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think you guys are feeding us on

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Mike Che from the podium. Mike

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Che 123. mic check 12345 from

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the podium.

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123

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Testing members could we please

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be seated?

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thank you.

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To of 5:45 having arrived, the

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house will come to order. M

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members, please take your seats.

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Sergeants at Ars, please close

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the doors of the house.

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M members today is a special

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day.

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Today we celebrate the 250th

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anniversary of the United States

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Declaration of Independence and

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the 250th anniversary of the

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constitution of this

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commonwealth.

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As you know, our commononwealth

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of Pennsylvania was founded as a

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holy experiment.

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In the charter of privileges

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granted by our founder, William

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Penn

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to the inhabitants of

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Pennsylvania and territories in

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1701, Penn wrote

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Because no people can be truly

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happy though under the greatest

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enjoyment of civil liberties if

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abridged of the freedom of their

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consciences as to their

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religious profession and

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worship.

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I do hereby grant and declare

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that no person or persons

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inhabiting this province or

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territories shall be in any case

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molested or prejudiced in his or

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their opinion or state because

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of his or their conscientious

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persuasion or practice.

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In honor of our legacy of

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religious tolerance. Prayer

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today will be offered by 6 of

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our colleagues. 3, during this

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first session and there will be

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3 after recess in our second

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session. All three members

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praying today in each session

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will be highlighting their

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various faiths and highlighting

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the rich religious diversity

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that exists in our great

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commonwealth.

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At this time, prayer will first

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be offered by our colleague,

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Representative Freeman

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followed by our colleague

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Representative Brown and

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followed by our colleague

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Representativehan.

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Immedily after the prayer, we

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will recite the pledge of

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allegiance and today we will

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also s

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M members and guests, please

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rise asabbel.

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Thank you madam Speaker

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Please join me in a moment of

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prayer and reflection

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The pursuit of freedom inspires

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the soul.

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and its attainment empowers the

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most ordinary of people.

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We convene in special session in

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this most historic of places to

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commemorate and celebrate the

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250th anniversary of the

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declaration of Independence and

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the birth of our nation

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a moment in time that marks the

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beginning of our long journey in

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the attainment of freedom.

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We cannot help but be moved by

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the inspiring civic prose of the

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declaration

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which imparted to all of

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humanity the self-evident and

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universal value of equality.

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that all are created equal

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The subsequent expansion of the

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right to vote and of civil

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rights in the course of American

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history would even give fuller

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meaning to our concept of

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equality over time.

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This magnificent document

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proclaims that we have endowed

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by our Creator with certain

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unalienable rights and that

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among these are life, liberty

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and the pursuit of happiness

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which are the defining

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aspirations of every member of

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the human race in their quest

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for a better

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It is written, and I have taken

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this from a passage in my

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Hebrew Union prayer book.

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It is written that when justice

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burns within us like a flaming

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fire.

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when love evokes willing

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sacrifice from us

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when to the last full measure of

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selfless devotion

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we demonstrate our belief in the

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ultimate triumph of truth and of

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righteousness.

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then goodness enters our lives,

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and we can begin to change the

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world.

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There is no denying that the

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declaration of Independence

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changed the world

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and set in motion the long and

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steady march of society toward

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the realization of democracy and

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equality.

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May God bless the United States

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of America and this

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commononwealth of Pennsy

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Let us bow our heads in prayer

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Heavenly Father

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we come before you with grateful

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hearts, mindful of the great

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blessings you have bestowed upon

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our nation and our commonwealth.

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As we gather here

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in historic Congress Hall to

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mark the 250th anniversary of

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the United States.

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We remember with gratitude those

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who came before us and had the

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courage to establish a nation

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founded on liberty, justice, and

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the dignity of every person.

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Lord, for 250 years you have

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blessed this nation through

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times of triumph and times of

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trial.

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We thank you for the freedoms we

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enjoy.

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For those who have sacrificed to

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protect them.

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and for the opportunity to carry

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this great American story

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forward.

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We ask your blessing upon this

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historic gathering and upon all

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those who serve the people of

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Pennsylvania.

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Grant us wisdom

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to make decisions with courage

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and humility.

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strength to stand for what is

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right.

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and compassion to remember the

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people and communities.

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we have been entrusted to serve.

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Help us to be good stewards of

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our freedoms and blessings.

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May we honor the sacrifices of

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those who came before us

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and worked together to leave our

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commonwealth and our nation

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stronger for the generations yet

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to come.

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We ask you to bless our elected

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officials.

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our families, our communities

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and all who call Pennsylvania

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home.

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May your guidance lead us

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Your truth unite us.

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and your peace remain with us.

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We ask this throughrt our Lord.

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Amen.

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Let us pray

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Bismmil LaakmaniRahim.

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Alhamtalilarabiaramin.

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irraman e Rahim.

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Maliki Yomeddin

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Iyakinabbaduwa Iyakins stayin

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Edina serratal Mutikim.

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Seratal ladina and amta arahi

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Wari Makdobi Alihimwa aling.

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Amen

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In the name of God

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the most beneficent, the most

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merciful

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Praise be to God

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Lord of all worlds

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Guide us on the right path.

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The holy Qoran which Thomas

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Jefferson

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owned a copied and studied

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teaches us that God made people

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and tribes.

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so that we may better understand

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each other.

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Lord, we are grateful to gather

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in this historic hall where the

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values of our nation were

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shaped.

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Lord, just as you blessed so

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many of the founders of our

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nation with a vision, courage

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and inspiration to shape the

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lives of generations to come.

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Bless this chamber so that we

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too may have a profound and

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lasting impact on the lives of

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Pennsylvanians.

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and Lord, just as the founding

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fathers concluded the

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declaration of inndependence

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with a firm reliance on the

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protection of divine

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provideence. May you continue to

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grant us that protection and may

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we carry on with that same

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commitment to mutually pledge to

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each other our lives, our

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fortune, and our sacred honor so

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that we may best serve the

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commonwealth.

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In your name we pray

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Amen.

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To lead us in the singing of the

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Star Spangled Banner, the chair

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recognizes the gentleman from

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Luzerne County, Representative

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Pashin

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I'd like to invite everyone

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to demonstrate your love for

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this country and sing with me.

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Oh say, can you see by the

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dawn's early light what so

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proudly we haveil at the

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twilight last gleing whose broad

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stripes and bright stars through

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the perilless fight

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or the

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m par t tree

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00:24:58,956 --> 00:24:59,206
were so gallantly stre.

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and the rockets

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00:25:03,060 --> 00:25:03,310
re la

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the bobsting in

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gave proof through the night

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that our flag was still there.

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Oh say does that star spangle

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yet

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or the and of the

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free and the

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of

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the bra

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a,

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America.

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God bless all Marr.

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Sergeants at arms will open the

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doors of the house. M members

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00:26:15,232 --> 00:26:15,482
and guests, please take your

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seats.

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M memberers and guests please

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rise.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag

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of the United States of America

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ice for all.

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M members and guests please take

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your seats.

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Without objection, the approval

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00:27:06,350 --> 00:27:06,600
of the journal from Tuesday,

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September 8hth, 2026 will be

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postponed until printed.

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Are there requests for leaves of

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00:27:15,793 --> 00:27:16,043
absence?

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The chair recognizes the

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00:27:17,795 --> 00:27:18,045
majorrity whip

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00:27:20,598 --> 00:27:20,848
who indicates there are none.

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The chair recognizes the

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00:27:23,067 --> 00:27:23,317
minority whip who indicates

297
00:27:24,635 --> 00:27:24,885
there are none. The chair's

298
00:27:26,470 --> 00:27:26,720
about to take the master roll

299
00:27:27,137 --> 00:27:27,387
call. M members will proceed to

300
00:27:27,805 --> 00:27:28,055
vote.

301
00:28:03,107 --> 00:28:03,357
Have all the members voted? Have

302
00:28:04,708 --> 00:28:04,958
all the members voted? The clerk

303
00:28:05,376 --> 00:28:05,626
will record the vote.

304
00:28:09,113 --> 00:28:09,363
203 members having voted on the

305
00:28:10,714 --> 00:28:10,964
master roll call. a quorum is

306
00:28:11,382 --> 00:28:11,632
present.

307
00:28:14,885 --> 00:28:15,135
Colleagues, it is both an honor

308
00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:16,970
and a privilege to welcome you

309
00:28:17,388 --> 00:28:17,638
to my hometown.

310
00:28:20,824 --> 00:28:21,074
the city of brotherly love and

311
00:28:22,793 --> 00:28:23,043
sisterly affection. The

312
00:28:25,262 --> 00:28:25,512
birthplace of America's

313
00:28:28,632 --> 00:28:28,882
democracy. A democracy that we

314
00:28:30,834 --> 00:28:31,084
all cherish and we strive every

315
00:28:34,371 --> 00:28:34,621
day to uphold. I'd also like to

316
00:28:36,607 --> 00:28:36,857
welcome our special guests in

317
00:28:38,442 --> 00:28:38,692
our chamber for the day. We've

318
00:28:39,176 --> 00:28:39,426
been joined by the gentle lady

319
00:28:40,911 --> 00:28:41,161
from the first date of the

320
00:28:44,415 --> 00:28:44,665
United States, the madam Speaker

321
00:28:46,383 --> 00:28:46,633
from Delaware, Speer Melissa

322
00:28:47,017 --> 00:28:47,267
Minorbrown. Wel.

323
00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:56,810
We've also been joined it will

324
00:28:58,829 --> 00:28:59,079
soon hear from the chair of

325
00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:03,050
America 250 PA Pat Burns and

326
00:29:04,601 --> 00:29:04,851
Cassandra Coleman, the executive

327
00:29:07,104 --> 00:29:07,354
director for America 250PA of

328
00:29:10,341 --> 00:29:10,591
course Pat and Cassandra along

329
00:29:12,843 --> 00:29:13,093
with their entire America 250 PA

330
00:29:15,312 --> 00:29:15,562
team has been so instrumental in

331
00:29:18,382 --> 00:29:18,632
making today's historic session

332
00:29:19,049 --> 00:29:19,299
possible. Thank you.

333
00:29:30,361 --> 00:29:30,611
I'd also like to s extend a

334
00:29:32,362 --> 00:29:32,612
special welcome to the more than

335
00:29:34,598 --> 00:29:34,848
80 students who have spent the

336
00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:36,650
entire day here with us,

337
00:29:38,335 --> 00:29:38,585
participating in a civic

338
00:29:39,069 --> 00:29:39,319
education program that was

339
00:29:40,838 --> 00:29:41,088
offered by our partners at

340
00:29:43,107 --> 00:29:43,357
America 250 pA and it was

341
00:29:44,875 --> 00:29:45,125
designed to deepen their

342
00:29:46,877 --> 00:29:47,127
understanding of our democracy

343
00:29:49,179 --> 00:29:49,429
and Pennsylvania's unique role

344
00:29:51,115 --> 00:29:51,365
in shaping it. They're watching

345
00:29:52,883 --> 00:29:53,133
our historical session just a

346
00:29:54,918 --> 00:29:55,168
few blocks away at the National

347
00:29:56,620 --> 00:29:56,870
Constitution Center. Today

348
00:29:59,189 --> 00:29:59,439
I'm doing some personal

349
00:29:59,757 --> 00:30:00,007
reflecting of my own.

350
00:30:04,595 --> 00:30:04,845
I'm thinking about the first

351
00:30:07,064 --> 00:30:07,314
time I visited these sacred

352
00:30:10,834 --> 00:30:11,084
spaces as a child.alking across

353
00:30:12,803 --> 00:30:13,053
Independence Mall, seeing the

354
00:30:14,605 --> 00:30:14,855
Liberty Bell as a little girl

355
00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:17,090
learning about history. My

356
00:30:19,042 --> 00:30:19,292
grannny, God rest her soul, was

357
00:30:20,844 --> 00:30:21,094
the first person to bring me

358
00:30:22,846 --> 00:30:23,096
here. and what I remember the

359
00:30:24,581 --> 00:30:24,831
most about that day, I was in

360
00:30:27,117 --> 00:30:27,367
about 2nd grade was the Betsy

361
00:30:28,919 --> 00:30:29,169
Ross House. That was something I

362
00:30:30,854 --> 00:30:31,104
could say easily, came right off

363
00:30:31,588 --> 00:30:31,838
the tongue. She played an in

364
00:30:34,591 --> 00:30:34,841
s tru ment al role and I learned

365
00:30:38,328 --> 00:30:38,578
all about her. After our tour

366
00:30:40,330 --> 00:30:40,580
for the day, we went to Rrietts

367
00:30:41,064 --> 00:30:41,314
and I remember her friend with

368
00:30:43,066 --> 00:30:43,316
us saying, why would you order

369
00:30:44,535 --> 00:30:44,785
spaghetti? It's a rib place

370
00:30:45,235 --> 00:30:45,485
Well

371
00:30:46,937 --> 00:30:47,187
needless to say

372
00:30:50,707 --> 00:30:50,957
I could never have imagined

373
00:30:54,645 --> 00:30:54,895
that 35 years later,

374
00:30:59,049 --> 00:30:59,299
I would ever be hereresiding

375
00:31:01,218 --> 00:31:01,468
over legislative session in this

376
00:31:01,885 --> 00:31:02,135
hoallowed hall.

377
00:31:12,596 --> 00:31:12,846
I am hopeful that so many of our

378
00:31:13,363 --> 00:31:13,613
students from across the

379
00:31:14,832 --> 00:31:15,082
commononwealth who are watching

380
00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:16,850
right now and participated in

381
00:31:18,836 --> 00:31:19,086
our programs today. Some who

382
00:31:20,838 --> 00:31:21,088
it's literally their first time

383
00:31:22,906 --> 00:31:23,156
I met with Paige fromres

384
00:31:24,641 --> 00:31:24,891
representative Anderson's

385
00:31:26,610 --> 00:31:26,860
district. She's in the 12fth

386
00:31:28,645 --> 00:31:28,895
grade and it was her first time

387
00:31:29,379 --> 00:31:29,629
here. She's here with her

388
00:31:31,114 --> 00:31:31,364
parents and here until tomorrow.

389
00:31:33,116 --> 00:31:33,366
and we talked about what the day

390
00:31:34,885 --> 00:31:35,135
has been like for her and Paige

391
00:31:36,887 --> 00:31:37,137
I will let the members of the

392
00:31:38,589 --> 00:31:38,839
judiciary know that they talked

393
00:31:39,323 --> 00:31:39,573
a little too long today.

394
00:31:43,126 --> 00:31:43,376
But seriously, the truth of the

395
00:31:45,095 --> 00:31:45,345
matter is for everyone who's

396
00:31:46,964 --> 00:31:47,214
watching our live stream or

397
00:31:48,832 --> 00:31:49,082
watching it on PCn. Thank you

398
00:31:50,834 --> 00:31:51,084
also for being a part of this

399
00:31:52,903 --> 00:31:53,153
special event and sharing in our

400
00:31:54,872 --> 00:31:55,122
celebration of democracy.

401
00:31:56,874 --> 00:31:57,124
Special shout out to mama

402
00:31:58,909 --> 00:31:59,159
McClinton who is watching. Hi

403
00:31:59,576 --> 00:31:59,826
mom.

404
00:32:07,117 --> 00:32:07,367
I also wanna to thank the good

405
00:32:08,919 --> 00:32:09,169
lady from Philadelphia for

406
00:32:10,888 --> 00:32:11,138
welcoming us into her district.

407
00:32:12,823 --> 00:32:13,073
she reminds most of us on a

408
00:32:15,092 --> 00:32:15,342
regular basis that she serves

409
00:32:18,362 --> 00:32:18,612
the same community and sits in

410
00:32:19,296 --> 00:32:19,546
the same legislative seat as Ben

411
00:32:21,431 --> 00:32:21,681
Franklin. Representative Mary

412
00:32:22,099 --> 00:32:22,349
Isacson. thank you.

413
00:32:23,500 --> 00:32:23,750
for the warm welcome

414
00:32:31,108 --> 00:32:31,358
We also wanna to thank our

415
00:32:33,110 --> 00:32:33,360
friends at the National Park

416
00:32:34,878 --> 00:32:35,128
Service for hosting us today.

417
00:32:36,647 --> 00:32:36,897
The National Park Service has

418
00:32:38,882 --> 00:32:39,132
been very generous in their time

419
00:32:40,884 --> 00:32:41,134
and made sure not only that are

420
00:32:42,586 --> 00:32:42,836
we welcome to this national

421
00:32:44,321 --> 00:32:44,571
treasure right here in

422
00:32:46,323 --> 00:32:46,573
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that

423
00:32:47,324 --> 00:32:47,574
they are sworn to protect and

424
00:32:49,159 --> 00:32:49,409
uphold its rich legacy, but they

425
00:32:51,128 --> 00:32:51,378
have been very accommodating. So

426
00:32:53,163 --> 00:32:53,413
let's thank all of our friends,

427
00:32:54,865 --> 00:32:55,115
most of them in green from the

428
00:32:55,532 --> 00:32:55,782
National Park Service.

429
00:33:04,841 --> 00:33:05,091
Many people don't realize what

430
00:33:08,645 --> 00:33:08,895
else happened in 1776. We know

431
00:33:10,647 --> 00:33:10,897
about the 4urth of July. we

432
00:33:12,616 --> 00:33:12,866
celebrated in every corner of

433
00:33:13,350 --> 00:33:13,600
the commonwealth fromeriee to

434
00:33:15,118 --> 00:33:15,368
Philadelphia. But what some

435
00:33:16,887 --> 00:33:17,137
don't know is that it was on

436
00:33:22,326 --> 00:33:22,576
September 9th, 1776 when we got

437
00:33:24,328 --> 00:33:24,578
a big change here in this great

438
00:33:25,395 --> 00:33:25,645
nation. It was on the September

439
00:33:28,332 --> 00:33:28,582
9th that we changed our name

440
00:33:30,601 --> 00:33:30,851
officially from the colonies,

441
00:33:31,234 --> 00:33:31,484
the United coonies of America.

442
00:33:34,805 --> 00:33:35,055
to the United States of America.

443
00:33:38,575 --> 00:33:38,825
So it's exciting to know 250

444
00:33:41,044 --> 00:33:41,294
years later on September 9,

445
00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:43,530
2026, aren't we blessed thanks

446
00:33:44,615 --> 00:33:44,865
to our good neighbors and

447
00:33:46,617 --> 00:33:46,867
constituents for providing us

448
00:33:49,219 --> 00:33:49,469
this space to serve, represent

449
00:34:02,332 --> 00:34:02,582
Today, we have this privilege of

450
00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:03,350
being here in Congress Hall due

451
00:34:05,102 --> 00:34:05,352
to the work of the Pennsylvania

452
00:34:06,803 --> 00:34:07,053
Commission for the United States

453
00:34:08,872 --> 00:34:09,122
Semi-quincentennial. otherwise

454
00:34:12,342 --> 00:34:12,592
known as America 250PA. America

455
00:34:14,645 --> 00:34:14,895
250 pa was established by the

456
00:34:15,312 --> 00:34:15,562
General Assembly. Some of us

457
00:34:17,147 --> 00:34:17,397
were here and by our governor at

458
00:34:20,384 --> 00:34:20,634
the time Tom Wolf in 2018, it

459
00:34:22,386 --> 00:34:22,636
was established to plan,

460
00:34:23,186 --> 00:34:23,436
encourage, develop and

461
00:34:26,323 --> 00:34:26,573
coordinate the commemoration of

462
00:34:27,424 --> 00:34:27,674
our 250th anniversary of the

463
00:34:28,025 --> 00:34:28,275
founding

464
00:34:30,594 --> 00:34:30,844
of the United States.

465
00:34:32,829 --> 00:34:33,079
Pennsylvania's integral role in

466
00:34:35,065 --> 00:34:35,315
that event and the impact of its

467
00:34:37,334 --> 00:34:37,584
people on the nation's past,

468
00:34:40,604 --> 00:34:40,854
present, and future. Joining us

469
00:34:43,073 --> 00:34:43,323
today are Pat Burns, chairman of

470
00:34:45,075 --> 00:34:45,325
America 250 PA as well as the

471
00:34:47,110 --> 00:34:47,360
executive director Cassandra

472
00:34:49,112 --> 00:34:49,362
Coleman, a many members of the

473
00:34:50,847 --> 00:34:51,097
commission and staff including

474
00:34:52,883 --> 00:34:53,133
our colleagues who have served

475
00:34:54,851 --> 00:34:55,101
very well. To everyone at

476
00:34:57,454 --> 00:34:57,704
Americari 250PA. We thank you

477
00:34:58,121 --> 00:34:58,371
for all that you've done to mark

478
00:34:58,789 --> 00:34:59,039
this

479
00:35:00,857 --> 00:35:01,107
historical milestone for this

480
00:35:02,559 --> 00:35:02,809
commononwealth and our nation,

481
00:35:04,594 --> 00:35:04,844
the clerk will include the names

482
00:35:06,596 --> 00:35:06,846
of the commissioners, the entire

483
00:35:08,865 --> 00:35:09,115
staff of America 250 pA in the

484
00:35:10,867 --> 00:35:11,117
journal of today's proceedings.

485
00:35:13,103 --> 00:35:13,353
At this time, the chair invites

486
00:35:14,871 --> 00:35:15,121
Chairman Burns to address the

487
00:35:17,074 --> 00:35:17,324
House and following Chairman

488
00:35:18,575 --> 00:35:18,825
Burns, we will hear from

489
00:35:21,011 --> 00:35:21,261
Executive Direor Cassandra

490
00:35:21,578 --> 00:35:21,828
Coleman. Let's welcome them

491
00:35:22,112 --> 00:35:22,362
colleagues.

492
00:35:34,324 --> 00:35:34,574
Well, good evening, everyone. My

493
00:35:35,058 --> 00:35:35,308
name is Pat Burns. I'm the

494
00:35:36,426 --> 00:35:36,676
chairman of America 250 PA

495
00:35:40,330 --> 00:35:40,580
This is just awesome to be

496
00:35:40,931 --> 00:35:41,181
with each and every one of you

497
00:35:41,631 --> 00:35:41,881
tonight in this historic place.

498
00:35:45,102 --> 00:35:45,352
I spent most of my career uh, in

499
00:35:46,837 --> 00:35:47,087
business doi building grocery

500
00:35:48,839 --> 00:35:49,089
stores, restaurants and hotels

501
00:35:50,874 --> 00:35:51,124
in our community I really truly

502
00:35:51,541 --> 00:35:51,791
love and care about.

503
00:35:53,610 --> 00:35:53,860
And I learned a few things along

504
00:35:54,277 --> 00:35:54,527
the way

505
00:35:56,713 --> 00:35:56,963
If you want something important

506
00:35:57,380 --> 00:35:57,630
to come together,

507
00:35:59,416 --> 00:35:59,666
youre you gotta to be willing to

508
00:36:00,083 --> 00:36:00,333
think big

509
00:36:02,886 --> 00:36:03,136
work hard and surround yourself

510
00:36:03,553 --> 00:36:03,803
with great people.

511
00:36:06,590 --> 00:36:06,840
That's why I wanna to start by

512
00:36:07,224 --> 00:36:07,474
recognizing my fellow

513
00:36:07,657 --> 00:36:07,907
commissioners.

514
00:36:11,061 --> 00:36:11,311
here today and also the

515
00:36:12,829 --> 00:36:13,079
leadership of Cassandra Coleman

516
00:36:15,198 --> 00:36:15,448
and her entire team from merca

517
00:36:15,866 --> 00:36:16,116
250 pA.

518
00:36:24,441 --> 00:36:24,691
I'd also like to thank you

519
00:36:26,576 --> 00:36:26,826
the Pennsylvania House of

520
00:36:28,578 --> 00:36:28,828
Representatives and my friend

521
00:36:30,580 --> 00:36:30,830
Joanna McClinton, for your

522
00:36:34,351 --> 00:36:34,601
supports in 2018 because of your

523
00:36:36,353 --> 00:36:36,603
partnership, we were able to

524
00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:37,570
make a real impact in 67

525
00:36:38,922 --> 00:36:39,172
counties and over 400

526
00:36:39,356 --> 00:36:39,606
municipalities.

527
00:36:44,828 --> 00:36:45,078
A big part of 250th is honoring

528
00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:46,579
our past today

529
00:36:48,331 --> 00:36:48,581
we also have a chance to think

530
00:36:48,999 --> 00:36:49,249
about what comes next

531
00:36:50,801 --> 00:36:51,051
as a father and a grandfather

532
00:36:52,903 --> 00:36:53,153
I take that seriously

533
00:36:56,373 --> 00:36:56,623
The students joining us today

534
00:36:56,973 --> 00:36:57,223
and watching for the

535
00:36:58,608 --> 00:36:58,858
constitutional Center tonight

536
00:36:59,242 --> 00:36:59,492
will help us shape

537
00:37:02,579 --> 00:37:02,829
what that Pennsylvania looks

538
00:37:03,180 --> 00:37:03,430
like in decades to come.

539
00:37:06,683 --> 00:37:06,933
Our responsibility is to give

540
00:37:07,350 --> 00:37:07,600
them a strong foundation

541
00:37:07,884 --> 00:37:08,134
to build on

542
00:37:11,121 --> 00:37:11,371
That's what America 250 PA is

543
00:37:11,822 --> 00:37:12,072
all about.

544
00:37:13,190 --> 00:37:13,440
bringing generations together

545
00:37:16,793 --> 00:37:17,043
sharing our heritage and our

546
00:37:19,062 --> 00:37:19,312
values and putting together

547
00:37:20,831 --> 00:37:21,081
young people in Pennsylvania in

548
00:37:22,899 --> 00:37:23,149
a position to succeed to be like

549
00:37:23,567 --> 00:37:23,817
one of you today.

550
00:37:25,202 --> 00:37:25,452
We've got a strong team

551
00:37:26,903 --> 00:37:27,153
We've got great partners

552
00:37:30,707 --> 00:37:30,957
and we're building a bridge

553
00:37:31,274 --> 00:37:31,524
together for the future.

554
00:37:32,843 --> 00:37:33,093
and I'd like to thank each and

555
00:37:33,543 --> 00:37:33,793
every one of you for being part

556
00:37:34,177 --> 00:37:34,427
of that.

557
00:37:34,678 --> 00:37:34,928
God bless you

558
00:37:46,556 --> 00:37:46,806
Good evening everyone. Speaker

559
00:37:48,558 --> 00:37:48,808
McClinton, members of the house,

560
00:37:50,861 --> 00:37:51,111
thank you for your partnership

561
00:37:52,796 --> 00:37:53,046
and for giving America to 50PA

562
00:37:54,831 --> 00:37:55,081
the opportunity to be part of

563
00:37:55,498 --> 00:37:55,748
this remarkable day.

564
00:37:58,602 --> 00:37:58,852
I wanna also recognize our

565
00:38:00,604 --> 00:38:00,854
America to50PA chairman Pat

566
00:38:02,372 --> 00:38:02,622
Burns and our commissioners your

567
00:38:04,374 --> 00:38:04,624
leadership and support have

568
00:38:06,343 --> 00:38:06,593
helped transform an anniversary

569
00:38:08,345 --> 00:38:08,595
into a shared experience for

570
00:38:09,112 --> 00:38:09,362
Pennsylvanians across all 67

571
00:38:09,779 --> 00:38:10,029
counties.

572
00:38:12,816 --> 00:38:13,066
When we started planning for

573
00:38:16,353 --> 00:38:16,603
America's 250th anniversary. We

574
00:38:17,053 --> 00:38:17,303
knew our commonwealth had an

575
00:38:18,588 --> 00:38:18,838
extraordinary history to

576
00:38:20,824 --> 00:38:21,074
celebrate. This nation was born

577
00:38:23,059 --> 00:38:23,309
here. The ideas debated and

578
00:38:24,828 --> 00:38:25,078
decisions made in places like

579
00:38:26,897 --> 00:38:27,147
this help change the course of

580
00:38:27,564 --> 00:38:27,814
human events.

581
00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:30,850
but from the beginning we also

582
00:38:32,569 --> 00:38:32,819
knew this anniversary could not

583
00:38:33,236 --> 00:38:33,486
only be about looking backward.

584
00:38:36,873 --> 00:38:37,123
It had to belong to our young

585
00:38:38,842 --> 00:38:39,092
people that's why having

586
00:38:40,343 --> 00:38:40,593
students from across

587
00:38:42,345 --> 00:38:42,595
Pennsylvania here with us today

588
00:38:43,013 --> 00:38:43,263
means so much to us.

589
00:38:46,816 --> 00:38:47,066
The voices matter, their ideas

590
00:38:48,852 --> 00:38:49,102
matter their communities matter

591
00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:50,870
and they do not need to wait

592
00:38:52,589 --> 00:38:52,839
until they have a title, a

593
00:38:54,824 --> 00:38:55,074
degree, or decades of experience

594
00:38:56,359 --> 00:38:56,609
before they begin making a

595
00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:57,210
difference in each of their

596
00:38:58,828 --> 00:38:59,078
communities I know that

597
00:39:00,830 --> 00:39:01,080
personally. I was just 20 years

598
00:39:02,632 --> 00:39:02,882
old when I became mayor of

599
00:39:04,367 --> 00:39:04,617
Exeter Borough. I certainly

600
00:39:06,336 --> 00:39:06,586
didn't have all the answers, but

601
00:39:08,605 --> 00:39:08,855
I had people who believed in me

602
00:39:10,607 --> 00:39:10,857
who gave me an opportunity to

603
00:39:12,609 --> 00:39:12,859
serve and who trusted that I

604
00:39:13,176 --> 00:39:13,426
could learn.

605
00:39:15,111 --> 00:39:15,361
Sometimes that's all you need as

606
00:39:18,581 --> 00:39:18,831
a young person to succeed

607
00:39:20,617 --> 00:39:20,867
someone who is willing to open a

608
00:39:22,619 --> 00:39:22,869
door for you and beli and let

609
00:39:24,587 --> 00:39:24,837
you know that you belong and

610
00:39:26,456 --> 00:39:26,706
that's what all of you did today

611
00:39:27,123 --> 00:39:27,373
by bringing students here.

612
00:39:29,059 --> 00:39:29,309
to the audience watching from

613
00:39:30,593 --> 00:39:30,843
the National Constitution

614
00:39:32,562 --> 00:39:32,812
Center. I wanna speak to you

615
00:39:34,564 --> 00:39:34,814
directly for one moment. We need

616
00:39:36,833 --> 00:39:37,083
your energy. We need your ideas.

617
00:39:38,601 --> 00:39:38,851
We need your compassion, your

618
00:39:39,369 --> 00:39:39,619
creativity and your willingness

619
00:39:40,036 --> 00:39:40,286
to lead.

620
00:39:42,872 --> 00:39:43,122
5ft0 years ago the Women for

621
00:39:44,607 --> 00:39:44,857
Greater Philadelphia created a

622
00:39:46,343 --> 00:39:46,593
time capsule and invited

623
00:39:48,345 --> 00:39:48,595
Pennsylvanians to leave messages

624
00:39:49,045 --> 00:39:49,295
for the semi-quincentennial

625
00:39:49,579 --> 00:39:49,829
generation.

626
00:39:52,882 --> 00:39:53,132
The students who joined us today

627
00:39:55,118 --> 00:39:55,368
have sent their own messages

628
00:39:58,321 --> 00:39:58,571
forward to the Pennsylvanians

629
00:40:00,490 --> 00:40:00,740
who will come together in 2076.

630
00:40:03,293 --> 00:40:03,543
That's the responsibility each

631
00:40:05,061 --> 00:40:05,311
generation inherits. We received

632
00:40:06,830 --> 00:40:07,080
something from the people who

633
00:40:08,732 --> 00:40:08,982
came before us. We take care of

634
00:40:09,399 --> 00:40:09,649
it

635
00:40:12,569 --> 00:40:12,819
we make it better and then we

636
00:40:14,604 --> 00:40:14,854
place it in the hands of those

637
00:40:15,271 --> 00:40:15,521
who come next.

638
00:40:17,107 --> 00:40:17,357
I'm a mother. I think about that

639
00:40:19,109 --> 00:40:19,359
responsibility every single day

640
00:40:20,877 --> 00:40:21,127
and when I think about the young

641
00:40:22,846 --> 00:40:23,096
Pennsylvanians I've encountered

642
00:40:24,881 --> 00:40:25,131
over the last 8 years of this

643
00:40:27,117 --> 00:40:27,367
work. I am extremely hopeful.

644
00:40:30,387 --> 00:40:30,637
Pennsylvania's future is sitting

645
00:40:32,355 --> 00:40:32,605
just down the street tonight and

646
00:40:33,089 --> 00:40:33,339
across the Commonwealth in each

647
00:40:36,359 --> 00:40:36,609
of your districts. Our job is to

648
00:40:38,361 --> 00:40:38,611
make sure that they know that

649
00:40:40,330 --> 00:40:40,580
what that we believe in them and

650
00:40:41,131 --> 00:40:41,381
then give them the opportunity

651
00:40:42,632 --> 00:40:42,882
to show us what they can do. I

652
00:40:44,467 --> 00:40:44,717
wanna thank you all again for

653
00:40:45,135 --> 00:40:45,385
your continued partnership

654
00:40:45,735 --> 00:40:45,985
and support. thank you

655
00:40:55,078 --> 00:40:55,328
The chair recognizes the

656
00:40:56,846 --> 00:40:57,096
majority leader who calls up

657
00:41:00,583 --> 00:41:00,833
House resolution 589 printer's

658
00:41:04,354 --> 00:41:04,604
number 3790 on page 5 of today's

659
00:41:05,055 --> 00:41:05,305
house calendar. The clerk will

660
00:41:05,722 --> 00:41:05,972
read the resolution.

661
00:41:08,825 --> 00:41:09,075
A resolution celebrating the

662
00:41:10,860 --> 00:41:11,110
momentous and historic occasion

663
00:41:12,829 --> 00:41:13,079
of the United States semi

664
00:41:13,396 --> 00:41:13,646
quincentennial.

665
00:41:16,566 --> 00:41:16,816
whereas the Commonwealth of

666
00:41:18,334 --> 00:41:18,584
Pennsylvania joins the rest of

667
00:41:19,035 --> 00:41:19,285
the nation in celebrating the

668
00:41:21,104 --> 00:41:21,354
momentous 250th anniversary of

669
00:41:22,839 --> 00:41:23,089
the signing of the Declaration

670
00:41:24,574 --> 00:41:24,824
of Independence and whereas

671
00:41:26,376 --> 00:41:26,626
following the passage of the

672
00:41:28,845 --> 00:41:29,095
Stamp Act in 1765, a series of

673
00:41:30,580 --> 00:41:30,830
unpopular British laws met with

674
00:41:31,281 --> 00:41:31,531
stiff opposition in the

675
00:41:32,849 --> 00:41:33,099
colonies, feeling a bitter

676
00:41:34,384 --> 00:41:34,634
struggle over whether Parliament

677
00:41:36,386 --> 00:41:36,636
had the right to tax colonists

678
00:41:37,087 --> 00:41:37,337
without the consent of the

679
00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:37,970
representative colonial

680
00:41:38,188 --> 00:41:38,438
governments.

681
00:41:40,824 --> 00:41:41,074
and whereas this struggle

682
00:41:42,826 --> 00:41:43,076
erupted into violence in 1770

683
00:41:44,594 --> 00:41:44,844
when British troops killed five

684
00:41:46,696 --> 00:41:46,946
colonists and injured 6 others

685
00:41:47,363 --> 00:41:47,613
in the Boston massacre.

686
00:41:49,032 --> 00:41:49,282
and whereas three years later

687
00:41:52,569 --> 00:41:52,819
outrage over the Tea Act of 1773

688
00:41:54,337 --> 00:41:54,587
prompted colonists to board an

689
00:41:55,004 --> 00:41:55,254
East India Company ship in

690
00:41:57,307 --> 00:41:57,557
Bostonharbor and dump its cargo

691
00:41:58,608 --> 00:41:58,858
into the sea and the now

692
00:41:59,142 --> 00:41:59,392
infamous Boston Tea Party.

693
00:42:02,846 --> 00:42:03,096
and whereas in response Britain

694
00:42:04,614 --> 00:42:04,864
cracked down further with the

695
00:42:06,382 --> 00:42:06,632
coercive acts going so far as to

696
00:42:07,083 --> 00:42:07,333
revoke the colonial charter of

697
00:42:08,918 --> 00:42:09,168
Massachusetts and close the port

698
00:42:09,586 --> 00:42:09,836
of Boston.

699
00:42:12,355 --> 00:42:12,605
and whereas resistance to the

700
00:42:13,089 --> 00:42:13,339
intolerable acts as they became

701
00:42:14,824 --> 00:42:15,074
known led to the formation of

702
00:42:16,826 --> 00:42:17,076
the first continental Congress

703
00:42:19,095 --> 00:42:19,345
in Philadelphia in 1774 which

704
00:42:23,366 --> 00:42:23,616
denounced taxation without

705
00:42:23,900 --> 00:42:24,150
represent

706
00:42:26,603 --> 00:42:26,853
and whereas when the first

707
00:42:28,338 --> 00:42:28,588
skirmishes of the Revolutionary

708
00:42:29,072 --> 00:42:29,322
War broke out in Massachusetts

709
00:42:32,342 --> 00:42:32,592
in April 1775. Fe people in the

710
00:42:33,076 --> 00:42:33,326
American colonies wanted to

711
00:42:34,611 --> 00:42:34,861
separate from Great Britain

712
00:42:36,346 --> 00:42:36,596
entirely. but as the war

713
00:42:37,180 --> 00:42:37,430
continued and Britain called out

714
00:42:38,882 --> 00:42:39,132
massive armed forces to enforce

715
00:42:40,617 --> 00:42:40,867
its will. More and more

716
00:42:41,384 --> 00:42:41,634
colonists came to accept that

717
00:42:42,752 --> 00:42:43,002
asserting independence was the

718
00:42:43,419 --> 00:42:43,669
only way forward.

719
00:42:46,789 --> 00:42:47,039
and whereas on June 7th, 1776,

720
00:42:49,025 --> 00:42:49,275
Congress meeting in Philadelphia

721
00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:50,810
received a resolution from

722
00:42:52,328 --> 00:42:52,578
Richard Henry Lee urging

723
00:42:52,896 --> 00:42:53,146
Congress to declare independence

724
00:42:53,563 --> 00:42:53,813
from Britain.

725
00:42:56,332 --> 00:42:56,582
and whereas Congress appointed

726
00:42:58,334 --> 00:42:58,584
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,

727
00:43:00,336 --> 00:43:00,586
Benjamin Franklin, Roger

728
00:43:01,070 --> 00:43:01,320
Sherman, and Robert R.

729
00:43:03,072 --> 00:43:03,322
Livingston Jnior. to theite of

730
00:43:06,376 --> 00:43:06,626
ive on June 11th, 1776 to draft

731
00:43:07,076 --> 00:43:07,326
a declaration of independence

732
00:43:07,744 --> 00:43:07,994
for the colonies.

733
00:43:10,580 --> 00:43:10,830
and whereas from June 12th

734
00:43:13,049 --> 00:43:13,299
through 27th, 1776, Thomas

735
00:43:14,617 --> 00:43:14,867
Jefferson drafted the original

736
00:43:16,386 --> 00:43:16,636
rough draft of the Declaration

737
00:43:17,086 --> 00:43:17,336
of Independence, which was read

738
00:43:21,057 --> 00:43:21,307
in Congress on June 28, 1776 and

739
00:43:23,059 --> 00:43:23,309
whereas from July1st through

740
00:43:25,295 --> 00:43:25,545
July 4th, 1776, Congress debated

741
00:43:26,829 --> 00:43:27,079
and revised the declaration of

742
00:43:28,831 --> 00:43:29,081
Independence and finally signed

743
00:43:30,333 --> 00:43:30,583
the document on the morning of

744
00:43:34,370 --> 00:43:34,620
July 4th, 1776 to formerly sever

745
00:43:35,104 --> 00:43:35,354
political ties between the 13

746
00:43:36,873 --> 00:43:37,123
American colonies and Great

747
00:43:37,507 --> 00:43:37,757
Britain unite the colonies and

748
00:43:38,174 --> 00:43:38,424
ann

749
00:43:40,577 --> 00:43:40,827
ounce their sovereignty and gain

750
00:43:41,277 --> 00:43:41,527
support from foreign nations,

751
00:43:41,878 --> 00:43:42,128
particularly France.

752
00:43:44,814 --> 00:43:45,064
and whereas the delegates from

753
00:43:46,349 --> 00:43:46,599
Pennsylvania who signed the

754
00:43:46,916 --> 00:43:47,166
Declaration of Independence

755
00:43:48,818 --> 00:43:49,068
where George Clymer, Benjamin

756
00:43:50,853 --> 00:43:51,103
Franklin, Robert Morris, John

757
00:43:53,056 --> 00:43:53,306
Morton, George Ross, Benjamin

758
00:43:56,359 --> 00:43:56,609
Rush, James Smith, George

759
00:43:56,926 --> 00:43:57,176
Taylor, and James Wilson.

760
00:44:00,563 --> 00:44:00,813
and whereas Mister Morton broke

761
00:44:02,332 --> 00:44:02,582
the tie in the Pennsylvania

762
00:44:02,932 --> 00:44:03,182
delegation ensuring that

763
00:44:04,367 --> 00:44:04,617
Pennsylvania voted for the

764
00:44:04,968 --> 00:44:05,218
declaration of Independence.

765
00:44:07,136 --> 00:44:07,386
and whereas the declaration of

766
00:44:08,838 --> 00:44:09,088
Independence was not intended to

767
00:44:10,607 --> 00:44:10,857
be a legal framework for

768
00:44:12,342 --> 00:44:12,592
government which was later done

769
00:44:13,042 --> 00:44:13,292
by the Constitution of the

770
00:44:14,577 --> 00:44:14,827
United States but rather a

771
00:44:16,346 --> 00:44:16,596
declaration of intent to break

772
00:44:16,980 --> 00:44:17,230
away and a justification for

773
00:44:17,647 --> 00:44:17,897
doing so.

774
00:44:20,650 --> 00:44:20,900
And whereas after passage of the

775
00:44:21,351 --> 00:44:21,601
Declaration of Independence,

776
00:44:22,652 --> 00:44:22,902
copies were distributed to

777
00:44:24,654 --> 00:44:24,904
neighboring states and on July

778
00:44:26,356 --> 00:44:26,606
6th, the Pennsylvania Evening

779
00:44:27,323 --> 00:44:27,573
Post printed the first newspaper

780
00:44:28,858 --> 00:44:29,108
rendition of the declaration.

781
00:44:30,860 --> 00:44:31,110
and whereas the first public

782
00:44:32,362 --> 00:44:32,612
reading of the Declaration of

783
00:44:32,962 --> 00:44:33,212
Independence occurred in

784
00:44:36,366 --> 00:44:36,616
Philadelphia on July 8, 1776 at

785
00:44:38,368 --> 00:44:38,618
noon when Colonel John Nixon

786
00:44:38,968 --> 00:44:39,218
read the document to a large

787
00:44:40,370 --> 00:44:40,620
crowd of people in the state

788
00:44:41,137 --> 00:44:41,387
house yard which is now

789
00:44:43,106 --> 00:44:43,356
Independence Square and whereas

790
00:44:46,376 --> 00:44:46,626
250 years later this country

791
00:44:47,010 --> 00:44:47,260
unites to celebrate the creation

792
00:44:47,677 --> 00:44:47,927
of our nation's founding

793
00:44:50,346 --> 00:44:50,596
document and the intrepid men

794
00:44:50,980 --> 00:44:51,230
who rose up against the great

795
00:44:52,615 --> 00:44:52,865
power of Britain to assert their

796
00:44:53,283 --> 00:44:53,533
independence.

797
00:44:55,084 --> 00:44:55,334
and whereas from fireworks and

798
00:44:56,853 --> 00:44:57,103
concerts to unforgettable

799
00:44:58,554 --> 00:44:58,804
gatherings across the country,

800
00:44:59,155 --> 00:44:59,405
the United States

801
00:45:00,590 --> 00:45:00,840
semi-quincentennial Commission

802
00:45:03,126 --> 00:45:03,376
and America 250 sparked five

803
00:45:04,827 --> 00:45:05,077
days of shared moments from July

804
00:45:07,096 --> 00:45:07,346
1st through 5th, and whereas on

805
00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:10,850
July 2nd, 2026, the official

806
00:45:12,368 --> 00:45:12,618
America 250 time capsule was

807
00:45:12,969 --> 00:45:13,219
dedicated at Independence Hall

808
00:45:13,670 --> 00:45:13,920
in Philadelphia.

809
00:45:16,873 --> 00:45:17,123
and whereas the capsule contains

810
00:45:18,374 --> 00:45:18,624
items that help tell the story

811
00:45:20,376 --> 00:45:20,626
of America at 250 and will be

812
00:45:22,345 --> 00:45:22,595
open during America's 500th

813
00:45:25,148 --> 00:45:25,398
birthday year in 2276 and

814
00:45:26,616 --> 00:45:26,866
whereas on July 3rd and 4th

815
00:45:28,351 --> 00:45:28,601
residents were encouraged to

816
00:45:28,985 --> 00:45:29,235
participate in the largest

817
00:45:30,586 --> 00:45:30,836
synchronized 4urth of July

818
00:45:32,588 --> 00:45:32,838
celebration in the United States

819
00:45:34,590 --> 00:45:34,840
history, America's block Party.

820
00:45:36,592 --> 00:45:36,842
and whereas communities across

821
00:45:37,293 --> 00:45:37,543
the country gathered for live

822
00:45:38,628 --> 00:45:38,878
music, shared moments, and local

823
00:45:40,596 --> 00:45:40,846
celebrations that reflect the

824
00:45:41,264 --> 00:45:41,514
spirit of Independence Day.

825
00:45:43,333 --> 00:45:43,583
and whereas residents are also

826
00:45:46,336 --> 00:45:46,586
encouraged to make 2026 a record

827
00:45:47,036 --> 00:45:47,286
setting year of volunteer

828
00:45:48,838 --> 00:45:49,088
service by giving back whether

829
00:45:50,606 --> 00:45:50,856
performing service projects or

830
00:45:52,842 --> 00:45:53,092
providing donations and whereas

831
00:45:55,144 --> 00:45:55,394
on July 5, 2026, the country

832
00:45:56,913 --> 00:45:57,163
entered the after the fireworks

833
00:45:58,381 --> 00:45:58,631
phase of the national

834
00:45:59,115 --> 00:45:59,365
celebration continuing through

835
00:46:02,618 --> 00:46:02,868
the end of 2026 and whereas

836
00:46:04,354 --> 00:46:04,604
residents are encouraged to

837
00:46:04,987 --> 00:46:05,237
reflect on what the journey to

838
00:46:07,090 --> 00:46:07,340
the 250th anniversary has meant

839
00:46:08,624 --> 00:46:08,874
to you through prayer, continued

840
00:46:10,393 --> 00:46:10,643
celebrations and convenings or

841
00:46:11,060 --> 00:46:11,310
other traditions such as sharing

842
00:46:11,728 --> 00:46:11,978
a meal.

843
00:46:14,630 --> 00:46:14,880
and whereas rosi Rios, chair of

844
00:46:15,331 --> 00:46:15,581
the United States

845
00:46:16,866 --> 00:46:17,116
Semi-quincentennial Commission

846
00:46:20,336 --> 00:46:20,586
said America's 250th anniversary

847
00:46:21,104 --> 00:46:21,354
is about more than reflecting on

848
00:46:22,839 --> 00:46:23,089
our past. It's about honoring

849
00:46:24,607 --> 00:46:24,857
the contributions of individuals

850
00:46:25,375 --> 00:46:25,625
who built this country, the

851
00:46:26,609 --> 00:46:26,859
innovations that put this

852
00:46:28,378 --> 00:46:28,628
country on the map and a man on

853
00:46:29,112 --> 00:46:29,362
the moon and imagining what the

854
00:46:32,348 --> 00:46:32,598
next 250 years might look like

855
00:46:32,982 --> 00:46:33,232
for our children and the

856
00:46:33,549 --> 00:46:33,799
generations to come

857
00:46:36,352 --> 00:46:36,602
Therefore be it resolved that

858
00:46:36,953 --> 00:46:37,203
the House of Representatives of

859
00:46:38,554 --> 00:46:38,804
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

860
00:46:40,356 --> 00:46:40,606
celebrate the momentous and

861
00:46:41,090 --> 00:46:41,340
historic occasion of the United

862
00:46:43,059 --> 00:46:43,309
States semi-quincentennial and

863
00:46:44,861 --> 00:46:45,111
be it further resolved that the

864
00:46:46,362 --> 00:46:46,612
House of Representatives of the

865
00:46:47,096 --> 00:46:47,346
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

866
00:46:48,831 --> 00:46:49,081
strongly encourage all residents

867
00:46:50,366 --> 00:46:50,616
to celebrate this once in a

868
00:46:52,335 --> 00:46:52,585
lifefetime event and participate

869
00:46:53,069 --> 00:46:53,319
in local activities and

870
00:46:54,637 --> 00:46:54,887
volunteer efforts and be it

871
00:46:55,271 --> 00:46:55,521
further resolved that the House

872
00:46:56,639 --> 00:46:56,889
of Representatives of the

873
00:46:58,374 --> 00:46:58,624
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

874
00:46:58,975 --> 00:46:59,225
hope that all residents pause

875
00:47:00,643 --> 00:47:00,893
and reflect on the meanings of

876
00:47:02,678 --> 00:47:02,928
freedom, democracy, and

877
00:47:03,246 --> 00:47:03,496
citizenship during this

878
00:47:03,780 --> 00:47:04,030
historically significant

879
00:47:06,616 --> 00:47:06,866
time and be it further resolved

880
00:47:08,351 --> 00:47:08,601
that a copy of this resolution

881
00:47:10,353 --> 00:47:10,603
be transmitted to Patrick Burns,

882
00:47:11,087 --> 00:47:11,337
chairman of the Pennsylvania

883
00:47:12,355 --> 00:47:12,605
Commission for the United States

884
00:47:13,122 --> 00:47:13,372
Semi-quincentennial America 250

885
00:47:13,790 --> 00:47:14,040
P.

886
00:47:20,830 --> 00:47:21,080
Chair thanks the gentle lady on

887
00:47:22,565 --> 00:47:22,815
that question, chair recognized

888
00:47:23,266 --> 00:47:23,516
the good gentleman from

889
00:47:24,434 --> 00:47:24,684
Philadelphia, Representative

890
00:47:25,101 --> 00:47:25,351
Kenyatta.

891
00:47:44,854 --> 00:47:45,104
Thank you madam S speaker

892
00:47:48,591 --> 00:47:48,841
For all that she is

893
00:47:52,462 --> 00:47:52,712
America is at her core a

894
00:47:52,995 --> 00:47:53,245
promise.

895
00:47:56,599 --> 00:47:56,849
One of limitless possibility and

896
00:47:57,300 --> 00:47:57,550
certainly generationally

897
00:47:59,101 --> 00:47:59,351
inherited responsibility. It's a

898
00:48:00,903 --> 00:48:01,153
promise that was first made on

899
00:48:01,604 --> 00:48:01,854
these very grounds.

900
00:48:03,105 --> 00:48:03,355
We know the words

901
00:48:06,642 --> 00:48:06,892
We hold these truths to be

902
00:48:07,210 --> 00:48:07,460
self-evident.

903
00:48:10,379 --> 00:48:10,629
that all men are created equal

904
00:48:11,113 --> 00:48:11,363
and that they are endowed by

905
00:48:12,648 --> 00:48:12,898
their Creator with certain

906
00:48:13,282 --> 00:48:13,532
inalienable rights, and among

907
00:48:13,950 --> 00:48:14,200
them life.

908
00:48:14,784 --> 00:48:15,034
liberty

909
00:48:16,986 --> 00:48:17,236
and the pursuit of happiness

910
00:48:18,988 --> 00:48:19,238
Keeping that promise

911
00:48:24,594 --> 00:48:24,844
and making it real has always

912
00:48:25,294 --> 00:48:25,544
required something.

913
00:48:28,865 --> 00:48:29,115
250 years ago it required

914
00:48:30,600 --> 00:48:30,850
farmers and tradesmen and

915
00:48:32,702 --> 00:48:32,952
lawyers with no military

916
00:48:33,236 --> 00:48:33,486
training to stand against

917
00:48:35,137 --> 00:48:35,387
the greatest and largest empire

918
00:48:35,805 --> 00:48:36,055
on arth.

919
00:48:40,376 --> 00:48:40,626
It required black men denied the

920
00:48:41,043 --> 00:48:41,293
very freedom they were fighting

921
00:48:41,711 --> 00:48:41,961
for.

922
00:48:44,847 --> 00:48:45,097
to pick up arms at Bunker Hill

923
00:48:46,749 --> 00:48:46,999
and beyond for a promise not

924
00:48:47,416 --> 00:48:47,666
even yet extended to them.

925
00:48:50,887 --> 00:48:51,137
It required women wholly

926
00:48:51,454 --> 00:48:51,704
excluded from the promissary

927
00:48:52,121 --> 00:48:52,371
note.

928
00:48:55,057 --> 00:48:55,307
to see themselves there anyway

929
00:48:55,691 --> 00:48:55,941
and work for its fulfillment.

930
00:48:59,295 --> 00:48:59,545
and now it demands something of

931
00:48:59,996 --> 00:49:00,246
us.

932
00:49:03,366 --> 00:49:03,616
A demand as simple as it is

933
00:49:03,933 --> 00:49:04,183
revolutionary.

934
00:49:08,604 --> 00:49:08,854
We must ensure that in our

935
00:49:10,373 --> 00:49:10,623
lifetime, that life, liberty and

936
00:49:12,475 --> 00:49:12,725
the pursuit of happiness are

937
00:49:13,042 --> 00:49:13,292
promises kept

938
00:49:16,379 --> 00:49:16,629
to every single Pennsylvanian in

939
00:49:17,113 --> 00:49:17,363
every American, that it means

940
00:49:18,614 --> 00:49:18,864
something for the mom at 10th

941
00:49:19,282 --> 00:49:19,532
and Lehig.

942
00:49:21,117 --> 00:49:21,367
that it means something for the

943
00:49:23,085 --> 00:49:23,335
farmer in Mercer County, that it

944
00:49:24,854 --> 00:49:25,104
means something for the factory

945
00:49:26,589 --> 00:49:26,839
worker in Lehigh that it means

946
00:49:27,290 --> 00:49:27,540
something real for all of us.

947
00:49:30,893 --> 00:49:31,143
No matter who we are or where

948
00:49:32,595 --> 00:49:32,845
we're from or what we look like

949
00:49:33,329 --> 00:49:33,579
or who we love or how we pray.

950
00:49:38,634 --> 00:49:38,884
250 years later, may we breathe

951
00:49:41,103 --> 00:49:41,353
new life into this American

952
00:49:44,840 --> 00:49:45,090
promise. May we turn to and not

953
00:49:45,575 --> 00:49:45,825
turn on our neighbors.

954
00:49:48,878 --> 00:49:49,128
May we take up the heavy mantle

955
00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:51,130
of ensuring our declaration in

956
00:49:51,581 --> 00:49:51,831
practice, not just in principle.

957
00:49:55,117 --> 00:49:55,367
May we give no harbor to the

958
00:49:57,153 --> 00:49:57,403
defeatism that says our best

959
00:49:59,055 --> 00:49:59,305
days are behind, or that the

960
00:49:59,655 --> 00:49:59,905
promise is irreparably broken.

961
00:50:04,460 --> 00:50:04,710
As every generation of Americans

962
00:50:05,127 --> 00:50:05,377
must.

963
00:50:08,664 --> 00:50:08,914
Let's recommit ourselves to this

964
00:50:09,332 --> 00:50:09,582
great inheritance.

965
00:50:10,466 --> 00:50:10,716
here and now

966
00:50:13,202 --> 00:50:13,452
Let us proclaim with renewed

967
00:50:13,869 --> 00:50:14,119
hope

968
00:50:15,037 --> 00:50:15,287
and unshhaable faith

969
00:50:17,139 --> 00:50:17,389
our march forward.

970
00:50:21,110 --> 00:50:21,360
forward toward the future where

971
00:50:21,811 --> 00:50:22,061
all of us truly

972
00:50:22,678 --> 00:50:22,928
live free

973
00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:25,130
This is a promise

974
00:50:26,949 --> 00:50:27,199
we must keep. Thank you, madam

975
00:50:27,617 --> 00:50:27,867
Speaker.

976
00:50:36,859 --> 00:50:37,109
Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

977
00:50:38,327 --> 00:50:38,577
chair recognizes the good

978
00:50:38,928 --> 00:50:39,178
gentleman from Dalphin,

979
00:50:39,462 --> 00:50:39,712
Representative Mehafffe.

980
00:50:56,879 --> 00:50:57,129
Thank you, madam Speaker

981
00:51:00,850 --> 00:51:01,100
I should have compared notes

982
00:51:02,485 --> 00:51:02,735
with a good gentleman from

983
00:51:03,052 --> 00:51:03,302
Philadelphia.

984
00:51:04,453 --> 00:51:04,703
He stole some of my line

985
00:51:11,293 --> 00:51:11,543
Thank you. and I and I

986
00:51:11,827 --> 00:51:12,077
appreciate that, sir

987
00:51:15,064 --> 00:51:15,314
But Madam Speaker, thank you

988
00:51:16,799 --> 00:51:17,049
again for allowing us to do this

989
00:51:18,801 --> 00:51:19,051
today. It gives me chills to

990
00:51:22,371 --> 00:51:22,621
think that 250 years ago, the

991
00:51:24,340 --> 00:51:24,590
men that sat in this in this

992
00:51:26,609 --> 00:51:26,859
beautiful building accomplished

993
00:51:27,343 --> 00:51:27,593
something that no one could ever

994
00:51:28,010 --> 00:51:28,260
think could be accomplished.

995
00:51:29,211 --> 00:51:29,461
So today

996
00:51:32,615 --> 00:51:32,865
thank you for allowing me the

997
00:51:33,282 --> 00:51:33,532
opportunity to speak

998
00:51:36,585 --> 00:51:36,835
about today's resolution

999
00:51:37,186 --> 00:51:37,436
recognizing the importance of

1000
00:51:39,021 --> 00:51:39,271
the declaration of Independence,

1001
00:51:40,589 --> 00:51:40,839
not just for a nation's founding

1002
00:51:44,827 --> 00:51:45,077
before its continued role in

1003
00:51:45,428 --> 00:51:45,678
shaping civic life today.

1004
00:51:49,065 --> 00:51:49,315
We're gathered here in

1005
00:51:50,833 --> 00:51:51,083
Philadelphia on the same track

1006
00:51:51,500 --> 00:51:51,750
of land

1007
00:51:56,338 --> 00:51:56,588
where 250 years ago, our

1008
00:51:57,039 --> 00:51:57,289
founding fathers signed an

1009
00:51:57,673 --> 00:51:57,923
incredibly important document

1010
00:52:01,177 --> 00:52:01,427
They debate they debated and

1011
00:52:01,844 --> 00:52:02,094
disagreed.

1012
00:52:02,912 --> 00:52:03,162
often bitterly

1013
00:52:07,149 --> 00:52:07,399
but ultimately came together for

1014
00:52:08,851 --> 00:52:09,101
the good of their newborn

1015
00:52:09,385 --> 00:52:09,635
country.

1016
00:52:14,557 --> 00:52:14,807
We should all take note in the

1017
00:52:15,291 --> 00:52:15,541
way that the ultimately reach

1018
00:52:15,958 --> 00:52:16,208
consensus.

1019
00:52:21,130 --> 00:52:21,380
Too often we are divided, if not

1020
00:52:21,764 --> 00:52:22,014
more now than ever.

1021
00:52:28,404 --> 00:52:28,654
Then the men who boldly sought

1022
00:52:29,071 --> 00:52:29,321
sovereignty for the United

1023
00:52:31,240 --> 00:52:31,490
Came together

1024
00:52:35,344 --> 00:52:35,594
with the consensus and a modeled

1025
00:52:36,679 --> 00:52:36,929
way

1026
00:52:38,848 --> 00:52:39,098
for the life of America

1027
00:52:42,618 --> 00:52:42,868
Our founding fathers were

1028
00:52:43,319 --> 00:52:43,569
divided overentation

1029
00:52:48,791 --> 00:52:49,041
forms of government, economics,

1030
00:52:50,459 --> 00:52:50,709
and the proper balance between

1031
00:52:51,127 --> 00:52:51,377
liberty and order.

1032
00:52:53,129 --> 00:52:53,379
These were weighty issues

1033
00:52:55,164 --> 00:52:55,414
We still struggle with them

1034
00:52:55,698 --> 00:52:55,948
today.

1035
00:52:59,368 --> 00:52:59,618
Yet at critical moments

1036
00:53:03,038 --> 00:53:03,288
those who came before us 250

1037
00:53:05,341 --> 00:53:05,591
years ago recognized the need

1038
00:53:06,008 --> 00:53:06,258
for a common ground.

1039
00:53:12,414 --> 00:53:12,664
Consensus is not the absence of

1040
00:53:13,082 --> 00:53:13,332
disagreement.

1041
00:53:16,619 --> 00:53:16,869
It is the discipline to remain

1042
00:53:17,286 --> 00:53:17,536
committed to a shared purpose.

1043
00:53:22,424 --> 00:53:22,674
we'd be wise to remember that

1044
00:53:23,092 --> 00:53:23,342
ourselves.

1045
00:53:26,595 --> 00:53:26,845
The declaration Independent was

1046
00:53:28,564 --> 00:53:28,814
the Keystone document upon this

1047
00:53:29,265 --> 00:53:29,515
great country was founded.

1048
00:53:32,601 --> 00:53:32,851
and was written right here in

1049
00:53:33,235 --> 00:53:33,485
the Keystone

1050
00:53:36,839 --> 00:53:37,089
Today we walk the same ground

1051
00:53:40,876 --> 00:53:41,126
that those that served this

1052
00:53:42,444 --> 00:53:42,694
physical and symbolic birthplace

1053
00:53:43,112 --> 00:53:43,362
of indep

1054
00:53:47,116 --> 00:53:47,366
More than a historic document,

1055
00:53:49,118 --> 00:53:49,368
the declaration continues to

1056
00:53:51,086 --> 00:53:51,336
serve as a living foundation for

1057
00:53:54,356 --> 00:53:54,606
principles upon which our nation

1058
00:53:55,057 --> 00:53:55,307
was built and everything that

1059
00:53:55,758 --> 00:53:56,008
followed.

1060
00:54:00,362 --> 00:54:00,612
Each and every one of us is

1061
00:54:00,930 --> 00:54:01,180
privileged to celebrate the

1062
00:54:03,265 --> 00:54:03,515
250th anniversary of this

1063
00:54:04,433 --> 00:54:04,683
country in our lifetime.

1064
00:54:08,337 --> 00:54:08,587
we are making memories with our

1065
00:54:09,071 --> 00:54:09,321
families. Today with our

1066
00:54:09,572 --> 00:54:09,822
constituents

1067
00:54:11,006 --> 00:54:11,256
and lawmakers

1068
00:54:12,641 --> 00:54:12,891
this year

1069
00:54:14,443 --> 00:54:14,693
It's an incredible time

1070
00:54:18,848 --> 00:54:19,098
Crafting another segment in our

1071
00:54:20,850 --> 00:54:21,100
country's unparalled story.

1072
00:54:22,618 --> 00:54:22,868
Today we add our own page in

1073
00:54:23,285 --> 00:54:23,535
history.

1074
00:54:25,387 --> 00:54:25,637
and we do so just feet away

1075
00:54:27,189 --> 00:54:27,439
from where the first draft was

1076
00:54:27,857 --> 00:54:28,107
written.

1077
00:54:31,393 --> 00:54:31,643
Let's use this opportunity today

1078
00:54:35,064 --> 00:54:35,314
and those that presented by

1079
00:54:35,598 --> 00:54:35,848
America 250

1080
00:54:38,801 --> 00:54:39,051
as a whole to recommit ourselves

1081
00:54:41,337 --> 00:54:41,587
in the ideals put on the paper

1082
00:54:42,037 --> 00:54:42,287
by Thomas Jefferson.

1083
00:54:44,640 --> 00:54:44,890
that all men are created equal.

1084
00:54:48,444 --> 00:54:48,694
that they are endowed by

1085
00:54:49,011 --> 00:54:49,261
theirreator

1086
00:54:50,946 --> 00:54:51,196
with certain unaliable rights

1087
00:54:55,084 --> 00:54:55,334
that among these are life,

1088
00:54:56,952 --> 00:54:57,202
liberty, and the pursuit of

1089
00:54:57,519 --> 00:54:57,769
happiness.

1090
00:55:00,789 --> 00:55:01,039
God bless this country. God

1091
00:55:02,591 --> 00:55:02,841
bless God bless this

1092
00:55:05,027 --> 00:55:05,277
commonwealth and God bless the

1093
00:55:06,595 --> 00:55:06,845
house of Representatives. Thank

1094
00:55:07,263 --> 00:55:07,513
you Madam Speaker.

1095
00:55:16,839 --> 00:55:17,089
Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

1096
00:55:18,574 --> 00:55:18,824
Chair recognizes the gentle lady

1097
00:55:19,275 --> 00:55:19,525
from Philadelphia,

1098
00:55:20,409 --> 00:55:20,659
Representativeceasce on that

1099
00:55:39,144 --> 00:55:39,394
Thank you madam Speaker

1100
00:55:43,332 --> 00:55:43,582
madam Speaker, I rise in support

1101
00:55:47,036 --> 00:55:47,286
of House resolution 589 honoring

1102
00:55:50,606 --> 00:55:50,856
250 years of our nation's

1103
00:55:51,307 --> 00:55:51,557
independence and the American

1104
00:55:51,974 --> 00:55:52,224
experiment.

1105
00:55:55,110 --> 00:55:55,360
That's what I wanna talk about

1106
00:55:56,879 --> 00:55:57,129
this afternoon. that word

1107
00:55:57,446 --> 00:55:57,696
experiment.

1108
00:56:00,582 --> 00:56:00,832
We must remember not to treat

1109
00:56:02,384 --> 00:56:02,634
this anniversary like a

1110
00:56:03,085 --> 00:56:03,335
celebration of something

1111
00:56:05,321 --> 00:56:05,571
finished, something complete,

1112
00:56:07,056 --> 00:56:07,306
but be reminded that our

1113
00:56:08,958 --> 00:56:09,208
founders themselves called it an

1114
00:56:09,625 --> 00:56:09,875
experiment.

1115
00:56:12,828 --> 00:56:13,078
They were testing a radical idea

1116
00:56:16,332 --> 00:56:16,582
that that we could govern

1117
00:56:18,367 --> 00:56:18,617
ourselves under the banner of

1118
00:56:19,101 --> 00:56:19,351
freedom that you didn't need a

1119
00:56:22,338 --> 00:56:22,588
king, an emperor or a church

1120
00:56:23,238 --> 00:56:23,488
hierarchy to hold a society

1121
00:56:23,806 --> 00:56:24,056
together.

1122
00:56:26,842 --> 00:56:27,092
We know the Constitution was

1123
00:56:28,610 --> 00:56:28,860
written next door but here in

1124
00:56:30,612 --> 00:56:30,862
Congress Hall is where it was

1125
00:56:32,648 --> 00:56:32,898
put to the test. The Bill of

1126
00:56:34,683 --> 00:56:34,933
Rights was ratified in this

1127
00:56:35,250 --> 00:56:35,500
building. The first peaceful

1128
00:56:35,851 --> 00:56:36,101
peaceful

1129
00:56:40,422 --> 00:56:40,672
transfer of presidential power

1130
00:56:41,090 --> 00:56:41,340
happened on this floor.

1131
00:56:43,125 --> 00:56:43,375
This is where the experiment

1132
00:56:43,792 --> 00:56:44,042
actually ran

1133
00:56:47,096 --> 00:56:47,346
and it is no small thing that I

1134
00:56:47,730 --> 00:56:47,980
am standing here today

1135
00:56:50,933 --> 00:56:51,183
because the founders wrote all

1136
00:56:51,633 --> 00:56:51,883
men.

1137
00:56:52,935 --> 00:56:53,185
are created equal

1138
00:56:56,839 --> 00:56:57,089
and then we spent the next 250

1139
00:56:57,439 --> 00:56:57,689
years figuring out the who.

1140
00:56:59,008 --> 00:56:59,258
they actually meant

1141
00:57:02,845 --> 00:57:03,095
And here's what I've come to

1142
00:57:04,613 --> 00:57:04,863
understand. There has always

1143
00:57:07,082 --> 00:57:07,332
been a lag, a gap between when

1144
00:57:09,084 --> 00:57:09,334
freedom is promised and when it

1145
00:57:12,321 --> 00:57:12,571
actually reaches people's lives

1146
00:57:14,356 --> 00:57:14,606
and that lag runs through our

1147
00:57:14,990 --> 00:57:15,240
entire history of this country.

1148
00:57:18,861 --> 00:57:19,111
Leg 1, 1776, the declaration of

1149
00:57:20,596 --> 00:57:20,846
Independence. the founders wrote

1150
00:57:22,831 --> 00:57:23,081
again all men are created equal

1151
00:57:25,067 --> 00:57:25,317
while roughly 500,000 black

1152
00:57:26,869 --> 00:57:27,119
people were enslaved in this

1153
00:57:28,337 --> 00:57:28,587
country. Wom could not vote.

1154
00:57:30,606 --> 00:57:30,856
Indigenous people were excluded

1155
00:57:32,875 --> 00:57:33,125
entirely. and if you weren't a

1156
00:57:33,575 --> 00:57:33,825
white man that owned property.

1157
00:57:36,445 --> 00:57:36,695
you did not have a seat at the

1158
00:57:37,112 --> 00:57:37,362
table.

1159
00:57:38,947 --> 00:57:39,197
The promise existed. The reality

1160
00:57:39,615 --> 00:57:39,865
did not.

1161
00:57:43,085 --> 00:57:43,335
Leg 2, 1865 Juneteenth enslaved

1162
00:57:44,853 --> 00:57:45,103
people in Galveston, Texas

1163
00:57:46,422 --> 00:57:46,672
finally heard the news they were

1164
00:57:47,089 --> 00:57:47,339
free.

1165
00:57:49,425 --> 00:57:49,675
2.5 years after Lincoln signed

1166
00:57:50,092 --> 00:57:50,342
into law.

1167
00:57:50,859 --> 00:57:51,109
Fredom was legal

1168
00:57:53,095 --> 00:57:53,345
but it took years to arrive.

1169
00:57:58,333 --> 00:57:58,583
Lag 3 1920, the 19th ammendment

1170
00:58:00,602 --> 00:58:00,852
after 70 years of a suffrage

1171
00:58:02,337 --> 00:58:02,587
movement, women get the right to

1172
00:58:03,138 --> 00:58:03,388
vote simply on paper.

1173
00:58:08,577 --> 00:58:08,827
Lag 4 1965, the Voting Rights

1174
00:58:10,579 --> 00:58:10,829
Act nearly 100 years after the

1175
00:58:12,614 --> 00:58:12,864
1fteenth ammendment. Black

1176
00:58:14,583 --> 00:58:14,833
Americans could finally vote

1177
00:58:15,150 --> 00:58:15,400
with real federal protections.

1178
00:58:18,454 --> 00:58:18,704
The experiment was moving.

1179
00:58:22,825 --> 00:58:23,075
likeg 5, 2015 marriage equality,

1180
00:58:24,593 --> 00:58:24,843
the Supreme Court finally says

1181
00:58:26,361 --> 00:58:26,611
the promise of equal protection

1182
00:58:28,697 --> 00:58:28,947
applies to the LGBTQIA Americans

1183
00:58:29,364 --> 00:58:29,614
too.

1184
00:58:32,601 --> 00:58:32,851
And just when you think the arc

1185
00:58:33,268 --> 00:58:33,518
is bending.

1186
00:58:36,605 --> 00:58:36,855
just when the experiment feels

1187
00:58:37,306 --> 00:58:37,556
like it might be catching up.

1188
00:58:38,774 --> 00:58:39,024
Lag 6

1189
00:58:41,376 --> 00:58:41,626
the Supreme Court guts the

1190
00:58:41,944 --> 00:58:42,194
Voting Rights Act.

1191
00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:45,130
The experiment keeps running.

1192
00:58:47,182 --> 00:58:47,432
but the lag keeps happening.

1193
00:58:49,051 --> 00:58:49,301
but so does resistance

1194
00:58:54,356 --> 00:58:54,606
Every generation has confronted

1195
00:58:56,625 --> 00:58:56,875
those lags and refused to accept

1196
00:58:57,292 --> 00:58:57,542
them as permanent.

1197
00:59:00,362 --> 00:59:00,612
all of them holding America to

1198
00:59:01,330 --> 00:59:01,580
its own standard and now it is

1199
00:59:01,997 --> 00:59:02,247
our turn.

1200
00:59:04,833 --> 00:59:05,083
There was a time again when

1201
00:59:07,035 --> 00:59:07,285
someone who looked like me, who

1202
00:59:08,804 --> 00:59:09,054
could not vote for the people

1203
00:59:10,572 --> 00:59:10,822
who sat in these seats must,

1204
00:59:12,474 --> 00:59:12,724
much less stand here as one of

1205
00:59:13,141 --> 00:59:13,391
them

1206
00:59:15,043 --> 00:59:15,293
like so many in this room, we

1207
00:59:16,445 --> 00:59:16,695
are all experiencing the same

1208
00:59:17,112 --> 00:59:17,362
thing.

1209
00:59:19,081 --> 00:59:19,331
I'm here because generations

1210
00:59:20,582 --> 00:59:20,832
before me believe this

1211
00:59:21,183 --> 00:59:21,433
experiment could become more

1212
00:59:21,850 --> 00:59:22,100
faithful

1213
00:59:23,018 --> 00:59:23,268
to its own ideals

1214
00:59:26,788 --> 00:59:27,038
So as we vote on House

1215
00:59:27,289 --> 00:59:27,539
resolution 589.

1216
00:59:30,592 --> 00:59:30,842
Let us celebrate how far we have

1217
00:59:31,260 --> 00:59:31,510
come

1218
00:59:34,863 --> 00:59:35,113
and let us be honest about the

1219
00:59:35,531 --> 00:59:35,781
work that remains.

1220
00:59:38,333 --> 00:59:38,583
That is the freedom to access

1221
00:59:40,335 --> 00:59:40,585
the ballot box, the freedom to

1222
00:59:41,036 --> 00:59:41,286
access quality healthcare, the

1223
00:59:42,838 --> 00:59:43,088
freedom to a living wage, the

1224
00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:45,290
freedom to breathe clean air and

1225
00:59:46,375 --> 00:59:46,625
drink clean water, the freedom

1226
00:59:47,109 --> 00:59:47,359
to a quality education the

1227
00:59:47,643 --> 00:59:47,893
freedom

1228
00:59:49,478 --> 00:59:49,728
to give birth in a country.

1229
00:59:52,481 --> 00:59:52,731
that does not treat it as a

1230
00:59:53,048 --> 00:59:53,298
death sentence.

1231
00:59:56,618 --> 00:59:56,868
250 years later, madam

1232
00:59:57,085 --> 00:59:57,335
Secretary, that is the

1233
00:59:57,553 --> 00:59:57,803
assignment.

1234
01:00:00,622 --> 01:00:00,872
to ensure the promises of the

1235
01:00:01,256 --> 01:00:01,506
experiment

1236
01:00:02,391 --> 01:00:02,641
are kept and expanded

1237
01:00:15,270 --> 01:00:15,520
The chair thanks the gentle

1238
01:00:17,072 --> 01:00:17,322
lady. Those in favor of the

1239
01:00:18,440 --> 01:00:18,690
resolution will be voting ay

1240
01:00:22,678 --> 01:00:22,928
Those opposed will be voting no.

1241
01:00:23,378 --> 01:00:23,628
M members will proceed to vote.

1242
01:00:28,717 --> 01:00:28,967
Have all the members voted? Have

1243
01:00:29,384 --> 01:00:29,634
all the members voted?

1244
01:00:32,955 --> 01:00:33,205
The clerk will record the vote

1245
01:00:38,560 --> 01:00:38,810
on the resolution, the ays are

1246
01:00:40,696 --> 01:00:40,946
203. The resolution is adopted.

1247
01:00:52,374 --> 01:00:52,624
To conclude our first session of

1248
01:00:54,376 --> 01:00:54,626
this historic meeting of the

1249
01:00:55,143 --> 01:00:55,393
House of Representatives, the

1250
01:00:57,145 --> 01:00:57,395
chair turns to our leaders. The

1251
01:00:58,647 --> 01:00:58,897
chair recognizes the gentleman

1252
01:01:00,716 --> 01:01:00,966
from Washington, Minority Whip,

1253
01:01:01,383 --> 01:01:01,633
Representative O'Nealll.

1254
01:01:10,425 --> 01:01:10,675
Thank you madam Speaker

1255
01:01:14,563 --> 01:01:14,813
It's truly a privilege to stand

1256
01:01:16,565 --> 01:01:16,815
here today on behalf of the

1257
01:01:17,099 --> 01:01:17,349
House Republican caucus.

1258
01:01:19,301 --> 01:01:19,551
in a place where the history of

1259
01:01:20,002 --> 01:01:20,252
Pennsylvania

1260
01:01:20,902 --> 01:01:21,152
and the history of America

1261
01:01:23,105 --> 01:01:23,355
are impossible to separate.

1262
01:01:27,342 --> 01:01:27,592
Just steps from this chamber

1263
01:01:28,443 --> 01:01:28,693
stands the Pennsylvania State

1264
01:01:29,144 --> 01:01:29,394
House.

1265
01:01:30,879 --> 01:01:31,129
What the world knows as

1266
01:01:31,413 --> 01:01:31,663
Independence Hall.

1267
01:01:34,883 --> 01:01:35,133
In 1729, the Pennsylvania

1268
01:01:36,985 --> 01:01:37,235
assembly appropriated 2000

1269
01:01:37,519 --> 01:01:37,769
pounds

1270
01:01:40,789 --> 01:01:41,039
in the currency of the time to

1271
01:01:41,423 --> 01:01:41,673
build a house for the assembly.

1272
01:01:46,595 --> 01:01:46,845
Construction began in 1732 and

1273
01:01:48,797 --> 01:01:49,047
by 1735 before the building was

1274
01:01:50,732 --> 01:01:50,982
even finished. the assembly was

1275
01:01:51,366 --> 01:01:51,616
already meeting there.

1276
01:01:54,836 --> 01:01:55,086
For decades, Pennsylvania

1277
01:01:56,638 --> 01:01:56,888
lawmakers met in the first floor

1278
01:01:57,272 --> 01:01:57,522
assembly room.

1279
01:02:01,109 --> 01:02:01,359
in 1775 when the second

1280
01:02:02,811 --> 01:02:03,061
continental Congress needed a

1281
01:02:05,080 --> 01:02:05,330
room to conduct the work that

1282
01:02:08,350 --> 01:02:08,600
would lead to the de declaration

1283
01:02:09,051 --> 01:02:09,301
of inndependence they moved

1284
01:02:09,618 --> 01:02:09,868
upstairs

1285
01:02:11,053 --> 01:02:11,303
t2 years later

1286
01:02:12,954 --> 01:02:13,204
when the constitutional

1287
01:02:13,522 --> 01:02:13,772
convention needed it.

1288
01:02:16,425 --> 01:02:16,675
We again moved upstairs.

1289
01:02:22,798 --> 01:02:23,048
on September 17, 1789, 39

1290
01:02:24,866 --> 01:02:25,116
delegates signed the United

1291
01:02:26,735 --> 01:02:26,985
States Constitution on the first

1292
01:02:27,369 --> 01:02:27,619
floor of that building.

1293
01:02:29,137 --> 01:02:29,387
uppstairs that day

1294
01:02:30,872 --> 01:02:31,122
our house journal

1295
01:02:34,443 --> 01:02:34,693
shows that the Pennsylvania

1296
01:02:35,010 --> 01:02:35,260
assembly

1297
01:02:36,645 --> 01:02:36,895
was dealing with the tax dispute

1298
01:02:38,480 --> 01:02:38,730
a bridge bill.

1299
01:02:46,355 --> 01:02:46,605
And and and of course the newly

1300
01:02:47,055 --> 01:02:47,305
proposed constitution of the

1301
01:02:47,723 --> 01:02:47,973
United States.

1302
01:02:48,924 --> 01:02:49,174
So think about that

1303
01:02:53,161 --> 01:02:53,411
you know, u ow our chamber was

1304
01:02:53,829 --> 01:02:54,079
meeting upstairs

1305
01:02:56,665 --> 01:02:56,915
Downstairs they had just signed

1306
01:02:57,366 --> 01:02:57,616
the constitution.

1307
01:02:58,767 --> 01:02:59,017
and

1308
01:03:02,571 --> 01:03:02,821
apparently some things never

1309
01:03:03,238 --> 01:03:03,488
change because were debating a

1310
01:03:03,905 --> 01:03:04,155
bridge

1311
01:03:08,377 --> 01:03:08,627
Decades earlier, the assembly

1312
01:03:08,977 --> 01:03:09,227
ordered a bell for its state

1313
01:03:09,644 --> 01:03:09,894
house.

1314
01:03:11,413 --> 01:03:11,663
orn, made as it was.

1315
01:03:14,916 --> 01:03:15,166
bell cracked and had to be

1316
01:03:15,517 --> 01:03:15,767
recast.

1317
01:03:18,887 --> 01:03:19,137
As we know, as we now know the

1318
01:03:19,554 --> 01:03:19,804
Liberty Bell, as it later

1319
01:03:20,122 --> 01:03:20,372
became,

1320
01:03:21,223 --> 01:03:21,473
it it became a symbol

1321
01:03:24,426 --> 01:03:24,676
of the idea of liberty.

1322
01:03:28,830 --> 01:03:29,080
and that the liberty is not

1323
01:03:30,599 --> 01:03:30,849
something that is granted by a

1324
01:03:31,233 --> 01:03:31,483
king across an ocean.

1325
01:03:35,303 --> 01:03:35,553
Although 25 years before

1326
01:03:35,871 --> 01:03:36,121
independence

1327
01:03:40,342 --> 01:03:40,592
Pennsylvania had already forged

1328
01:03:41,042 --> 01:03:41,292
the concept of liberty

1329
01:03:42,878 --> 01:03:43,128
into our history.

1330
01:03:48,450 --> 01:03:48,700
when Leviticus 25:10 was cast

1331
01:03:49,117 --> 01:03:49,367
onto the bell.

1332
01:03:51,319 --> 01:03:51,569
pro proclaimed liberty

1333
01:03:51,753 --> 01:03:52,003
throughout all the land

1334
01:03:54,589 --> 01:03:54,839
onto all the inhabitants

1335
01:03:55,157 --> 01:03:55,407
thereof.

1336
01:03:57,192 --> 01:03:57,442
And here in Congress Hall,

1337
01:04:01,096 --> 01:04:01,346
where the United States House of

1338
01:04:02,431 --> 01:04:02,681
Representatives met for a decade

1339
01:04:06,368 --> 01:04:06,618
we returned this building to the

1340
01:04:07,302 --> 01:04:07,552
legislative purpose that made it

1341
01:04:07,969 --> 01:04:08,219
famous

1342
01:04:11,106 --> 01:04:11,356
On again a representative body

1343
01:04:11,773 --> 01:04:12,023
sits in this chamber.

1344
01:04:14,709 --> 01:04:14,959
Citizens from different places

1345
01:04:16,645 --> 01:04:16,895
with different interests

1346
01:04:20,882 --> 01:04:21,132
and different opinions have sent

1347
01:04:21,583 --> 01:04:21,833
us their representatives.

1348
01:04:23,218 --> 01:04:23,468
to speak for on their behalf.

1349
01:04:27,155 --> 01:04:27,405
That history gives us more than

1350
01:04:27,823 --> 01:04:28,073
something to celebrate.

1351
01:04:31,059 --> 01:04:31,309
as we heard before, it gives us

1352
01:04:31,726 --> 01:04:31,976
an obligation.

1353
01:04:34,596 --> 01:04:34,846
We come from different

1354
01:04:36,364 --> 01:04:36,614
communities and political

1355
01:04:36,965 --> 01:04:37,215
parties. We disagree

1356
01:04:37,399 --> 01:04:37,649
often loudly

1357
01:04:42,604 --> 01:04:42,854
that that is not a failure of

1358
01:04:44,673 --> 01:04:44,923
representative government. That

1359
01:04:45,340 --> 01:04:45,590
is representative government.

1360
01:04:49,044 --> 01:04:49,294
But before we are Republicans

1361
01:04:50,846 --> 01:04:51,096
andmo Democrats, we are

1362
01:04:51,413 --> 01:04:51,663
Pennsylvanians.

1363
01:04:54,449 --> 01:04:54,699
and all of us have been

1364
01:04:55,016 --> 01:04:55,266
entrusted

1365
01:04:55,266 --> 01:04:55,516
for a time

1366
01:05:00,555 --> 01:05:00,805
with a place in the same long

1367
01:05:02,591 --> 01:05:02,841
tradition of representative

1368
01:05:04,826 --> 01:05:05,076
government that has unfolded on

1369
01:05:06,795 --> 01:05:07,045
this square for nearly 3

1370
01:05:07,362 --> 01:05:07,612
centuries.

1371
01:05:12,334 --> 01:05:12,584
The story of A America cannot be

1372
01:05:13,301 --> 01:05:13,551
told without the buildings in

1373
01:05:13,969 --> 01:05:14,219
this square.

1374
01:05:16,805 --> 01:05:17,055
This is where Pennsylvania

1375
01:05:18,840 --> 01:05:19,090
governed. this is where America

1376
01:05:19,541 --> 01:05:19,791
declared itself free.

1377
01:05:22,811 --> 01:05:23,061
and this is where the

1378
01:05:23,311 --> 01:05:23,561
constitution was written.

1379
01:05:24,646 --> 01:05:24,896
and signed

1380
01:05:28,583 --> 01:05:28,833
The ordinary people who did

1381
01:05:30,619 --> 01:05:30,869
those things had no guarantee

1382
01:05:31,219 --> 01:05:31,469
that this experimentment would

1383
01:05:31,920 --> 01:05:32,170
last 250 years.

1384
01:05:33,188 --> 01:05:33,438
They simply did their part

1385
01:05:34,956 --> 01:05:35,206
to make sure that it could

1386
01:05:39,160 --> 01:05:39,410
And now that responsibility

1387
01:05:39,694 --> 01:05:39,944
belongs to us.

1388
01:05:44,332 --> 01:05:44,582
Let us humbly stand here today

1389
01:05:45,033 --> 01:05:45,283
and continue what they started.

1390
01:05:47,102 --> 01:05:47,352
Let us continue to protect the

1391
01:05:47,769 --> 01:05:48,019
life

1392
01:05:51,072 --> 01:05:51,322
liberty, property, and

1393
01:05:52,641 --> 01:05:52,891
reputation of the people who

1394
01:05:53,208 --> 01:05:53,458
sent us.

1395
01:05:55,510 --> 01:05:55,760
Finally, I'd like to close with

1396
01:05:56,177 --> 01:05:56,427
some remarks

1397
01:05:57,212 --> 01:05:57,462
from President Ronald Reagan.

1398
01:05:58,947 --> 01:05:59,197
My fellow Americans

1399
01:06:02,617 --> 01:06:02,867
if all is to us to keep the

1400
01:06:04,586 --> 01:06:04,836
faith with all the great

1401
01:06:05,086 --> 01:06:05,336
Americans, Americans of our

1402
01:06:05,654 --> 01:06:05,904
past.

1403
01:06:08,523 --> 01:06:08,773
the things that unite us.

1404
01:06:10,625 --> 01:06:10,875
America's past of which we're so

1405
01:06:12,327 --> 01:06:12,577
proud, our hopes and s

1406
01:06:14,362 --> 01:06:14,612
aspirations for the future of

1407
01:06:15,196 --> 01:06:15,446
the world. In this much loved

1408
01:06:15,864 --> 01:06:16,114
country.

1409
01:06:18,700 --> 01:06:18,950
These things far outweigh

1410
01:06:20,502 --> 01:06:20,752
what the little divides us

1411
01:06:26,758 --> 01:06:27,008
And so tonight, we reaffirm that

1412
01:06:27,208 --> 01:06:27,458
Jew and Gentile

1413
01:06:28,877 --> 01:06:29,127
we are one nation under God.

1414
01:06:30,946 --> 01:06:31,196
That black and white

1415
01:06:34,683 --> 01:06:34,933
we are one nation indivisible.

1416
01:06:38,620 --> 01:06:38,870
that Republican andmo Democrat,

1417
01:06:39,287 --> 01:06:39,537
we are all Americans.

1418
01:06:41,189 --> 01:06:41,439
Tonight with heart in hand.

1419
01:06:43,124 --> 01:06:43,374
through whatever row and re

1420
01:06:46,828 --> 01:06:47,078
we pledge ourselves to each

1421
01:06:48,663 --> 01:06:48,913
other and to the cause of human

1422
01:06:49,331 --> 01:06:49,581
freedom.

1423
01:06:51,366 --> 01:06:51,616
the cause that has given light

1424
01:06:52,000 --> 01:06:52,250
to this land.

1425
01:06:52,567 --> 01:06:52,817
and hope.

1426
01:06:52,901 --> 01:06:53,151
to the world

1427
01:07:06,348 --> 01:07:06,598
here thanks to gentlemen. chair

1428
01:07:07,048 --> 01:07:07,298
recognizes the gentleman from

1429
01:07:08,583 --> 01:07:08,833
Montgomery County, the majority

1430
01:07:09,250 --> 01:07:09,500
leader, Repres representative

1431
01:07:09,918 --> 01:07:10,168
Bradford.

1432
01:07:16,424 --> 01:07:16,674
Thank you Madam Speaker

1433
01:07:18,827 --> 01:07:19,077
and thank you Madam Speaker, not

1434
01:07:20,862 --> 01:07:21,112
just for the recognition, but

1435
01:07:22,597 --> 01:07:22,847
for the long hard work that your

1436
01:07:24,332 --> 01:07:24,582
office and Nina Carter, your

1437
01:07:25,066 --> 01:07:25,316
chief of staff has put in to

1438
01:07:25,734 --> 01:07:25,984
make this possible.

1439
01:07:32,423 --> 01:07:32,673
Additionally, we want to thank

1440
01:07:33,074 --> 01:07:33,324
the National Park Service and

1441
01:07:34,909 --> 01:07:35,159
all the folks who are working

1442
01:07:36,344 --> 01:07:36,594
late into the evening to make

1443
01:07:38,346 --> 01:07:38,596
this possible and I know it's a

1444
01:07:40,348 --> 01:07:40,598
a a lot of work to put up with

1445
01:07:41,082 --> 01:07:41,332
this many prima donnas and we

1446
01:07:41,716 --> 01:07:41,966
thank you for putting up with

1447
01:07:42,384 --> 01:07:42,634
us.

1448
01:07:48,940 --> 01:07:49,190
I also wanna to thank the young

1449
01:07:50,325 --> 01:07:50,575
people and by that I don't mean

1450
01:07:51,092 --> 01:07:51,342
Joe Kerwin, I mean the actual

1451
01:07:51,760 --> 01:07:52,010
young people we have.

1452
01:07:53,128 --> 01:07:53,378
who are with us this evening

1453
01:07:57,165 --> 01:07:57,415
who are hopefully seeing the

1454
01:07:58,867 --> 01:07:59,117
best of our colleagues,

1455
01:08:00,402 --> 01:08:00,652
Democrats and Republicans

1456
01:08:00,969 --> 01:08:01,219
reflecting on

1457
01:08:04,572 --> 01:08:04,822
our great experiment, our 250

1458
01:08:06,441 --> 01:08:06,691
year old country. a littlew

1459
01:08:06,975 --> 01:08:07,225
warn sometimes

1460
01:08:08,677 --> 01:08:08,927
and some challenges in front

1461
01:08:09,244 --> 01:08:09,494
of us.

1462
01:08:10,879 --> 01:08:11,129
but it's a country worth

1463
01:08:11,446 --> 01:08:11,696
fighting for.

1464
01:08:14,616 --> 01:08:14,866
and to my caucus I would only

1465
01:08:15,216 --> 01:08:15,466
say that the idea that

1466
01:08:16,851 --> 01:08:17,101
slaveolding Southern states

1467
01:08:20,855 --> 01:08:21,105
and mercantile northern states

1468
01:08:21,523 --> 01:08:21,773
throwing in

1469
01:08:22,624 --> 01:08:22,874
against the greatest

1470
01:08:25,060 --> 01:08:25,310
army the world had ever known at

1471
01:08:26,428 --> 01:08:26,678
that time, the greatest naval

1472
01:08:27,095 --> 01:08:27,345
power.

1473
01:08:28,930 --> 01:08:29,180
is the ultimate act of audacity.

1474
01:08:30,899 --> 01:08:31,149
that is audacious

1475
01:08:33,134 --> 01:08:33,384
and how we wind up here today.

1476
01:08:34,936 --> 01:08:35,186
is quite a story

1477
01:08:38,573 --> 01:08:38,823
And you look around this room,

1478
01:08:40,341 --> 01:08:40,591
you recognize this is not what

1479
01:08:40,975 --> 01:08:41,225
it would looked like 250 years

1480
01:08:41,643 --> 01:08:41,893
ago.

1481
01:08:43,111 --> 01:08:43,361
The prayers would have been

1482
01:08:44,846 --> 01:08:45,096
different, the faces would have

1483
01:08:45,480 --> 01:08:45,730
been a different color. and

1484
01:08:46,081 --> 01:08:46,331
there would have been no women

1485
01:08:46,748 --> 01:08:46,998
That isn't

1486
01:08:48,650 --> 01:08:48,900
to diminish

1487
01:08:50,719 --> 01:08:50,969
our founding fathers

1488
01:08:53,455 --> 01:08:53,705
That is to recognize the

1489
01:08:53,988 --> 01:08:54,238
greatness of our reality.

1490
01:08:56,424 --> 01:08:56,674
that we have come so very far.

1491
01:09:00,361 --> 01:09:00,611
It is why we love our country

1492
01:09:00,962 --> 01:09:01,212
and it's why we fight so hard.

1493
01:09:05,366 --> 01:09:05,616
It is why this country is worth

1494
01:09:07,102 --> 01:09:07,352
continuing to fight for, and

1495
01:09:09,137 --> 01:09:09,387
it's why we recognize that 250

1496
01:09:09,804 --> 01:09:10,054
years later.

1497
01:09:12,841 --> 01:09:13,091
It's why it is the standard for

1498
01:09:14,576 --> 01:09:14,826
the world and we have an

1499
01:09:16,611 --> 01:09:16,861
obligation to make sure that it

1500
01:09:17,312 --> 01:09:17,562
never falls into discredit.

1501
01:09:20,448 --> 01:09:20,698
It is often quoted

1502
01:09:24,352 --> 01:09:24,602
from Franklin, where he's asked,

1503
01:09:25,086 --> 01:09:25,336
Will it be a monarchy or

1504
01:09:26,955 --> 01:09:27,205
republican, he says. a republic

1505
01:09:27,622 --> 01:09:27,872
if we can keep it.

1506
01:09:31,292 --> 01:09:31,542
Some days that seems more in

1507
01:09:31,960 --> 01:09:32,210
doubt.

1508
01:09:32,627 --> 01:09:32,877
than others

1509
01:09:36,464 --> 01:09:36,714
And that is a sad reality that

1510
01:09:37,132 --> 01:09:37,382
we find ourselves in.

1511
01:09:38,833 --> 01:09:39,083
It is also the challenge of our

1512
01:09:39,501 --> 01:09:39,751
time.

1513
01:09:44,572 --> 01:09:44,822
twentyy years after the events

1514
01:09:45,306 --> 01:09:45,556
that we talk about 250 years

1515
01:09:45,974 --> 01:09:46,224
ago.

1516
01:09:46,841 --> 01:09:47,091
Washington

1517
01:09:50,812 --> 01:09:51,062
left office. He decided two

1518
01:09:52,614 --> 01:09:52,864
terms was enough for anyone with

1519
01:09:53,281 --> 01:09:53,531
executive power.

1520
01:09:55,083 --> 01:09:55,333
and he recognized that the

1521
01:09:57,085 --> 01:09:57,335
greatest challenge for any

1522
01:09:58,486 --> 01:09:58,736
republic, any democracy,

1523
01:09:59,354 --> 01:09:59,604
was the peaceful

1524
01:10:00,789 --> 01:10:01,039
passing of power

1525
01:10:04,425 --> 01:10:04,675
And so Madison, Hamilton

1526
01:10:05,026 --> 01:10:05,276
and himself

1527
01:10:08,630 --> 01:10:08,880
wrote their farewell address, of

1528
01:10:09,297 --> 01:10:09,547
valedictory speech.

1529
01:10:11,166 --> 01:10:11,416
and they talked about the need

1530
01:10:11,833 --> 01:10:12,083
for national unity.

1531
01:10:13,168 --> 01:10:13,418
and the rise of partisanship

1532
01:10:16,838 --> 01:10:17,088
the time they called it faction.

1533
01:10:17,572 --> 01:10:17,822
and that was the rise of the two

1534
01:10:18,206 --> 01:10:18,456
parties.

1535
01:10:20,942 --> 01:10:21,192
At the time it was not the GOP

1536
01:10:21,609 --> 01:10:21,859
and the Democrats.

1537
01:10:24,813 --> 01:10:25,063
but sadly there were those who

1538
01:10:26,815 --> 01:10:27,065
continued to play on those

1539
01:10:27,382 --> 01:10:27,632
differences and failed to

1540
01:10:27,916 --> 01:10:28,166
recognize

1541
01:10:30,451 --> 01:10:30,701
that at the end of the day the

1542
01:10:31,152 --> 01:10:31,402
votes get counted.

1543
01:10:31,586 --> 01:10:31,836
but the country must be won

1544
01:10:34,455 --> 01:10:34,705
Now,

1545
01:10:37,091 --> 01:10:37,341
we face that sameme division

1546
01:10:37,659 --> 01:10:37,909
today.

1547
01:10:40,595 --> 01:10:40,845
And some of us fear that the

1548
01:10:42,564 --> 01:10:42,814
voices of division have gotten

1549
01:10:44,866 --> 01:10:45,116
too loud that the demagogues

1550
01:10:45,466 --> 01:10:45,716
have taken too large of a role.

1551
01:10:48,837 --> 01:10:49,087
I am one who worries about that

1552
01:10:49,470 --> 01:10:49,720
sincerely.

1553
01:10:51,206 --> 01:10:51,456
I love my Republican friends and

1554
01:10:51,873 --> 01:10:52,123
you make me crazy.

1555
01:10:54,442 --> 01:10:54,692
and you know I'm a passionatemo

1556
01:10:55,109 --> 01:10:55,359
Democrat

1557
01:10:57,111 --> 01:10:57,361
and you know we fight hard on

1558
01:10:59,180 --> 01:10:59,430
election day and the days up to

1559
01:10:59,848 --> 01:11:00,098
it through our campaigns.

1560
01:11:02,884 --> 01:11:03,134
but the admonition of Washington

1561
01:11:03,585 --> 01:11:03,835
should ring in our ears today

1562
01:11:05,220 --> 01:11:05,470
that when the elections are over

1563
01:11:08,823 --> 01:11:09,073
we have an obligation to govern

1564
01:11:10,425 --> 01:11:10,675
wisely and for the good of all

1565
01:11:17,031 --> 01:11:17,281
We stand on hoallowed ground.

1566
01:11:20,568 --> 01:11:20,818
and we should recognize the

1567
01:11:21,102 --> 01:11:21,352
obligation and the inheritance

1568
01:11:21,769 --> 01:11:22,019
in front of us.

1569
01:11:22,971 --> 01:11:23,221
We have an obligation

1570
01:11:26,608 --> 01:11:26,858
We are not in the US Congress

1571
01:11:28,843 --> 01:11:29,093
I think that's why we get a

1572
01:11:30,345 --> 01:11:30,595
little more done. I think it's

1573
01:11:31,012 --> 01:11:31,262
also why I get more done in the

1574
01:11:31,679 --> 01:11:31,929
Senate truth, you know.

1575
01:11:32,947 --> 01:11:33,197
But let me tell you something.

1576
01:11:37,051 --> 01:11:37,301
we must raise our game and be

1577
01:11:38,720 --> 01:11:38,970
mindful of the errors that we

1578
01:11:39,387 --> 01:11:39,637
are.

1579
01:11:41,122 --> 01:11:41,372
We have an obligation to do

1580
01:11:41,689 --> 01:11:41,939
better.

1581
01:11:44,626 --> 01:11:44,876
and hopefully today we recommit

1582
01:11:45,293 --> 01:11:45,543
ourselves to that.

1583
01:11:46,427 --> 01:11:46,677
Thank you, Madam Speaker

1584
01:11:56,905 --> 01:11:57,155
The chair thanks the good

1585
01:11:57,438 --> 01:11:57,688
gentleman.

1586
01:12:01,276 --> 01:12:01,526
250 years ago, these in fact

1587
01:12:03,077 --> 01:12:03,327
were the hoalowed grounds where

1588
01:12:04,612 --> 01:12:04,862
our beacon of liberty was lit

1589
01:12:07,148 --> 01:12:07,398
from the city of Philadelphia,

1590
01:12:08,883 --> 01:12:09,133
Pennsylvania came our

1591
01:12:10,618 --> 01:12:10,868
Declaration of inndependence

1592
01:12:12,887 --> 01:12:13,137
that changed the course of human

1593
01:12:14,822 --> 01:12:15,072
history. And here at what is now

1594
01:12:16,824 --> 01:12:17,074
known as inndependence National

1595
01:12:17,492 --> 01:12:17,742
Historic Park

1596
01:12:20,662 --> 01:12:20,912
Our Young Republic began the

1597
01:12:21,329 --> 01:12:21,579
difficult work of governing.

1598
01:12:24,666 --> 01:12:24,916
Looking backward from 250 years

1599
01:12:25,333 --> 01:12:25,583
away.

1600
01:12:28,336 --> 01:12:28,586
It is a temptation to believe

1601
01:12:28,970 --> 01:12:29,220
that what happened here was

1602
01:12:29,504 --> 01:12:29,754
inevitable.

1603
01:12:32,607 --> 01:12:32,857
that liberty was destined to

1604
01:12:34,676 --> 01:12:34,926
triumph, but the truth be told,

1605
01:12:35,310 --> 01:12:35,560
it was not.

1606
01:12:38,613 --> 01:12:38,863
The men and women of that

1607
01:12:39,180 --> 01:12:39,430
generation had at least

1608
01:12:42,917 --> 01:12:43,167
as much that divided them as

1609
01:12:43,451 --> 01:12:43,701
united them.

1610
01:12:45,386 --> 01:12:45,636
They are from the North and some

1611
01:12:46,087 --> 01:12:46,337
were from the south

1612
01:12:49,090 --> 01:12:49,340
They were farmers and some were

1613
01:12:49,757 --> 01:12:50,007
business owners.

1614
01:12:52,593 --> 01:12:52,843
They lived in the country and

1615
01:12:53,227 --> 01:12:53,477
some live in cities.

1616
01:12:56,564 --> 01:12:56,814
They were Anglicans and

1617
01:12:59,000 --> 01:12:59,250
Catholics, Baptists, Jews,

1618
01:13:01,035 --> 01:13:01,285
Puritans, Quakers,

1619
01:13:02,837 --> 01:13:03,087
congregationalists,

1620
01:13:04,806 --> 01:13:05,056
Presbyterians. They had

1621
01:13:06,541 --> 01:13:06,791
different interests and

1622
01:13:08,643 --> 01:13:08,893
different backgrounds and very

1623
01:13:10,645 --> 01:13:10,895
different ideas about the future

1624
01:13:11,312 --> 01:13:11,562
of this great nation.

1625
01:13:13,147 --> 01:13:13,397
But they found something that

1626
01:13:14,882 --> 01:13:15,132
was much greater than all of

1627
01:13:16,851 --> 01:13:17,101
their differences. They found a

1628
01:13:18,619 --> 01:13:18,869
common belief in

1629
01:13:19,120 --> 01:13:19,370
self-determination and liberty.

1630
01:13:22,790 --> 01:13:23,040
They were willing to sacrifice

1631
01:13:24,559 --> 01:13:24,809
for it. They risk their

1632
01:13:26,361 --> 01:13:26,611
property, their livelihoods,

1633
01:13:26,961 --> 01:13:27,211
their freedom and their lives.

1634
01:13:31,032 --> 01:13:31,282
Not only for themselves but for

1635
01:13:33,034 --> 01:13:33,284
one another and of course for

1636
01:13:34,635 --> 01:13:34,885
all the generations that

1637
01:13:35,169 --> 01:13:35,419
followed

1638
01:13:38,840 --> 01:13:39,090
But winning independence did not

1639
01:13:39,507 --> 01:13:39,757
end the struggle for liberty.

1640
01:13:42,877 --> 01:13:43,127
Our story here in America is one

1641
01:13:46,381 --> 01:13:46,631
of a constant effort to make the

1642
01:13:48,683 --> 01:13:48,933
promise of liberty more complete

1643
01:13:49,350 --> 01:13:49,600
each and every day.

1644
01:13:50,651 --> 01:13:50,901
250 years ago

1645
01:13:54,355 --> 01:13:54,605
human beings that looked just

1646
01:13:56,357 --> 01:13:56,607
like the chair in this room

1647
01:13:58,793 --> 01:13:59,043
right now. We're still property,

1648
01:14:02,330 --> 01:14:02,580
enslaved by other human beings.

1649
01:14:04,799 --> 01:14:05,049
People were denied the right of

1650
01:14:06,834 --> 01:14:07,084
self-government because of the

1651
01:14:08,603 --> 01:14:08,853
color of their skin. Others were

1652
01:14:10,872 --> 01:14:11,122
denied the right to vote because

1653
01:14:11,572 --> 01:14:11,822
they did not own enough

1654
01:14:15,109 --> 01:14:15,359
property. Others were denied the

1655
01:14:18,613 --> 01:14:18,863
right to vote because they were

1656
01:14:19,313 --> 01:14:19,563
women. It was as recently

1657
01:14:22,483 --> 01:14:22,733
as 1974.

1658
01:14:26,587 --> 01:14:26,837
when women in this nation gain

1659
01:14:27,388 --> 01:14:27,638
the right to sign for a

1660
01:14:27,922 --> 01:14:28,172
mortgage.

1661
01:14:28,956 --> 01:14:29,206
to own a home

1662
01:14:33,127 --> 01:14:33,377
The lesson is clear that the

1663
01:14:33,795 --> 01:14:34,045
work of liberty, it's

1664
01:14:38,499 --> 01:14:38,749
never finished. Today people

1665
01:14:39,067 --> 01:14:39,317
around the world

1666
01:14:42,837 --> 01:14:43,087
still risk their lives, their

1667
01:14:45,073 --> 01:14:45,323
property, their freedom, their

1668
01:14:48,576 --> 01:14:48,826
livelihood to escape press

1669
01:14:50,378 --> 01:14:50,628
oppression with the hopes of

1670
01:14:52,346 --> 01:14:52,596
coming here and determining

1671
01:14:54,615 --> 01:14:54,865
their own destiny. They look to

1672
01:14:56,851 --> 01:14:57,101
us and they look to the light

1673
01:14:57,418 --> 01:14:57,668
that was first kindled right

1674
01:14:58,086 --> 01:14:58,336
here in Philadelphia.

1675
01:15:02,356 --> 01:15:02,606
So let us all make that light

1676
01:15:02,957 --> 01:15:03,207
shine brighter.

1677
01:15:06,360 --> 01:15:06,610
Let us remember that we can

1678
01:15:08,463 --> 01:15:08,713
disagree without being

1679
01:15:08,930 --> 01:15:09,180
disagreeable.

1680
01:15:12,366 --> 01:15:12,616
Let us put aside the labels that

1681
01:15:13,101 --> 01:15:13,351
often divide us

1682
01:15:15,036 --> 01:15:15,286
And remember that we are

1683
01:15:18,372 --> 01:15:18,622
Pennsylvanians and we are

1684
01:15:21,075 --> 01:15:21,325
Americans. Our founders did not

1685
01:15:23,044 --> 01:15:23,294
agree on everything and they of

1686
01:15:25,113 --> 01:15:25,363
course did not have to. They

1687
01:15:27,048 --> 01:15:27,298
simply understood their

1688
01:15:28,850 --> 01:15:29,100
assignment, which is that their

1689
01:15:32,353 --> 01:15:32,603
differences were not more

1690
01:15:33,121 --> 01:15:33,371
important than their mission.

1691
01:15:38,359 --> 01:15:38,609
250 years later let us continue

1692
01:15:40,561 --> 01:15:40,811
to carry our mission in that

1693
01:15:42,797 --> 01:15:43,047
spirit. Let us continue the work

1694
01:15:45,333 --> 01:15:45,583
of being we the people to form a

1695
01:15:48,636 --> 01:15:48,886
more perfect union, one that

1696
01:15:51,105 --> 01:15:51,355
protects our liberty expands

1697
01:15:53,141 --> 01:15:53,391
opportunity and recognizes the

1698
01:15:55,376 --> 01:15:55,626
dignity and the rights of every

1699
01:15:58,379 --> 01:15:58,629
person. Let that beacon of

1700
01:16:00,381 --> 01:16:00,631
liberty, the one that first

1701
01:16:03,117 --> 01:16:03,367
shone here in Philadelphia 250

1702
01:16:03,784 --> 01:16:04,034
years ago continued

1703
01:16:05,553 --> 01:16:05,803
to illuminate our commonwealth

1704
01:16:10,358 --> 01:16:10,608
our nation, and our world. May

1705
01:16:10,958 --> 01:16:11,208
it shine for two

1706
01:16:14,929 --> 01:16:15,179
50 more years so that those who

1707
01:16:15,596 --> 01:16:15,846
look back

1708
01:16:17,231 --> 01:16:17,481
on this semi-quincentennial

1709
01:16:20,801 --> 01:16:21,051
say look at them. They chose to

1710
01:16:22,837 --> 01:16:23,087
put their differences aside.

1711
01:16:25,173 --> 01:16:25,423
They chose to work together to

1712
01:16:25,840 --> 01:16:26,090
have a freer

1713
01:16:28,876 --> 01:16:29,126
and more perfect union.

1714
01:16:31,112 --> 01:16:31,362
Thank you all. Thank you for

1715
01:16:31,779 --> 01:16:32,029
being here

1716
01:16:34,882 --> 01:16:35,132
We are so appreciative for your

1717
01:16:37,118 --> 01:16:37,368
time and as the leader took out

1718
01:16:39,120 --> 01:16:39,370
of my talking points, I must

1719
01:16:41,122 --> 01:16:41,372
thank my team that worked so

1720
01:16:43,057 --> 01:16:43,307
very hard for many months

1721
01:16:44,792 --> 01:16:45,042
throughout the summer to make

1722
01:16:47,061 --> 01:16:47,311
this possible, led by Nina

1723
01:16:47,695 --> 01:16:47,945
Carter, Esquire. Thank you.

1724
01:16:58,339 --> 01:16:58,589
Special thanks to my district

1725
01:16:59,040 --> 01:16:59,290
staff. They've been hanging out

1726
01:17:00,575 --> 01:17:00,825
for the afternoon but we're back

1727
01:17:02,610 --> 01:17:02,860
to 60th Street tomorrow, guys.

1728
01:17:04,345 --> 01:17:04,595
Don't you forget that. We're on

1729
01:17:05,112 --> 01:17:05,362
a tight schedule so when we

1730
01:17:08,849 --> 01:17:09,099
recess please have a timely exit

1731
01:17:10,851 --> 01:17:11,101
making your way to the national

1732
01:17:12,853 --> 01:17:13,103
Constitution Center for Dinner.

1733
01:17:14,822 --> 01:17:15,072
please exit through the doors on

1734
01:17:16,824 --> 01:17:17,074
my left and the house will stand

1735
01:17:18,626 --> 01:17:18,876
in recess. It should be until

1736
01:17:19,293 --> 01:17:19,543
6:45 p.m.

1737
01:17:22,563 --> 01:17:22,813
but we are over time unless

1738
01:17:24,365 --> 01:17:24,615
sooner recalled by this speaker.

1739
01:17:25,066 --> 01:17:25,316
thank you all and God bless

1740
01:31:13,193 --> 01:31:13,443
Ho of 6:45 having arrived, the

1741
01:31:13,794 --> 01:31:14,044
house will come to order.

1742
01:31:18,865 --> 01:31:19,115
as we noted at our early earlier

1743
01:31:20,834 --> 01:31:21,084
meeting this evening to honor

1744
01:31:22,869 --> 01:31:23,119
Pennsylvania's legacy of

1745
01:31:23,437 --> 01:31:23,687
religious tolerance

1746
01:31:25,372 --> 01:31:25,622
prayer today will be offered

1747
01:31:26,640 --> 01:31:26,890
from multiple perspectives of

1748
01:31:27,307 --> 01:31:27,557
faith.

1749
01:31:30,377 --> 01:31:30,627
At this time, prayer will be

1750
01:31:31,111 --> 01:31:31,361
offered by our colleague

1751
01:31:34,347 --> 01:31:34,597
Representative Vinettt, followed

1752
01:31:35,082 --> 01:31:35,332
by our colleague Representative

1753
01:31:37,150 --> 01:31:37,400
Dawkins, followed by our

1754
01:31:37,717 --> 01:31:37,967
colleague Representative Barton.

1755
01:31:40,854 --> 01:31:41,104
Immediately after prayer, we

1756
01:31:42,355 --> 01:31:42,605
will recite the pledge of

1757
01:31:44,991 --> 01:31:45,241
allegiance and then we will sing

1758
01:31:45,625 --> 01:31:45,875
God Bless America.

1759
01:31:48,628 --> 01:31:48,878
M members and guests, please

1760
01:31:49,296 --> 01:31:49,546
rise asabbel.

1761
01:32:18,358 --> 01:32:18,608
Good evening. I will be reciting

1762
01:32:20,560 --> 01:32:20,810
a Hindu prayer based on the

1763
01:32:22,596 --> 01:32:22,846
Vedic principle of Vasaeva

1764
01:32:23,163 --> 01:32:23,413
utombuum.

1765
01:32:26,333 --> 01:32:26,583
which is a philosophy of that

1766
01:32:28,335 --> 01:32:28,585
the whole world is one family,

1767
01:32:30,337 --> 01:32:30,587
which I think has appropriate

1768
01:32:32,606 --> 01:32:32,856
purpose when we're here meeting

1769
01:32:34,374 --> 01:32:34,624
where our country was founded

1770
01:32:35,141 --> 01:32:35,391
and even with the differences

1771
01:32:36,643 --> 01:32:36,893
among our founders they were

1772
01:32:37,310 --> 01:32:37,560
able to find unity

1773
01:32:39,079 --> 01:32:39,329
please pray or contemplate as

1774
01:32:39,746 --> 01:32:39,996
appropriate.

1775
01:32:45,152 --> 01:32:45,402
O surve baanthusunaha.

1776
01:32:48,788 --> 01:32:49,038
ve Santu iramaya.

1777
01:32:52,592 --> 01:32:52,842
arve Badranni Pashianu

1778
01:32:55,295 --> 01:32:55,545
macaia dua Bawavi.

1779
01:33:00,734 --> 01:33:00,984
shantishanti Shati he.

1780
01:33:02,936 --> 01:33:03,186
in translation

1781
01:33:05,071 --> 01:33:05,321
home may all be happy.

1782
01:33:08,808 --> 01:33:09,058
may all be free from illness and

1783
01:33:09,476 --> 01:33:09,726
disease.

1784
01:33:12,913 --> 01:33:13,163
may all see and experience what

1785
01:33:13,613 --> 01:33:13,863
is auspicious and good.

1786
01:33:16,616 --> 01:33:16,866
May no one suffer from sorrow or

1787
01:33:17,284 --> 01:33:17,534
pain.

1788
01:33:17,534 --> 01:33:17,784
O.

1789
01:33:38,672 --> 01:33:38,922
Good evening all and welcome

1790
01:33:40,740 --> 01:33:40,990
let us pray

1791
01:33:44,878 --> 01:33:45,128
internal God, God of Abraham and

1792
01:33:45,545 --> 01:33:45,795
Sarah

1793
01:33:49,115 --> 01:33:49,365
of Hagar and Moses, of prophets,

1794
01:33:51,384 --> 01:33:51,634
peacemakers, and all who hunger

1795
01:33:52,052 --> 01:33:52,302
for righteousness

1796
01:33:54,621 --> 01:33:54,871
we gather before you in

1797
01:33:55,188 --> 01:33:55,438
humility.

1798
01:33:55,438 --> 01:33:55,688
Today

1799
01:33:58,925 --> 01:33:59,175
we meet no in Harrisburg but in

1800
01:33:59,626 --> 01:33:59,876
Philadelphia.

1801
01:34:02,629 --> 01:34:02,879
the city where a young nation

1802
01:34:03,396 --> 01:34:03,646
declared that all people are

1803
01:34:04,064 --> 01:34:04,314
created equal

1804
01:34:06,600 --> 01:34:06,850
The city where liberty was

1805
01:34:07,167 --> 01:34:07,417
written

1806
01:34:08,635 --> 01:34:08,885
into the American imagination

1807
01:34:12,339 --> 01:34:12,589
even while freedom was withheld

1808
01:34:13,306 --> 01:34:13,556
for millions of enslaved men,

1809
01:34:13,974 --> 01:34:14,224
women, and children.

1810
01:34:17,077 --> 01:34:17,327
250 years later we come not

1811
01:34:20,347 --> 01:34:20,597
merely to praise our history but

1812
01:34:21,081 --> 01:34:21,331
to tell the truth about it.

1813
01:34:22,949 --> 01:34:23,199
the promise of America was

1814
01:34:23,483 --> 01:34:23,733
written in ink.

1815
01:34:26,586 --> 01:34:26,836
but the price of America was too

1816
01:34:27,320 --> 01:34:27,570
often written upon the less

1817
01:34:27,887 --> 01:34:28,137
fortunate.

1818
01:34:30,590 --> 01:34:30,840
Yet the descendants of this

1819
01:34:31,191 --> 01:34:31,441
enslaved did not abandon this

1820
01:34:31,858 --> 01:34:32,108
nation.

1821
01:34:35,095 --> 01:34:35,345
We helped build his roads ilted

1822
01:34:37,063 --> 01:34:37,313
its soil, defended its flag,

1823
01:34:39,099 --> 01:34:39,349
raised his children, and

1824
01:34:40,834 --> 01:34:41,084
strengthened its churches,

1825
01:34:42,569 --> 01:34:42,819
organized it communities and

1826
01:34:44,604 --> 01:34:44,854
called America again and again

1827
01:34:47,140 --> 01:34:47,390
to become the faithful to hiss

1828
01:34:50,343 --> 01:34:50,593
own creed. We are not a footnote

1829
01:34:51,111 --> 01:34:51,361
to this American story. We are

1830
01:34:52,612 --> 01:34:52,862
among the authors of its

1831
01:34:53,179 --> 01:34:53,429
redemption

1832
01:34:55,115 --> 01:34:55,365
aretorah commands us justice

1833
01:34:57,183 --> 01:34:57,433
Justice shall you pursue

1834
01:35:01,054 --> 01:35:01,304
Our Bible teaches us to do

1835
01:35:02,622 --> 01:35:02,872
justice, love mercy, and walk

1836
01:35:03,290 --> 01:35:03,540
humbly.

1837
01:35:04,724 --> 01:35:04,974
Our Qoran reminds us

1838
01:35:08,595 --> 01:35:08,845
you created us as a people and

1839
01:35:10,563 --> 01:35:10,813
tribes, not that we might

1840
01:35:12,565 --> 01:35:12,815
despise one another, but that we

1841
01:35:13,300 --> 01:35:13,550
might know one another.

1842
01:35:15,302 --> 01:35:15,552
write these truths upon our

1843
01:35:15,869 --> 01:35:16,119
hearts.

1844
01:35:18,338 --> 01:35:18,588
William Penn called this

1845
01:35:18,838 --> 01:35:19,088
Commwealth a holy experiment

1846
01:35:22,375 --> 01:35:22,625
Make us worthy of this

1847
01:35:24,577 --> 01:35:24,827
experiment. Give us the courage

1848
01:35:25,311 --> 01:35:25,561
to disturb complacency

1849
01:35:27,514 --> 01:35:27,764
the wisdom to speak the truth

1850
01:35:28,148 --> 01:35:28,398
without hatred.

1851
01:35:30,850 --> 01:35:31,100
and humanity to remember that

1852
01:35:33,086 --> 01:35:33,336
public office is not athrone but

1853
01:35:33,753 --> 01:35:34,003
a trust that we all should seek.

1854
01:35:38,825 --> 01:35:39,075
Let our laws become the shields

1855
01:35:40,327 --> 01:35:40,577
for the vulnerable and never the

1856
01:35:42,329 --> 01:35:42,579
chains for the powerless. Let

1857
01:35:44,431 --> 01:35:44,681
our debates sharpen our judgment

1858
01:35:45,131 --> 01:35:45,381
without harden our hearts.

1859
01:35:47,067 --> 01:35:47,317
Let our differences become

1860
01:35:49,069 --> 01:35:49,319
instruments in understanding

1861
01:35:50,637 --> 01:35:50,887
rather than weapons of division

1862
01:35:51,304 --> 01:35:51,554
as America

1863
01:35:52,939 --> 01:35:53,189
seeks its 250th anniversary

1864
01:35:56,576 --> 01:35:56,826
Do not permit us to celebrate

1865
01:35:58,845 --> 01:35:59,095
only what has been founded. some

1866
01:36:00,480 --> 01:36:00,730
of us to finish what remains

1867
01:36:01,081 --> 01:36:01,331
unfinished.

1868
01:36:02,615 --> 01:36:02,865
May the child in Frankfurt

1869
01:36:05,352 --> 01:36:05,602
the worker ineriee, the farmer

1870
01:36:07,120 --> 01:36:07,370
in Lancaster, the immigrants

1871
01:36:09,089 --> 01:36:09,339
seeking belonging, the veterans

1872
01:36:11,124 --> 01:36:11,374
seeking dignity in every family

1873
01:36:12,826 --> 01:36:13,076
seeking opportunity find

1874
01:36:14,461 --> 01:36:14,711
themselves with America's

1875
01:36:14,994 --> 01:36:15,244
promise.

1876
01:36:17,063 --> 01:36:17,313
May Philadelphia be remembered

1877
01:36:18,832 --> 01:36:19,082
not only as the birthplace of

1878
01:36:20,834 --> 01:36:21,084
American liberty but as a place

1879
01:36:22,836 --> 01:36:23,086
where liberty was renewed and

1880
01:36:24,571 --> 01:36:24,821
made justice rode through this

1881
01:36:26,840 --> 01:36:27,090
commonwealth like mighty waters

1882
01:36:28,575 --> 01:36:28,825
until freedom is no longer

1883
01:36:30,643 --> 01:36:30,893
merely declared but fully lived

1884
01:36:32,846 --> 01:36:33,096
and the name of the one who is

1885
01:36:35,248 --> 01:36:35,498
just, merciful, compassionate,

1886
01:36:35,915 --> 01:36:36,165
and the creative of all.

1887
01:36:38,685 --> 01:36:38,935
let us pray. Amen and ami.

1888
01:36:54,367 --> 01:36:54,617
Let us pray

1889
01:36:57,337 --> 01:36:57,587
Heavenly Father

1890
01:37:01,141 --> 01:37:01,391
we come before you now with

1891
01:37:02,642 --> 01:37:02,892
great joy and thanksgiving for

1892
01:37:05,078 --> 01:37:05,328
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and

1893
01:37:06,713 --> 01:37:06,963
the United States of America as

1894
01:37:07,380 --> 01:37:07,630
we mark

1895
01:37:08,681 --> 01:37:08,931
250 years

1896
01:37:11,084 --> 01:37:11,334
since the declaration of

1897
01:37:12,719 --> 01:37:12,969
inndependence was penned and

1898
01:37:13,386 --> 01:37:13,636
signed.

1899
01:37:14,421 --> 01:37:14,671
right here in these very cham

1900
01:37:18,858 --> 01:37:19,108
We remember that this nation's

1901
01:37:19,559 --> 01:37:19,809
story began in Pennsylvania.

1902
01:37:24,364 --> 01:37:24,614
with a bold declaration that we

1903
01:37:25,031 --> 01:37:25,281
are endowed by our Creator.

1904
01:37:27,300 --> 01:37:27,550
with certain unaliable rights of

1905
01:37:28,568 --> 01:37:28,818
life.

1906
01:37:30,603 --> 01:37:30,853
liberty

1907
01:37:31,371 --> 01:37:31,621
and the pursuit of happiness

1908
01:37:34,941 --> 01:37:35,191
Lord, we recognize that these

1909
01:37:35,608 --> 01:37:35,858
words point

1910
01:37:38,711 --> 01:37:38,961
us beyond ourselves. These words

1911
01:37:39,379 --> 01:37:39,629
point us

1912
01:37:40,747 --> 01:37:40,997
beyond government

1913
01:37:44,417 --> 01:37:44,667
These words point us to you.

1914
01:37:48,421 --> 01:37:48,671
Blessed is a nation whose God is

1915
01:37:49,088 --> 01:37:49,338
the Lord

1916
01:37:53,159 --> 01:37:53,409
And the signers of that bold

1917
01:37:53,726 --> 01:37:53,976
declaration

1918
01:37:56,629 --> 01:37:56,879
look to you

1919
01:37:58,798 --> 01:37:59,048
for protection, Lord, when they

1920
01:37:59,466 --> 01:37:59,716
mutually pledgeed to each other.

1921
01:38:00,834 --> 01:38:01,084
their lives

1922
01:38:02,669 --> 01:38:02,919
fortunes

1923
01:38:03,169 --> 01:38:03,419
and sacred honor

1924
01:38:08,608 --> 01:38:08,858
Ma Pennsylvania and this nation

1925
01:38:11,377 --> 01:38:11,627
continue to seek your

1926
01:38:11,811 --> 01:38:12,061
protection, your wisdom

1927
01:38:12,645 --> 01:38:12,895
your ways

1928
01:38:14,481 --> 01:38:14,731
Tthhy will.

1929
01:38:18,852 --> 01:38:19,102
You have blessed us with much

1930
01:38:22,655 --> 01:38:22,905
and as legislators, Lord, we

1931
01:38:23,323 --> 01:38:23,573
have been entrusted with much.

1932
01:38:25,191 --> 01:38:25,441
Book of Luke we're told from

1933
01:38:28,595 --> 01:38:28,845
everyone who's been giving much,

1934
01:38:29,329 --> 01:38:29,579
much will be demanded.

1935
01:38:32,465 --> 01:38:32,715
and from the one who has been

1936
01:38:33,132 --> 01:38:33,382
entrusted with much.

1937
01:38:35,401 --> 01:38:35,651
much more will be asked.

1938
01:38:38,771 --> 01:38:39,021
Grant us wisdom

1939
01:38:42,709 --> 01:38:42,959
and courage to do what is right,

1940
01:38:43,409 --> 01:38:43,659
hummility to listen.

1941
01:38:45,378 --> 01:38:45,628
integrity in all our decisions

1942
01:38:48,448 --> 01:38:48,698
in a genuine concern

1943
01:38:54,420 --> 01:38:54,670
Remind us, Lord, the public

1944
01:38:54,988 --> 01:38:55,238
office is not

1945
01:38:57,390 --> 01:38:57,640
is a responsibility and a trust,

1946
01:38:58,057 --> 01:38:58,307
not merely

1947
01:38:58,791 --> 01:38:59,041
position of power

1948
01:39:05,181 --> 01:39:05,431
and as we look back across 250

1949
01:39:05,632 --> 01:39:05,882
years of American history.

1950
01:39:08,568 --> 01:39:08,818
we give thanks for the

1951
01:39:10,570 --> 01:39:10,820
sacrifices of generations who

1952
01:39:12,739 --> 01:39:12,989
defended liberty, preserved our

1953
01:39:13,473 --> 01:39:13,723
institutions, built our

1954
01:39:14,073 --> 01:39:14,323
communities

1955
01:39:17,143 --> 01:39:17,393
and sought to form a more

1956
01:39:17,677 --> 01:39:17,927
perfect union.

1957
01:39:22,348 --> 01:39:22,598
Lord, we also acknowledge the

1958
01:39:22,949 --> 01:39:23,199
places where our nation has

1959
01:39:23,483 --> 01:39:23,733
fallen short.

1960
01:39:24,651 --> 01:39:24,901
of its high ideals

1961
01:39:28,655 --> 01:39:28,905
Help us to learn from our

1962
01:39:29,155 --> 01:39:29,405
history and move forward with

1963
01:39:29,856 --> 01:39:30,106
wisdom

1964
01:39:31,224 --> 01:39:31,474
justice, and grace

1965
01:39:34,894 --> 01:39:35,144
For the reality, Father, whether

1966
01:39:35,561 --> 01:39:35,811
we succeed or stumble.

1967
01:39:38,831 --> 01:39:39,081
we know the power comes with

1968
01:39:39,499 --> 01:39:39,749
from within each of us.

1969
01:39:40,700 --> 01:39:40,950
Jesus said

1970
01:39:42,669 --> 01:39:42,919
behold

1971
01:39:45,171 --> 01:39:45,421
kingdom of God is within you.

1972
01:39:49,108 --> 01:39:49,358
If with all your hearts you

1973
01:39:49,676 --> 01:39:49,926
truly seek me

1974
01:39:51,210 --> 01:39:51,460
you shall ever find me.

1975
01:39:55,081 --> 01:39:55,331
Lord, let Pennsylvania continue

1976
01:39:56,883 --> 01:39:57,133
to be a place where liberty is

1977
01:39:57,550 --> 01:39:57,800
protected.

1978
01:39:59,285 --> 01:39:59,535
Families and communities

1979
01:39:59,852 --> 01:40:00,102
flourish.

1980
01:40:02,855 --> 01:40:03,105
Justice is pursued and our

1981
01:40:03,389 --> 01:40:03,639
differences

1982
01:40:04,891 --> 01:40:05,141
do not destroy

1983
01:40:06,926 --> 01:40:07,176
our common purpose

1984
01:40:10,597 --> 01:40:10,847
and may the next 250 years of

1985
01:40:11,264 --> 01:40:11,514
America's story

1986
01:40:12,632 --> 01:40:12,882
be marked by faithfulness

1987
01:40:14,634 --> 01:40:14,884
service, freedom

1988
01:40:16,936 --> 01:40:17,186
and a renewed recognition

1989
01:40:19,138 --> 01:40:19,388
at our ultimate hope

1990
01:40:20,707 --> 01:40:20,957
rest in you, Lord

1991
01:40:24,611 --> 01:40:24,861
God bless the United States of

1992
01:40:25,278 --> 01:40:25,528
America. God bless

1993
01:40:28,348 --> 01:40:28,598
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and

1994
01:40:29,349 --> 01:40:29,599
we ask all this and all things

1995
01:40:30,016 --> 01:40:30,266
in Jesus' name.

1996
01:40:30,483 --> 01:40:30,733
Amen.

1997
01:40:34,754 --> 01:40:35,004
I pledge allegiance

1998
01:40:52,438 --> 01:40:52,688
And singing God Bless America,

1999
01:40:53,106 --> 01:40:53,356
the

2000
01:41:08,821 --> 01:41:09,071
Thank you madam Speaker

2001
01:41:11,090 --> 01:41:11,340
I'm going to begin with the

2002
01:41:12,825 --> 01:41:13,075
verse and then I'll all ask you

2003
01:41:13,493 --> 01:41:13,743
to join in the chorus.

2004
01:41:18,798 --> 01:41:19,048
as the storm clouds gathered far

2005
01:41:19,532 --> 01:41:19,782
across the sea

2006
01:41:21,200 --> 01:41:21,450
let us pledge ouregiance.

2007
01:41:23,169 --> 01:41:23,419
to a land that's free.

2008
01:41:27,106 --> 01:41:27,356
Let us all be grateful for land

2009
01:41:27,774 --> 01:41:28,024
so fair

2010
01:41:32,879 --> 01:41:33,129
as we raise our voices in this

2011
01:41:33,546 --> 01:41:33,796
solemn p

2012
01:41:34,580 --> 01:41:34,830
pray.

2013
01:41:38,384 --> 01:41:38,634
the last

2014
01:41:38,951 --> 01:41:39,201
America.

2015
01:41:40,520 --> 01:41:40,770
land

2016
01:41:43,056 --> 01:41:43,306
that I

2017
01:41:44,457 --> 01:41:44,707
love.

2018
01:41:47,093 --> 01:41:47,343
and beside her.

2019
01:41:48,861 --> 01:41:49,111
and guide her

2020
01:41:54,333 --> 01:41:54,583
through the night with the light

2021
01:41:55,068 --> 01:41:55,318
from a allve.

2022
01:41:56,869 --> 01:41:57,119
from the mountain

2023
01:41:59,005 --> 01:41:59,255
to the prairie

2024
01:42:02,475 --> 01:42:02,725
to the oceans

2025
01:42:03,276 --> 01:42:03,526
white with

2026
01:42:04,477 --> 01:42:04,727
fo am

2027
01:42:09,215 --> 01:42:09,465
God less America.

2028
01:42:10,750 --> 01:42:11,000
I

2029
01:42:12,452 --> 01:42:12,702
home sweet.

2030
01:42:14,520 --> 01:42:14,770
home

2031
01:42:18,925 --> 01:42:19,175
God bless America.

2032
01:42:20,760 --> 01:42:21,010
my

2033
01:42:22,662 --> 01:42:22,912
home

2034
01:42:26,566 --> 01:42:26,816
sweet home.

2035
01:42:38,344 --> 01:42:38,594
Sergeant at armms will open the

2036
01:42:39,078 --> 01:42:39,328
doors of the house. M members

2037
01:42:39,746 --> 01:42:39,996
and guests, please take your

2038
01:42:40,413 --> 01:42:40,663
seats.

2039
01:42:52,975 --> 01:42:53,225
Colleagues

2040
01:42:54,761 --> 01:42:55,011
colleagueleas

2041
01:42:58,431 --> 01:42:58,681
second session isci.

2042
01:43:01,200 --> 01:43:01,450
1st session complete silence.

2043
01:43:04,604 --> 01:43:04,854
2cond session's been in line too

2044
01:43:05,271 --> 01:43:05,521
long.

2045
01:43:08,474 --> 01:43:08,724
Colleagues, I'd like to welcome

2046
01:43:09,142 --> 01:43:09,392
you.

2047
01:43:11,043 --> 01:43:11,293
to the venerable and the

2048
01:43:11,544 --> 01:43:11,794
charming Congress hall

2049
01:43:12,678 --> 01:43:12,928
a site

2050
01:43:14,881 --> 01:43:15,131
steeped in history

2051
01:43:17,316 --> 01:43:17,566
and symbolism for today's

2052
01:43:17,850 --> 01:43:18,100
session.

2053
01:43:20,686 --> 01:43:20,936
As you know, it is uncommon

2054
01:43:24,791 --> 01:43:25,041
for our institution to meet

2055
01:43:28,327 --> 01:43:28,577
outside of our very beautiful

2056
01:43:30,363 --> 01:43:30,613
state capital and only a few

2057
01:43:32,598 --> 01:43:32,848
such convenings have taken place

2058
01:43:34,333 --> 01:43:34,583
since the capitalol moved to

2059
01:43:34,901 --> 01:43:35,151
Harrisburg in 1812.

2060
01:43:38,805 --> 01:43:39,055
However, today we are gathered

2061
01:43:41,007 --> 01:43:41,257
to reaffirm our commitment and

2062
01:43:43,075 --> 01:43:43,325
to celebrate our nation's

2063
01:43:44,877 --> 01:43:45,127
representative democracy which

2064
01:43:45,545 --> 01:43:45,795
was envisioned

2065
01:43:46,813 --> 01:43:47,063
just steps

2066
01:43:49,148 --> 01:43:49,398
from where each of us are

2067
01:43:49,715 --> 01:43:49,965
seated.

2068
01:43:53,019 --> 01:43:53,269
First, please join me in

2069
01:43:54,987 --> 01:43:55,237
welcoming our special guest this

2070
01:43:55,621 --> 01:43:55,871
evening.

2071
01:43:58,558 --> 01:43:58,808
We have Philadelphia's

2072
01:44:02,595 --> 01:44:02,845
phenomenal 100th mayor. She is a

2073
01:44:05,064 --> 01:44:05,314
history maker trailblazer and a

2074
01:44:06,332 --> 01:44:06,582
Pennsylvania House of

2075
01:44:08,467 --> 01:44:08,717
Representatives alumna but of

2076
01:44:09,135 --> 01:44:09,385
course she left here.

2077
01:44:10,803 --> 01:44:11,053
after serving her neighbors in

2078
01:44:13,005 --> 01:44:13,255
the 200th district and served

2079
01:44:14,841 --> 01:44:15,091
faithfully in the inth Councilil

2080
01:44:16,809 --> 01:44:17,059
District. Please welcome Madam

2081
01:44:18,611 --> 01:44:18,861
Mayor Sherelle L. Parker.

2082
01:44:31,290 --> 01:44:31,540
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2083
01:44:36,462 --> 01:44:36,712
let me start by saying a

2084
01:44:37,196 --> 01:44:37,446
very special

2085
01:44:42,602 --> 01:44:42,852
thank you to our very own

2086
01:44:43,102 --> 01:44:43,352
Philadelphia's own

2087
01:44:44,770 --> 01:44:45,020
trailblazing

2088
01:44:46,973 --> 01:44:47,223
and historyma.

2089
01:44:49,208 --> 01:44:49,458
Pennsylvaniapeer

2090
01:44:54,347 --> 01:44:54,597
of the house Joanna McClinton,

2091
01:44:55,114 --> 01:44:55,364
you make us proud, madam

2092
01:44:55,648 --> 01:44:55,898
Speaker.

2093
01:44:56,682 --> 01:44:56,932
thank you

2094
01:44:59,151 --> 01:44:59,401
thank you so very much.

2095
01:45:04,357 --> 01:45:04,607
When I learned from Speaker

2096
01:45:04,924 --> 01:45:05,174
McClinton's team that

2097
01:45:07,360 --> 01:45:07,610
the Pennsylvania House will be

2098
01:45:08,027 --> 01:45:08,277
meeting here

2099
01:45:11,130 --> 01:45:11,380
at Congresshall to

2100
01:45:11,597 --> 01:45:11,847
commemorate

2101
01:45:14,433 --> 01:45:14,683
our semiquincentennial.

2102
01:45:16,502 --> 01:45:16,752
2

2103
01:45:18,604 --> 01:45:18,854
50 th anniversary

2104
01:45:22,842 --> 01:45:23,092
of our US declaration of

2105
01:45:24,944 --> 01:45:25,194
Independence right here in

2106
01:45:25,544 --> 01:45:25,794
Philadelphia.

2107
01:45:28,848 --> 01:45:29,098
the birthplace of that democracy

2108
01:45:31,117 --> 01:45:31,367
I began to take a stroll

2109
01:45:34,654 --> 01:45:34,904
through my time in the

2110
01:45:36,589 --> 01:45:36,839
Pennsylvania House and it is

2111
01:45:38,324 --> 01:45:38,574
with that in mind and you'll

2112
01:45:39,125 --> 01:45:39,375
have to forgive me because

2113
01:45:39,692 --> 01:45:39,942
the decorum

2114
01:45:42,595 --> 01:45:42,845
and the institution of the

2115
01:45:43,162 --> 01:45:43,412
Pennsylvania House of

2116
01:45:46,332 --> 01:45:46,582
Representatives is something

2117
01:45:46,999 --> 01:45:47,249
that I will never forget. so

2118
01:45:50,836 --> 01:45:51,086
please bear with me as I say

2119
01:45:53,072 --> 01:45:53,322
a special thank you again to you

2120
01:45:54,874 --> 01:45:55,124
Speaker McClinton, to you Lea

2121
01:45:55,541 --> 01:45:55,791
Bradford

2122
01:45:57,143 --> 01:45:57,393
to s Repp Slossberg the whip.

2123
01:46:02,548 --> 01:46:02,798
Aropriations' chairman Harris

2124
01:46:04,583 --> 01:46:04,833
caucus chair Repp Mancy,

2125
01:46:07,086 --> 01:46:07,336
policylic chairbazario Kruker,

2126
01:46:10,589 --> 01:46:10,839
the caucusdministrator and the

2127
01:46:11,357 --> 01:46:11,607
secretary of the caucus on the

2128
01:46:14,727 --> 01:46:14,977
majority side, Davis.

2129
01:46:20,433 --> 01:46:20,683
to our minority colleagues on

2130
01:46:21,100 --> 01:46:21,350
the Republican side.

2131
01:46:21,534 --> 01:46:21,784
Leer Topper

2132
01:46:22,735 --> 01:46:22,985
Whip O'Nealll

2133
01:46:24,837 --> 01:46:25,087
pp pro Struzzi

2134
01:46:26,706 --> 01:46:26,956
caucus chair, white

2135
01:46:28,574 --> 01:46:28,824
policy chair rowe

2136
01:46:32,578 --> 01:46:32,828
caucus administrator Delozier

2137
01:46:36,349 --> 01:46:36,599
and caucus secretary Olett. I

2138
01:46:38,351 --> 01:46:38,601
hope I said that last name

2139
01:46:40,353 --> 01:46:40,603
rightowlet because I misspelled

2140
01:46:41,320 --> 01:46:41,570
eagles and went viral so I'm

2141
01:46:42,455 --> 01:46:42,705
sensitive about pronouncing

2142
01:46:43,022 --> 01:46:43,272
things.

2143
01:46:46,392 --> 01:46:46,642
but I but I but I also need to

2144
01:46:47,059 --> 01:46:47,309
affirm

2145
01:46:49,061 --> 01:46:49,311
for the record that our

2146
01:46:50,896 --> 01:46:51,146
parliamentarian

2147
01:46:52,665 --> 01:46:52,915
Grobram

2148
01:46:56,635 --> 01:46:56,885
Brooke Wheeler, the chief clerk,

2149
01:46:59,271 --> 01:46:59,521
and Jennifer Benko, the

2150
01:47:00,840 --> 01:47:01,090
comptrolller. give a round of

2151
01:47:02,441 --> 01:47:02,691
applause for the people who make

2152
01:47:03,109 --> 01:47:03,359
this place.

2153
01:47:03,442 --> 01:47:03,692
work

2154
01:47:10,583 --> 01:47:10,833
She was actually in the first

2155
01:47:11,250 --> 01:47:11,500
session but I do wanna say

2156
01:47:16,555 --> 01:47:16,805
a special thank you to the chair

2157
01:47:18,324 --> 01:47:18,574
of the Philadelphia delegation

2158
01:47:20,559 --> 01:47:20,809
of the Pennsylvania House, um, a

2159
01:47:22,328 --> 01:47:22,578
role that I have a great deal of

2160
01:47:24,363 --> 01:47:24,613
respect and admiration for that

2161
01:47:26,832 --> 01:47:27,082
is chairwomanorgan Sias,

2162
01:47:27,433 --> 01:47:27,683
please give her a round of

2163
01:47:28,000 --> 01:47:28,250
applause.

2164
01:47:33,072 --> 01:47:33,322
madam Speaker and members, I

2165
01:47:35,341 --> 01:47:35,591
want you to know that tonight is

2166
01:47:36,008 --> 01:47:36,258
historic

2167
01:47:38,611 --> 01:47:38,861
in more ways than one.

2168
01:47:40,446 --> 01:47:40,696
this moment

2169
01:47:42,415 --> 01:47:42,665
reminds us that

2170
01:47:42,982 --> 01:47:43,232
history

2171
01:47:47,186 --> 01:47:47,436
doesn't always get it right on

2172
01:47:47,853 --> 01:47:48,103
the first try.

2173
01:47:53,059 --> 01:47:53,309
but we get to play our part in

2174
01:47:56,462 --> 01:47:56,712
making it better for those who

2175
01:47:57,096 --> 01:47:57,346
come next.

2176
01:47:59,065 --> 01:47:59,315
as mayor of the city of

2177
01:48:02,334 --> 01:48:02,584
Philadelphia. I've had lots

2178
01:48:04,804 --> 01:48:05,054
of people over the past year ask

2179
01:48:05,504 --> 01:48:05,754
me what does it feel like?

2180
01:48:10,609 --> 01:48:10,859
to be mayor of the city during

2181
01:48:14,580 --> 01:48:14,830
the most amazing historic time

2182
01:48:16,582 --> 01:48:16,832
in America's history. I mean

2183
01:48:18,617 --> 01:48:18,867
this moment and the the only

2184
01:48:20,619 --> 01:48:20,869
thing I could liken it two

2185
01:48:22,955 --> 01:48:23,205
colleagues is that it is like a

2186
01:48:23,622 --> 01:48:23,872
a married couple

2187
01:48:25,758 --> 01:48:26,008
celebrating a milestone

2188
01:48:30,596 --> 01:48:30,846
in their in their marriage 25

2189
01:48:33,099 --> 01:48:33,349
years, 50 years and they make a

2190
01:48:35,334 --> 01:48:35,584
determination that they want to

2191
01:48:38,604 --> 01:48:38,854
renew their vows to renew their

2192
01:48:40,873 --> 01:48:41,123
commitment to their love and

2193
01:48:41,474 --> 01:48:41,724
their dedication to one another.

2194
01:48:44,610 --> 01:48:44,860
For me this year

2195
01:48:48,614 --> 01:48:48,864
gives each of us an opportunity

2196
01:48:50,483 --> 01:48:50,733
to renew our vows

2197
01:48:52,918 --> 01:48:53,168
too and I want you to hear me

2198
01:48:53,586 --> 01:48:53,836
clearly

2199
01:48:56,555 --> 01:48:56,805
no matter how challenging what

2200
01:48:59,091 --> 01:48:59,341
we see happening in the world no

2201
01:49:00,860 --> 01:49:01,110
matter how challenging what we

2202
01:49:04,363 --> 01:49:04,613
see happening in our nation this

2203
01:49:06,832 --> 01:49:07,082
is a time for us to remember we

2204
01:49:10,336 --> 01:49:10,586
still live in the greatest

2205
01:49:11,303 --> 01:49:11,553
nation in the world, in the

2206
01:49:14,373 --> 01:49:14,623
world, no matter the challenges,

2207
01:49:16,876 --> 01:49:17,126
no matter the challenges this

2208
01:49:18,878 --> 01:49:19,128
year 250 years.

2209
01:49:21,180 --> 01:49:21,430
It's a chance for us to remember

2210
01:49:22,681 --> 01:49:22,931
who we are

2211
01:49:23,215 --> 01:49:23,465
unless we

2212
01:49:24,650 --> 01:49:24,900
never forget it

2213
01:49:26,685 --> 01:49:26,935
I want to

2214
01:49:31,056 --> 01:49:31,306
I want to affirm that what makes

2215
01:49:32,825 --> 01:49:33,075
this gathering here at

2216
01:49:34,593 --> 01:49:34,843
Independence Hall, the

2217
01:49:36,629 --> 01:49:36,879
birthplace of American democracy

2218
01:49:39,064 --> 01:49:39,314
so powerful is that democracy

2219
01:49:41,167 --> 01:49:41,417
is not only our history, it is

2220
01:49:41,834 --> 01:49:42,084
in fact

2221
01:49:46,338 --> 01:49:46,588
our responsibility. So what a

2222
01:49:48,607 --> 01:49:48,857
moment this is for the people of

2223
01:49:50,342 --> 01:49:50,592
our commonwealth for the people

2224
01:49:52,645 --> 01:49:52,895
of Philadelphia and for every

2225
01:49:54,847 --> 01:49:55,097
legislator who is assembled

2226
01:49:56,649 --> 01:49:56,899
in this room because our

2227
01:50:00,386 --> 01:50:00,636
responsibility is not simply to

2228
01:50:03,122 --> 01:50:03,372
honor the past, but it is for us

2229
01:50:06,325 --> 01:50:06,575
to help shape what really does

2230
01:50:08,594 --> 01:50:08,844
come next and so let me share

2231
01:50:10,629 --> 01:50:10,879
one thing I've learned from

2232
01:50:11,230 --> 01:50:11,480
from this historic year.

2233
01:50:13,799 --> 01:50:14,049
That is that Philadelphia

2234
01:50:18,837 --> 01:50:19,087
does not have to choose between

2235
01:50:19,572 --> 01:50:19,822
being America's birthplace.

2236
01:50:22,474 --> 01:50:22,724
and America's future.

2237
01:50:26,845 --> 01:50:27,095
We can in fact and we should be

2238
01:50:27,513 --> 01:50:27,763
both. We

2239
01:50:29,348 --> 01:50:29,598
are proving that we can be both

2240
01:50:32,384 --> 01:50:32,634
and you with this historic

2241
01:50:34,887 --> 01:50:35,137
session, madam Speaker, you have

2242
01:50:38,357 --> 01:50:38,607
helped us prove that we can be

2243
01:50:40,826 --> 01:50:41,076
both. So I want to say a special

2244
01:50:43,195 --> 01:50:43,445
thank you to each of you today

2245
01:50:46,465 --> 01:50:46,715
because I also want to affirm

2246
01:50:47,132 --> 01:50:47,382
because I don't think

2247
01:50:50,603 --> 01:50:50,853
and maybe this has been a chip

2248
01:50:51,270 --> 01:50:51,520
on my shoulder for a long, long

2249
01:50:51,937 --> 01:50:52,187
time.

2250
01:50:55,207 --> 01:50:55,457
I would often get frustrated

2251
01:50:55,874 --> 01:50:56,124
when I sat in your seat.

2252
01:50:58,978 --> 01:50:59,228
because I don't think that

2253
01:50:59,545 --> 01:50:59,795
people

2254
01:51:00,746 --> 01:51:00,996
in townships

2255
01:51:02,915 --> 01:51:03,165
and counties

2256
01:51:06,619 --> 01:51:06,869
and cities and municipalities

2257
01:51:07,286 --> 01:51:07,536
across the commononwealth

2258
01:51:10,856 --> 01:51:11,106
we don't acknowledge that the

2259
01:51:13,325 --> 01:51:13,575
most important work that is done

2260
01:51:15,094 --> 01:51:15,344
to move the commonwealth of

2261
01:51:17,062 --> 01:51:17,312
Pennsylvania forward to touch

2262
01:51:20,599 --> 01:51:20,849
each and every one of our 13

2263
01:51:23,068 --> 01:51:23,318
million+ constituents, it is

2264
01:51:25,371 --> 01:51:25,621
done in the Pennsylvania General

2265
01:51:26,905 --> 01:51:27,155
Assembly as mayor of this city.

2266
01:51:29,775 --> 01:51:30,025
I want to affirm to each of you

2267
01:51:32,845 --> 01:51:33,095
that I don't care about your

2268
01:51:34,613 --> 01:51:34,863
race, your class, your

2269
01:51:36,615 --> 01:51:36,865
socioeconomic status, your zip

2270
01:51:38,617 --> 01:51:38,867
code, your religion, your sexual

2271
01:51:40,886 --> 01:51:41,136
orientation or identity as mayor

2272
01:51:41,553 --> 01:51:41,803
of this city.

2273
01:51:42,588 --> 01:51:42,838
der ral ll L Parker

2274
01:51:47,092 --> 01:51:47,342
respects you. I appreciate you.

2275
01:51:50,596 --> 01:51:50,846
I am grateful to you. My work as

2276
01:51:52,831 --> 01:51:53,081
mayor cannot be done without the

2277
01:51:53,465 --> 01:51:53,715
work that you do

2278
01:51:57,002 --> 01:51:57,252
on a daily basis. It's with that

2279
01:51:59,038 --> 01:51:59,288
in mind that I want you to know

2280
01:52:02,574 --> 01:52:02,824
I am grateful that you came here

2281
01:52:04,610 --> 01:52:04,860
today. I am hoping madam

2282
01:52:06,845 --> 01:52:07,095
Speaker that whomever it was who

2283
01:52:08,814 --> 01:52:09,064
put together the schedule that

2284
01:52:11,083 --> 01:52:11,333
you were able to plug in a great

2285
01:52:11,784 --> 01:52:12,034
deal of free

2286
01:52:16,355 --> 01:52:16,605
time for some walks on Walnut

2287
01:52:18,357 --> 01:52:18,607
Street to walk by our jewelry

2288
01:52:20,626 --> 01:52:20,876
stores and clothing stores and

2289
01:52:21,293 --> 01:52:21,543
restaurants and

2290
01:52:21,694 --> 01:52:21,944
any way you can

2291
01:52:22,795 --> 01:52:23,045
to contribute

2292
01:52:30,336 --> 01:52:30,586
to nowic vitality of the city of

2293
01:52:32,371 --> 01:52:32,621
Philadelphia. I do thank you so

2294
01:52:33,405 --> 01:52:33,655
much and I want you to know I do

2295
01:52:34,073 --> 01:52:34,323
get the honor and privilege

2296
01:52:38,344 --> 01:52:38,594
of serving as mayor of this city

2297
01:52:39,044 --> 01:52:39,294
today but I want you to know for

2298
01:52:40,913 --> 01:52:41,163
those of you in here who I have

2299
01:52:41,580 --> 01:52:41,830
served with

2300
01:52:44,350 --> 01:52:44,600
and some of you you just

2301
01:52:46,385 --> 01:52:46,635
bring back so many good memories

2302
01:52:48,354 --> 01:52:48,604
seeing your faces. Yes, that

2303
01:52:49,054 --> 01:52:49,304
means debate when we were

2304
01:52:52,324 --> 01:52:52,574
fighting over a whole lot of

2305
01:52:52,925 --> 01:52:53,175
things but it also represent

2306
01:52:56,562 --> 01:52:56,812
good times and so for the few

2307
01:52:58,364 --> 01:52:58,614
years I spent in the

2308
01:52:59,098 --> 01:52:59,348
Pennsylvania house, people ask

2309
01:53:00,866 --> 01:53:01,116
me what did I learn? I said it

2310
01:53:02,868 --> 01:53:03,118
took me 10 years to find my way

2311
01:53:04,870 --> 01:53:05,120
to the bathroom. It seems that's

2312
01:53:06,872 --> 01:53:07,122
that's the only thing I got out

2313
01:53:08,440 --> 01:53:08,690
of the process, but when my

2314
01:53:09,007 --> 01:53:09,257
mentor sent me there

2315
01:53:12,578 --> 01:53:12,828
Marian Tasco and Dwight Evans.

2316
01:53:13,212 --> 01:53:13,462
they kicked me out the nest

2317
01:53:14,947 --> 01:53:15,197
and they said, go to Harrisburg.

2318
01:53:18,384 --> 01:53:18,634
to the Pennsylvania House, to

2319
01:53:19,218 --> 01:53:19,468
the General Assembly. It is

2320
01:53:19,785 --> 01:53:20,035
there

2321
01:53:20,986 --> 01:53:21,236
we want you to learn

2322
01:53:24,623 --> 01:53:24,873
how to be a legislator.

2323
01:53:25,391 --> 01:53:25,641
You all were my teachers

2324
01:53:26,925 --> 01:53:27,175
you all are my friends

2325
01:53:31,029 --> 01:53:31,279
and as mayors, I want you to

2326
01:53:32,698 --> 01:53:32,948
know and I'm speaking for all

2327
01:53:33,365 --> 01:53:33,615
mayors in the commononwealth.

2328
01:53:34,400 --> 01:53:34,650
you

2329
01:53:38,370 --> 01:53:38,620
are our anchor. Welcome to

2330
01:53:40,372 --> 01:53:40,622
Philadelphia and thank you for

2331
01:53:42,441 --> 01:53:42,691
being here a part of living

2332
01:53:43,008 --> 01:53:43,258
history thank you Madam

2333
01:53:59,024 --> 01:53:59,274
The chair thanks the gentle lady

2334
01:54:01,059 --> 01:54:01,309
that leads Philadelphia and the

2335
01:54:03,095 --> 01:54:03,345
chair acts the colleagues to

2336
01:54:04,830 --> 01:54:05,080
acknowledge that the gentle lady

2337
01:54:06,832 --> 01:54:07,082
is here on this great day in

2338
01:54:08,834 --> 01:54:09,084
history when she was born. Happy

2339
01:54:12,371 --> 01:54:12,621
birthday, madam Mayor Cherelle L

2340
01:54:14,440 --> 01:54:14,690
Parker. thank you for spending

2341
01:54:15,073 --> 01:54:15,323
your evening with us.

2342
01:54:21,180 --> 01:54:21,430
To all of the students who've

2343
01:54:22,915 --> 01:54:23,165
been celebrating democracy all

2344
01:54:24,917 --> 01:54:25,167
day who are watching what's

2345
01:54:26,618 --> 01:54:26,868
happening here at Independence

2346
01:54:29,087 --> 01:54:29,337
Hall who took the time to tour

2347
01:54:31,356 --> 01:54:31,606
Carpenter's Hall and the museum

2348
01:54:34,393 --> 01:54:34,643
of American Revolution where

2349
01:54:35,194 --> 01:54:35,444
they have met with members of

2350
01:54:38,397 --> 01:54:38,647
our judiciary and so many

2351
01:54:40,399 --> 01:54:40,649
leaders locally to all of our

2352
01:54:41,233 --> 01:54:41,483
neighbors who are watching at

2353
01:54:43,469 --> 01:54:43,719
home. Thank you for joining us

2354
01:54:45,170 --> 01:54:45,420
and to those who are watching on

2355
01:54:48,507 --> 01:54:48,757
TV. Thank you for watching and

2356
01:54:49,174 --> 01:54:49,424
thank you all for

2357
01:54:51,376 --> 01:54:51,626
working every day to celebrate

2358
01:54:53,145 --> 01:54:53,395
democracy with us while we're

2359
01:54:56,748 --> 01:54:56,998
preserving our rich history into

2360
01:54:57,416 --> 01:54:57,666
the national Park Service.

2361
01:55:00,652 --> 01:55:00,902
Thank you for being so gracious

2362
01:55:02,654 --> 01:55:02,904
and sharing these historical

2363
01:55:04,923 --> 01:55:05,173
treasures with us and helping to

2364
01:55:07,192 --> 01:55:07,442
make this evening's event

2365
01:55:08,927 --> 01:55:09,177
possible. And before the chair

2366
01:55:10,863 --> 01:55:11,113
goes any further, I must thank

2367
01:55:13,398 --> 01:55:13,648
my office led by Nina Carter,

2368
01:55:15,167 --> 01:55:15,417
Esquire, who have worked around

2369
01:55:17,002 --> 01:55:17,252
the clock for months to make

2370
01:55:17,669 --> 01:55:17,919
this possible. thank you.

2371
01:55:26,612 --> 01:55:26,862
The chair recognizes the

2372
01:55:28,380 --> 01:55:28,630
majority leader who calls the

2373
01:55:29,214 --> 01:55:29,464
House resolution 590.

2374
01:55:34,386 --> 01:55:34,636
Priter's number 3791 on page

2375
01:55:35,020 --> 01:55:35,270
five of today's House calendar,

2376
01:55:35,687 --> 01:55:35,937
the clerk will be

2377
01:55:38,490 --> 01:55:38,740
or the clerk will read the

2378
01:55:39,057 --> 01:55:39,307
resolution.

2379
01:55:42,361 --> 01:55:42,611
A resolution celebrating the

2380
01:55:44,630 --> 01:55:44,880
momentous occasion of the 250th

2381
01:55:45,430 --> 01:55:45,680
anniversary of the Constitution

2382
01:55:46,098 --> 01:55:46,348
of Pennsylvania.

2383
01:55:49,101 --> 01:55:49,351
whereas the first Constitution

2384
01:55:50,636 --> 01:55:50,886
of Pennsylvania was drafted by

2385
01:55:52,404 --> 01:55:52,654
the Pennsylvania Provincial

2386
01:55:53,138 --> 01:55:53,388
Conference at Carpenter's Hall

2387
01:55:56,375 --> 01:55:56,625
in Philadelphia and adopted on

2388
01:55:57,042 --> 01:55:57,292
September 28, 1776

2389
01:56:00,646 --> 01:56:00,896
and whereas this historic

2390
01:56:02,381 --> 01:56:02,631
document was created during the

2391
01:56:03,348 --> 01:56:03,598
dawn of American independence

2392
01:56:04,650 --> 01:56:04,900
and stood as one of the most

2393
01:56:06,652 --> 01:56:06,902
radically democratic and

2394
01:56:08,820 --> 01:56:09,070
progressive state constitutions

2395
01:56:09,488 --> 01:56:09,738
of the revolutionary era.

2396
01:56:12,891 --> 01:56:13,141
and whereas by 1776 many

2397
01:56:14,626 --> 01:56:14,876
Pennsylvanians supported

2398
01:56:16,628 --> 01:56:16,878
overthrow of elite control of

2399
01:56:17,262 --> 01:56:17,512
the Pennsylvania General

2400
01:56:18,664 --> 01:56:18,914
Assembly for a more democratic

2401
01:56:19,298 --> 01:56:19,548
body

2402
01:56:24,369 --> 01:56:24,619
and whereas on May 15, 1776, the

2403
01:56:25,103 --> 01:56:25,353
Continental Congress, which

2404
01:56:26,638 --> 01:56:26,888
served as the provincial

2405
01:56:27,339 --> 01:56:27,589
government and legislative body

2406
01:56:28,874 --> 01:56:29,124
that coordinated the 13teen

2407
01:56:29,474 --> 01:56:29,724
colonies' resistance

2408
01:56:32,611 --> 01:56:32,861
to British rule and led the

2409
01:56:33,211 --> 01:56:33,461
United States through the

2410
01:56:35,113 --> 01:56:35,363
American Revolutionary War

2411
01:56:36,648 --> 01:56:36,898
issued a resolution to the

2412
01:56:38,417 --> 01:56:38,667
colonies to call constitutional

2413
01:56:39,251 --> 01:56:39,501
conventions and write new

2414
01:56:39,785 --> 01:56:40,035
constitutions.

2415
01:56:44,823 --> 01:56:45,073
and whereas on June 18th, 1776

2416
01:56:46,358 --> 01:56:46,608
in Carpenter's Hall,

2417
01:56:47,125 --> 01:56:47,375
Philadelphia. There was a call

2418
01:56:48,860 --> 01:56:49,110
for a constitutional convention

2419
01:56:50,596 --> 01:56:50,846
to form a government for the

2420
01:56:52,464 --> 01:56:52,714
province of Pennsylvania under

2421
01:56:53,131 --> 01:56:53,381
the authority of the people.

2422
01:56:57,069 --> 01:56:57,319
and whereas on July 15, 1776, a

2423
01:56:58,870 --> 01:56:59,120
constitutional convention was

2424
01:57:00,639 --> 01:57:00,889
formed in Philadelphia with

2425
01:57:02,608 --> 01:57:02,858
Benjamin Franklin serving as

2426
01:57:04,343 --> 01:57:04,593
president, George Ross serving

2427
01:57:05,077 --> 01:57:05,327
as vice president and John

2428
01:57:05,644 --> 01:57:05,894
Morris serving as secretary.

2429
01:57:08,880 --> 01:57:09,130
and whereas as one Pennsylvania

2430
01:57:10,882 --> 01:57:11,132
delegate explained, the

2431
01:57:12,618 --> 01:57:12,868
Constitution was determined not

2432
01:57:14,386 --> 01:57:14,636
to pay the least regard to

2433
01:57:15,087 --> 01:57:15,337
former constitutions and was

2434
01:57:17,055 --> 01:57:17,305
resolved to reject everything,

2435
01:57:18,857 --> 01:57:19,107
to clear away every part of the

2436
01:57:20,659 --> 01:57:20,909
old rubbish and begin upon a

2437
01:57:21,326 --> 01:57:21,576
clean foundation

2438
01:57:24,363 --> 01:57:24,613
and whereas the constitution of

2439
01:57:26,832 --> 01:57:27,082
Pennsylvania of 1776 established

2440
01:57:28,367 --> 01:57:28,617
a profound precedent by

2441
01:57:29,468 --> 01:57:29,718
expanding voting rights to all

2442
01:57:30,135 --> 01:57:30,385
taxpaying free men.

2443
01:57:32,871 --> 01:57:33,121
eliminating restrictive property

2444
01:57:34,606 --> 01:57:34,856
ownership requirements and

2445
01:57:36,375 --> 01:57:36,625
creating a strong declaration of

2446
01:57:37,476 --> 01:57:37,726
Rights that predated the United

2447
01:57:38,143 --> 01:57:38,393
States Bill of Rights.

2448
01:57:41,179 --> 01:57:41,429
and whereas the foundational

2449
01:57:42,848 --> 01:57:43,098
principles of freedom, equality,

2450
01:57:45,117 --> 01:57:45,367
self-governance laid down in

2451
01:57:47,252 --> 01:57:47,502
1776 served as a vital template

2452
01:57:47,919 --> 01:57:48,169
for other states.

2453
01:57:51,089 --> 01:57:51,339
and whereas the 1776

2454
01:57:52,858 --> 01:57:53,108
Constitution of Pennsylvania

2455
01:57:54,359 --> 01:57:54,609
featured a unicamerral

2456
01:57:56,662 --> 01:57:56,912
legislature, a supreme executive

2457
01:57:57,362 --> 01:57:57,612
council instead of a governor

2458
01:57:58,030 --> 01:57:58,280
and expanded voting rights.

2459
01:58:01,333 --> 01:58:01,583
and whereas it also established

2460
01:58:03,035 --> 01:58:03,285
a unique council of censors

2461
01:58:04,836 --> 01:58:05,086
meant to monitor government

2462
01:58:05,470 --> 01:58:05,720
adherence to the constitution.

2463
01:58:10,375 --> 01:58:10,625
and whereas by 1790 this system

2464
01:58:11,076 --> 01:58:11,326
proved too chaotic and

2465
01:58:12,611 --> 01:58:12,861
unbalanced, leading to calls for

2466
01:58:13,311 --> 01:58:13,561
a more structured government and

2467
01:58:15,213 --> 01:58:15,463
the first of 5 revisions of the

2468
01:58:15,914 --> 01:58:16,164
Constitution of Pennsylvania.

2469
01:58:19,084 --> 01:58:19,334
and whereas there have been 5

2470
01:58:20,852 --> 01:58:21,102
revisions of the Constitution of

2471
01:58:24,856 --> 01:58:25,106
Pennsylvania in 1776 1790, 1838,

2472
01:58:26,825 --> 01:58:27,075
1874, and 1968.

2473
01:58:30,629 --> 01:58:30,879
and whereas the 1790

2474
01:58:32,364 --> 01:58:32,614
Constitution of Pennsylvania

2475
01:58:33,131 --> 01:58:33,381
established a bicameral

2476
01:58:34,866 --> 01:58:35,116
legislature created a strong

2477
01:58:36,868 --> 01:58:37,118
governor with veto power and

2478
01:58:38,603 --> 01:58:38,853
instituted an independent

2479
01:58:39,137 --> 01:58:39,387
judiciary appointed by the

2480
01:58:39,704 --> 01:58:39,954
governor.

2481
01:58:42,607 --> 01:58:42,857
and whereas as the population

2482
01:58:43,375 --> 01:58:43,625
grew and Jacksonian demo

2483
01:58:45,177 --> 01:58:45,427
Democrattic ideals spread and

2484
01:58:46,912 --> 01:58:47,162
new constitutional convention

2485
01:58:48,880 --> 01:58:49,130
was called in 1838 to make

2486
01:58:49,414 --> 01:58:49,664
government more directly

2487
01:58:49,948 --> 01:58:50,198
accountable to the public

2488
01:58:54,352 --> 01:58:54,602
and whereas the 1838 version of

2489
01:58:55,120 --> 01:58:55,370
the Constitution of Pennsylvania

2490
01:58:56,822 --> 01:58:57,072
limited the governor's power by

2491
01:58:58,657 --> 01:58:58,907
making many formerly appointed

2492
01:59:00,959 --> 01:59:01,209
officers, including judges and

2493
01:59:01,626 --> 01:59:01,876
county officials elective.

2494
01:59:04,629 --> 01:59:04,879
and whereas following the Civil

2495
01:59:06,798 --> 01:59:07,048
War, industrialization and rapid

2496
01:59:08,567 --> 01:59:08,817
corporate growth led to

2497
01:59:10,335 --> 01:59:10,585
widespread corruption within

2498
01:59:12,804 --> 01:59:13,054
state government which the 1874

2499
01:59:13,538 --> 01:59:13,788
Constitution of Pennsylvania

2500
01:59:14,172 --> 01:59:14,422
aimed to curb

2501
01:59:17,109 --> 01:59:17,359
and whereas the 1874

2502
01:59:18,877 --> 01:59:19,127
Constitution of Pennsylvania

2503
01:59:20,645 --> 01:59:20,895
lengthened the governor's term,

2504
01:59:22,614 --> 01:59:22,864
established strict regulations

2505
01:59:24,382 --> 01:59:24,632
against legislative corruption

2506
01:59:25,383 --> 01:59:25,633
and corporate favoritism and

2507
01:59:26,685 --> 01:59:26,935
created the office oflieutenant

2508
01:59:27,352 --> 01:59:27,602
governor

2509
01:59:30,322 --> 01:59:30,572
and whereas as society

2510
01:59:32,491 --> 01:59:32,741
modernized the 1874 Constitution

2511
01:59:33,258 --> 01:59:33,508
of Pennsylvania became heavily

2512
01:59:33,925 --> 01:59:34,175
cluttered and outdated.

2513
01:59:37,062 --> 01:59:37,312
and whereas the 1968

2514
01:59:38,830 --> 01:59:39,080
Constitution of Pennsylvania

2515
01:59:40,332 --> 01:59:40,582
streamlined government and

2516
01:59:40,966 --> 01:59:41,216
vastly improved structural

2517
01:59:41,533 --> 01:59:41,783
clarity.

2518
01:59:44,369 --> 01:59:44,619
and whereas it reorganizeds the

2519
01:59:45,137 --> 01:59:45,387
court system into a unified

2520
01:59:45,704 --> 01:59:45,954
judicial system

2521
01:59:48,607 --> 01:59:48,857
allowed the governor to serve

2522
01:59:50,575 --> 01:59:50,825
consecutive terms and gave the

2523
01:59:51,243 --> 01:59:51,493
General Assembly more

2524
01:59:51,710 --> 01:59:51,960
organizational flexibility.

2525
01:59:55,080 --> 01:59:55,330
and whereas the 1968 version of

2526
01:59:56,882 --> 01:59:57,132
the Constitution of Pennsylvania

2527
01:59:58,617 --> 01:59:58,867
remains the active constitution

2528
02:00:00,385 --> 02:00:00,635
of the commononwealth today,

2529
02:00:01,153 --> 02:00:01,403
though it has been updated

2530
02:00:02,487 --> 02:00:02,737
through various amendments over

2531
02:00:03,155 --> 02:00:03,405
the years.

2532
02:00:06,358 --> 02:00:06,608
and whereas the enduring legacy

2533
02:00:08,326 --> 02:00:08,576
of Pennsylvania's constitutional

2534
02:00:09,060 --> 02:00:09,310
history continues to protect the

2535
02:00:09,728 --> 02:00:09,978
inherent rights

2536
02:00:12,364 --> 02:00:12,614
public education, and free

2537
02:00:12,964 --> 02:00:13,214
elections of all residents of

2538
02:00:13,632 --> 02:00:13,882
this commonwealth.

2539
02:00:16,635 --> 02:00:16,885
Therefore, be it resolved that

2540
02:00:17,302 --> 02:00:17,552
the House of Representatives

2541
02:00:19,271 --> 02:00:19,521
celebrate the 250th anniversary

2542
02:00:20,472 --> 02:00:20,722
of the Constitution of

2543
02:00:20,906 --> 02:00:21,156
Pennsylvania.

2544
02:00:22,841 --> 02:00:23,091
and be it further resolved that

2545
02:00:24,576 --> 02:00:24,826
the House of Representatives

2546
02:00:26,344 --> 02:00:26,594
honor the monumental impact of

2547
02:00:27,045 --> 02:00:27,295
the Constitution of Pennsylvania

2548
02:00:28,814 --> 02:00:29,064
on American democracy during

2549
02:00:29,481 --> 02:00:29,731
this historic milestone.

2550
02:00:32,384 --> 02:00:32,634
and be it further resolved that

2551
02:00:33,084 --> 02:00:33,334
copies of this resolution be

2552
02:00:34,886 --> 02:00:35,136
transmitted to the Pennsylvania

2553
02:00:35,487 --> 02:00:35,737
Historical and Museum

2554
02:00:35,954 --> 02:00:36,204
Commission.

2555
02:00:44,362 --> 02:00:44,612
The question is, will the House

2556
02:00:45,096 --> 02:00:45,346
agree to the resolution on that

2557
02:00:47,065 --> 02:00:47,315
question, the chair recognizes

2558
02:00:48,834 --> 02:00:49,084
the gentle lady from Burks,

2559
02:00:49,401 --> 02:00:49,651
representatives toped of rati.

2560
02:01:06,885 --> 02:01:07,135
Thank you madam Speaker

2561
02:01:10,789 --> 02:01:11,039
Colleagues standing here in

2562
02:01:12,691 --> 02:01:12,941
Congress hall this evening is

2563
02:01:13,358 --> 02:01:13,608
deeply personal.

2564
02:01:15,126 --> 02:01:15,376
We're in a place where history

2565
02:01:15,794 --> 02:01:16,044
was made.

2566
02:01:18,463 --> 02:01:18,713
where ideas about freedom

2567
02:01:23,034 --> 02:01:23,284
ent ation and selfgovern helped

2568
02:01:23,768 --> 02:01:24,018
shape the commonwealth we

2569
02:01:24,302 --> 02:01:24,552
inherited.

2570
02:01:24,803 --> 02:01:25,053
and tonight

2571
02:01:28,740 --> 02:01:28,990
through House Resolution 590

2572
02:01:32,377 --> 02:01:32,627
we commemorate the 250th

2573
02:01:34,613 --> 02:01:34,863
anniversary of Pennsylvania's

2574
02:01:36,715 --> 02:01:36,965
constitution and the bold idea

2575
02:01:37,382 --> 02:01:37,632
at its foundation.

2576
02:01:37,849 --> 02:01:38,099
that government

2577
02:01:38,750 --> 02:01:39,000
belongs to the people

2578
02:01:42,487 --> 02:01:42,737
I keep coming back to three

2579
02:01:43,054 --> 02:01:43,304
words.

2580
02:01:44,823 --> 02:01:45,073
that have echoed throughout

2581
02:01:45,390 --> 02:01:45,640
generations.

2582
02:01:47,158 --> 02:01:47,408
We the people

2583
02:01:50,595 --> 02:01:50,845
the Sotros el pueblo.

2584
02:01:52,631 --> 02:01:52,881
beautiful words

2585
02:01:53,131 --> 02:01:53,381
powerful words

2586
02:01:58,637 --> 02:01:58,887
and we're going to honor 250

2587
02:01:59,304 --> 02:01:59,554
years of history.

2588
02:02:02,574 --> 02:02:02,824
we must also be honest about

2589
02:02:03,141 --> 02:02:03,391
that history.

2590
02:02:06,611 --> 02:02:06,861
because 250 years ago that we

2591
02:02:08,880 --> 02:02:09,130
did not include everyone.

2592
02:02:12,651 --> 02:02:12,901
om were denied a voice.

2593
02:02:16,554 --> 02:02:16,804
Black people were forcibly

2594
02:02:17,322 --> 02:02:17,572
brought to this country laved

2595
02:02:21,059 --> 02:02:21,309
denied their freedom and

2596
02:02:21,626 --> 02:02:21,876
humanity.

2597
02:02:23,161 --> 02:02:23,411
Indigenous people.

2598
02:02:24,696 --> 02:02:24,946
who were here long

2599
02:02:28,867 --> 02:02:29,117
before any constitution was

2600
02:02:29,434 --> 02:02:29,684
written. were displaced

2601
02:02:30,969 --> 02:02:31,219
exploited

2602
02:02:32,504 --> 02:02:32,754
stripped

2603
02:02:34,873 --> 02:02:35,123
of their lands and rights.

2604
02:02:37,142 --> 02:02:37,392
and as our commonwealth grew

2605
02:02:42,347 --> 02:02:42,597
generations of immigrants would

2606
02:02:42,981 --> 02:02:43,231
come to these shores to work

2607
02:02:47,152 --> 02:02:47,402
sacrifice, build communities and

2608
02:02:47,852 --> 02:02:48,102
add their stories.

2609
02:02:48,954 --> 02:02:49,204
Pennsylvania story

2610
02:02:50,855 --> 02:02:51,105
families like mine

2611
02:02:56,328 --> 02:02:56,578
and that is what makes standing

2612
02:02:56,995 --> 02:02:57,245
here tonight so powerful.

2613
02:02:58,463 --> 02:02:58,713
madam Speaker

2614
02:03:01,333 --> 02:03:01,583
you stand before us as the first

2615
02:03:02,934 --> 02:03:03,184
woman and first

2616
02:03:07,172 --> 02:03:07,422
black woman to lead the

2617
02:03:07,739 --> 02:03:07,989
Pennsylvania house.

2618
02:03:11,076 --> 02:03:11,326
I stand here as a woman of

2619
02:03:14,913 --> 02:03:15,163
color, a Latina, and the proud

2620
02:03:15,580 --> 02:03:15,830
daughter of immigrants.

2621
02:03:17,349 --> 02:03:17,599
and when I look around this

2622
02:03:17,882 --> 02:03:18,132
chamber

2623
02:03:20,618 --> 02:03:20,868
I see women

2624
02:03:21,353 --> 02:03:21,603
many women

2625
02:03:24,689 --> 02:03:24,939
I see black and brown

2626
02:03:25,123 --> 02:03:25,373
colleagues.

2627
02:03:25,423 --> 02:03:25,673
I see people

2628
02:03:26,725 --> 02:03:26,975
so

2629
02:03:31,196 --> 02:03:31,446
s and lives experiences would

2630
02:03:31,863 --> 02:03:32,113
have been un

2631
02:03:35,066 --> 02:03:35,316
im ag in able in the halls of

2632
02:03:36,634 --> 02:03:36,884
government 250 years ago.

2633
02:03:38,636 --> 02:03:38,886
Look at us now

2634
02:03:39,004 --> 02:03:39,254
key

2635
02:03:40,805 --> 02:03:41,055
ta mo s

2636
02:03:42,907 --> 02:03:43,157
here we

2637
02:03:44,476 --> 02:03:44,726
are

2638
02:03:49,147 --> 02:03:49,397
not simply witnessing history we

2639
02:03:49,814 --> 02:03:50,064
are helping write it.

2640
02:03:51,249 --> 02:03:51,499
and I know I'm not s

2641
02:03:52,550 --> 02:03:52,800
t ding long.

2642
02:03:54,953 --> 02:03:55,203
I carry my parents

2643
02:03:58,823 --> 02:03:59,073
and the sacrifices with me and

2644
02:03:59,457 --> 02:03:59,707
their sacrifices with me.

2645
02:04:01,059 --> 02:04:01,309
I carry my community

2646
02:04:04,396 --> 02:04:04,646
and I carry every little girl

2647
02:04:07,132 --> 02:04:07,382
who has ever looked at a room

2648
02:04:07,799 --> 02:04:08,049
like this and wondered.

2649
02:04:08,767 --> 02:04:09,017
is there a place

2650
02:04:09,167 --> 02:04:09,417
for someone

2651
02:04:10,435 --> 02:04:10,685
like me

2652
02:04:10,802 --> 02:04:11,052
where

2653
02:04:15,106 --> 02:04:15,356
Ciiuluar parati.

2654
02:04:18,676 --> 02:04:18,926
Yes, there is a place for you.

2655
02:04:19,310 --> 02:04:19,560
because democracy

2656
02:04:21,012 --> 02:04:21,262
s hummus is not that we

2657
02:04:22,514 --> 02:04:22,764
were pricked

2658
02:04:24,682 --> 02:04:24,932
250 years ago

2659
02:04:25,016 --> 02:04:25,266
Were not

2660
02:04:26,718 --> 02:04:26,968
It's promise

2661
02:04:31,022 --> 02:04:31,272
is that each generation has the

2662
02:04:34,859 --> 02:04:35,109
power and the responsibility to

2663
02:04:35,527 --> 02:04:35,777
widen the circle

2664
02:04:36,828 --> 02:04:37,078
bring more voices to the table.

2665
02:04:38,696 --> 02:04:38,946
and make

2666
02:04:41,132 --> 02:04:41,382
we the people more true than it

2667
02:04:42,967 --> 02:04:43,217
ever was before

2668
02:04:46,438 --> 02:04:46,688
That is why House resolution

2669
02:04:47,038 --> 02:04:47,288
590

2670
02:04:50,408 --> 02:04:50,658
is more than a commemoration of

2671
02:04:51,109 --> 02:04:51,359
our past.

2672
02:04:53,144 --> 02:04:53,394
It is a charge for our future.

2673
02:04:56,714 --> 02:04:56,964
as we honor these 250 years.

2674
02:04:58,917 --> 02:04:59,167
question before us

2675
02:05:01,152 --> 02:05:01,402
is not only where we have been

2676
02:05:05,323 --> 02:05:05,573
but what will we do with the

2677
02:05:05,990 --> 02:05:06,240
next 250.

2678
02:05:08,693 --> 02:05:08,943
Pennsylvania story is

2679
02:05:10,662 --> 02:05:10,912
still being written

2680
02:05:14,599 --> 02:05:14,849
and all of us in this room are

2681
02:05:15,200 --> 02:05:15,450
holding the pen.

2682
02:05:17,235 --> 02:05:17,485
So let us write a

2683
02:05:18,636 --> 02:05:18,886
cha p ter where

2684
02:05:20,605 --> 02:05:20,855
every voice matters

2685
02:05:24,843 --> 02:05:25,093
We child can see themselves in

2686
02:05:27,178 --> 02:05:27,428
our democracy and where we the

2687
02:05:27,879 --> 02:05:28,129
people

2688
02:05:28,546 --> 02:05:28,796
and

2689
02:05:30,648 --> 02:05:30,898
fully means

2690
02:05:30,982 --> 02:05:31,232
all of us

2691
02:05:32,617 --> 02:05:32,867
aorro

2692
02:05:36,521 --> 02:05:36,771
sos tenemos vos

2693
02:05:38,690 --> 02:05:38,940
hos pertene emos

2694
02:05:42,660 --> 02:05:42,910
all of us we all have a voice

2695
02:05:43,328 --> 02:05:43,578
and we all

2696
02:05:43,578 --> 02:05:43,828
belong.

2697
02:05:46,464 --> 02:05:46,714
That is the promise we

2698
02:05:46,898 --> 02:05:47,148
inherited.

2699
02:05:48,833 --> 02:05:49,083
that is the responsibility we

2700
02:05:49,501 --> 02:05:49,751
carry

2701
02:05:52,570 --> 02:05:52,820
and that is the Pennsylvania we

2702
02:05:53,404 --> 02:05:53,654
must continue building together

2703
02:05:54,672 --> 02:05:54,922
I am proud

2704
02:05:57,475 --> 02:05:57,725
to support House resolution 590

2705
02:05:58,676 --> 02:05:58,926
and I

2706
02:06:02,380 --> 02:06:02,630
respectfully ask my colleagues

2707
02:06:04,382 --> 02:06:04,632
for an affirmative voice. excuse

2708
02:06:05,083 --> 02:06:05,333
me, for an affirmative vote.

2709
02:06:06,451 --> 02:06:06,701
Gracias, madam Speer.

2710
02:06:22,600 --> 02:06:22,850
Denada

2711
02:06:28,339 --> 02:06:28,589
on the question the chair

2712
02:06:28,940 --> 02:06:29,190
recognizes the gentleman from

2713
02:06:30,475 --> 02:06:30,725
Center County, Representative

2714
02:06:31,142 --> 02:06:31,392
Benninghall.

2715
02:06:42,854 --> 02:06:43,104
Now I know how the little

2716
02:06:43,388 --> 02:06:43,638
drummer boy felt.

2717
02:06:50,828 --> 02:06:51,078
Sorry madam Speaker, that wasn't

2718
02:06:51,529 --> 02:06:51,779
in my notes.

2719
02:06:54,866 --> 02:06:55,116
Colleagues, Madam Speaker

2720
02:06:58,336 --> 02:06:58,586
I want to thank you personally

2721
02:06:58,970 --> 02:06:59,220
for the honor to share a few

2722
02:06:59,571 --> 02:06:59,821
comments on this historic

2723
02:07:01,573 --> 02:07:01,823
evening and visit to this

2724
02:07:02,140 --> 02:07:02,390
chamber

2725
02:07:04,842 --> 02:07:05,092
For those of us are history

2726
02:07:06,444 --> 02:07:06,694
buffs and those who are not and

2727
02:07:07,145 --> 02:07:07,395
those who have served in office.

2728
02:07:08,947 --> 02:07:09,197
you know that we stand on some

2729
02:07:09,614 --> 02:07:09,864
pretty broad shoulders.

2730
02:07:11,282 --> 02:07:11,532
as a young lady that went before

2731
02:07:11,983 --> 02:07:12,233
me spoke.

2732
02:07:14,852 --> 02:07:15,102
we are paving a path for future

2733
02:07:16,955 --> 02:07:17,205
generations and as my hope. so

2734
02:07:17,622 --> 02:07:17,872
I'll share a couple thoughts

2735
02:07:18,289 --> 02:07:18,539
with you.

2736
02:07:22,360 --> 02:07:22,610
Maampeer 250 years ago, I would

2737
02:07:23,361 --> 02:07:23,611
suspect no one expected both

2738
02:07:24,028 --> 02:07:24,278
men.

2739
02:07:27,131 --> 02:07:27,381
and women to be serving in

2740
02:07:28,633 --> 02:07:28,883
similar chambers across this

2741
02:07:29,200 --> 02:07:29,450
country.

2742
02:07:30,668 --> 02:07:30,918
this great country of ours

2743
02:07:33,204 --> 02:07:33,454
and you, as mentioned before,

2744
02:07:33,871 --> 02:07:34,121
madam Speaker.

2745
02:07:36,608 --> 02:07:36,858
Pennsylvania's first female

2746
02:07:37,175 --> 02:07:37,425
speaker.

2747
02:07:38,509 --> 02:07:38,759
I personally congratulate you on

2748
02:07:39,177 --> 02:07:39,427
that

2749
02:07:40,478 --> 02:07:40,728
not to mention you knocked me

2750
02:07:41,145 --> 02:07:41,395
out of the way

2751
02:07:52,857 --> 02:07:53,107
We come here today not only to

2752
02:07:54,859 --> 02:07:55,109
sell frate America's 250th

2753
02:07:56,861 --> 02:07:57,111
birthday in a very chamber that

2754
02:07:57,528 --> 02:07:57,778
so many representatives

2755
02:07:59,297 --> 02:07:59,547
the original 13 colonies.

2756
02:08:03,067 --> 02:08:03,317
labored to draft that

2757
02:08:03,501 --> 02:08:03,751
declaration of Independence.

2758
02:08:06,671 --> 02:08:06,921
and eventually a constitutional

2759
02:08:07,338 --> 02:08:07,588
framework.

2760
02:08:08,906 --> 02:08:09,156
that we use even here today.

2761
02:08:10,942 --> 02:08:11,192
Think of the enormity of that

2762
02:08:12,944 --> 02:08:13,194
hi nk of all they went through

2763
02:08:17,215 --> 02:08:17,465
and we're also here to honor

2764
02:08:17,882 --> 02:08:18,132
those brave men.

2765
02:08:18,983 --> 02:08:19,233
but their wise

2766
02:08:22,654 --> 02:08:22,904
their families who stood by

2767
02:08:23,221 --> 02:08:23,471
them.

2768
02:08:23,471 --> 02:08:23,721
in the name of liberty

2769
02:08:27,325 --> 02:08:27,575
Some of these wives provided

2770
02:08:27,992 --> 02:08:28,242
great counsel.

2771
02:08:28,760 --> 02:08:29,010
and wisdom

2772
02:08:30,595 --> 02:08:30,845
after her deleate husbands

2773
02:08:32,864 --> 02:08:33,114
while also maintaining home

2774
02:08:33,431 --> 02:08:33,681
front.

2775
02:08:35,033 --> 02:08:35,283
Such courage

2776
02:08:37,168 --> 02:08:37,418
under heavy knowledge.

2777
02:08:38,903 --> 02:08:39,153
they might be arrested

2778
02:08:42,607 --> 02:08:42,857
possibly hung for treason.

2779
02:08:46,444 --> 02:08:46,694
We think our days at work are

2780
02:08:47,111 --> 02:08:47,361
tough.

2781
02:08:48,746 --> 02:08:48,996
madam Speaker

2782
02:08:50,848 --> 02:08:51,098
stand here in complete all

2783
02:08:52,950 --> 02:08:53,200
total respect

2784
02:08:56,821 --> 02:08:57,071
and admiration for the main

2785
02:08:57,422 --> 02:08:57,672
challenges that were laid before

2786
02:08:58,089 --> 02:08:58,339
them.

2787
02:09:00,625 --> 02:09:00,875
An angry king

2788
02:09:02,593 --> 02:09:02,843
a scared public

2789
02:09:06,331 --> 02:09:06,581
lousy weather conditions at

2790
02:09:06,931 --> 02:09:07,181
times. longng traveling.

2791
02:09:09,200 --> 02:09:09,450
and much time separated from

2792
02:09:09,867 --> 02:09:10,117
their families.

2793
02:09:10,835 --> 02:09:11,085
and surely

2794
02:09:12,837 --> 02:09:13,087
lack of air conditioning

2795
02:09:16,474 --> 02:09:16,724
and no hot shower waiting at the

2796
02:09:17,141 --> 02:09:17,391
end of the day.

2797
02:09:20,611 --> 02:09:20,861
We can laugh at that, but these

2798
02:09:22,480 --> 02:09:22,730
people travel long, hard, wet,

2799
02:09:23,147 --> 02:09:23,397
dirty.

2800
02:09:26,484 --> 02:09:26,734
and had terrible challenges

2801
02:09:27,051 --> 02:09:27,301
before them. In addition,

2802
02:09:28,519 --> 02:09:28,769
to legislative

2803
02:09:32,857 --> 02:09:33,107
Through much deliberation and I

2804
02:09:33,458 --> 02:09:33,708
suspect heated debate

2805
02:09:36,461 --> 02:09:36,711
S several principles prevailed.

2806
02:09:37,195 --> 02:09:37,445
Number one

2807
02:09:38,930 --> 02:09:39,180
they must not fail

2808
02:09:40,665 --> 02:09:40,915
Nor two

2809
02:09:44,802 --> 02:09:45,052
though there were 13 different

2810
02:09:47,238 --> 02:09:47,488
colonies, they must unite around

2811
02:09:47,905 --> 02:09:48,155
their similarries and thought.

2812
02:09:48,973 --> 02:09:49,223
and goals

2813
02:09:52,643 --> 02:09:52,893
not be divided by their

2814
02:09:53,211 --> 02:09:53,461
differences.

2815
02:09:54,712 --> 02:09:54,962
special interests for their own

2816
02:09:55,380 --> 02:09:55,630
colony.

2817
02:09:56,881 --> 02:09:57,131
Most importantly

2818
02:10:00,651 --> 02:10:00,901
they needed to remember and not

2819
02:10:01,319 --> 02:10:01,569
forget

2820
02:10:04,822 --> 02:10:05,072
it was through prayer and God's

2821
02:10:06,457 --> 02:10:06,707
divine guidance that's got them

2822
02:10:07,125 --> 02:10:07,375
that far.

2823
02:10:07,375 --> 02:10:07,625
and only

2824
02:10:10,862 --> 02:10:11,112
by humbling themselves and

2825
02:10:12,663 --> 02:10:12,913
asking for his guidance and

2826
02:10:13,231 --> 02:10:13,481
wisdom.

2827
02:10:14,632 --> 02:10:14,882
sermon and thought

2828
02:10:16,501 --> 02:10:16,751
would they succeed

2829
02:10:18,736 --> 02:10:18,986
Ultimately

2830
02:10:22,373 --> 02:10:22,623
the desire for that wisdom was

2831
02:10:23,141 --> 02:10:23,391
of self-governance as a new

2832
02:10:23,708 --> 02:10:23,958
nation

2833
02:10:25,009 --> 02:10:25,259
not a mon monarchy

2834
02:10:27,011 --> 02:10:27,261
hads ensured their success

2835
02:10:31,249 --> 02:10:31,499
in one day that you and I got to

2836
02:10:31,949 --> 02:10:32,199
serve in similar government.

2837
02:10:32,984 --> 02:10:33,234
250 years later

2838
02:10:36,621 --> 02:10:36,871
it may not be perfect

2839
02:10:40,825 --> 02:10:41,075
but I challenge anyone to show

2840
02:10:41,459 --> 02:10:41,709
me a form of government.

2841
02:10:44,829 --> 02:10:45,079
like our constitutional republic

2842
02:10:46,831 --> 02:10:47,081
in a world that people would

2843
02:10:47,398 --> 02:10:47,648
risk all that they have, leave

2844
02:10:48,099 --> 02:10:48,349
what they have.

2845
02:10:49,066 --> 02:10:49,316
travel to another country

2846
02:10:53,037 --> 02:10:53,287
Madam Speaker, appreciate your

2847
02:10:54,372 --> 02:10:54,622
patience. It's one of the

2848
02:10:55,039 --> 02:10:55,289
reasons I rise to support House

2849
02:10:56,474 --> 02:10:56,724
regist in 590.

2850
02:10:58,810 --> 02:10:59,060
but I also want to leave you

2851
02:11:00,611 --> 02:11:00,861
with two questions, not just

2852
02:11:01,279 --> 02:11:01,529
thepeer but all of us.

2853
02:11:04,348 --> 02:11:04,598
What would our founding fathers

2854
02:11:05,149 --> 02:11:05,399
have to say about our desire to

2855
02:11:05,817 --> 02:11:06,067
protect.

2856
02:11:07,018 --> 02:11:07,268
our former self-governs

2857
02:11:08,920 --> 02:11:09,170
of her governing document

2858
02:11:12,924 --> 02:11:13,174
Nber 2, are you willing to

2859
02:11:13,491 --> 02:11:13,741
compromise when needed

2860
02:11:15,059 --> 02:11:15,309
to ensure its wisdom

2861
02:11:17,228 --> 02:11:17,478
discernment, and good reasoning.

2862
02:11:22,433 --> 02:11:22,683
that are implored to bestent

2863
02:11:23,100 --> 02:11:23,350
those who elected us.

2864
02:11:24,735 --> 02:11:24,985
to this august body of service

2865
02:11:28,439 --> 02:11:28,689
that my friends will guarantee

2866
02:11:29,106 --> 02:11:29,356
future generations.

2867
02:11:30,842 --> 02:11:31,092
That is a responsibility and I

2868
02:11:31,509 --> 02:11:31,759
ask my colleagues

2869
02:11:34,479 --> 02:11:34,729
or House Resident 590. Madam

2870
02:11:35,146 --> 02:11:35,396
Speaker, thank you.

2871
02:11:44,822 --> 02:11:45,072
Chair, thanks the gentlemen.

2872
02:11:46,357 --> 02:11:46,607
chair recognizes the gentle lady

2873
02:11:47,024 --> 02:11:47,274
from Allegheny County,

2874
02:11:47,458 --> 02:11:47,708
Representative Benham.

2875
02:12:08,379 --> 02:12:08,629
Thank you, madam Speaker. It's a

2876
02:12:10,615 --> 02:12:10,865
a profound honor to speak in

2877
02:12:12,850 --> 02:12:13,100
support of House Resolution 590

2878
02:12:14,919 --> 02:12:15,169
recognizing the 250th

2879
02:12:16,487 --> 02:12:16,737
anniversary of the Constitution

2880
02:12:17,154 --> 02:12:17,404
of Pennsylvania.

2881
02:12:20,358 --> 02:12:20,608
150 years ago, Pennsylvanians

2882
02:12:20,958 --> 02:12:21,208
were engaged in a remarkable

2883
02:12:21,626 --> 02:12:21,876
experiment.

2884
02:12:25,129 --> 02:12:25,379
and what made our constitution

2885
02:12:26,898 --> 02:12:27,148
that remarkable experiment was

2886
02:12:28,366 --> 02:12:28,616
that it was an argument about

2887
02:12:29,166 --> 02:12:29,416
what government itself should

2888
02:12:29,867 --> 02:12:30,117
look like

2889
02:12:32,837 --> 02:12:33,087
It was as this resolution

2890
02:12:34,572 --> 02:12:34,822
recognizes one of the most

2891
02:12:36,374 --> 02:12:36,624
radically democratic and

2892
02:12:37,141 --> 02:12:37,391
progressive constitutions of the

2893
02:12:37,842 --> 02:12:38,092
revolutionary era.

2894
02:12:40,845 --> 02:12:41,095
but we also know, as other

2895
02:12:42,613 --> 02:12:42,863
speakers have discussed this

2896
02:12:43,180 --> 02:12:43,430
evening that that's not the

2897
02:12:43,748 --> 02:12:43,998
entire story

2898
02:12:47,018 --> 02:12:47,268
that many of the people whose

2899
02:12:49,086 --> 02:12:49,336
descendants would ultimately

2900
02:12:50,888 --> 02:12:51,138
expand our understanding of

2901
02:12:51,455 --> 02:12:51,705
equality

2902
02:12:54,458 --> 02:12:54,708
of progress, of what democracy

2903
02:12:55,126 --> 02:12:55,376
can look like.

2904
02:12:56,961 --> 02:12:57,211
that they were absent from the

2905
02:12:57,628 --> 02:12:57,878
room.

2906
02:13:00,865 --> 02:13:01,115
and I think that that tension is

2907
02:13:02,700 --> 02:13:02,950
one of the important lessons of

2908
02:13:03,367 --> 02:13:03,617
this anniversary.

2909
02:13:06,671 --> 02:13:06,921
because constitutional democracy

2910
02:13:07,338 --> 02:13:07,588
asks us

2911
02:13:10,474 --> 02:13:10,724
to continue to adapt this

2912
02:13:11,042 --> 02:13:11,292
experiment

2913
02:13:13,110 --> 02:13:13,360
to make it better and to ask

2914
02:13:13,711 --> 02:13:13,961
what we have to change

2915
02:13:16,981 --> 02:13:17,231
to ensure that all of us can

2916
02:13:17,548 --> 02:13:17,798
find belonging

2917
02:13:18,950 --> 02:13:19,200
in spaces like this

2918
02:13:22,620 --> 02:13:22,870
And I think that question of

2919
02:13:24,355 --> 02:13:24,605
what we must continue to change

2920
02:13:25,022 --> 02:13:25,272
has particular meaning for me.

2921
02:13:28,593 --> 02:13:28,843
I have the privilege of serving

2922
02:13:30,828 --> 02:13:31,078
in this chamber as a queer woman

2923
02:13:31,495 --> 02:13:31,745
and as an autistic

2924
02:13:31,929 --> 02:13:32,179
Pennsylvanian.

2925
02:13:36,567 --> 02:13:36,817
and 250 years ago I think like

2926
02:13:37,268 --> 02:13:37,518
many of the folks when I look

2927
02:13:40,371 --> 02:13:40,621
around this room they're was not

2928
02:13:42,840 --> 02:13:43,090
a place for me in political life

2929
02:13:44,375 --> 02:13:44,625
and envisioned by the people

2930
02:13:45,009 --> 02:13:45,259
that wrote that first

2931
02:13:45,476 --> 02:13:45,726
constitution.

2932
02:13:48,379 --> 02:13:48,629
There was no expectation that

2933
02:13:49,113 --> 02:13:49,363
someone who experienced the

2934
02:13:50,748 --> 02:13:50,998
world the way that I do would

2935
02:13:51,415 --> 02:13:51,665
sit in this chamber.

2936
02:13:54,652 --> 02:13:54,902
that someone like me would help

2937
02:13:55,319 --> 02:13:55,569
write our laws

2938
02:13:58,823 --> 02:13:59,073
but so many of us who were not

2939
02:14:00,825 --> 02:14:01,075
descendants of people originally

2940
02:14:02,793 --> 02:14:03,043
in that room would get to debate

2941
02:14:04,462 --> 02:14:04,712
our priorities and

2942
02:14:04,996 --> 02:14:05,246
representativeands of

2943
02:14:05,496 --> 02:14:05,746
Pennsylvanians and yet

2944
02:14:06,797 --> 02:14:07,047
here we all are

2945
02:14:10,668 --> 02:14:10,918
Now I don't see this as evidence

2946
02:14:12,670 --> 02:14:12,920
that our founding ideals were

2947
02:14:14,872 --> 02:14:15,122
wrong, but I do see it as

2948
02:14:17,108 --> 02:14:17,358
evidence of what happens when we

2949
02:14:18,509 --> 02:14:18,759
continue to talk about how

2950
02:14:22,380 --> 02:14:22,630
that constitutional democracy,

2951
02:14:23,247 --> 02:14:23,497
that experiment must change.

2952
02:14:26,751 --> 02:14:27,001
because we have to acknowledge

2953
02:14:27,418 --> 02:14:27,668
that the story of Pennsylvania.

2954
02:14:30,621 --> 02:14:30,871
is about expanding who can

2955
02:14:32,623 --> 02:14:32,873
participate in that democracy

2956
02:14:33,224 --> 02:14:33,474
and that that only happens

2957
02:14:33,791 --> 02:14:34,041
because people

2958
02:14:34,425 --> 02:14:34,675
fought for it

2959
02:14:37,128 --> 02:14:37,378
Women fought for a vote. Black

2960
02:14:38,729 --> 02:14:38,979
Pennsylvanians fought for equal

2961
02:14:39,430 --> 02:14:39,680
citizenship.

2962
02:14:42,600 --> 02:14:42,850
Disabilities fought to be seen

2963
02:14:43,300 --> 02:14:43,550
as objects not of charity

2964
02:14:46,637 --> 02:14:46,887
but as people with rights,

2965
02:14:47,238 --> 02:14:47,488
autonomy, and political power.

2966
02:14:51,075 --> 02:14:51,325
LGbtq plus Pennsylvanians fought

2967
02:14:53,144 --> 02:14:53,394
to live openly and safely to

2968
02:14:55,179 --> 02:14:55,429
form families and to participate

2969
02:14:55,813 --> 02:14:56,063
fully in public life.

2970
02:14:58,616 --> 02:14:58,866
and autistic people and other

2971
02:15:00,384 --> 02:15:00,634
disabled people continue to

2972
02:15:01,152 --> 02:15:01,402
fight against the assumption

2973
02:15:02,887 --> 02:15:03,137
that our differences make us

2974
02:15:03,454 --> 02:15:03,704
less capable of contributing

2975
02:15:04,955 --> 02:15:05,205
to our communities

2976
02:15:10,594 --> 02:15:10,844
Now those assumptions I know are

2977
02:15:12,897 --> 02:15:13,147
assumptions that many of us face

2978
02:15:13,564 --> 02:15:13,814
when we walk in our districts.

2979
02:15:16,367 --> 02:15:16,617
that people will look at us and

2980
02:15:17,034 --> 02:15:17,284
based off of the way that we

2981
02:15:17,702 --> 02:15:17,952
look

2982
02:15:20,838 --> 02:15:21,088
talk, the way that our brain

2983
02:15:21,405 --> 02:15:21,655
might work differently.

2984
02:15:23,274 --> 02:15:23,524
but make assumptions about what

2985
02:15:23,941 --> 02:15:24,191
we're capable of.

2986
02:15:28,345 --> 02:15:28,595
and yet all of us in this room

2987
02:15:30,347 --> 02:15:30,597
are proof of what happens when

2988
02:15:31,015 --> 02:15:31,265
we defy those assumptions.

2989
02:15:34,652 --> 02:15:34,902
So today we're commemorating

2990
02:15:35,286 --> 02:15:35,536
that experiment that's still

2991
02:15:35,953 --> 02:15:36,203
underway.

2992
02:15:38,589 --> 02:15:38,839
and I hope that 250 years from

2993
02:15:39,256 --> 02:15:39,506
now

2994
02:15:41,158 --> 02:15:41,408
the people that are looking back

2995
02:15:41,826 --> 02:15:42,076
at us

2996
02:15:44,829 --> 02:15:45,079
will say that we did not just

2997
02:15:46,430 --> 02:15:46,680
preserve this democracy that we

2998
02:15:47,098 --> 02:15:47,348
inherited.

2999
02:15:48,432 --> 02:15:48,682
that we made it more accessible

3000
02:15:50,434 --> 02:15:50,684
and that we listened to people

3001
02:15:51,068 --> 02:15:51,318
who have been excluded

3002
02:15:55,106 --> 02:15:55,356
and that the promise of this

3003
02:15:57,374 --> 02:15:57,624
constitutional experiment is

3004
02:15:58,008 --> 02:15:58,258
that we are going to keep

3005
02:15:58,642 --> 02:15:58,892
experimenting.

3006
02:16:02,480 --> 02:16:02,730
We're going to keep building.

3007
02:16:03,147 --> 02:16:03,397
We're going to keep refining it.

3008
02:16:04,615 --> 02:16:04,865
I urge my colleagues to

3009
02:16:20,598 --> 02:16:20,848
Those in favor of the resolution

3010
02:16:21,265 --> 02:16:21,515
will be voting aye

3011
02:16:24,835 --> 02:16:25,085
Those opposed know

3012
02:16:26,904 --> 02:16:27,154
M members will proceed to vote

3013
02:16:28,939 --> 02:16:29,189
Have all the members voted

3014
02:16:31,008 --> 02:16:31,258
Have all the members voted

3015
02:16:33,010 --> 02:16:33,260
The clerk will record the vote

3016
02:16:36,847 --> 02:16:37,097
on the resolution, the as are

3017
02:16:39,083 --> 02:16:39,333
203 and the nays are 0ro, the

3018
02:16:39,750 --> 02:16:40,000
resolution is adopted.

3019
02:16:50,327 --> 02:16:50,577
At this time, the chair turns to

3020
02:16:51,061 --> 02:16:51,311
our legislative leaders for

3021
02:16:51,629 --> 02:16:51,879
closing remarks

3022
02:16:53,397 --> 02:16:53,647
The chair first recognizes the

3023
02:16:54,832 --> 02:16:55,082
gentleman from Washington,

3024
02:16:56,400 --> 02:16:56,650
Representative O'Nealll, the

3025
02:16:56,967 --> 02:16:57,217
minority whip.

3026
02:17:05,109 --> 02:17:05,359
Thank you again. thank you,

3027
02:17:05,676 --> 02:17:05,926
madam Speaker once again.

3028
02:17:10,347 --> 02:17:10,597
it really is a privilege to

3029
02:17:11,115 --> 02:17:11,365
stand here this evening on

3030
02:17:12,483 --> 02:17:12,733
behalf of the House Republican

3031
02:17:13,117 --> 02:17:13,367
caucus.

3032
02:17:15,119 --> 02:17:15,369
in a place where the history of

3033
02:17:16,887 --> 02:17:17,137
Pennsylvania and the history of

3034
02:17:18,622 --> 02:17:18,872
America are almost impossible to

3035
02:17:19,290 --> 02:17:19,540
separate.

3036
02:17:22,359 --> 02:17:22,609
Just steps from this chamber

3037
02:17:22,960 --> 02:17:23,210
stands the Pennsylvania State

3038
02:17:23,594 --> 02:17:23,844
House.

3039
02:17:25,196 --> 02:17:25,446
What the world knows as

3040
02:17:25,763 --> 02:17:26,013
Independence Hall.

3041
02:17:26,997 --> 02:17:27,247
In 1729

3042
02:17:30,568 --> 02:17:30,818
Pennsylvania Assembly

3043
02:17:31,101 --> 02:17:31,351
appropriated 2000 pounds

3044
02:17:34,838 --> 02:17:35,088
in the current in the currency

3045
02:17:36,607 --> 02:17:36,857
of the time to build a house for

3046
02:17:37,308 --> 02:17:37,558
the assembly.

3047
02:17:40,811 --> 02:17:41,061
Construction began in 1732 and

3048
02:17:41,412 --> 02:17:41,662
by 1735

3049
02:17:42,980 --> 02:17:43,230
before the building was even

3050
02:17:43,647 --> 02:17:43,897
finished

3051
02:17:45,149 --> 02:17:45,399
assembly was already meeting

3052
02:17:45,716 --> 02:17:45,966
inside.

3053
02:17:48,853 --> 02:17:49,103
For decades, Pennsylvania

3054
02:17:50,654 --> 02:17:50,904
lawmakers met in the first floor

3055
02:17:51,322 --> 02:17:51,572
assembly room.

3056
02:17:54,592 --> 02:17:54,842
In 1775 when the Secon

3057
02:17:56,594 --> 02:17:56,844
Continental Congress needed that

3058
02:17:58,596 --> 02:17:58,846
room to conduct the work that

3059
02:17:59,196 --> 02:17:59,446
would lead to the declaration of

3060
02:17:59,864 --> 02:18:00,114
inndependence.

3061
02:18:03,200 --> 02:18:03,450
Pennsylvania lawmakakers moved

3062
02:18:03,868 --> 02:18:04,118
upstairs.

3063
02:18:06,837 --> 02:18:07,087
12 years later, when the

3064
02:18:07,404 --> 02:18:07,654
Constitutional Convention needed

3065
02:18:08,072 --> 02:18:08,322
it.

3066
02:18:10,474 --> 02:18:10,724
Pennsylvania again moved

3067
02:18:11,041 --> 02:18:11,291
upstairs.

3068
02:18:14,678 --> 02:18:14,928
and on 17 8 and excuse me on

3069
02:18:15,246 --> 02:18:15,496
September 17th

3070
02:18:16,680 --> 02:18:16,930
1787

3071
02:18:21,051 --> 02:18:21,301
39 delegates signed the United

3072
02:18:23,020 --> 02:18:23,270
States Constitution on the first

3073
02:18:23,754 --> 02:18:24,004
floor of that building.

3074
02:18:26,423 --> 02:18:26,673
upstairs that day

3075
02:18:27,057 --> 02:18:27,307
our house journal

3076
02:18:30,828 --> 02:18:31,078
shows that the Pennsylvania

3077
02:18:32,429 --> 02:18:32,679
Assembly was dealing with a tax

3078
02:18:33,097 --> 02:18:33,347
dispute

3079
02:18:33,347 --> 02:18:33,597
a bridge bill

3080
02:18:36,834 --> 02:18:37,084
and the newly proposed

3081
02:18:38,636 --> 02:18:38,886
US Constitution

3082
02:18:39,136 --> 02:18:39,386
Think about that

3083
02:18:42,473 --> 02:18:42,723
Downstairs they had just

3084
02:18:46,343 --> 02:18:46,593
delegates of Pennsylvania just

3085
02:18:47,011 --> 02:18:47,261
signed the constitution

3086
02:18:51,115 --> 02:18:51,365
and upstairs there was a dispute

3087
02:18:51,782 --> 02:18:52,032
over taxes.

3088
02:18:52,483 --> 02:18:52,733
and brids.

3089
02:18:56,420 --> 02:18:56,670
Apparently some things never

3090
02:19:02,326 --> 02:19:02,576
Decades earlier, the assembly

3091
02:19:02,960 --> 02:19:03,210
ordered a bell for its state

3092
02:19:03,594 --> 02:19:03,844
house.

3093
02:19:06,330 --> 02:19:06,580
foreign made as it was, the bell

3094
02:19:07,031 --> 02:19:07,281
cracked and had to be recast.

3095
02:19:11,101 --> 02:19:11,351
as we know, the Liberty Bell

3096
02:19:11,702 --> 02:19:11,952
later became a symbol

3097
02:19:15,172 --> 02:19:15,422
of the idea that liberty is not

3098
02:19:15,839 --> 02:19:16,089
something

3099
02:19:18,642 --> 02:19:18,892
granted by a king across an

3100
02:19:19,209 --> 02:19:19,459
ocean.

3101
02:19:21,245 --> 02:19:21,495
Although 25 years before,

3102
02:19:24,848 --> 02:19:25,098
before independence,

3103
02:19:27,117 --> 02:19:27,367
Pennsylvania had already forged

3104
02:19:28,953 --> 02:19:29,203
the concept of liberty into our

3105
02:19:29,653 --> 02:19:29,903
history.

3106
02:19:34,625 --> 02:19:34,875
when Leviticus 25:10 was cast

3107
02:19:35,292 --> 02:19:35,542
onto the bell.

3108
02:19:38,329 --> 02:19:38,579
Proclaim proclaim liberty

3109
02:19:40,331 --> 02:19:40,581
throughout all the lands unto

3110
02:19:40,965 --> 02:19:41,215
all inhabitants thereof.

3111
02:19:43,033 --> 02:19:43,283
and here in Congress hall

3112
02:19:46,637 --> 02:19:46,887
where the US House met for

3113
02:19:47,204 --> 02:19:47,454
decades.

3114
02:19:50,607 --> 02:19:50,857
We return this building to the

3115
02:19:52,443 --> 02:19:52,693
legislative purpose that made it

3116
02:19:53,110 --> 02:19:53,360
famous.

3117
02:19:53,360 --> 02:19:53,610
once again

3118
02:19:54,845 --> 02:19:55,095
a representative body

3119
02:19:56,914 --> 02:19:57,164
sits in this chamber

3120
02:20:00,884 --> 02:20:01,134
Citizens from different places

3121
02:20:01,552 --> 02:20:01,802
with different interests

3122
02:20:02,987 --> 02:20:03,237
and different opinions

3123
02:20:04,922 --> 02:20:05,172
have sent their representatives

3124
02:20:06,690 --> 02:20:06,940
here here to speak for them

3125
02:20:11,028 --> 02:20:11,278
that history gives us more than

3126
02:20:11,695 --> 02:20:11,945
something to celebrate.

3127
02:20:13,197 --> 02:20:13,447
gives us an obligation

3128
02:20:17,067 --> 02:20:17,317
We come from different

3129
02:20:18,802 --> 02:20:19,052
communities and political

3130
02:20:19,403 --> 02:20:19,653
parties. We disagree.

3131
02:20:20,804 --> 02:20:21,054
often loudly

3132
02:20:23,340 --> 02:20:23,590
That is not a failure of

3133
02:20:23,907 --> 02:20:24,157
representative government.

3134
02:20:25,042 --> 02:20:25,292
that is representative

3135
02:20:25,509 --> 02:20:25,759
government

3136
02:20:30,881 --> 02:20:31,131
But before we are Republicans or

3137
02:20:31,615 --> 02:20:31,865
Democrats, we are Pennsylvanians

3138
02:20:34,818 --> 02:20:35,068
and all of us have been

3139
02:20:35,352 --> 02:20:35,602
entrusted for for a time.

3140
02:20:36,787 --> 02:20:37,037
with a place

3141
02:20:41,025 --> 02:20:41,275
in the same long tradition of

3142
02:20:42,793 --> 02:20:43,043
representative government that

3143
02:20:46,563 --> 02:20:46,813
has unfolded on this square for

3144
02:20:47,297 --> 02:20:47,547
nearly 3 centuries.

3145
02:20:50,434 --> 02:20:50,684
The story of America cannot be

3146
02:20:51,101 --> 02:20:51,351
told

3147
02:20:52,603 --> 02:20:52,853
without the buildings in this

3148
02:20:53,270 --> 02:20:53,520
square.

3149
02:20:54,838 --> 02:20:55,088
This is where Pennsylvania

3150
02:20:57,074 --> 02:20:57,324
governed. This is where America

3151
02:20:57,741 --> 02:20:57,991
de declared itself free.

3152
02:21:00,644 --> 02:21:00,894
This is where the Constitution

3153
02:21:01,311 --> 02:21:01,561
was written.

3154
02:21:02,613 --> 02:21:02,863
The ordinary people

3155
02:21:06,350 --> 02:21:06,600
did those things, had no

3156
02:21:07,051 --> 02:21:07,301
guarantee that this experiment

3157
02:21:08,452 --> 02:21:08,702
would last 250 years.

3158
02:21:09,353 --> 02:21:09,603
They simply did their part

3159
02:21:10,721 --> 02:21:10,971
to make sure it could

3160
02:21:13,123 --> 02:21:13,373
Now that responsibility.

3161
02:21:14,725 --> 02:21:14,975
belongs to us

3162
02:21:18,562 --> 02:21:18,812
Let us humbly stand here today.

3163
02:21:19,196 --> 02:21:19,446
and continue

3164
02:21:20,631 --> 02:21:20,881
what they started

3165
02:21:23,200 --> 02:21:23,450
Let us continue to protect life.

3166
02:21:24,535 --> 02:21:24,785
liberty.

3167
02:21:28,472 --> 02:21:28,722
property, and the reputation of

3168
02:21:29,139 --> 02:21:29,389
the people who sent us.

3169
02:21:32,443 --> 02:21:32,693
Ronald Reagan once said on July

3170
02:21:33,110 --> 02:21:33,360
4th,

3171
02:21:34,611 --> 02:21:34,861
my fellow Americans

3172
02:21:38,348 --> 02:21:38,598
it falls to us to keep faith

3173
02:21:38,949 --> 02:21:39,199
with all the great Americans of

3174
02:21:39,616 --> 02:21:39,866
our past.

3175
02:21:41,051 --> 02:21:41,301
the things that unite us

3176
02:21:44,621 --> 02:21:44,871
America's past of which we're so

3177
02:21:45,289 --> 02:21:45,539
proud.

3178
02:21:46,790 --> 02:21:47,040
our hopes and aspirations

3179
02:21:50,594 --> 02:21:50,844
for the future of the world in

3180
02:21:51,195 --> 02:21:51,445
this much loved country.

3181
02:21:54,832 --> 02:21:55,082
These things far outweigh what

3182
02:21:55,499 --> 02:21:55,749
little divides us.

3183
02:21:56,467 --> 02:21:56,717
and so tonight

3184
02:21:58,435 --> 02:21:58,685
we reaffirm

3185
02:22:02,606 --> 02:22:02,856
that Jew and Gentta, we are one

3186
02:22:03,307 --> 02:22:03,557
nation under God.

3187
02:22:04,842 --> 02:22:05,092
that black and white

3188
02:22:07,211 --> 02:22:07,461
we are one nation indivisible.

3189
02:22:12,382 --> 02:22:12,632
That Republican andmo Democrat

3190
02:22:12,983 --> 02:22:13,233
we are all Americans.

3191
02:22:14,918 --> 02:22:15,168
Tonight with heartar in Hand

3192
02:22:18,822 --> 02:22:19,072
through whatever row and revel

3193
02:22:20,357 --> 02:22:20,607
we pledge ourselves to each

3194
02:22:21,391 --> 02:22:21,641
other and to the cause of human

3195
02:22:22,059 --> 02:22:22,309
freedom.

3196
02:22:25,095 --> 02:22:25,345
the cause that has given light

3197
02:22:25,796 --> 02:22:26,046
to this land

3198
02:22:26,930 --> 02:22:27,180
and hope to the world

3199
02:22:28,432 --> 02:22:28,682
Thank you,

3200
02:22:46,617 --> 02:22:46,867
Chair, thanks to gentlemen.

3201
02:22:47,251 --> 02:22:47,501
Chair recognizes the gentleman

3202
02:22:48,619 --> 02:22:48,869
from Montgomery County,

3203
02:22:49,186 --> 02:22:49,436
Representative Bradford.

3204
02:22:52,823 --> 02:22:53,073
Good evening, madam Speaker, and

3205
02:22:54,591 --> 02:22:54,841
thank you for the recognition

3206
02:22:56,326 --> 02:22:56,576
and I wanna to repeat what I

3207
02:22:57,094 --> 02:22:57,344
stated earlier. I want to thank

3208
02:22:59,129 --> 02:22:59,379
you especially for putting

3209
02:23:00,631 --> 02:23:00,881
together this very special

3210
02:23:01,165 --> 02:23:01,415
evening in a city that I know is

3211
02:23:03,133 --> 02:23:03,383
close to your heart, but for

3212
02:23:04,868 --> 02:23:05,118
the tremendous work of your

3213
02:23:06,904 --> 02:23:07,154
staff, that of the chiefef clerk

3214
02:23:08,605 --> 02:23:08,855
as well as the National Park

3215
02:23:10,374 --> 02:23:10,624
Service who is working well into

3216
02:23:11,375 --> 02:23:11,625
the evening this evening to make

3217
02:23:13,143 --> 02:23:13,393
this possible. all those

3218
02:23:14,645 --> 02:23:14,895
individuals I know we all

3219
02:23:15,179 --> 02:23:15,429
appreciate the hard work that

3220
02:23:18,382 --> 02:23:18,632
they do every day, not just

3221
02:23:18,916 --> 02:23:19,166
for our commonwealth but in the

3222
02:23:19,650 --> 02:23:19,900
case of our national Par Service

3223
02:23:20,317 --> 02:23:20,567
to keep this

3224
02:23:22,619 --> 02:23:22,869
building in amazing condition

3225
02:23:23,253 --> 02:23:23,503
and everything they do to keep

3226
02:23:24,821 --> 02:23:25,071
us safe and our families and

3227
02:23:26,590 --> 02:23:26,840
friends when they come to visit

3228
02:23:27,191 --> 02:23:27,441
this amazing location.

3229
02:23:30,427 --> 02:23:30,677
I also

3230
02:23:34,364 --> 02:23:34,614
want to mention kind of for

3231
02:23:34,998 --> 02:23:35,248
my caucus's purpose.

3232
02:23:36,433 --> 02:23:36,683
the idea

3233
02:23:39,203 --> 02:23:39,453
that people from 13 continents

3234
02:23:39,903 --> 02:23:40,153
came together.

3235
02:23:42,940 --> 02:23:43,190
13 continents, 13 colonies came

3236
02:23:43,607 --> 02:23:43,857
together.

3237
02:23:44,942 --> 02:23:45,192
13 continents, that's a

3238
02:23:48,579 --> 02:23:48,829
that's a George W. Bush line.

3239
02:23:49,179 --> 02:23:49,429
you'requoting Reagan. I'm doing

3240
02:23:49,880 --> 02:23:50,130
George W. Bush.

3241
02:23:54,685 --> 02:23:54,935
1313 colonies.

3242
02:23:58,522 --> 02:23:58,772
slaveolding colonies in our

3243
02:24:00,924 --> 02:24:01,174
south, mercantile colonies to

3244
02:24:01,625 --> 02:24:01,875
our north.

3245
02:24:05,028 --> 02:24:05,278
people of all different races

3246
02:24:07,030 --> 02:24:07,280
who all put into their common

3247
02:24:08,599 --> 02:24:08,849
fate the idea

3248
02:24:11,134 --> 02:24:11,384
that we could have a United

3249
02:24:11,702 --> 02:24:11,952
States of America.

3250
02:24:14,905 --> 02:24:15,155
that is the very definition of

3251
02:24:15,572 --> 02:24:15,822
audacious.

3252
02:24:19,209 --> 02:24:19,459
That is the most audacious thing

3253
02:24:19,876 --> 02:24:20,126
the world has ever known.

3254
02:24:22,946 --> 02:24:23,196
It is that experiment that is

3255
02:24:23,614 --> 02:24:23,864
our inheritance.

3256
02:24:24,615 --> 02:24:24,865
It is our country

3257
02:24:28,819 --> 02:24:29,069
and it is ours if we have the

3258
02:24:30,654 --> 02:24:30,904
courage and the character and

3259
02:24:31,255 --> 02:24:31,505
the wisdom to keep it.

3260
02:24:33,156 --> 02:24:33,406
I thank

3261
02:24:34,691 --> 02:24:34,941
the young people

3262
02:24:38,562 --> 02:24:38,812
because they are the ones who

3263
02:24:39,329 --> 02:24:39,579
have the most at stake in this

3264
02:24:39,997 --> 02:24:40,247
great experiment

3265
02:24:43,066 --> 02:24:43,316
Earli I may have pointed out Joe

3266
02:24:44,601 --> 02:24:44,851
Kerwin is the one who had the

3267
02:24:46,603 --> 02:24:46,853
most at stake because he's our

3268
02:24:48,672 --> 02:24:48,922
youngest andieegel left us for

3269
02:24:49,339 --> 02:24:49,589
greener pastures as well.

3270
02:24:52,342 --> 02:24:52,592
so it comes to those of us in

3271
02:24:53,176 --> 02:24:53,426
our generation, the governing

3272
02:24:53,877 --> 02:24:54,127
generation, to realize

3273
02:24:55,112 --> 02:24:55,362
that what was done here

3274
02:24:58,715 --> 02:24:58,965
on July 4th, 1776.

3275
02:25:01,151 --> 02:25:01,401
is Aaronheriance. It's what

3276
02:25:04,588 --> 02:25:04,838
Benjamin Franklin when asked,

3277
02:25:06,556 --> 02:25:06,806
shallll it be a monarchy or a

3278
02:25:08,825 --> 02:25:09,075
republic, his answer was a

3279
02:25:09,426 --> 02:25:09,676
republic if you can keep it.

3280
02:25:13,130 --> 02:25:13,380
Well now it is our charge

3281
02:25:13,697 --> 02:25:13,947
whether we can keep it.

3282
02:25:16,600 --> 02:25:16,850
because 20 years

3283
02:25:18,835 --> 02:25:19,085
after that great declaration.

3284
02:25:22,439 --> 02:25:22,689
George Washington after serving

3285
02:25:23,140 --> 02:25:23,390
two terms,

3286
02:25:25,242 --> 02:25:25,492
recognized with the wisdom of

3287
02:25:25,909 --> 02:25:26,159
Madison and Hamilton.

3288
02:25:28,679 --> 02:25:28,929
that to have self-government

3289
02:25:31,114 --> 02:25:31,364
you would have to have a

3290
02:25:31,615 --> 02:25:31,865
peaceful transition of power.

3291
02:25:34,751 --> 02:25:35,001
and so a man who had served his

3292
02:25:35,419 --> 02:25:35,669
country

3293
02:25:38,622 --> 02:25:38,872
faithfully for 20 years gave

3294
02:25:39,156 --> 02:25:39,406
away the power

3295
02:25:41,058 --> 02:25:41,308
and all the prestige that came

3296
02:25:41,725 --> 02:25:41,975
with being the president of the

3297
02:25:42,392 --> 02:25:42,642
United States.

3298
02:25:44,428 --> 02:25:44,678
and he said a peaceful

3299
02:25:45,228 --> 02:25:45,478
transition of power

3300
02:25:48,432 --> 02:25:48,682
was the only way to keep this

3301
02:25:49,099 --> 02:25:49,349
democracy.

3302
02:25:50,734 --> 02:25:50,984
a republic if you can keep it

3303
02:25:53,103 --> 02:25:53,353
and he demonstrated the kind of

3304
02:25:53,770 --> 02:25:54,020
character

3305
02:25:54,638 --> 02:25:54,888
that it would take

3306
02:25:58,475 --> 02:25:58,725
He also in his farewell gave us

3307
02:25:59,109 --> 02:25:59,359
an admonition.

3308
02:26:02,346 --> 02:26:02,596
an admonition about national

3309
02:26:02,979 --> 02:26:03,229
unity that was being torn apart.

3310
02:26:03,714 --> 02:26:03,964
about

3311
02:26:08,452 --> 02:26:08,702
the rise of partisanship, what

3312
02:26:09,119 --> 02:26:09,369
they called faction at the time.

3313
02:26:12,322 --> 02:26:12,572
in d less disputes between party

3314
02:26:13,023 --> 02:26:13,273
that have become too personal,

3315
02:26:15,058 --> 02:26:15,308
too inflamed, the volume too

3316
02:26:18,862 --> 02:26:19,112
loud and frankly the risk of our

3317
02:26:19,563 --> 02:26:19,813
very constitutional order.

3318
02:26:24,568 --> 02:26:24,818
One would argue, and I believe

3319
02:26:25,335 --> 02:26:25,585
they are right that we face

3320
02:26:26,436 --> 02:26:26,686
those same challenges today.

3321
02:26:28,805 --> 02:26:29,055
hopefullypefully they are not

3322
02:26:31,108 --> 02:26:31,358
existential to our democracy but

3323
02:26:32,876 --> 02:26:33,126
the very soul and character of

3324
02:26:35,045 --> 02:26:35,295
our country are in dispute when

3325
02:26:36,613 --> 02:26:36,863
young people think that we no

3326
02:26:38,882 --> 02:26:39,132
longer are defined not by a

3327
02:26:39,449 --> 02:26:39,699
single people.

3328
02:26:42,452 --> 02:26:42,702
but by a party or a region.

3329
02:26:43,086 --> 02:26:43,336
or a faction

3330
02:26:45,155 --> 02:26:45,405
We must come together.

3331
02:26:46,890 --> 02:26:47,140
and we must recognize

3332
02:26:50,827 --> 02:26:51,077
all of the challenges of our

3333
02:26:52,396 --> 02:26:52,646
great history and I thank you

3334
02:26:53,063 --> 02:26:53,313
for recognizing them.

3335
02:26:53,597 --> 02:26:53,847
They are real

3336
02:26:56,633 --> 02:26:56,883
those challenges and those hurt

3337
02:26:57,300 --> 02:26:57,550
is real.

3338
02:27:00,570 --> 02:27:00,820
but our obligation as a great

3339
02:27:01,204 --> 02:27:01,454
United States of America.

3340
02:27:02,839 --> 02:27:03,089
is to be audacious

3341
02:27:06,409 --> 02:27:06,659
is to heal this country.

3342
02:27:07,077 --> 02:27:07,327
and pull together

3343
02:27:10,447 --> 02:27:10,697
We are the heirs

3344
02:27:12,849 --> 02:27:13,099
we have the responsibility

3345
02:27:16,620 --> 02:27:16,870
we have the obligation, we have

3346
02:27:17,320 --> 02:27:17,570
the opportunity.

3347
02:27:19,156 --> 02:27:19,406
in our little part of

3348
02:27:19,623 --> 02:27:19,873
Pennsylvania.

3349
02:27:20,891 --> 02:27:21,141
show that we can be statesmen

3350
02:27:22,492 --> 02:27:22,742
and women

3351
02:27:24,828 --> 02:27:25,078
that we cannot let

3352
02:27:27,130 --> 02:27:27,380
past divisions or elections

3353
02:27:29,166 --> 02:27:29,416
or demagogues or small people.

3354
02:27:30,801 --> 02:27:31,051
tear us apart

3355
02:27:36,640 --> 02:27:36,890
We have too much to lose and so

3356
02:27:37,307 --> 02:27:37,557
much to gain.

3357
02:27:39,009 --> 02:27:39,259
Our country

3358
02:27:42,612 --> 02:27:42,862
our commonwealth, our community

3359
02:27:43,280 --> 02:27:43,530
is at stake.

3360
02:27:47,117 --> 02:27:47,367
good gentleman quoted Reagan and

3361
02:27:48,819 --> 02:27:49,069
I kind of laughed at him both

3362
02:27:50,387 --> 02:27:50,637
times and I said well I'm gonna

3363
02:27:50,987 --> 02:27:51,237
to quote Obama this time.

3364
02:27:52,622 --> 02:27:52,872
because right down the road

3365
02:27:54,658 --> 02:27:54,908
thensenator Obama said

3366
02:27:56,893 --> 02:27:57,143
this union may never be perfect.

3367
02:28:00,463 --> 02:28:00,713
but generation after generation,

3368
02:28:01,164 --> 02:28:01,414
has shown

3369
02:28:02,833 --> 02:28:03,083
that it can always be perfected

3370
02:28:04,935 --> 02:28:05,185
It is great minds

3371
02:28:06,670 --> 02:28:06,920
great men

3372
02:28:10,340 --> 02:28:10,590
yes, regggan of a different

3373
02:28:10,907 --> 02:28:11,157
party and Obama of a different

3374
02:28:11,575 --> 02:28:11,825
than yours.

3375
02:28:12,943 --> 02:28:13,193
who we should heed their wisdom.

3376
02:28:16,613 --> 02:28:16,863
We should come together to work

3377
02:28:17,280 --> 02:28:17,530
for the common cause.

3378
02:28:18,448 --> 02:28:18,698
Thank you, madam Speaker

3379
02:28:34,664 --> 02:28:34,914
Chair, thanks the gentlemen

3380
02:28:38,835 --> 02:28:39,085
As has been said all evening.

3381
02:28:42,606 --> 02:28:42,856
250 years ago on these hoallowed

3382
02:28:43,373 --> 02:28:43,623
grounds, a beacon of liberty was

3383
02:28:44,040 --> 02:28:44,290
lit.

3384
02:28:46,843 --> 02:28:47,093
from the city of Philadelphia,

3385
02:28:48,879 --> 02:28:49,129
Pennsylvania came a declaration

3386
02:28:49,579 --> 02:28:49,829
of independence

3387
02:28:51,348 --> 02:28:51,598
that changed the course of human

3388
02:28:52,015 --> 02:28:52,265
history.

3389
02:28:56,353 --> 02:28:56,603
Here at what is now known as the

3390
02:28:58,321 --> 02:28:58,571
Independence National Historic

3391
02:29:00,857 --> 02:29:01,107
Park, Our young republic began

3392
02:29:01,458 --> 02:29:01,708
the difficult work of governing.

3393
02:29:03,093 --> 02:29:03,343
Look backward

3394
02:29:08,331 --> 02:29:08,581
from 250 years away. It can be

3395
02:29:10,333 --> 02:29:10,583
tempting to believe that what

3396
02:29:10,967 --> 02:29:11,217
what happened here was

3397
02:29:13,136 --> 02:29:13,386
inevitable, that liberty was

3398
02:29:13,770 --> 02:29:14,020
destined to triumph.

3399
02:29:15,372 --> 02:29:15,622
that it was all going to work

3400
02:29:16,039 --> 02:29:16,289
out.

3401
02:29:17,140 --> 02:29:17,390
except it was not.

3402
02:29:18,508 --> 02:29:18,758
The men

3403
02:29:20,911 --> 02:29:21,161
and women of that generation

3404
02:29:23,380 --> 02:29:23,630
had as much that divided them

3405
02:29:24,814 --> 02:29:25,064
as united them

3406
02:29:26,950 --> 02:29:27,200
They came from the North

3407
02:29:28,718 --> 02:29:28,968
and they came from the south

3408
02:29:32,622 --> 02:29:32,872
They were merchants and they

3409
02:29:34,324 --> 02:29:34,574
were farmers. They lived in

3410
02:29:35,225 --> 02:29:35,475
cities and they lived in the

3411
02:29:35,792 --> 02:29:36,042
countryside.

3412
02:29:38,595 --> 02:29:38,845
They were congregationalists,

3413
02:29:40,830 --> 02:29:41,080
Anglicans, Presbyterians,

3414
02:29:41,364 --> 02:29:41,614
Catholics

3415
02:29:44,868 --> 02:29:45,118
Baptists, Quakers, Puritans and

3416
02:29:45,535 --> 02:29:45,785
Jews.

3417
02:29:48,838 --> 02:29:49,088
They had different interests,

3418
02:29:51,041 --> 02:29:51,291
different backgrounds, very

3419
02:29:52,809 --> 02:29:53,059
different ideas about the

3420
02:29:54,644 --> 02:29:54,894
future, but they found something

3421
02:29:56,646 --> 02:29:56,896
that was much greater than all

3422
02:29:57,314 --> 02:29:57,564
of their differences

3423
02:30:00,383 --> 02:30:00,633
They found a common belief in

3424
02:30:01,051 --> 02:30:01,301
self-determination and liberty.

3425
02:30:04,854 --> 02:30:05,104
They were willing to sacrifice

3426
02:30:05,522 --> 02:30:05,772
all for it.

3427
02:30:07,090 --> 02:30:07,340
They risk they risked their

3428
02:30:07,657 --> 02:30:07,907
property.

3429
02:30:10,694 --> 02:30:10,944
their livelihoods, their

3430
02:30:11,261 --> 02:30:11,511
freedoms.

3431
02:30:14,631 --> 02:30:14,881
and their lives. Not only for

3432
02:30:15,298 --> 02:30:15,548
themselves but for one another.

3433
02:30:16,967 --> 02:30:17,217
and the generations that

3434
02:30:17,534 --> 02:30:17,784
followed.

3435
02:30:18,969 --> 02:30:19,219
in ning independence

3436
02:30:22,639 --> 02:30:22,889
did not end the struggle for

3437
02:30:23,206 --> 02:30:23,456
liberty.

3438
02:30:26,476 --> 02:30:26,726
America's story is a story of

3439
02:30:27,143 --> 02:30:27,393
constant effort

3440
02:30:29,145 --> 02:30:29,395
to make the promise of liberty

3441
02:30:29,846 --> 02:30:30,096
more complete.

3442
02:30:35,051 --> 02:30:35,301
250 years ago, human beings that

3443
02:30:36,853 --> 02:30:37,103
look like the chair were still

3444
02:30:38,655 --> 02:30:38,905
enslaved by other human beings.

3445
02:30:42,559 --> 02:30:42,809
People were denied their own

3446
02:30:44,961 --> 02:30:45,211
right to self-government because

3447
02:30:45,629 --> 02:30:45,879
of the color of their skin.

3448
02:30:48,798 --> 02:30:49,048
Others were denied their vote

3449
02:30:50,667 --> 02:30:50,917
because they did not own enough

3450
02:30:51,334 --> 02:30:51,584
property.

3451
02:30:54,638 --> 02:30:54,888
Still others were denied their

3452
02:30:56,506 --> 02:30:56,756
right to vote because they were

3453
02:30:57,173 --> 02:30:57,423
women.

3454
02:31:01,378 --> 02:31:01,628
As recently as 1974, women gain

3455
02:31:02,045 --> 02:31:02,295
the right.

3456
02:31:04,481 --> 02:31:04,731
to sign for a mortgage

3457
02:31:05,148 --> 02:31:05,398
to own their own home

3458
02:31:06,983 --> 02:31:07,233
The lessons are clear

3459
02:31:08,985 --> 02:31:09,235
The work for liberty

3460
02:31:11,254 --> 02:31:11,504
is never finished.

3461
02:31:14,724 --> 02:31:14,974
The day people around this world

3462
02:31:18,495 --> 02:31:18,745
still risk their very own

3463
02:31:19,029 --> 02:31:19,279
livelihoods.

3464
02:31:19,362 --> 02:31:19,612
their property

3465
02:31:20,730 --> 02:31:20,980
their freedom

3466
02:31:26,503 --> 02:31:26,753
and their lives in the hopes of

3467
02:31:27,170 --> 02:31:27,420
escaping oppression.

3468
02:31:28,838 --> 02:31:29,088
and determining their own

3469
02:31:29,406 --> 02:31:29,656
destiny.

3470
02:31:32,442 --> 02:31:32,692
and they look to America.

3471
02:31:36,346 --> 02:31:36,596
They look to the light that was

3472
02:31:37,380 --> 02:31:37,630
first kindled here in my

3473
02:31:39,115 --> 02:31:39,365
hometown, the city of brotherly

3474
02:31:40,917 --> 02:31:41,167
love and sisterly affection,

3475
02:31:41,584 --> 02:31:41,834
Philadelphia.

3476
02:31:43,353 --> 02:31:43,603
So it's up to us colleagues

3477
02:31:47,323 --> 02:31:47,573
in 2026 on this

3478
02:31:50,393 --> 02:31:50,643
semi-quincentennial to make the

3479
02:31:51,127 --> 02:31:51,377
lights shine even brighter.

3480
02:31:53,329 --> 02:31:53,579
righter than it ever has.

3481
02:31:57,067 --> 02:31:57,317
We can disagree without being

3482
02:31:59,069 --> 02:31:59,319
disagreeable, we can put aside

3483
02:32:00,770 --> 02:32:01,020
the labels that easily divide us

3484
02:32:04,674 --> 02:32:04,924
Our founders did not agree on

3485
02:32:06,876 --> 02:32:07,126
everything and they did not have

3486
02:32:08,878 --> 02:32:09,128
to, but they understood that

3487
02:32:10,880 --> 02:32:11,130
some things were so much more

3488
02:32:11,514 --> 02:32:11,764
important than their

3489
02:32:11,981 --> 02:32:12,231
differences.

3490
02:32:15,118 --> 02:32:15,368
250 years later, let us carry

3491
02:32:15,719 --> 02:32:15,969
that spirit forward.

3492
02:32:19,022 --> 02:32:19,272
Let us continue the work of

3493
02:32:22,559 --> 02:32:22,809
forming a more perfect union.

3494
02:32:23,159 --> 02:32:23,409
One that protects liberty

3495
02:32:25,061 --> 02:32:25,311
expands opportunity

3496
02:32:28,865 --> 02:32:29,115
and recognizes the dignity and

3497
02:32:29,532 --> 02:32:29,782
rights of every person.

3498
02:32:33,036 --> 02:32:33,286
Let the beacon of liberty that

3499
02:32:36,906 --> 02:32:37,156
first onen here in Philly, 250

3500
02:32:38,708 --> 02:32:38,958
years ago continued to

3501
02:32:39,175 --> 02:32:39,425
illuminate our commonwealth.

3502
02:32:40,944 --> 02:32:41,194
our nation, and this world.

3503
02:32:46,382 --> 02:32:46,632
mayy it shine for another 250

3504
02:32:48,351 --> 02:32:48,601
years and may those who follow

3505
02:32:50,487 --> 02:32:50,737
all of us look back and say that

3506
02:32:51,154 --> 02:32:51,404
we too

3507
02:32:52,655 --> 02:32:52,905
chose to put our differences

3508
02:32:53,223 --> 02:32:53,473
aside

3509
02:32:56,926 --> 02:32:57,176
work together for a freer and

3510
02:32:57,594 --> 02:32:57,844
better future.

3511
02:32:58,628 --> 02:32:58,878
Thank you colleagues

3512
02:33:00,563 --> 02:33:00,813
God bless

3513
02:33:10,673 --> 02:33:10,923
Thank you

3514
02:33:16,346 --> 02:33:16,596
Finally, before we dismiss and

3515
02:33:18,882 --> 02:33:19,132
conclude our historical session.

3516
02:33:20,383 --> 02:33:20,633
The chair would like to thank

3517
02:33:22,385 --> 02:33:22,635
all the staff that have joined

3518
02:33:24,387 --> 02:33:24,637
us in Philadelphia who have

3519
02:33:26,322 --> 02:33:26,572
worked so hard to make this

3520
02:33:26,890 --> 02:33:27,140
historic day happen.

3521
02:33:30,660 --> 02:33:30,910
that they are appreciated. Let

3522
02:33:31,327 --> 02:33:31,577
us thank all of our staff.

3523
02:33:44,607 --> 02:33:44,857
The chair instructs the clerk to

3524
02:33:46,376 --> 02:33:46,626
include the names of our staff

3525
02:33:47,177 --> 02:33:47,427
and the official journal for

3526
02:33:47,844 --> 02:33:48,094
today's proceedings.

3527
02:33:50,880 --> 02:33:51,130
The chair wants to remind all of

3528
02:33:52,649 --> 02:33:52,899
our members that there is a

3529
02:33:53,183 --> 02:33:53,433
dessert reception.

3530
02:33:56,352 --> 02:33:56,602
in the Philadelphia Visitor

3531
02:33:58,588 --> 02:33:58,838
Center and the chair is looking

3532
02:33:59,222 --> 02:33:59,472
for dinner if anyone can help.

3533
02:34:01,324 --> 02:34:01,574
As the chair's been sitting here

3534
02:34:01,991 --> 02:34:02,241
for a few hours.

3535
02:34:04,861 --> 02:34:05,111
the chairs in receipt of a

3536
02:34:06,863 --> 02:34:07,113
motion from the gentleman from

3537
02:34:08,598 --> 02:34:08,848
Butler, Representative Dukes,

3538
02:34:10,600 --> 02:34:10,850
that the House now adjourn until

3539
02:34:14,337 --> 02:34:14,587
Monday, September 28th, 2026 at

3540
02:34:17,440 --> 02:34:17,690
12 noon p unless sooner reca by

3541
02:34:18,107 --> 02:34:18,357
the speaker

3542
02:34:20,476 --> 02:34:20,726
Those opposed no

3543
02:34:23,079 --> 02:34:23,329
The ayes have it in the house

3544
02:34:24,681 --> 02:34:24,931
stands adjourned until Monday,

3545
02:34:28,384 --> 02:34:28,634
September twenty8th, 2026 to 12

3546
02:34:28,985 --> 02:34:29,235
noon unless sooner recalled by

3547
02:34:29,652 --> 02:34:29,902
thepeer.