and a man on

[46:29] the moon and imagining what the

[46:32] next 250 years might look like

[46:32] for our children and the

[46:33] generations to come

[46:36] Therefore be it resolved that

[46:36] the House of Representatives of

[46:38] the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

[46:40] celebrate the momentous and

[46:41] historic occasion of the United

[46:43] States semi-quincentennial and

[46:44] be it further resolved that the

[46:46] House of Representatives of the

[46:47] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

[46:48] strongly encourage all residents

[46:50] to celebrate this once in a

[46:52] lifefetime event and participate

[46:53] in local activities and

[46:54] volunteer efforts and be it

[46:55] further resolved that the House

[46:56] of Representatives of the

[46:58] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

[46:58] hope that all residents pause

[47:00] and reflect on the meanings of

[47:02] freedom, democracy, and

[47:03] citizenship during this

[47:03] historically significant

[47:06] time and be it further resolved

[47:08] that a copy of this resolution

[47:10] be transmitted to Patrick Burns,

[47:11] chairman of the Pennsylvania

[47:12] Commission for the United States

[47:13] Semi-quincentennial America 250

[47:13] P.

[47:20] Chair thanks the gentle lady on

[47:22] that question, chair recognized

[47:23] the good gentleman from

[47:24] Philadelphia, Representative

[47:25] Kenyatta.

[47:44] Thank you madam S speaker

[47:48] For all that she is

[47:52] America is at her core a

[47:52] promise.

[47:56] One of limitless possibility and

[47:57] certainly generationally

[47:59] inherited responsibility. It's a

[48:00] promise that was first made on

[48:01] these very grounds.

[48:03] We know the words

[48:06] We hold these truths to be

[48:07] self-evident.

[48:10] that all men are created equal

[48:11] and that they are endowed by

[48:12] their Creator with certain

[48:13] inalienable rights, and among

[48:13] them life.

[48:14] liberty

[48:16] and the pursuit of happiness

[48:18] Keeping that promise

[48:24] and making it real has always

[48:25] required something.

[48:28] 250 years ago it required

[48:30] farmers and tradesmen and

[48:32] lawyers with no military

[48:33] training to stand against

[48:35] the greatest and largest empire

[48:35] on arth.

[48:40] It required black men denied the

[48:41] very freedom they were fighting

[48:41] for.

[48:44] to pick up arms at Bunker Hill

[48:46] and beyond for a promise not

[48:47] even yet extended to them.

[48:50] It required women wholly

[48:51] excluded from the promissary

[48:52] note.

[48:55] to see themselves there anyway

[48:55] and work for its fulfillment.

[48:59] and now it demands something of

[48:59] us.

[49:03] A demand as simple as it is

[49:03] revolutionary.

[49:08] We must ensure that in our

[49:10] lifetime, that life, liberty and

[49:12] the pursuit of happiness are

[49:13] promises kept

[49:16] to every single Pennsylvanian in

[49:17] every American, that it means

[49:18] something for the mom at 10th

[49:19] and Lehig.

[49:21] that it means something for the

[49:23] farmer in Mercer County, that it

[49:24] means something for the factory

[49:26] worker in Lehigh that it means

[49:27] something real for all of us.

[49:30] No matter who we are or where

[49:32] we're from or what we look like

[49:33] or who we love or how we pray.

[49:38] 250 years later, may we breathe

[49:41] new life into this American

[49:44] promise. May we turn to and not

[49:45] turn on our neighbors.

[49:48] May we take up the heavy mantle

[49:50] of ensuring our declaration in

[49:51] practice, not just in principle.

[49:55] May we give no harbor to the

[49:57] defeatism that says our best

[49:59] days are behind, or that the

[49:59] promise is irreparably broken.

[50:04] As every generation of Americans

[50:05] must.

[50:08] Let's recommit ourselves to this

[50:09] great inheritance.

[50:10] here and now

[50:13] Let us proclaim with renewed

[50:13] hope

[50:15] and unshhaable faith

[50:17] our march forward.

[50:21] forward toward the future where

[50:21] all of us truly

[50:22] live free

[50:24] This is a promise

[50:26] we must keep. Thank you, madam

[50:27] Speaker.

[50:36] Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

[50:38] chair recognizes the good

[50:38] gentleman from Dalphin,

[50:39] Representative Mehafffe.

[50:56] Thank you, madam Speaker

[51:00] I should have compared notes

[51:02] with a good gentleman from

[51:03] Philadelphia.

[51:04] He stole some of my line

[51:11] Thank you. and I and I

[51:11] appreciate that, sir

[51:15] But Madam Speaker, thank you

[51:16] again for allowing us to do this

[51:18] today. It gives me chills to

[51:22] think that 250 years ago, the

[51:24] men that sat in this in this

[51:26] beautiful building accomplished

[51:27] something that no one could ever

[51:28] think could be accomplished.

[51:29] So today

[51:32] thank you for allowing me the

[51:33] opportunity to speak

[51:36] about today's resolution

[51:37] recognizing the importance of

[51:39] the declaration of Independence,

[51:40] not just for a nation's founding

[51:44] before its continued role in

[51:45] shaping civic life today.

[51:49] We're gathered here in

[51:50] Philadelphia on the same track

[51:51] of land

[51:56] where 250 years ago, our

[51:57] founding fathers signed an

[51:57] incredibly important document

[52:01] They debate they debated and

[52:01] disagreed.

[52:02] often bitterly

[52:07] but ultimately came together for

[52:08] the good of their newborn

[52:09] country.

[52:14] We should all take note in the

[52:15] way that the ultimately reach

[52:15] consensus.

[52:21] Too often we are divided, if not

[52:21] more now than ever.

[52:28] Then the men who boldly sought

[52:29] sovereignty for the United

[52:31] Came together

[52:35] with the consensus and a modeled

[52:36] way

[52:38] for the life of America

[52:42] Our founding fathers were

[52:43] divided overentation

[52:48] forms of government, economics,

[52:50] and the proper balance between

[52:51] liberty and order.

[52:53] These were weighty issues

[52:55] We still struggle with them

[52:55] today.

[52:59] Yet at critical moments

[53:03] those who came before us 250

[53:05] years ago recognized the need

[53:06] for a common ground.

[53:12] Consensus is not the absence of

[53:13] disagreement.

[53:16] It is the discipline to remain

[53:17] committed to a shared purpose.

[53:22] we'd be wise to remember that

[53:23] ourselves.

[53:26] The declaration Independent was

[53:28] the Keystone document upon this

[53:29] great country was founded.

[53:32] and was written right here in

[53:33] the Keystone

[53:36] Today we walk the same ground

[53:40] that those that served this

[53:42] physical and symbolic birthplace

[53:43] of indep

[53:47] More than a historic document,

[53:49] the declaration continues to

[53:51] serve as a living foundation for

[53:54] principles upon which our nation

[53:55] was built and everything that

[53:55] followed.

[54:00] Each and every one of us is

[54:00] privileged to celebrate the

[54:03] 250th anniversary of this

[54:04] country in our lifetime.

[54:08] we are making memories with our

[54:09] families. Today with our

[54:09] constituents

[54:11] and lawmakers

[54:12] this year

[54:14] It's an incredible time

[54:18] Crafting another segment in our

[54:20] country's unparalled story.

[54:22] Today we add our own page in

[54:23] history.

[54:25] and we do so just feet away

[54:27] from where the first draft was

[54:27] written.

[54:31] Let's use this opportunity today

[54:35] and those that presented by

[54:35] America 250

[54:38] as a whole to recommit ourselves

[54:41] in the ideals put on the paper

[54:42] by Thomas Jefferson.

[54:44] that all men are created equal.

[54:48] that they are endowed by

[54:49] theirreator

[54:50] with certain unaliable rights

[54:55] that among these are life,

[54:56] liberty, and the pursuit of

[54:57] happiness.

[55:00] God bless this country. God

[55:02] bless God bless this

[55:05] commonwealth and God bless the

[55:06] house of Representatives. Thank

[55:07] you Madam Speaker.

[55:16] Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

[55:18] Chair recognizes the gentle lady

[55:19] from Philadelphia,

[55:20] Representativeceasce on that

[55:39] Thank you madam Speaker

[55:43] madam Speaker, I rise in support

[55:47] of House resolution 589 honoring

[55:50] 250 years of our nation's

[55:51] independence and the American

[55:51] experiment.

[55:55] That's what I wanna talk about

[55:56] this afternoon. that word

[55:57] experiment.

[56:00] We must remember not to treat

[56:02] this anniversary like a

[56:03] celebration of something

[56:05] finished, something complete,

[56:07] but be reminded that our

[56:08] founders themselves called it an

[56:09] experiment.

[56:12] They were testing a radical idea

[56:16] that that we could govern

[56:18] ourselves under the banner of

[56:19] freedom that you didn't need a

[56:22] king, an emperor or a church

[56:23] hierarchy to hold a society

[56:23] together.

[56:26] We know the Constitution was

[56:28] written next door but here in

[56:30] Congress Hall is where it was

[56:32] put to the test. The Bill of

[56:34] Rights was ratified in this

[56:35] building. The first peaceful

[56:35] peaceful

[56:40] transfer of presidential power

[56:41] happened on this floor.

[56:43] This is where the experiment

[56:43] actually ran

[56:47] and it is no small thing that I

[56:47] am standing here today

[56:50] because the founders wrote all

[56:51] men.

[56:52] are created equal

[56:56] and then we spent the next 250

[56:57] years figuring out the who.

[56:59] they actually meant

[57:02] And here's what I've come to

[57:04] understand. There has always

[57:07] been a lag, a gap between when

[57:09] freedom is promised and when it

[57:12] actually reaches people's lives

[57:14] and that lag runs through our

[57:14] entire history of this country.

[57:18] Leg 1, 1776, the declaration of

[57:20] Independence. the founders wrote

[57:22] again all men are created equal

[57:25] while roughly 500,000 black

[57:26] people were enslaved in this

[57:28] country. Wom could not vote.

[57:30] Indigenous people were excluded

[57:32] entirely. and if you weren't a

[57:33] white man that owned property.

[57:36] you did not have a seat at the

[57:37] table.

[57:38] The promise existed. The reality

[57:39] did not.

[57:43] Leg 2, 1865 Juneteenth enslaved

[57:44] people in Galveston, Texas

[57:46] finally heard the news they were

[57:47] free.

[57:49] 2.5 years after Lincoln signed

[57:50] into law.

[57:50] Fredom was legal

[57:53] but it took years to arrive.

[57:58] Lag 3 1920, the 19th ammendment

[58:00] after 70 years of a suffrage

[58:02] movement, women get the right to

[58:03] vote simply on paper.

[58:08] Lag 4 1965, the Voting Rights

[58:10] Act nearly 100 years after the

[58:12] 1fteenth ammendment. Black

[58:14] Americans could finally vote

[58:15] with real federal protections.

[58:18] The experiment was moving.

[58:22] likeg 5, 2015 marriage equality,

[58:24] the Supreme Court finally says

[58:26] the promise of equal protection

[58:28] applies to the LGBTQIA Americans

[58:29] too.

[58:32] And just when you think the arc

[58:33] is bending.

[58:36] just when the experiment feels

[58:37] like it might be catching up.

[58:38] Lag 6

[58:41] the Supreme Court guts the

[58:41] Voting Rights Act.

[58:44] The experiment keeps running.

[58:47] but the lag keeps happening.

[58:49] but so does resistance

[58:54] Every generation has confronted

[58:56] those lags and refused to accept

[58:57] them as permanent.

[59:00] all of them holding America to

[59:01] its own standard and now it is

[59:01] our turn.

[59:04] There was a time again when

[59:07] someone who looked like me, who

[59:08] could not vote for the people

[59:10] who sat in these seats must,

[59:12] much less stand here as one of

[59:13] them

[59:15] like so many in this room, we

[59:16] are all experiencing the same

[59:17] thing.

[59:19] I'm here because generations

[59:20] before me believe this

[59:21] experiment could become more

[59:21] faithful

[59:23] to its own ideals

[59:26] So as we vote on House

[59:27] resolution 589.

[59:30] Let us celebrate how far we have

[59:31] come

[59:34] and let us be honest about the

[59:35] work that remains.

[59:38] That is the freedom to access

[59:40] the ballot box, the freedom to

[59:41] access quality healthcare, the

[59:42] freedom to a living wage, the

[59:45] freedom to breathe clean air and

[59:46] drink clean water, the freedom

[59:47] to a quality education the

[59:47] freedom

[59:49] to give birth in a country.

[59:52] that does not treat it as a

[59:53] death sentence.

[59:56] 250 years later, madam

[59:57] Secretary, that is the

[59:57] assignment.

[1:00:00] to ensure the promises of the

[1:00:01] experiment

[1:00:02] are kept and expanded

[1:00:15] The chair thanks the gentle

[1:00:17] lady. Those in favor of the

[1:00:18] resolution will be voting ay

[1:00:22] Those opposed will be voting no.

[1:00:23] M members will proceed to vote.

[1:00:28] Have all the members voted? Have

[1:00:29] all the members voted?

[1:00:32] The clerk will record the vote

[1:00:38] on the resolution, the ays are

[1:00:40] 203. The resolution is adopted.

[1:00:52] To conclude our first session of

[1:00:54] this historic meeting of the

[1:00:55] House of Representatives, the

[1:00:57] chair turns to our leaders. The

[1:00:58] chair recognizes the gentleman

[1:01:00] from Washington, Minority Whip,

[1:01:01] Representative O'Nealll.

[1:01:10] Thank you madam Speaker

[1:01:14] It's truly a privilege to stand

[1:01:16] here today on behalf of the

[1:01:17] House Republican caucus.

[1:01:19] in a place where the history of

[1:01:20] Pennsylvania

[1:01:20] and the history of America

[1:01:23] are impossible to separate.

[1:01:27] Just steps from this chamber

[1:01:28] stands the Pennsylvania State

[1:01:29] House.

[1:01:30] What the world knows as

[1:01:31] Independence Hall.

[1:01:34] In 1729, the Pennsylvania

[1:01:36] assembly appropriated 2000

[1:01:37] pounds

[1:01:40] in the currency of the time to

[1:01:41] build a house for the assembly.

[1:01:46] Construction began in 1732 and

[1:01:48] by 1735 before the building was

[1:01:50] even finished. the assembly was

[1:01:51] already meeting there.

[1:01:54] For decades, Pennsylvania

[1:01:56] lawmakers met in the first floor

[1:01:57] assembly room.

[1:02:01] in 1775 when the second

[1:02:02] continental Congress needed a

[1:02:05] room to conduct the work that

[1:02:08] would lead to the de declaration

[1:02:09] of inndependence they moved

[1:02:09] upstairs

[1:02:11] t2 years later

[1:02:12] when the constitutional

[1:02:13] convention needed it.

[1:02:16] We again moved upstairs.

[1:02:22] on September 17, 1789, 39

[1:02:24] delegates signed the United

[1:02:26] States Constitution on the first

[1:02:27] floor of that building.

[1:02:29] uppstairs that day

[1:02:30] our house journal

[1:02:34] shows that the Pennsylvania

[1:02:35] assembly

[1:02:36] was dealing with the tax dispute

[1:02:38] a bridge bill.

[1:02:46] And and and of course the newly

[1:02:47] proposed constitution of the

[1:02:47] United States.

[1:02:48] So think about that

[1:02:53] you know, u ow our chamber was

[1:02:53] meeting upstairs

[1:02:56] Downstairs they had just signed

[1:02:57] the constitution.

[1:02:58] and

[1:03:02] apparently some things never

[1:03:03] change because were debating a

[1:03:03] bridge

[1:03:08] Decades earlier, the assembly

[1:03:08] ordered a bell for its state

[1:03:09] house.

[1:03:11] orn, made as it was.

[1:03:14] bell cracked and had to be

[1:03:15] recast.

[1:03:18] As we know, as we now know the

[1:03:19] Liberty Bell, as it later

[1:03:20] became,

[1:03:21] it it became a symbol

[1:03:24] of the idea of liberty.

[1:03:28] and that the liberty is not

[1:03:30] something that is granted by a

[1:03:31] king across an ocean.

[1:03:35] Although 25 years before

[1:03:35] independence

[1:03:40] Pennsylvania had already forged

[1:03:41] the concept of liberty

[1:03:42] into our history.

[1:03:48] when Leviticus 25:10 was cast

[1:03:49] onto the bell.

[1:03:51] pro proclaimed liberty

[1:03:51] throughout all the land

[1:03:54] onto all the inhabitants

[1:03:55] thereof.

[1:03:57] And here in Congress Hall,

[1:04:01] where the United States House of

[1:04:02] Representatives met for a decade

[1:04:06] we returned this building to the

[1:04:07] legislative purpose that made it

[1:04:07] famous

[1:04:11] On again a representative body

[1:04:11] sits in this chamber.

[1:04:14] Citizens from different places

[1:04:16] with different interests

[1:04:20] and different opinions have sent

[1:04:21] us their representatives.

[1:04:23] to speak for on their behalf.

[1:04:27] That history gives us more than

[1:04:27] something to celebrate.

[1:04:31] as we heard before, it gives us

[1:04:31] an obligation.

[1:04:34] We come from different

[1:04:36] communities and political

[1:04:36] parties. We disagree

[1:04:37] often loudly

[1:04:42] that that is not a failure of

[1:04:44] representative government. That

[1:04:45] is representative government.

[1:04:49] But before we are Republicans

[1:04:50] andmo Democrats, we are

[1:04:51] Pennsylvanians.

[1:04:54] and all of us have been

[1:04:55] entrusted

[1:04:55] for a time

[1:05:00] with a place in the same long

[1:05:02] tradition of representative

[1:05:04] government that has unfolded on

[1:05:06] this square for nearly 3

[1:05:07] centuries.

[1:05:12] The story of A America cannot be

[1:05:13] told without the buildings in

[1:05:13] this square.

[1:05:16] This is where Pennsylvania

[1:05:18] governed. this is where America

[1:05:19] declared itself free.

[1:05:22] and this is where the

[1:05:23] constitution was written.

[1:05:24] and signed

[1:05:28] The ordinary people who did

[1:05:30] those things had no guarantee

[1:05:31] that this experimentment would

[1:05:31] last 250 years.

[1:05:33] They simply did their part

[1:05:34] to make sure that it could

[1:05:39] And now that responsibility

[1:05:39] belongs to us.

[1:05:44] Let us humbly stand here today

[1:05:45] and continue what they started.

[1:05:47] Let us continue to protect the

[1:05:47] life

[1:05:51] liberty, property, and

[1:05:52] reputation of the people who

[1:05:53] sent us.

[1:05:55] Finally, I'd like to close with

[1:05:56] some remarks

[1:05:57] from President Ronald Reagan.

[1:05:58] My fellow Americans

[1:06:02] if all is to us to keep the

[1:06:04] faith with all the great

[1:06:05] Americans, Americans of our

[1:06:05] past.

[1:06:08] the things that unite us.

[1:06:10] America's past of which we're so

[1:06:12] proud, our hopes and s

[1:06:14] aspirations for the future of

[1:06:15] the world. In this much loved

[1:06:15] country.

[1:06:18] These things far outweigh

[1:06:20] what the little divides us

[1:06:26] And so tonight, we reaffirm that

[1:06:27] Jew and Gentile

[1:06:28] we are one nation under God.

[1:06:30] That black and white

[1:06:34] we are one nation indivisible.

[1:06:38] that Republican andmo Democrat,

[1:06:39] we are all Americans.

[1:06:41] Tonight with heart in hand.

[1:06:43] through whatever row and re

[1:06:46] we pledge ourselves to each

[1:06:48] other and to the cause of human

[1:06:49] freedom.

[1:06:51] the cause that has given light

[1:06:52] to this land.

[1:06:52] and hope.

[1:06:52] to the world

[1:07:06] here thanks to gentlemen. chair

[1:07:07] recognizes the gentleman from

[1:07:08] Montgomery County, the majority

[1:07:09] leader, Repres representative

[1:07:09] Bradford.

[1:07:16] Thank you Madam Speaker

[1:07:18] and thank you Madam Speaker, not

[1:07:20] just for the recognition, but

[1:07:22] for the long hard work that your

[1:07:24] office and Nina Carter, your

[1:07:25] chief of staff has put in to

[1:07:25] make this possible.

[1:07:32] Additionally, we want to thank

[1:07:33] the National Park Service and

[1:07:34] all the folks who are working

[1:07:36] late into the evening to make

[1:07:38] this possible and I know it's a

[1:07:40] a a lot of work to put up with

[1:07:41] this many prima donnas and we

[1:07:41] thank you for putting up with

[1:07:42] us.

[1:07:48] I also wanna to thank the young

[1:07:50] people and by that I don't mean

[1:07:51] Joe Kerwin, I mean the actual

[1:07:51] young people we have.

[1:07:53] who are with us this evening

[1:07:57] who are hopefully seeing the

[1:07:58] best of our colleagues,

[1:08:00] Democrats and Republicans

[1:08:00] reflecting on

[1:08:04] our great experiment, our 250

[1:08:06] year old country. a littlew

[1:08:06] warn sometimes

[1:08:08] and some challenges in front

[1:08:09] of us.

[1:08:10] but it's a country worth

[1:08:11] fighting for.

[1:08:14] and to my caucus I would only

[1:08:15] say that the idea that

[1:08:16] slaveolding Southern states

[1:08:20] and mercantile northern states

[1:08:21] throwing in

[1:08:22] against the greatest

[1:08:25] army the world had ever known at

[1:08:26] that time, the greatest naval

[1:08:27] power.

[1:08:28] is the ultimate act of audacity.

[1:08:30] that is audacious

[1:08:33] and how we wind up here today.

[1:08:34] is quite a story

[1:08:38] And you look around this room,

[1:08:40] you recognize this is not what

[1:08:40] it would looked like 250 years

[1:08:41] ago.

[1:08:43] The prayers would have been

[1:08:44] different, the faces would have

[1:08:45] been a different color. and

[1:08:46] there would have been no women

[1:08:46] That isn't

[1:08:48] to diminish

[1:08:50] our founding fathers

[1:08:53] That is to recognize the

[1:08:53] greatness of our reality.

[1:08:56] that we have come so very far.

[1:09:00] It is why we love our country

[1:09:00] and it's why we fight so hard.

[1:09:05] It is why this country is worth

[1:09:07] continuing to fight for, and

[1:09:09] it's why we recognize that 250

[1:09:09] years later.

[1:09:12] It's why it is the standard for

[1:09:14] the world and we have an

[1:09:16] obligation to make sure that it

[1:09:17] never falls into discredit.

[1:09:20] It is often quoted

[1:09:24] from Franklin, where he's asked,

[1:09:25] Will it be a monarchy or

[1:09:26] republican, he says. a republic

[1:09:27] if we can keep it.

[1:09:31] Some days that seems more in

[1:09:31] doubt.

[1:09:32] than others

[1:09:36] And that is a sad reality that

[1:09:37] we find ourselves in.

[1:09:38] It is also the challenge of our

[1:09:39] time.

[1:09:44] twentyy years after the events

[1:09:45] that we talk about 250 years

[1:09:45] ago.

[1:09:46] Washington

[1:09:50] left office. He decided two

[1:09:52] terms was enough for anyone with

[1:09:53] executive power.

[1:09:55] and he recognized that the

[1:09:57] greatest challenge for any

[1:09:58] republic, any democracy,

[1:09:59] was the peaceful

[1:10:00] passing of power

[1:10:04] And so Madison, Hamilton

[1:10:05] and himself

[1:10:08] wrote their farewell address, of

[1:10:09] valedictory speech.

[1:10:11] and they talked about the need

[1:10:11] for national unity.

[1:10:13] and the rise of partisanship

[1:10:16] the time they called it faction.

[1:10:17] and that was the rise of the two

[1:10:18] parties.

[1:10:20] At the time it was not the GOP

[1:10:21] and the Democrats.

[1:10:24] but sadly there were those who

[1:10:26] continued to play on those

[1:10:27] differences and failed to

[1:10:27] recognize

[1:10:30] that at the end of the day the

[1:10:31] votes get counted.

[1:10:31] but the country must be won

[1:10:34] Now,

[1:10:37] we face that sameme division

[1:10:37] today.

[1:10:40] And some of us fear that the

[1:10:42] voices of division have gotten

[1:10:44] too loud that the demagogues

[1:10:45] have taken too large of a role.

[1:10:48] I am one who worries about that

[1:10:49] sincerely.

[1:10:51] I love my Republican friends and

[1:10:51] you make me crazy.

[1:10:54] and you know I'm a passionatemo

[1:10:55] Democrat

[1:10:57] and you know we fight hard on

[1:10:59] election day and the days up to

[1:10:59] it through our campaigns.

[1:11:02] but the admonition of Washington

[1:11:03] should ring in our ears today

[1:11:05] that when the elections are over

[1:11:08] we have an obligation to govern

[1:11:10] wisely and for the good of all

[1:11:17] We stand on hoallowed ground.

[1:11:20] and we should recognize the

[1:11:21] obligation and the inheritance

[1:11:21] in front of us.

[1:11:22] We have an obligation

[1:11:26] We are not in the US Congress

[1:11:28] I think that's why we get a

[1:11:30] little more done. I think it's

[1:11:31] also why I get more done in the

[1:11:31] Senate truth, you know.

[1:11:32] But let me tell you something.

[1:11:37] we must raise our game and be

[1:11:38] mindful of the errors that we

[1:11:39] are.

[1:11:41] We have an obligation to do

[1:11:41] better.

[1:11:44] and hopefully today we recommit

[1:11:45] ourselves to that.

[1:11:46] Thank you, Madam Speaker

[1:11:56] The chair thanks the good

[1:11:57] gentleman.

[1:12:01] 250 years ago, these in fact

[1:12:03] were the hoalowed grounds where

[1:12:04] our beacon of liberty was lit

[1:12:07] from the city of Philadelphia,

[1:12:08] Pennsylvania came our

[1:12:10] Declaration of inndependence

[1:12:12] that changed the course of human

[1:12:14] history. And here at what is now

[1:12:16] known as inndependence National

[1:12:17] Historic Park

[1:12:20] Our Young Republic began the

[1:12:21] difficult work of governing.

[1:12:24] Looking backward from 250 years

[1:12:25] away.

[1:12:28] It is a temptation to believe

[1:12:28] that what happened here was

[1:12:29] inevitable.

[1:12:32] that liberty was destined to

[1:12:34] triumph, but the truth be told,

[1:12:35] it was not.

[1:12:38] The men and women of that

[1:12:39] generation had at least

[1:12:42] as much that divided them as

[1:12:43] united them.

[1:12:45] They are from the North and some

[1:12:46] were from the south

[1:12:49] They were farmers and some were

[1:12:49] business owners.

[1:12:52] They lived in the country and

[1:12:53] some live in cities.

[1:12:56] They were Anglicans and

[1:12:59] Catholics, Baptists, Jews,

[1:13:01] Puritans, Quakers,

[1:13:02] congregationalists,

[1:13:04] Presbyterians. They had

[1:13:06] different interests and

[1:13:08] different backgrounds and very

[1:13:10] different ideas about the future

[1:13:11] of this great nation.

[1:13:13] But they found something that

[1:13:14] was much greater than all of

[1:13:16] their differences. They found a

[1:13:18] common belief in

[1:13:19] self-determination and liberty.

[1:13:22] They were willing to sacrifice

[1:13:24] for it. They risk their

[1:13:26] property, their livelihoods,

[1:13:26] their freedom and their lives.

[1:13:31] Not only for themselves but for

[1:13:33] one another and of course for

[1:13:34] all the generations that

[1:13:35] followed

[1:13:38] But winning independence did not

[1:13:39] end the struggle for liberty.

[1:13:42] Our story here in America is one

[1:13:46] of a constant effort to make the

[1:13:48] promise of liberty more complete

[1:13:49] each and every day.

[1:13:50] 250 years ago

[1:13:54] human beings that looked just

[1:13:56] like the chair in this room

[1:13:58] right now. We're still property,

[1:14:02] enslaved by other human beings.

[1:14:04] People were denied the right of

[1:14:06] self-government because of the

[1:14:08] color of their skin. Others were

[1:14:10] denied the right to vote because

[1:14:11] they did not own enough

[1:14:15] property. Others were denied the

[1:14:18] right to vote because they were

[1:14:19] women. It was as recently

[1:14:22] as 1974.

[1:14:26] when women in this nation gain

[1:14:27] the right to sign for a

[1:14:27] mortgage.

[1:14:28] to own a home

[1:14:33] The lesson is clear that the

[1:14:33] work of liberty, it's

[1:14:38] never finished. Today people

[1:14:39] around the world

[1:14:42] still risk their lives, their

[1:14:45] property, their freedom, their

[1:14:48] livelihood to escape press

[1:14:50] oppression with the hopes of

[1:14:52] coming here and determining

[1:14:54] their own destiny. They look to

[1:14:56] us and they look to the light

[1:14:57] that was first kindled right

[1:14:58] here in Philadelphia.

[1:15:02] So let us all make that light

[1:15:02] shine brighter.

[1:15:06] Let us remember that we can

[1:15:08] disagree without being

[1:15:08] disagreeable.

[1:15:12] Let us put aside the labels that

[1:15:13] often divide us

[1:15:15] And remember that we are

[1:15:18] Pennsylvanians and we are

[1:15:21] Americans. Our founders did not

[1:15:23] agree on everything and they of

[1:15:25] course did not have to. They

[1:15:27] simply understood their

[1:15:28] assignment, which is that their

[1:15:32] differences were not more

[1:15:33] important than their mission.

[1:15:38] 250 years later let us continue

[1:15:40] to carry our mission in that

[1:15:42] spirit. Let us continue the work

[1:15:45] of being we the people to form a

[1:15:48] more perfect union, one that

[1:15:51] protects our liberty expands

[1:15:53] opportunity and recognizes the

[1:15:55] dignity and the rights of every

[1:15:58] person. Let that beacon of

[1:16:00] liberty, the one that first

[1:16:03] shone here in Philadelphia 250

[1:16:03] years ago continued

[1:16:05] to illuminate our commonwealth

[1:16:10] our nation, and our world. May

[1:16:10] it shine for two

[1:16:14] 50 more years so that those who

[1:16:15] look back

[1:16:17] on this semi-quincentennial

[1:16:20] say look at them. They chose to

[1:16:22] put their differences aside.

[1:16:25] They chose to work together to

[1:16:25] have a freer

[1:16:28] and more perfect union.

[1:16:31] Thank you all. Thank you for

[1:16:31] being here

[1:16:34] We are so appreciative for your

[1:16:37] time and as the leader took out

[1:16:39] of my talking points, I must

[1:16:41] thank my team that worked so

[1:16:43] very hard for many months

[1:16:44] throughout the summer to make

[1:16:47] this possible, led by Nina

[1:16:47] Carter, Esquire. Thank you.

[1:16:58] Special thanks to my district

[1:16:59] staff. They've been hanging out

[1:17:00] for the afternoon but we're back

[1:17:02] to 60th Street tomorrow, guys.

[1:17:04] Don't you forget that. We're on

[1:17:05] a tight schedule so when we

[1:17:08] recess please have a timely exit

[1:17:10] making your way to the national

[1:17:12] Constitution Center for Dinner.

[1:17:14] please exit through the doors on

[1:17:16] my left and the house will stand

[1:17:18] in recess. It should be until

[1:17:19] 6:45 p.m.

[1:17:22] but we are over time unless

[1:17:24] sooner recalled by this speaker.

[1:17:25] thank you all and God bless

[1:31:13] Ho of 6:45 having arrived, the

[1:31:13] house will come to order.

[1:31:18] as we noted at our early earlier

[1:31:20] meeting this evening to honor

[1:31:22] Pennsylvania's legacy of

[1:31:23] religious tolerance

[1:31:25] prayer today will be offered

[1:31:26] from multiple perspectives of

[1:31:27] faith.

[1:31:30] At this time, prayer will be

[1:31:31] offered by our colleague

[1:31:34] Representative Vinettt, followed

[1:31:35] by our colleague Representative

[1:31:37] Dawkins, followed by our

[1:31:37] colleague Representative Barton.

[1:31:40] Immediately after prayer, we

[1:31:42] will recite the pledge of

[1:31:44] allegiance and then we will sing

[1:31:45] God Bless America.

[1:31:48] M members and guests, please

[1:31:49] rise asabbel.

[1:32:18] Good evening. I will be reciting

[1:32:20] a Hindu prayer based on the

[1:32:22] Vedic principle of Vasaeva

[1:32:23] utombuum.

[1:32:26] which is a philosophy of that

[1:32:28] the whole world is one family,

[1:32:30] which I think has appropriate

[1:32:32] purpose when we're here meeting

[1:32:34] where our country was founded

[1:32:35] and even with the differences

[1:32:36] among our founders they were

[1:32:37] able to find unity

[1:32:39] please pray or contemplate as

[1:32:39] appropriate.

[1:32:45] O surve baanthusunaha.

[1:32:48] ve Santu iramaya.

[1:32:52] arve Badranni Pashianu

[1:32:55] macaia dua Bawavi.

[1:33:00] shantishanti Shati he.

[1:33:02] in translation

[1:33:05] home may all be happy.

[1:33:08] may all be free from illness and

[1:33:09] disease.

[1:33:12] may all see and experience what

[1:33:13] is auspicious and good.

[1:33:16] May no one suffer from sorrow or

[1:33:17] pain.

[1:33:17] O.

[1:33:38] Good evening all and welcome

[1:33:40] let us pray

[1:33:44] internal God, God of Abraham and

[1:33:45] Sarah

[1:33:49] of Hagar and Moses, of prophets,

[1:33:51] peacemakers, and all who hunger

[1:33:52] for righteousness

[1:33:54] we gather before you in

[1:33:55] humility.

[1:33:55] Today

[1:33:58] we meet no in Harrisburg but in

[1:33:59] Philadelphia.

[1:34:02] the city where a young nation

[1:34:03] declared that all people are

[1:34:04] created equal

[1:34:06] The city where liberty was

[1:34:07] written

[1:34:08] into the American imagination

[1:34:12] even while freedom was withheld

[1:34:13] for millions of enslaved men,

[1:34:13] women, and children.

[1:34:17] 250 years later we come not

[1:34:20] merely to praise our history but

[1:34:21] to tell the truth about it.

[1:34:22] the promise of America was

[1:34:23] written in ink.

[1:34:26] but the price of America was too

[1:34:27] often written upon the less

[1:34:27] fortunate.

[1:34:30] Yet the descendants of this

[1:34:31] enslaved did not abandon this

[1:34:31] nation.

[1:34:35] We helped build his roads ilted

[1:34:37] its soil, defended its flag,

[1:34:39] raised his children, and

[1:34:40] strengthened its churches,

[1:34:42] organized it communities and

[1:34:44] called America again and again

[1:34:47] to become the faithful to hiss

[1:34:50] own creed. We are not a footnote

[1:34:51] to this American story. We are

[1:34:52] among the authors of its

[1:34:53] redemption

[1:34:55] aretorah commands us justice

[1:34:57] Justice shall you pursue

[1:35:01] Our Bible teaches us to do

[1:35:02] justice, love mercy, and walk

[1:35:03] humbly.

[1:35:04] Our Qoran reminds us

[1:35:08] you created us as a people and

[1:35:10] tribes, not that we might

[1:35:12] despise one another, but that we

[1:35:13] might know one another.

[1:35:15] write these truths upon our

[1:35:15] hearts.

[1:35:18] William Penn called this

[1:35:18] Commwealth a holy experiment

[1:35:22] Make us worthy of this

[1:35:24] experiment. Give us the courage

[1:35:25] to disturb complacency

[1:35:27] the wisdom to speak the truth

[1:35:28] without hatred.

[1:35:30] and humanity to remember that

[1:35:33] public office is not athrone but

[1:35:33] a trust that we all should seek.

[1:35:38] Let our laws become the shields

[1:35:40] for the vulnerable and never the

[1:35:42] chains for the powerless. Let

[1:35:44] our debates sharpen our judgment

[1:35:45] without harden our hearts.

[1:35:47] Let our differences become

[1:35:49] instruments in understanding

[1:35:50] rather than weapons of division

[1:35:51] as America

[1:35:52] seeks its 250th anniversary

[1:35:56] Do not permit us to celebrate

[1:35:58] only what has been founded. some

[1:36:00] of us to finish what remains

[1:36:01] unfinished.

[1:36:02] May the child in Frankfurt

[1:36:05] the worker ineriee, the farmer

[1:36:07] in Lancaster, the immigrants

[1:36:09] seeking belonging, the veterans

[1:36:11] seeking dignity in every family

[1:36:12] seeking opportunity find

[1:36:14] themselves with America's

[1:36:14] promise.

[1:36:17] May Philadelphia be remembered

[1:36:18] not only as the birthplace of

[1:36:20] American liberty but as a place

[1:36:22] where liberty was renewed and

[1:36:24] made justice rode through this

[1:36:26] commonwealth like mighty waters

[1:36:28] until freedom is no longer

[1:36:30] merely declared but fully lived

[1:36:32] and the name of the one who is

[1:36:35] just, merciful, compassionate,

[1:36:35] and the creative of all.

[1:36:38] let us pray. Amen and ami.

[1:36:54] Let us pray

[1:36:57] Heavenly Father

[1:37:01] we come before you now with

[1:37:02] great joy and thanksgiving for

[1:37:05] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and

[1:37:06] the United States of America as

[1:37:07] we mark

[1:37:08] 250 years

[1:37:11] since the declaration of

[1:37:12] inndependence was penned and

[1:37:13] signed.

[1:37:14] right here in these very cham

[1:37:18] We remember that this nation's

[1:37:19] story began in Pennsylvania.

[1:37:24] with a bold declaration that we

[1:37:25] are endowed by our Creator.

[1:37:27] with certain unaliable rights of

[1:37:28] life.

[1:37:30] liberty

[1:37:31] and the pursuit of happiness

[1:37:34] Lord, we recognize that these

[1:37:35] words point

[1:37:38] us beyond ourselves. These words

[1:37:39] point us

[1:37:40] beyond government

[1:37:44] These words point us to you.

[1:37:48] Blessed is a nation whose God is

[1:37:49] the Lord

[1:37:53] And the signers of that bold

[1:37:53] declaration

[1:37:56] look to you

[1:37:58] for protection, Lord, when they

[1:37:59] mutually pledgeed to each other.

[1:38:00] their lives

[1:38:02] fortunes

[1:38:03] and sacred honor

[1:38:08] Ma Pennsylvania and this nation

[1:38:11] continue to seek your

[1:38:11] protection, your wisdom

[1:38:12] your ways

[1:38:14] Tthhy will.

[1:38:18] You have blessed us with much

[1:38:22] and as legislators, Lord, we

[1:38:23] have been entrusted with much.

[1:38:25] Book of Luke we're told from

[1:38:28] everyone who's been giving much,

[1:38:29] much will be demanded.

[1:38:32] and from the one who has been

[1:38:33] entrusted with much.

[1:38:35] much more will be asked.

[1:38:38] Grant us wisdom

[1:38:42] and courage to do what is right,

[1:38:43] hummility to listen.

[1:38:45] integrity in all our decisions

[1:38:48] in a genuine concern

[1:38:54] Remind us, Lord, the public

[1:38:54] office is not

[1:38:57] is a responsibility and a trust,

[1:38:58] not merely

[1:38:58] position of power

[1:39:05] and as we look back across 250

[1:39:05] years of American history.

[1:39:08] we give thanks for the

[1:39:10] sacrifices of generations who

[1:39:12] defended liberty, preserved our

[1:39:13] institutions, built our

[1:39:14] communities

[1:39:17] and sought to form a more

[1:39:17] perfect union.

[1:39:22] Lord, we also acknowledge the

[1:39:22] places where our nation has

[1:39:23] fallen short.

[1:39:24] of its high ideals

[1:39:28] Help us to learn from our

[1:39:29] history and move forward with

[1:39:29] wisdom

[1:39:31] justice, and grace

[1:39:34] For the reality, Father, whether

[1:39:35] we succeed or stumble.

[1:39:38] we know the power comes with

[1:39:39] from within each of us.

[1:39:40] Jesus said

[1:39:42] behold

[1:39:45] kingdom of God is within you.

[1:39:49] If with all your hearts you

[1:39:49] truly seek me

[1:39:51] you shall ever find me.

[1:39:55] Lord, let Pennsylvania continue

[1:39:56] to be a place where liberty is

[1:39:57] protected.

[1:39:59] Families and communities

[1:39:59] flourish.

[1:40:02] Justice is pursued and our

[1:40:03] differences

[1:40:04] do not destroy

[1:40:06] our common purpose

[1:40:10] and may the next 250 years of

[1:40:11] America's story

[1:40:12] be marked by faithfulness

[1:40:14] service, freedom

[1:40:16] and a renewed recognition

[1:40:19] at our ultimate hope

[1:40:20] rest in you, Lord

[1:40:24] God bless the United States of

[1:40:25] America. God bless

[1:40:28] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and

[1:40:29] we ask all this and all things

[1:40:30] in Jesus' name.

[1:40:30] Amen.

[1:40:34] I pledge allegiance

[1:40:52] And singing God Bless America,

[1:40:53] the

[1:41:08] Thank you madam Speaker

[1:41:11] I'm going to begin with the

[1:41:12] verse and then I'll all ask you

[1:41:13] to join in the chorus.

[1:41:18] as the storm clouds gathered far

[1:41:19] across the sea

[1:41:21] let us pledge ouregiance.

[1:41:23] to a land that's free.

[1:41:27] Let us all be grateful for land

[1:41:27] so fair

[1:41:32] as we raise our voices in this

[1:41:33] solemn p

[1:41:34] pray.

[1:41:38] the last

[1:41:38] America.

[1:41:40] land

[1:41:43] that I

[1:41:44] love.

[1:41:47] and beside her.

[1:41:48] and guide her

[1:41:54] through the night with the light

[1:41:55] from a allve.

[1:41:56] from the mountain

[1:41:59] to the prairie

[1:42:02] to the oceans

[1:42:03] white with

[1:42:04] fo am

[1:42:09] God less America.

[1:42:10] I

[1:42:12] home sweet.

[1:42:14] home

[1:42:18] God bless America.

[1:42:20] my

[1:42:22] home

[1:42:26] sweet home.

[1:42:38] Sergeant at armms will open the

[1:42:39] doors of the house. M members

[1:42:39] and guests, please take your

[1:42:40] seats.

[1:42:52] Colleagues

[1:42:54] colleagueleas

[1:42:58] second session isci.

[1:43:01] 1st session complete silence.

[1:43:04] 2cond session's been in line too

[1:43:05] long.

[1:43:08] Colleagues, I'd like to welcome

[1:43:09] you.

[1:43:11] to the venerable and the

[1:43:11] charming Congress hall

[1:43:12] a site

[1:43:14] steeped in history

[1:43:17] and symbolism for today's

[1:43:17] session.

[1:43:20] As you know, it is uncommon

[1:43:24] for our institution to meet

[1:43:28] outside of our very beautiful

[1:43:30] state capital and only a few

[1:43:32] such convenings have taken place

[1:43:34] since the capitalol moved to

[1:43:34] Harrisburg in 1812.

[1:43:38] However, today we are gathered

[1:43:41] to reaffirm our commitment and

[1:43:43] to celebrate our nation's

[1:43:44] representative democracy which

[1:43:45] was envisioned

[1:43:46] just steps

[1:43:49] from where each of us are

[1:43:49] seated.

[1:43:53] First, please join me in

[1:43:54] welcoming our special guest this

[1:43:55] evening.

[1:43:58] We have Philadelphia's

[1:44:02] phenomenal 100th mayor. She is a

[1:44:05] history maker trailblazer and a

[1:44:06] Pennsylvania House of

[1:44:08] Representatives alumna but of

[1:44:09] course she left here.

[1:44:10] after serving her neighbors in

[1:44:13] the 200th district and served

[1:44:14] faithfully in the inth Councilil

[1:44:16] District. Please welcome Madam

[1:44:18] Mayor Sherelle L. Parker.

[1:44:31] Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[1:44:36] let me start by saying a

[1:44:37] very special

[1:44:42] thank you to our very own

[1:44:43] Philadelphia's own

[1:44:44] trailblazing

[1:44:46] and historyma.

[1:44:49] Pennsylvaniapeer

[1:44:54] of the house Joanna McClinton,

[1:44:55] you make us proud, madam

[1:44:55] Speaker.

[1:44:56] thank you

[1:44:59] thank you so very much.

[1:45:04] When I learned from Speaker

[1:45:04] McClinton's team that

[1:45:07] the Pennsylvania House will be

[1:45:08] meeting here

[1:45:11] at Congresshall to

[1:45:11] commemorate

[1:45:14] our semiquincentennial.

[1:45:16] 2

[1:45:18] 50 th anniversary

[1:45:22] of our US declaration of

[1:45:24] Independence right here in

[1:45:25] Philadelphia.

[1:45:28] the birthplace of that democracy

[1:45:31] I began to take a stroll

[1:45:34] through my time in the

[1:45:36] Pennsylvania House and it is

[1:45:38] with that in mind and you'll

[1:45:39] have to forgive me because

[1:45:39] the decorum

[1:45:42] and the institution of the

[1:45:43] Pennsylvania House of

[1:45:46] Representatives is something

[1:45:46] that I will never forget. so

[1:45:50] please bear with me as I say

[1:45:53] a special thank you again to you

[1:45:54] Speaker McClinton, to you Lea

[1:45:55] Bradford

[1:45:57] to s Repp Slossberg the whip.

[1:46:02] Aropriations' chairman Harris

[1:46:04] caucus chair Repp Mancy,

[1:46:07] policylic chairbazario Kruker,

[1:46:10] the caucusdministrator and the

[1:46:11] secretary of the caucus on the

[1:46:14] majority side, Davis.

[1:46:20] to our minority colleagues on

[1:46:21] the Republican side.

[1:46:21] Leer Topper

[1:46:22] Whip O'Nealll

[1:46:24] pp pro Struzzi

[1:46:26] caucus chair, white

[1:46:28] policy chair rowe

[1:46:32] caucus administrator Delozier

[1:46:36] and caucus secretary Olett. I

[1:46:38] hope I said that last name

[1:46:40] rightowlet because I misspelled

[1:46:41] eagles and went viral so I'm

[1:46:42] sensitive about pronouncing

[1:46:43] things.

[1:46:46] but I but I but I also need to

[1:46:47] affirm

[1:46:49] for the record that our

[1:46:50] parliamentarian

[1:46:52] Grobram

[1:46:56] Brooke Wheeler, the chief clerk,

[1:46:59] and Jennifer Benko, the

[1:47:00] comptrolller. give a round of

[1:47:02] applause for the people who make

[1:47:03] this place.

[1:47:03] work

[1:47:10] She was actually in the first

[1:47:11] session but I do wanna say

[1:47:16] a special thank you to the chair

[1:47:18] of the Philadelphia delegation

[1:47:20] of the Pennsylvania House, um, a

[1:47:22] role that I have a great deal of

[1:47:24] respect and admiration for that

[1:47:26] is chairwomanorgan Sias,

[1:47:27] please give her a round of

[1:47:28] applause.

[1:47:33] madam Speaker and members, I

[1:47:35] want you to know that tonight is

[1:47:36] historic

[1:47:38] in more ways than one.

[1:47:40] this moment

[1:47:42] reminds us that

[1:47:42] history

[1:47:47] doesn't always get it right on

[1:47:47] the first try.

[1:47:53] but we get to play our part in

[1:47:56] making it better for those who

[1:47:57] come next.

[1:47:59] as mayor of the city of

[1:48:02] Philadelphia. I've had lots

[1:48:04] of people over the past year ask

[1:48:05] me what does it feel like?

[1:48:10] to be mayor of the city during

[1:48:14] the most amazing historic time

[1:48:16] in America's history. I mean

[1:48:18] this moment and the the only

[1:48:20] thing I could liken it two

[1:48:22] colleagues is that it is like a

[1:48:23] a married couple

[1:48:25] celebrating a milestone

[1:48:30] in their in their marriage 25

[1:48:33] years, 50 years and they make a

[1:48:35] determination that they want to

[1:48:38] renew their vows to renew their

[1:48:40] commitment to their love and

[1:48:41] their dedication to one another.

[1:48:44] For me this year

[1:48:48] gives each of us an opportunity

[1:48:50] to renew our vows

[1:48:52] too and I want you to hear me

[1:48:53] clearly

[1:48:56] no matter how challenging what

[1:48:59] we see happening in the world no

[1:49:00] matter how challenging what we

[1:49:04] see happening in our nation this

[1:49:06] is a time for us to remember we

[1:49:10] still live in the greatest

[1:49:11] nation in the world, in the

[1:49:14] world, no matter the challenges,

[1:49:16] no matter the challenges this

[1:49:18] year 250 years.

[1:49:21] It's a chance for us to remember

[1:49:22] who we are

[1:49:23] unless we

[1:49:24] never forget it

[1:49:26] I want to

[1:49:31] I want to affirm that what makes

[1:49:32] this gathering here at

[1:49:34] Independence Hall, the

[1:49:36] birthplace of American democracy

[1:49:39] so powerful is that democracy

[1:49:41] is not only our history, it is

[1:49:41] in fact

[1:49:46] our responsibility. So what a

[1:49:48] moment this is for the people of

[1:49:50] our commonwealth for the people

[1:49:52] of Philadelphia and for every

[1:49:54] legislator who is assembled

[1:49:56] in this room because our

[1:50:00] responsibility is not simply to

[1:50:03] honor the past, but it is for us

[1:50:06] to help shape what really does

[1:50:08] come next and so let me share

[1:50:10] one thing I've learned from

[1:50:11] from this historic year.

[1:50:13] That is that Philadelphia

[1:50:18] does not have to choose between

[1:50:19] being America's birthplace.

[1:50:22] and America's future.

[1:50:26] We can in fact and we should be

[1:50:27] both. We

[1:50:29] are proving that we can be both

[1:50:32] and you with this historic

[1:50:34] session, madam Speaker, you have

[1:50:38] helped us prove that we can be

[1:50:40] both. So I want to say a special

[1:50:43] thank you to each of you today

[1:50:46] because I also want to affirm

[1:50:47] because I don't think

[1:50:50] and maybe this has been a chip

[1:50:51] on my shoulder for a long, long

[1:50:51] time.

[1:50:55] I would often get frustrated

[1:50:55] when I sat in your seat.

[1:50:58] because I don't think that

[1:50:59] people

[1:51:00] in townships

[1:51:02] and counties

[1:51:06] and cities and municipalities

[1:51:07] across the commononwealth

[1:51:10] we don't acknowledge that the

[1:51:13] most important work that is done

[1:51:15] to move the commonwealth of

[1:51:17] Pennsylvania forward to touch

[1:51:20] each and every one of our 13

[1:51:23] million+ constituents, it is

[1:51:25] done in the Pennsylvania General

[1:51:26] Assembly as mayor of this city.

[1:51:29] I want to affirm to each of you

[1:51:32] that I don't care about your

[1:51:34] race, your class, your

[1:51:36] socioeconomic status, your zip

[1:51:38] code, your religion, your sexual

[1:51:40] orientation or identity as mayor

[1:51:41] of this city.

[1:51:42] der ral ll L Parker

[1:51:47] respects you. I appreciate you.

[1:51:50] I am grateful to you. My work as

[1:51:52] mayor cannot be done without the

[1:51:53] work that you do

[1:51:57] on a daily basis. It's with that

[1:51:59] in mind that I want you to know

[1:52:02] I am grateful that you came here

[1:52:04] today. I am hoping madam

[1:52:06] Speaker that whomever it was who

[1:52:08] put together the schedule that

[1:52:11] you were able to plug in a great

[1:52:11] deal of free

[1:52:16] time for some walks on Walnut

[1:52:18] Street to walk by our jewelry

[1:52:20] stores and clothing stores and

[1:52:21] restaurants and

[1:52:21] any way you can

[1:52:22] to contribute

[1:52:30] to nowic vitality of the city of

[1:52:32] Philadelphia. I do thank you so

[1:52:33] much and I want you to know I do

[1:52:34] get the honor and privilege

[1:52:38] of serving as mayor of this city

[1:52:39] today but I want you to know for

[1:52:40] those of you in here who I have

[1:52:41] served with

[1:52:44] and some of you you just

[1:52:46] bring back so many good memories

[1:52:48] seeing your faces. Yes, that

[1:52:49] means debate when we were

[1:52:52] fighting over a whole lot of

[1:52:52] things but it also represent

[1:52:56] good times and so for the few

[1:52:58] years I spent in the

[1:52:59] Pennsylvania house, people ask

[1:53:00] me what did I learn? I said it

[1:53:02] took me 10 years to find my way

[1:53:04] to the bathroom. It seems that's

[1:53:06] that's the only thing I got out

[1:53:08] of the process, but when my

[1:53:09] mentor sent me there

[1:53:12] Marian Tasco and Dwight Evans.

[1:53:13] they kicked me out the nest

[1:53:14] and they said, go to Harrisburg.

[1:53:18] to the Pennsylvania House, to

[1:53:19] the General Assembly. It is

[1:53:19] there

[1:53:20] we want you to learn

[1:53:24] how to be a legislator.

[1:53:25] You all were my teachers

[1:53:26] you all are my friends

[1:53:31] and as mayors, I want you to

[1:53:32] know and I'm speaking for all

[1:53:33] mayors in the commononwealth.

[1:53:34] you

[1:53:38] are our anchor. Welcome to

[1:53:40] Philadelphia and thank you for

[1:53:42] being here a part of living

[1:53:43] history thank you Madam

[1:53:59] The chair thanks the gentle lady

[1:54:01] that leads Philadelphia and the

[1:54:03] chair acts the colleagues to

[1:54:04] acknowledge that the gentle lady

[1:54:06] is here on this great day in

[1:54:08] history when she was born. Happy

[1:54:12] birthday, madam Mayor Cherelle L

[1:54:14] Parker. thank you for spending

[1:54:15] your evening with us.

[1:54:21] To all of the students who've

[1:54:22] been celebrating democracy all

[1:54:24] day who are watching what's

[1:54:26] happening here at Independence

[1:54:29] Hall who took the time to tour

[1:54:31] Carpenter's Hall and the museum

[1:54:34] of American Revolution where

[1:54:35] they have met with members of

[1:54:38] our judiciary and so many

[1:54:40] leaders locally to all of our

[1:54:41] neighbors who are watching at

[1:54:43] home. Thank you for joining us

[1:54:45] and to those who are watching on

[1:54:48] TV. Thank you for watching and

[1:54:49] thank you all for

[1:54:51] working every day to celebrate

[1:54:53] democracy with us while we're

[1:54:56] preserving our rich history into

[1:54:57] the national Park Service.

[1:55:00] Thank you for being so gracious

[1:55:02] and sharing these historical

[1:55:04] treasures with us and helping to

[1:55:07] make this evening's event

[1:55:08] possible. And before the chair

[1:55:10] goes any further, I must thank

[1:55:13] my office led by Nina Carter,

[1:55:15] Esquire, who have worked around

[1:55:17] the clock for months to make

[1:55:17] this possible. thank you.

[1:55:26] The chair recognizes the

[1:55:28] majority leader who calls the

[1:55:29] House resolution 590.

[1:55:34] Priter's number 3791 on page

[1:55:35] five of today's House calendar,

[1:55:35] the clerk will be

[1:55:38] or the clerk will read the

[1:55:39] resolution.

[1:55:42] A resolution celebrating the

[1:55:44] momentous occasion of the 250th

[1:55:45] anniversary of the Constitution

[1:55:46] of Pennsylvania.

[1:55:49] whereas the first Constitution

[1:55:50] of Pennsylvania was drafted by

[1:55:52] the Pennsylvania Provincial

[1:55:53] Conference at Carpenter's Hall

[1:55:56] in Philadelphia and adopted on

[1:55:57] September 28, 1776

[1:56:00] and whereas this historic

[1:56:02] document was created during the

[1:56:03] dawn of American independence

[1:56:04] and stood as one of the most

[1:56:06] radically democratic and

[1:56:08] progressive state constitutions

[1:56:09] of the revolutionary era.

[1:56:12] and whereas by 1776 many

[1:56:14] Pennsylvanians supported

[1:56:16] overthrow of elite control of

[1:56:17] the Pennsylvania General

[1:56:18] Assembly for a more democratic

[1:56:19] body

[1:56:24] and whereas on May 15, 1776, the

[1:56:25] Continental Congress, which

[1:56:26] served as the provincial

[1:56:27] government and legislative body

[1:56:28] that coordinated the 13teen

[1:56:29] colonies' resistance

[1:56:32] to British rule and led the

[1:56:33] United States through the

[1:56:35] American Revolutionary War

[1:56:36] issued a resolution to the

[1:56:38] colonies to call constitutional

[1:56:39] conventions and write new

[1:56:39] constitutions.

[1:56:44] and whereas on June 18th, 1776

[1:56:46] in Carpenter's Hall,

[1:56:47] Philadelphia. There was a call

[1:56:48] for a constitutional convention

[1:56:50] to form a government for the

[1:56:52] province of Pennsylvania under

[1:56:53] the authority of the people.

[1:56:57] and whereas on July 15, 1776, a

[1:56:58] constitutional convention was

[1:57:00] formed in Philadelphia with

[1:57:02] Benjamin Franklin serving as

[1:57:04] president, George Ross serving

[1:57:05] as vice president and John

[1:57:05] Morris serving as secretary.

[1:57:08] and whereas as one Pennsylvania

[1:57:10] delegate explained, the

[1:57:12] Constitution was determined not

[1:57:14] to pay the least regard to

[1:57:15] former constitutions and was

[1:57:17] resolved to reject everything,

[1:57:18] to clear away every part of the

[1:57:20] old rubbish and begin upon a

[1:57:21] clean foundation

[1:57:24] and whereas the constitution of

[1:57:26] Pennsylvania of 1776 established

[1:57:28] a profound precedent by

[1:57:29] expanding voting rights to all

[1:57:30] taxpaying free men.

[1:57:32] eliminating restrictive property

[1:57:34] ownership requirements and

[1:57:36] creating a strong declaration of

[1:57:37] Rights that predated the United

[1:57:38] States Bill of Rights.

[1:57:41] and whereas the foundational

[1:57:42] principles of freedom, equality,

[1:57:45] self-governance laid down in

[1:57:47] 1776 served as a vital template

[1:57:47] for other states.

[1:57:51] and whereas the 1776

[1:57:52] Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:57:54] featured a unicamerral

[1:57:56] legislature, a supreme executive

[1:57:57] council instead of a governor

[1:57:58] and expanded voting rights.

[1:58:01] and whereas it also established

[1:58:03] a unique council of censors

[1:58:04] meant to monitor government

[1:58:05] adherence to the constitution.

[1:58:10] and whereas by 1790 this system

[1:58:11] proved too chaotic and

[1:58:12] unbalanced, leading to calls for

[1:58:13] a more structured government and

[1:58:15] the first of 5 revisions of the

[1:58:15] Constitution of Pennsylvania.

[1:58:19] and whereas there have been 5

[1:58:20] revisions of the Constitution of

[1:58:24] Pennsylvania in 1776 1790, 1838,

[1:58:26] 1874, and 1968.

[1:58:30] and whereas the 1790

[1:58:32] Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:58:33] established a bicameral

[1:58:34] legislature created a strong

[1:58:36] governor with veto power and

[1:58:38] instituted an independent

[1:58:39] judiciary appointed by the

[1:58:39] governor.

[1:58:42] and whereas as the population

[1:58:43] grew and Jacksonian demo

[1:58:45] Democrattic ideals spread and

[1:58:46] new constitutional convention

[1:58:48] was called in 1838 to make

[1:58:49] government more directly

[1:58:49] accountable to the public

[1:58:54] and whereas the 1838 version of

[1:58:55] the Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:58:56] limited the governor's power by

[1:58:58] making many formerly appointed

[1:59:00] officers, including judges and

[1:59:01] county officials elective.

[1:59:04] and whereas following the Civil

[1:59:06] War, industrialization and rapid

[1:59:08] corporate growth led to

[1:59:10] widespread corruption within

[1:59:12] state government which the 1874

[1:59:13] Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:59:14] aimed to curb

[1:59:17] and whereas the 1874

[1:59:18] Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:59:20] lengthened the governor's term,

[1:59:22] established strict regulations

[1:59:24] against legislative corruption

[1:59:25] and corporate favoritism and

[1:59:26] created the office oflieutenant

[1:59:27] governor

[1:59:30] and whereas as society

[1:59:32] modernized the 1874 Constitution

[1:59:33] of Pennsylvania became heavily

[1:59:33] cluttered and outdated.

[1:59:37] and whereas the 1968

[1:59:38] Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:59:40] streamlined government and

[1:59:40] vastly improved structural

[1:59:41] clarity.

[1:59:44] and whereas it reorganizeds the

[1:59:45] court system into a unified

[1:59:45] judicial system

[1:59:48] allowed the governor to serve

[1:59:50] consecutive terms and gave the

[1:59:51] General Assembly more

[1:59:51] organizational flexibility.

[1:59:55] and whereas the 1968 version of

[1:59:56] the Constitution of Pennsylvania

[1:59:58] remains the active constitution

[2:00:00] of the commononwealth today,

[2:00:01] though it has been updated

[2:00:02] through various amendments over

[2:00:03] the years.

[2:00:06] and whereas the enduring legacy

[2:00:08] of Pennsylvania's constitutional

[2:00:09] history continues to protect the

[2:00:09] inherent rights

[2:00:12] public education, and free

[2:00:12] elections of all residents of

[2:00:13] this commonwealth.

[2:00:16] Therefore, be it resolved that

[2:00:17] the House of Representatives

[2:00:19] celebrate the 250th anniversary

[2:00:20] of the Constitution of

[2:00:20] Pennsylvania.

[2:00:22] and be it further resolved that

[2:00:24] the House of Representatives

[2:00:26] honor the monumental impact of

[2:00:27] the Constitution of Pennsylvania

[2:00:28] on American democracy during

[2:00:29] this historic milestone.

[2:00:32] and be it further resolved that

[2:00:33] copies of this resolution be

[2:00:34] transmitted to the Pennsylvania

[2:00:35] Historical and Museum

[2:00:35] Commission.

[2:00:44] The question is, will the House

[2:00:45] agree to the resolution on that

[2:00:47] question, the chair recognizes

[2:00:48] the gentle lady from Burks,

[2:00:49] representatives toped of rati.

[2:01:06] Thank you madam Speaker

[2:01:10] Colleagues standing here in

[2:01:12] Congress hall this evening is

[2:01:13] deeply personal.

[2:01:15] We're in a place where history

[2:01:15] was made.

[2:01:18] where ideas about freedom

[2:01:23] ent ation and selfgovern helped

[2:01:23] shape the commonwealth we

[2:01:24] inherited.

[2:01:24] and tonight

[2:01:28] through House Resolution 590

[2:01:32] we commemorate the 250th

[2:01:34] anniversary of Pennsylvania's

[2:01:36] constitution and the bold idea

[2:01:37] at its foundation.

[2:01:37] that government

[2:01:38] belongs to the people

[2:01:42] I keep coming back to three

[2:01:43] words.

[2:01:44] that have echoed throughout

[2:01:45] generations.

[2:01:47] We the people

[2:01:50] the Sotros el pueblo.

[2:01:52] beautiful words

[2:01:53] powerful words

[2:01:58] and we're going to honor 250

[2:01:59] years of history.

[2:02:02] we must also be honest about

[2:02:03] that history.

[2:02:06] because 250 years ago that we

[2:02:08] did not include everyone.

[2:02:12] om were denied a voice.

[2:02:16] Black people were forcibly

[2:02:17] brought to this country laved

[2:02:21] denied their freedom and

[2:02:21] humanity.

[2:02:23] Indigenous people.

[2:02:24] who were here long

[2:02:28] before any constitution was

[2:02:29] written. were displaced

[2:02:30] exploited

[2:02:32] stripped

[2:02:34] of their lands and rights.

[2:02:37] and as our commonwealth grew

[2:02:42] generations of immigrants would

[2:02:42] come to these shores to work

[2:02:47] sacrifice, build communities and

[2:02:47] add their stories.

[2:02:48] Pennsylvania story

[2:02:50] families like mine

[2:02:56] and that is what makes standing

[2:02:56] here tonight so powerful.

[2:02:58] madam Speaker

[2:03:01] you stand before us as the first

[2:03:02] woman and first

[2:03:07] black woman to lead the

[2:03:07] Pennsylvania house.

[2:03:11] I stand here as a woman of

[2:03:14] color, a Latina, and the proud

[2:03:15] daughter of immigrants.

[2:03:17] and when I look around this

[2:03:17] chamber

[2:03:20] I see women

[2:03:21] many women

[2:03:24] I see black and brown

[2:03:25] colleagues.

[2:03:25] I see people

[2:03:26] so

[2:03:31] s and lives experiences would

[2:03:31] have been un

[2:03:35] im ag in able in the halls of

[2:03:36] government 250 years ago.

[2:03:38] Look at us now

[2:03:39] key

[2:03:40] ta mo s

[2:03:42] here we

[2:03:44] are

[2:03:49] not simply witnessing history we

[2:03:49] are helping write it.

[2:03:51] and I know I'm not s

[2:03:52] t ding long.

[2:03:54] I carry my parents

[2:03:58] and the sacrifices with me and

[2:03:59] their sacrifices with me.

[2:04:01] I carry my community

[2:04:04] and I carry every little girl

[2:04:07] who has ever looked at a room

[2:04:07] like this and wondered.

[2:04:08] is there a place

[2:04:09] for someone

[2:04:10] like me

[2:04:10] where

[2:04:15] Ciiuluar parati.

[2:04:18] Yes, there is a place for you.

[2:04:19] because democracy

[2:04:21] s hummus is not that we

[2:04:22] were pricked

[2:04:24] 250 years ago

[2:04:25] Were not

[2:04:26] It's promise

[2:04:31] is that each generation has the

[2:04:34] power and the responsibility to

[2:04:35] widen the circle

[2:04:36] bring more voices to the table.

[2:04:38] and make

[2:04:41] we the people more true than it

[2:04:42] ever was before

[2:04:46] That is why House resolution

[2:04:47] 590

[2:04:50] is more than a commemoration of

[2:04:51] our past.

[2:04:53] It is a charge for our future.

[2:04:56] as we honor these 250 years.

[2:04:58] question before us

[2:05:01] is not only where we have been

[2:05:05] but what will we do with the

[2:05:05] next 250.

[2:05:08] Pennsylvania story is

[2:05:10] still being written

[2:05:14] and all of us in this room are

[2:05:15] holding the pen.

[2:05:17] So let us write a

[2:05:18] cha p ter where

[2:05:20] every voice matters

[2:05:24] We child can see themselves in

[2:05:27] our democracy and where we the

[2:05:27] people

[2:05:28] and

[2:05:30] fully means

[2:05:30] all of us

[2:05:32] aorro

[2:05:36] sos tenemos vos

[2:05:38] hos pertene emos

[2:05:42] all of us we all have a voice

[2:05:43] and we all

[2:05:43] belong.

[2:05:46] That is the promise we

[2:05:46] inherited.

[2:05:48] that is the responsibility we

[2:05:49] carry

[2:05:52] and that is the Pennsylvania we

[2:05:53] must continue building together

[2:05:54] I am proud

[2:05:57] to support House resolution 590

[2:05:58] and I

[2:06:02] respectfully ask my colleagues

[2:06:04] for an affirmative voice. excuse

[2:06:05] me, for an affirmative vote.

[2:06:06] Gracias, madam Speer.

[2:06:22] Denada

[2:06:28] on the question the chair

[2:06:28] recognizes the gentleman from

[2:06:30] Center County, Representative

[2:06:31] Benninghall.

[2:06:42] Now I know how the little

[2:06:43] drummer boy felt.

[2:06:50] Sorry madam Speaker, that wasn't

[2:06:51] in my notes.

[2:06:54] Colleagues, Madam Speaker

[2:06:58] I want to thank you personally

[2:06:58] for the honor to share a few

[2:06:59] comments on this historic

[2:07:01] evening and visit to this

[2:07:02] chamber

[2:07:04] For those of us are history

[2:07:06] buffs and those who are not and

[2:07:07] those who have served in office.

[2:07:08] you know that we stand on some

[2:07:09] pretty broad shoulders.

[2:07:11] as a young lady that went before

[2:07:11] me spoke.

[2:07:14] we are paving a path for future

[2:07:16] generations and as my hope. so

[2:07:17] I'll share a couple thoughts

[2:07:18] with you.

[2:07:22] Maampeer 250 years ago, I would

[2:07:23] suspect no one expected both

[2:07:24] men.

[2:07:27] and women to be serving in

[2:07:28] similar chambers across this

[2:07:29] country.

[2:07:30] this great country of ours

[2:07:33] and you, as mentioned before,

[2:07:33] madam Speaker.

[2:07:36] Pennsylvania's first female

[2:07:37] speaker.

[2:07:38] I personally congratulate you on

[2:07:39] that

[2:07:40] not to mention you knocked me

[2:07:41] out of the way

[2:07:52] We come here today not only to

[2:07:54] sell frate America's 250th

[2:07:56] birthday in a very chamber that

[2:07:57] so many representatives

[2:07:59] the original 13 colonies.

[2:08:03] labored to draft that

[2:08:03] declaration of Independence.

[2:08:06] and eventually a constitutional

[2:08:07] framework.

[2:08:08] that we use even here today.

[2:08:10] Think of the enormity of that

[2:08:12] hi nk of all they went through

[2:08:17] and we're also here to honor

[2:08:17] those brave men.

[2:08:18] but their wise

[2:08:22] their families who stood by

[2:08:23] them.

[2:08:23] in the name of liberty

[2:08:27] Some of these wives provided

[2:08:27] great counsel.

[2:08:28] and wisdom

[2:08:30] after her deleate husbands

[2:08:32] while also maintaining home

[2:08:33] front.

[2:08:35] Such courage

[2:08:37] under heavy knowledge.

[2:08:38] they might be arrested

[2:08:42] possibly hung for treason.

[2:08:46] We think our days at work are

[2:08:47] tough.

[2:08:48] madam Speaker

[2:08:50] stand here in complete all

[2:08:52] total respect

[2:08:56] and admiration for the main

[2:08:57] challenges that were laid before

[2:08:58] them.

[2:09:00] An angry king

[2:09:02] a scared public

[2:09:06] lousy weather conditions at

[2:09:06] times. longng traveling.

[2:09:09] and much time separated from

[2:09:09] their families.

[2:09:10] and surely

[2:09:12] lack of air conditioning

[2:09:16] and no hot shower waiting at the

[2:09:17] end of the day.

[2:09:20] We can laugh at that, but these

[2:09:22] people travel long, hard, wet,

[2:09:23] dirty.

[2:09:26] and had terrible challenges

[2:09:27] before them. In addition,

[2:09:28] to legislative

[2:09:32] Through much deliberation and I

[2:09:33] suspect heated debate

[2:09:36] S several principles prevailed.

[2:09:37] Number one

[2:09:38] they must not fail

[2:09:40] Nor two

[2:09:44] though there were 13 different

[2:09:47] colonies, they must unite around

[2:09:47] their similarries and thought.

[2:09:48] and goals

[2:09:52] not be divided by their

[2:09:53] differences.

[2:09:54] special interests for their own

[2:09:55] colony.

[2:09:56] Most importantly

[2:10:00] they needed to remember and not

[2:10:01] forget

[2:10:04] it was through prayer and God's

[2:10:06] divine guidance that's got them

[2:10:07] that far.

[2:10:07] and only

[2:10:10] by humbling themselves and

[2:10:12] asking for his guidance and

[2:10:13] wisdom.

[2:10:14] sermon and thought

[2:10:16] would they succeed

[2:10:18] Ultimately

[2:10:22] the desire for that wisdom was

[2:10:23] of self-governance as a new

[2:10:23] nation

[2:10:25] not a mon monarchy

[2:10:27] hads ensured their success

[2:10:31] in one day that you and I got to

[2:10:31] serve in similar government.

[2:10:32] 250 years later

[2:10:36] it may not be perfect

[2:10:40] but I challenge anyone to show

[2:10:41] me a form of government.

[2:10:44] like our constitutional republic

[2:10:46] in a world that people would

[2:10:47] risk all that they have, leave

[2:10:48] what they have.

[2:10:49] travel to another country

[2:10:53] Madam Speaker, appreciate your

[2:10:54] patience. It's one of the

[2:10:55] reasons I rise to support House

[2:10:56] regist in 590.

[2:10:58] but I also want to leave you

[2:11:00] with two questions, not just

[2:11:01] thepeer but all of us.

[2:11:04] What would our founding fathers

[2:11:05] have to say about our desire to

[2:11:05] protect.

[2:11:07] our former self-governs

[2:11:08] of her governing document

[2:11:12] Nber 2, are you willing to

[2:11:13] compromise when needed

[2:11:15] to ensure its wisdom

[2:11:17] discernment, and good reasoning.

[2:11:22] that are implored to bestent

[2:11:23] those who elected us.

[2:11:24] to this august body of service

[2:11:28] that my friends will guarantee

[2:11:29] future generations.

[2:11:30] That is a responsibility and I

[2:11:31] ask my colleagues

[2:11:34] or House Resident 590. Madam

[2:11:35] Speaker, thank you.

[2:11:44] Chair, thanks the gentlemen.

[2:11:46] chair recognizes the gentle lady

[2:11:47] from Allegheny County,

[2:11:47] Representative Benham.

[2:12:08] Thank you, madam Speaker. It's a

[2:12:10] a profound honor to speak in

[2:12:12] support of House Resolution 590

[2:12:14] recognizing the 250th

[2:12:16] anniversary of the Constitution

[2:12:17] of Pennsylvania.

[2:12:20] 150 years ago, Pennsylvanians

[2:12:20] were engaged in a remarkable

[2:12:21] experiment.

[2:12:25] and what made our constitution

[2:12:26] that remarkable experiment was

[2:12:28] that it was an argument about

[2:12:29] what government itself should

[2:12:29] look like

[2:12:32] It was as this resolution

[2:12:34] recognizes one of the most

[2:12:36] radically democratic and

[2:12:37] progressive constitutions of the

[2:12:37] revolutionary era.

[2:12:40] but we also know, as other

[2:12:42] speakers have discussed this

[2:12:43] evening that that's not the

[2:12:43] entire story

[2:12:47] that many of the people whose

[2:12:49] descendants would ultimately

[2:12:50] expand our understanding of

[2:12:51] equality

[2:12:54] of progress, of what democracy

[2:12:55] can look like.

[2:12:56] that they were absent from the

[2:12:57] room.

[2:13:00] and I think that that tension is

[2:13:02] one of the important lessons of

[2:13:03] this anniversary.

[2:13:06] because constitutional democracy

[2:13:07] asks us

[2:13:10] to continue to adapt this

[2:13:11] experiment

[2:13:13] to make it better and to ask

[2:13:13] what we have to change

[2:13:16] to ensure that all of us can

[2:13:17] find belonging

[2:13:18] in spaces like this

[2:13:22] And I think that question of

[2:13:24] what we must continue to change

[2:13:25] has particular meaning for me.

[2:13:28] I have the privilege of serving

[2:13:30] in this chamber as a queer woman

[2:13:31] and as an autistic

[2:13:31] Pennsylvanian.

[2:13:36] and 250 years ago I think like

[2:13:37] many of the folks when I look

[2:13:40] around this room they're was not

[2:13:42] a place for me in political life

[2:13:44] and envisioned by the people

[2:13:45] that wrote that first

[2:13:45] constitution.

[2:13:48] There was no expectation that

[2:13:49] someone who experienced the

[2:13:50] world the way that I do would

[2:13:51] sit in this chamber.

[2:13:54] that someone like me would help

[2:13:55] write our laws

[2:13:58] but so many of us who were not

[2:14:00] descendants of people originally

[2:14:02] in that room would get to debate

[2:14:04] our priorities and

[2:14:04] representativeands of

[2:14:05] Pennsylvanians and yet

[2:14:06] here we all are

[2:14:10] Now I don't see this as evidence

[2:14:12] that our founding ideals were

[2:14:14] wrong, but I do see it as

[2:14:17] evidence of what happens when we

[2:14:18] continue to talk about how

[2:14:22] that constitutional democracy,

[2:14:23] that experiment must change.

[2:14:26] because we have to acknowledge

[2:14:27] that the story of Pennsylvania.

[2:14:30] is about expanding who can

[2:14:32] participate in that democracy

[2:14:33] and that that only happens

[2:14:33] because people

[2:14:34] fought for it

[2:14:37] Women fought for a vote. Black

[2:14:38] Pennsylvanians fought for equal

[2:14:39] citizenship.

[2:14:42] Disabilities fought to be seen

[2:14:43] as objects not of charity

[2:14:46] but as people with rights,

[2:14:47] autonomy, and political power.

[2:14:51] LGbtq plus Pennsylvanians fought

[2:14:53] to live openly and safely to

[2:14:55] form families and to participate

[2:14:55] fully in public life.

[2:14:58] and autistic people and other

[2:15:00] disabled people continue to

[2:15:01] fight against the assumption

[2:15:02] that our differences make us

[2:15:03] less capable of contributing

[2:15:04] to our communities

[2:15:10] Now those assumptions I know are

[2:15:12] assumptions that many of us face

[2:15:13] when we walk in our districts.

[2:15:16] that people will look at us and

[2:15:17] based off of the way that we

[2:15:17] look

[2:15:20] talk, the way that our brain

[2:15:21] might work differently.

[2:15:23] but make assumptions about what

[2:15:23] we're capable of.

[2:15:28] and yet all of us in this room

[2:15:30] are proof of what happens when

[2:15:31] we defy those assumptions.

[2:15:34] So today we're commemorating

[2:15:35] that experiment that's still

[2:15:35] underway.

[2:15:38] and I hope that 250 years from

[2:15:39] now

[2:15:41] the people that are looking back

[2:15:41] at us

[2:15:44] will say that we did not just

[2:15:46] preserve this democracy that we

[2:15:47] inherited.

[2:15:48] that we made it more accessible

[2:15:50] and that we listened to people

[2:15:51] who have been excluded

[2:15:55] and that the promise of this

[2:15:57] constitutional experiment is

[2:15:58] that we are going to keep

[2:15:58] experimenting.

[2:16:02] We're going to keep building.

[2:16:03] We're going to keep refining it.

[2:16:04] I urge my colleagues to

[2:16:20] Those in favor of the resolution

[2:16:21] will be voting aye

[2:16:24] Those opposed know

[2:16:26] M members will proceed to vote

[2:16:28] Have all the members voted

[2:16:31] Have all the members voted

[2:16:33] The clerk will record the vote

[2:16:36] on the resolution, the as are

[2:16:39] 203 and the nays are 0ro, the

[2:16:39] resolution is adopted.

[2:16:50] At this time, the chair turns to

[2:16:51] our legislative leaders for

[2:16:51] closing remarks

[2:16:53] The chair first recognizes the

[2:16:54] gentleman from Washington,

[2:16:56] Representative O'Nealll, the

[2:16:56] minority whip.

[2:17:05] Thank you again. thank you,

[2:17:05] madam Speaker once again.

[2:17:10] it really is a privilege to

[2:17:11] stand here this evening on

[2:17:12] behalf of the House Republican

[2:17:13] caucus.

[2:17:15] in a place where the history of

[2:17:16] Pennsylvania and the history of

[2:17:18] America are almost impossible to

[2:17:19] separate.

[2:17:22] Just steps from this chamber

[2:17:22] stands the Pennsylvania State

[2:17:23] House.

[2:17:25] What the world knows as

[2:17:25] Independence Hall.

[2:17:26] In 1729

[2:17:30] Pennsylvania Assembly

[2:17:31] appropriated 2000 pounds

[2:17:34] in the current in the currency

[2:17:36] of the time to build a house for

[2:17:37] the assembly.

[2:17:40] Construction began in 1732 and

[2:17:41] by 1735

[2:17:42] before the building was even

[2:17:43] finished

[2:17:45] assembly was already meeting

[2:17:45] inside.

[2:17:48] For decades, Pennsylvania

[2:17:50] lawmakers met in the first floor

[2:17:51] assembly room.

[2:17:54] In 1775 when the Secon

[2:17:56] Continental Congress needed that

[2:17:58] room to conduct the work that

[2:17:59] would lead to the declaration of

[2:17:59] inndependence.

[2:18:03] Pennsylvania lawmakakers moved

[2:18:03] upstairs.

[2:18:06] 12 years later, when the

[2:18:07] Constitutional Convention needed

[2:18:08] it.

[2:18:10] Pennsylvania again moved

[2:18:11] upstairs.

[2:18:14] and on 17 8 and excuse me on

[2:18:15] September 17th

[2:18:16] 1787

[2:18:21] 39 delegates signed the United

[2:18:23] States Constitution on the first

[2:18:23] floor of that building.

[2:18:26] upstairs that day

[2:18:27] our house journal

[2:18:30] shows that the Pennsylvania

[2:18:32] Assembly was dealing with a tax

[2:18:33] dispute

[2:18:33] a bridge bill

[2:18:36] and the newly proposed

[2:18:38] US Constitution

[2:18:39] Think about that

[2:18:42] Downstairs they had just

[2:18:46] delegates of Pennsylvania just

[2:18:47] signed the constitution

[2:18:51] and upstairs there was a dispute

[2:18:51] over taxes.

[2:18:52] and brids.

[2:18:56] Apparently some things never

[2:19:02] Decades earlier, the assembly

[2:19:02] ordered a bell for its state

[2:19:03] house.

[2:19:06] foreign made as it was, the bell

[2:19:07] cracked and had to be recast.

[2:19:11] as we know, the Liberty Bell

[2:19:11] later became a symbol

[2:19:15] of the idea that liberty is not

[2:19:15] something

[2:19:18] granted by a king across an

[2:19:19] ocean.

[2:19:21] Although 25 years before,

[2:19:24] before independence,

[2:19:27] Pennsylvania had already forged

[2:19:28] the concept of liberty into our

[2:19:29] history.

[2:19:34] when Leviticus 25:10 was cast

[2:19:35] onto the bell.

[2:19:38] Proclaim proclaim liberty

[2:19:40] throughout all the lands unto

[2:19:40] all inhabitants thereof.

[2:19:43] and here in Congress hall

[2:19:46] where the US House met for

[2:19:47] decades.

[2:19:50] We return this building to the

[2:19:52] legislative purpose that made it

[2:19:53] famous.

[2:19:53] once again

[2:19:54] a representative body

[2:19:56] sits in this chamber

[2:20:00] Citizens from different places

[2:20:01] with different interests

[2:20:02] and different opinions

[2:20:04] have sent their representatives

[2:20:06] here here to speak for them

[2:20:11] that history gives us more than

[2:20:11] something to celebrate.

[2:20:13] gives us an obligation

[2:20:17] We come from different

[2:20:18] communities and political

[2:20:19] parties. We disagree.

[2:20:20] often loudly

[2:20:23] That is not a failure of

[2:20:23] representative government.

[2:20:25] that is representative

[2:20:25] government

[2:20:30] But before we are Republicans or

[2:20:31] Democrats, we are Pennsylvanians

[2:20:34] and all of us have been

[2:20:35] entrusted for for a time.

[2:20:36] with a place

[2:20:41] in the same long tradition of

[2:20:42] representative government that

[2:20:46] has unfolded on this square for

[2:20:47] nearly 3 centuries.

[2:20:50] The story of America cannot be

[2:20:51] told

[2:20:52] without the buildings in this

[2:20:53] square.

[2:20:54] This is where Pennsylvania

[2:20:57] governed. This is where America

[2:20:57] de declared itself free.

[2:21:00] This is where the Constitution

[2:21:01] was written.

[2:21:02] The ordinary people

[2:21:06] did those things, had no

[2:21:07] guarantee that this experiment

[2:21:08] would last 250 years.

[2:21:09] They simply did their part

[2:21:10] to make sure it could

[2:21:13] Now that responsibility.

[2:21:14] belongs to us

[2:21:18] Let us humbly stand here today.

[2:21:19] and continue

[2:21:20] what they started

[2:21:23] Let us continue to protect life.

[2:21:24] liberty.

[2:21:28] property, and the reputation of

[2:21:29] the people who sent us.

[2:21:32] Ronald Reagan once said on July

[2:21:33] 4th,

[2:21:34] my fellow Americans

[2:21:38] it falls to us to keep faith

[2:21:38] with all the great Americans of

[2:21:39] our past.

[2:21:41] the things that unite us

[2:21:44] America's past of which we're so

[2:21:45] proud.

[2:21:46] our hopes and aspirations

[2:21:50] for the future of the world in

[2:21:51] this much loved country.

[2:21:54] These things far outweigh what

[2:21:55] little divides us.

[2:21:56] and so tonight

[2:21:58] we reaffirm

[2:22:02] that Jew and Gentta, we are one

[2:22:03] nation under God.

[2:22:04] that black and white

[2:22:07] we are one nation indivisible.

[2:22:12] That Republican andmo Democrat

[2:22:12] we are all Americans.

[2:22:14] Tonight with heartar in Hand

[2:22:18] through whatever row and revel

[2:22:20] we pledge ourselves to each

[2:22:21] other and to the cause of human

[2:22:22] freedom.

[2:22:25] the cause that has given light

[2:22:25] to this land

[2:22:26] and hope to the world

[2:22:28] Thank you,

[2:22:46] Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

[2:22:47] Chair recognizes the gentleman

[2:22:48] from Montgomery County,

[2:22:49] Representative Bradford.

[2:22:52] Good evening, madam Speaker, and

[2:22:54] thank you for the recognition

[2:22:56] and I wanna to repeat what I

[2:22:57] stated earlier. I want to thank

[2:22:59] you especially for putting

[2:23:00] together this very special

[2:23:01] evening in a city that I know is

[2:23:03] close to your heart, but for

[2:23:04] the tremendous work of your

[2:23:06] staff, that of the chiefef clerk

[2:23:08] as well as the National Park

[2:23:10] Service who is working well into

[2:23:11] the evening this evening to make

[2:23:13] this possible. all those

[2:23:14] individuals I know we all

[2:23:15] appreciate the hard work that

[2:23:18] they do every day, not just

[2:23:18] for our commonwealth but in the

[2:23:19] case of our national Par Service

[2:23:20] to keep this

[2:23:22] building in amazing condition

[2:23:23] and everything they do to keep

[2:23:24] us safe and our families and

[2:23:26] friends when they come to visit

[2:23:27] this amazing location.

[2:23:30] I also

[2:23:34] want to mention kind of for

[2:23:34] my caucus's purpose.

[2:23:36] the idea

[2:23:39] that people from 13 continents

[2:23:39] came together.

[2:23:42] 13 continents, 13 colonies came

[2:23:43] together.

[2:23:44] 13 continents, that's a

[2:23:48] that's a George W. Bush line.

[2:23:49] you'requoting Reagan. I'm doing

[2:23:49] George W. Bush.

[2:23:54] 1313 colonies.

[2:23:58] slaveolding colonies in our

[2:24:00] south, mercantile colonies to

[2:24:01] our north.

[2:24:05] people of all different races

[2:24:07] who all put into their common

[2:24:08] fate the idea

[2:24:11] that we could have a United

[2:24:11] States of America.

[2:24:14] that is the very definition of

[2:24:15] audacious.

[2:24:19] That is the most audacious thing

[2:24:19] the world has ever known.

[2:24:22] It is that experiment that is

[2:24:23] our inheritance.

[2:24:24] It is our country

[2:24:28] and it is ours if we have the

[2:24:30] courage and the character and

[2:24:31] the wisdom to keep it.

[2:24:33] I thank

[2:24:34] the young people

[2:24:38] because they are the ones who

[2:24:39] have the most at stake in this

[2:24:39] great experiment

[2:24:43] Earli I may have pointed out Joe

[2:24:44] Kerwin is the one who had the

[2:24:46] most at stake because he's our

[2:24:48] youngest andieegel left us for

[2:24:49] greener pastures as well.

[2:24:52] so it comes to those of us in

[2:24:53] our generation, the governing

[2:24:53] generation, to realize

[2:24:55] that what was done here

[2:24:58] on July 4th, 1776.

[2:25:01] is Aaronheriance. It's what

[2:25:04] Benjamin Franklin when asked,

[2:25:06] shallll it be a monarchy or a

[2:25:08] republic, his answer was a

[2:25:09] republic if you can keep it.

[2:25:13] Well now it is our charge

[2:25:13] whether we can keep it.

[2:25:16] because 20 years

[2:25:18] after that great declaration.

[2:25:22] George Washington after serving

[2:25:23] two terms,

[2:25:25] recognized with the wisdom of

[2:25:25] Madison and Hamilton.

[2:25:28] that to have self-government

[2:25:31] you would have to have a

[2:25:31] peaceful transition of power.

[2:25:34] and so a man who had served his

[2:25:35] country

[2:25:38] faithfully for 20 years gave

[2:25:39] away the power

[2:25:41] and all the prestige that came

[2:25:41] with being the president of the

[2:25:42] United States.

[2:25:44] and he said a peaceful

[2:25:45] transition of power

[2:25:48] was the only way to keep this

[2:25:49] democracy.

[2:25:50] a republic if you can keep it

[2:25:53] and he demonstrated the kind of

[2:25:53] character

[2:25:54] that it would take

[2:25:58] He also in his farewell gave us

[2:25:59] an admonition.

[2:26:02] an admonition about national

[2:26:02] unity that was being torn apart.

[2:26:03] about

[2:26:08] the rise of partisanship, what

[2:26:09] they called faction at the time.

[2:26:12] in d less disputes between party

[2:26:13] that have become too personal,

[2:26:15] too inflamed, the volume too

[2:26:18] loud and frankly the risk of our

[2:26:19] very constitutional order.

[2:26:24] One would argue, and I believe

[2:26:25] they are right that we face

[2:26:26] those same challenges today.

[2:26:28] hopefullypefully they are not

[2:26:31] existential to our democracy but

[2:26:32] the very soul and character of

[2:26:35] our country are in dispute when

[2:26:36] young people think that we no

[2:26:38] longer are defined not by a

[2:26:39] single people.

[2:26:42] but by a party or a region.

[2:26:43] or a faction

[2:26:45] We must come together.

[2:26:46] and we must recognize

[2:26:50] all of the challenges of our

[2:26:52] great history and I thank you

[2:26:53] for recognizing them.

[2:26:53] They are real

[2:26:56] those challenges and those hurt

[2:26:57] is real.

[2:27:00] but our obligation as a great

[2:27:01] United States of America.

[2:27:02] is to be audacious

[2:27:06] is to heal this country.

[2:27:07] and pull together

[2:27:10] We are the heirs

[2:27:12] we have the responsibility

[2:27:16] we have the obligation, we have

[2:27:17] the opportunity.

[2:27:19] in our little part of

[2:27:19] Pennsylvania.

[2:27:20] show that we can be statesmen

[2:27:22] and women

[2:27:24] that we cannot let

[2:27:27] past divisions or elections

[2:27:29] or demagogues or small people.

[2:27:30] tear us apart

[2:27:36] We have too much to lose and so

[2:27:37] much to gain.

[2:27:39] Our country

[2:27:42] our commonwealth, our community

[2:27:43] is at stake.

[2:27:47] good gentleman quoted Reagan and

[2:27:48] I kind of laughed at him both

[2:27:50] times and I said well I'm gonna

[2:27:50] to quote Obama this time.

[2:27:52] because right down the road

[2:27:54] thensenator Obama said

[2:27:56] this union may never be perfect.

[2:28:00] but generation after generation,

[2:28:01] has shown

[2:28:02] that it can always be perfected

[2:28:04] It is great minds

[2:28:06] great men

[2:28:10] yes, regggan of a different

[2:28:10] party and Obama of a different

[2:28:11] than yours.

[2:28:12] who we should heed their wisdom.

[2:28:16] We should come together to work

[2:28:17] for the common cause.

[2:28:18] Thank you, madam Speaker

[2:28:34] Chair, thanks the gentlemen

[2:28:38] As has been said all evening.

[2:28:42] 250 years ago on these hoallowed

[2:28:43] grounds, a beacon of liberty was

[2:28:44] lit.

[2:28:46] from the city of Philadelphia,

[2:28:48] Pennsylvania came a declaration

[2:28:49] of independence

[2:28:51] that changed the course of human

[2:28:52] history.

[2:28:56] Here at what is now known as the

[2:28:58] Independence National Historic

[2:29:00] Park, Our young republic began

[2:29:01] the difficult work of governing.

[2:29:03] Look backward

[2:29:08] from 250 years away. It can be

[2:29:10] tempting to believe that what

[2:29:10] what happened here was

[2:29:13] inevitable, that liberty was

[2:29:13] destined to triumph.

[2:29:15] that it was all going to work

[2:29:16] out.

[2:29:17] except it was not.

[2:29:18] The men

[2:29:20] and women of that generation

[2:29:23] had as much that divided them

[2:29:24] as united them

[2:29:26] They came from the North

[2:29:28] and they came from the south

[2:29:32] They were merchants and they

[2:29:34] were farmers. They lived in

[2:29:35] cities and they lived in the

[2:29:35] countryside.

[2:29:38] They were congregationalists,

[2:29:40] Anglicans, Presbyterians,

[2:29:41] Catholics

[2:29:44] Baptists, Quakers, Puritans and

[2:29:45] Jews.

[2:29:48] They had different interests,

[2:29:51] different backgrounds, very

[2:29:52] different ideas about the

[2:29:54] future, but they found something

[2:29:56] that was much greater than all

[2:29:57] of their differences

[2:30:00] They found a common belief in

[2:30:01] self-determination and liberty.

[2:30:04] They were willing to sacrifice

[2:30:05] all for it.

[2:30:07] They risk they risked their

[2:30:07] property.

[2:30:10] their livelihoods, their

[2:30:11] freedoms.

[2:30:14] and their lives. Not only for

[2:30:15] themselves but for one another.

[2:30:16] and the generations that

[2:30:17] followed.

[2:30:18] in ning independence

[2:30:22] did not end the struggle for

[2:30:23] liberty.

[2:30:26] America's story is a story of

[2:30:27] constant effort

[2:30:29] to make the promise of liberty

[2:30:29] more complete.

[2:30:35] 250 years ago, human beings that

[2:30:36] look like the chair were still

[2:30:38] enslaved by other human beings.

[2:30:42] People were denied their own

[2:30:44] right to self-government because

[2:30:45] of the color of their skin.

[2:30:48] Others were denied their vote

[2:30:50] because they did not own enough

[2:30:51] property.

[2:30:54] Still others were denied their

[2:30:56] right to vote because they were

[2:30:57] women.

[2:31:01] As recently as 1974, women gain

[2:31:02] the right.

[2:31:04] to sign for a mortgage

[2:31:05] to own their own home

[2:31:06] The lessons are clear

[2:31:08] The work for liberty

[2:31:11] is never finished.

[2:31:14] The day people around this world

[2:31:18] still risk their very own

[2:31:19] livelihoods.

[2:31:19] their property

[2:31:20] their freedom

[2:31:26] and their lives in the hopes of

[2:31:27] escaping oppression.

[2:31:28] and determining their own

[2:31:29] destiny.

[2:31:32] and they look to America.

[2:31:36] They look to the light that was

[2:31:37] first kindled here in my

[2:31:39] hometown, the city of brotherly

[2:31:40] love and sisterly affection,

[2:31:41] Philadelphia.

[2:31:43] So it's up to us colleagues

[2:31:47] in 2026 on this

[2:31:50] semi-quincentennial to make the

[2:31:51] lights shine even brighter.

[2:31:53] righter than it ever has.

[2:31:57] We can disagree without being

[2:31:59] disagreeable, we can put aside

[2:32:00] the labels that easily divide us

[2:32:04] Our founders did not agree on

[2:32:06] everything and they did not have

[2:32:08] to, but they understood that

[2:32:10] some things were so much more

[2:32:11] important than their

[2:32:11] differences.

[2:32:15] 250 years later, let us carry

[2:32:15] that spirit forward.

[2:32:19] Let us continue the work of

[2:32:22] forming a more perfect union.

[2:32:23] One that protects liberty

[2:32:25] expands opportunity

[2:32:28] and recognizes the dignity and

[2:32:29] rights of every person.

[2:32:33] Let the beacon of liberty that

[2:32:36] first onen here in Philly, 250

[2:32:38] years ago continued to

[2:32:39] illuminate our commonwealth.

[2:32:40] our nation, and this world.

[2:32:46] mayy it shine for another 250

[2:32:48] years and may those who follow

[2:32:50] all of us look back and say that

[2:32:51] we too

[2:32:52] chose to put our differences

[2:32:53] aside

[2:32:56] work together for a freer and

[2:32:57] better future.

[2:32:58] Thank you colleagues

[2:33:00] God bless

[2:33:10] Thank you

[2:33:16] Finally, before we dismiss and

[2:33:18] conclude our historical session.

[2:33:20] The chair would like to thank

[2:33:22] all the staff that have joined

[2:33:24] us in Philadelphia who have

[2:33:26] worked so hard to make this

[2:33:26] historic day happen.

[2:33:30] that they are appreciated. Let

[2:33:31] us thank all of our staff.

[2:33:44] The chair instructs the clerk to

[2:33:46] include the names of our staff

[2:33:47] and the official journal for

[2:33:47] today's proceedings.

[2:33:50] The chair wants to remind all of

[2:33:52] our members that there is a

[2:33:53] dessert reception.

[2:33:56] in the Philadelphia Visitor

[2:33:58] Center and the chair is looking

[2:33:59] for dinner if anyone can help.

[2:34:01] As the chair's been sitting here

[2:34:01] for a few hours.

[2:34:04] the chairs in receipt of a

[2:34:06] motion from the gentleman from

[2:34:08] Butler, Representative Dukes,

[2:34:10] that the House now adjourn until

[2:34:14] Monday, September 28th, 2026 at

[2:34:17] 12 noon p unless sooner reca by

[2:34:18] the speaker

[2:34:20] Those opposed no

[2:34:23] The ayes have it in the house

[2:34:24] stands adjourned until Monday,

[2:34:28] September twenty8th, 2026 to 12

[2:34:28] noon unless sooner recalled by

[2:34:29] thepeer.

House Session -Sep 9 2026-

Transcript