Eric Schmitt
Senator for Missouri · Republican · United States
“(C) Participant tier members.--Data disseminated to participant tier members shall be appropriately anonymized and aggregated. (4) Mandatory cybersecurity and zero-trust integration.-- The Secretary shall ensure that the entire digital architecture of the Initiative conforms strictly to Federal zero-trust architecture mandates and incorpo…”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3737] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO JACOB CROWLEY Mr. SCHMITT. Mr.”
“(d) Integration of Data.-- (1) Authority.--The Secretary may collect and integrate-- (A) voluntary confidential business information provided by private sector supply chain entities, including agricultural producers, energy producers, manufacturers, third-party logistics providers, commodity traders, ocean common carriers, and commercial…”
“(a) Procedure for Transfer of Certain Defense Articles.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, with updates not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with coordinating entities such as the National Disclosure Policy Com…”
“(B) Nature of limitations on liability.--The limitations on liability provided in this subsection-- (i) are additive to existing limitations on liability; (ii) apply only to the digital transmission of data to the Initiative; and (iii) do not affect any other commercial conduct, which shall be subject to existing statutory and regulatory…”
“(B) Permitted disclosures.--The Secretary may disclose operational data to operational tier members as follows: (i) To a participating ocean common carrier, container- level or commodity-level data necessary to facilitate origin stowage plans and priority cargo blocks.”
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“4511), nothing in this section provides any authority to the Secretary to mandate physical operational execution across the general supply chain, including any authority-- (A) to require reservations for berths or gates; (B) to assign specific vessels to specific terminals; or (C) to interfere with the commercial rights of participants to negotiate pricing or operational schedules.”
“(C) Participant tier members.--Data disseminated to participant tier members shall be appropriately anonymized and aggregated. (4) Mandatory cybersecurity and zero-trust integration.-- The Secretary shall ensure that the entire digital architecture of the Initiative conforms strictly to Federal zero-trust architecture mandates and incorporates rigorous logical network segmentation, boundary defenses, and continuous automated data cleansing protocols designed to completely eliminate lateral network movement, cross-domain vulnerabilities, or unauthorized executable code, particularly across interfaces accessible by participant tier members. (e) Prohibition on Operational Execution and Conditions for Expedited Service.-- (1) Prohibition on mandates.--Except as authorized under section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.”
“(B) Operational tier members.-- (i) In general.--To support operational utility, asset- level data strictly limited to freight-carrying conveyances such as shipping containers, trailers, intermodal chassis, railcars, and vessels, and explicitly excluding terminal handling equipment, may be retained and shared in its granular form strictly with operational tier members under subsection (g)(1). (ii) Requirement.--The collection, retention, or sharing of individual telematics or geospatial tracking of terminal handling equipment is strictly prohibited, but the reporting of aggregated terminal capacity metrics or overall equipment availability status is permitted strictly for the purpose of predictive operational modeling and network forecasting shared with operational tier members under subsection (g)(1).”
“(2) Objective.--The integrated data under paragraph (1) shall be utilized to reduce inflationary pressures, optimize routing alternatives, maximize the throughput capacity of existing physical infrastructure, deter domestic cargo theft, support the rapid movement of essential cargo, and counter the integration and influence of covered logistics platforms in United States supply chains by restricting such platforms and affiliated entities from the expedited service tier established under subsection (f) while permitting baseline data integration to preserve macroscopic network visibility. (3) Protection of personally identifiable information.-- (A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection authorizes the collection, storage, or analysis of personally identifiable information regarding any individual.”
“(d) Integration of Data.-- (1) Authority.--The Secretary may collect and integrate-- (A) voluntary confidential business information provided by private sector supply chain entities, including agricultural producers, energy producers, manufacturers, third-party logistics providers, commodity traders, ocean common carriers, and commercial providers of meteorological, geospatial, and navigational data; (B) public sector administrative and physical domain data, including customs data, inbound and outbound vessel manifests, cross-border intermodal manifests, inland waterway infrastructure data, export control data, agricultural shipment flows and transportation market datasets maintained by the Agricultural Marketing Service, and meteorological, hydrographic, and geospatial data; and (C) advanced statistical and predictive models.”
“(c) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the United States Trade Representative, and the Federal Maritime Commission, shall establish a program, to be known as the ``American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative''. (2) Requirement.--The Initiative shall build on the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program to encompass both containerized and bulk freight shipments, for imports and exports, in accordance with the phased deployment authority established under subsection (g)(5).”
“(9) Operational tier member.--The term ``operational tier member'' means a participant described in any of clauses (i) through (xi) of subsection (g)(1)(B). (10) Participant.--The term ``participant'' means any individual or entity participating in the Initiative in accordance with subsection (e)(2)(A). (11) Participant tier member.--The term ``participant tier member'' means any participant in the Initiative that is not an operational tier member. (12) Participating.--The term ``participating'', with respect to an individual or entity, means that the individual or entity is participating in the Initiative in accordance with subsection (e)(2)(A). (13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Transportation.”
“Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); (C) a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); or (D) a public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d). (6) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative established under subsection (c). [[Page S3841]] (7) Marine terminal operator.--The term ``marine terminal operator'' has the meaning given the term in section 40102 of title 46, United States Code. (8) Ocean common carrier.--The term ``ocean common carrier'' has the meaning given the term in section 40102 of title 46, United States Code.”
“4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor list); or (C) identified as-- (i) a country of concern; or (ii) an entity subject to the jurisdiction, direction, or control of a country of concern. (4) CTPAT.--The term ``CTPAT'' means the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism established under subtitle B of title II of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 961 et seq.). (5) Declared national emergency.--The term ``declared national emergency'' means an emergency or major disaster that has been formally declared by the President pursuant to existing statutory authority, including-- (A) a national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); (B) an emergency declared by the President under section 501 of the Robert T.”
“(3) Covered logistics platform.--The term ``covered logistics platform'' means a logistics software, terminal operating system, or data aggregation platform that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Commander of the United States Transportation Command, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, identifies as being owned by, systemically integrated with, or utilizing proprietary software licensed by an entity that is-- (A) identified pursuant to section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note; Public Law 116-283); (B) included on the Entity List maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security and set forth in Supplement No.”
“(b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Commercial intermediary.--The term ``commercial intermediary'' means-- (A) a third-party logistics provider; (B) a customs broker; and (C) a freight forwarder. (2) Country of concern.--The term ``country of concern'' means a covered nation (as defined in section 4872(f) of title 10, United States Code).”
“113 note; Public Law 116-283), constitutes a direct and immediate threat to United States national security and Department of Defense mobilization capabilities; (2) the velocity and security of maritime terminals are essential matters of interstate commerce and national defense, requiring a unified, secure Federal data architecture; and (3) the American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative is explicitly intended to serve as a neutral, federally protected public utility that-- (A) preserves free-market autonomy; (B) protects confidential business information of United States businesses of all sizes; and (C) ensures the United States military and domestic workforce cannot be undermined by foreign logistics platforms.”
“(a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) the infiltration and influence of global maritime logistics networks by state-directed entities, specifically platforms such as the national transportation logistics public information platform (commonly known as ``LOGINK'') and entities identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3840-S3844] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6640. Mr. SCHMITT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 10__. AMERICAN SUPPLY CHAIN SOVEREIGNTY INITIATIVE.”
“(d) Third Party Transfer Defined.--In this section, the term ``third party transfer'' means any transfer of United States-origin defense articles, services, or technical data that requires approval of the President under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) or other applicable law. ______”
“(3) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed-- (A) to supersede current and future congressional notification requirements under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et. seq.); or (B) to limit or modify the requirements of section 3356 of title 22, United States Code. (b) Interagency Policy.--The Secretary of State shall review and update interagency policies and implementation guidance related to third party transfer requests from Taiwan and the Philippines, including by incorporating the procedure instituted pursuant to subsection (a)(1). (c) Duration.--The requirement under subsection (a)(1) shall continue until the Secretary of State determines and certifies to the relevant committees of Congress that threats to Taiwan and the Philippines have significantly abated.”
“(a) Procedure for Transfer of Certain Defense Articles.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, with updates not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with coordinating entities such as the National Disclosure Policy Committee, the Arms Transfer and Technology Release Senior Steering Group, and other relevant entities, shall institute a procedure to expedite consideration and decisions for third party transfers and release of military platforms, technologies, and equipment to Taiwan and the Philippines. (2) Clarification.--The procedure instituted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not supersede current or future efforts relating to [[Page S3782]] arms sales, transfers, and services to Taiwan or the Philippines.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3781-S3782] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6584. Mr. SCHMITT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1252. FAST-TRACKING THIRD PARTY TRANSFERS TO TAIWAN AND THE PHILIPPINES.”
“(5) A list of specific actions, timelines, responsible Department of Defense components, and resource requirements necessary to implement the strategy. (d) Form.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. (e) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the strategy required by subsection (a) is submitted, the Secretary of Defense shall provide the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives with a briefing on the strategy, including planned actions, timelines, responsible offices, resource requirements, and any legislative recommendations to enhance defense cooperation between the United States and New Zealand. ______”
“(3) An assessment of opportunities to expand defense industrial base cooperation between the United States and New Zealand, including with respect to secure supply chains, aviation sustainment, munitions, maintenance and repair capacity, trusted vendors, and the integration of New Zealand industry into allied defense supply chains, as appropriate. (4) An assessment of opportunities to strengthen logistics cooperation with New Zealand in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including through the Joint Logistics Pool, Christchurch gateway operations, support for McMurdo Station and Scott Base, cold-weather operations, airlift and sealift coordination, medical evacuation, search and rescue, communications, domain awareness, infrastructure resilience, and contingency planning for disruption of access to Antarctica.”
“(c) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment of the current state of United States defense cooperation with New Zealand, including defense dialogues, military-to-military engagements, information sharing, combined exercises, port visits, personnel exchanges, and other bilateral or multilateral activities. (2) A roadmap to expand military interoperability between the United States and New Zealand, including through increased participation in joint and combined exercises, expanded staff exchanges, improved operational planning, and greater coordination with Australia and other regional allies and partners.”
“(a) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy to enhance defense cooperation between the United States and New Zealand. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the strategy required by subsection (a) are-- (1) to strengthen the defense relationship between the United States and New Zealand; (2) to improve bilateral and multilateral military interoperability, support security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region; (3) to expand cooperation on space, and advanced defense and aerospace capabilities; and (4) to identify concrete actions to address shared security challenges in the Pacific and Antarctic regions.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3781] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6583. Mr. SCHMITT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1252. STRATEGY TO ENHANCE DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH NEW ZEALAND.”
“Louis Disabled Advisory Board, and the Governor's Mental Health Taskforce, just to name a few of her roles. This December, she will finally begin her well-earned retirement. She has gone above and beyond in supporting households with disabled family members, and as a fellow disability advocate, I am deeply grateful for her decades of service. She is truly one of the Gateway City's greatest and am proud to represent outstanding individuals such as herself in the U.S. Senate. ____________________”
“For the last 30 years, Wendy has served as CEO of Easterseals Midwest, and under her stewardship, Easterseals has expanded from a relatively small support organization helping a few hundred individuals to supporting over 25,000 across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois and now employs well over a thousand dedicated workers who endeavor to provide aid close to home. She has also helped Easterseals Midwest expand the services it offers, merging with the Center for Hearing and Speech to provide needed audiology and communication assistance to countless families. Wendy's spirit of service shines outside of the workplace as well. Over the years, she has served in leadership roles with the Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the St.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3737] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO WENDY SULLIVAN Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Wendy Sullivan, one of the Show-Me-State's leading disability advocates. Since beginning her career, she has spearheaded the transformation of disability services across the Midwest and helped equip countless families with the resources needed to thrive.”
“Despite the cold temperatures and dense fog that morning, Daniel and Jacob searched the area around the river until they located and rescued the woman from the frigid waters and ensured that she could receive the needed medical attention to survive. Daniel Newberry and many other park rangers across our great Republic go above and beyond every day to protect our fellow Americans from harm as they enjoy our Nation's natural beauty, but their work responding to crises such as this often go unnoticed. I sincerely appreciate Daniel's selfless work every single day. He is truly a Champion of Missouri, and I wish him all the best as he continues serving the people of Missouri. ____________________”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3737] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO DANIEL NEWBERRY Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Daniel Newberry, who serves as a park ranger with Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Earlier this spring, Daniel and his colleague Jacob were dispatched in part of a joint operation between the National Park Service, Carter County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and West Carter Ambulance District. In the pre-dawn hours, a woman suffered a medical crisis and waded into Missouri's Current River, not resurfacing for several minutes.”
“Before long, these two brave men were able to help find and rescue the woman in distress and safely deliver her to emergency medical staff. Jacob's bold and selfless efforts played a key role in saving her life. Park ranger Jacob Crowley is a shining example of what a public servant should be, going above and beyond to protect our fellow Americans. He exemplifies the very best of our Nation's first responders and has more than proven himself to be a Champion of Missouri. I deeply appreciate his lifesaving work and continued dedication to our great State and to our great Republic. May God bless Jacob and his family. ____________________”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3737] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO JACOB CROWLEY Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, today I want to honor Jacob Crowley, a park ranger at Ozark National Scenic Riverways. On a bitterly cold spring morning earlier this year, Jacob and his coworker Daniel responded to a call where an individual suffered a medical emergency in Missouri's Current River. Working closely with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Carter County Sheriff's Office, and West Carter Ambulance District, these rangers braved near-freezing temperatures and dense fog in the pre-dawn hours to search the riverbank and waters for the person in crisis.”
“A lifelong advocate for BackStoppers and other first responder support networks, over the course of his life, Steve helped raise millions of dollars to support the families of fallen and injured officers. Steve was also a dedicated family man and was a proud husband, father, and grandfather. I am also proud to have been able to call him a personal friend. Although he tragically passed away this June, he leaves behind a legacy of selfless service that few can match, and his dedicated lifetime of work will continue to help countless families for years to come. Steve was truly one of the Gateway City's greatest, and he will be deeply missed. May God watch over his family in the coming months. ____________________”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3737] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING STEVE HOLLEY Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Steve Holley, an outstanding Missourian who over the course of his life went above and beyond to support the Show-Me-State's brave first responders. One of the founding members of St. Louis Guns `N Hoses, where firefighters and police officers square off in boxing, MMA, and other athletic matches for charity, Steve served for many years as the organization's executive director.”
“Like the mortal men who shaped it, the Constitution made compromises that modern people may be critical of, but none should deny the revolutionary impact this great document has had in transforming the United States into the bastion of liberty we are blessed to live in today, spreading democratic ideals across the world, and making our country the envy of the free world. As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, I am happy to recognize Constitution Week this year, which runs from September 17 to 23. This celebration highlights the importance of the beating heart of our great Republic, which continues to guide our Nation forward today. May God bless the American people, and may God bless the United States of America. ____________________”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3736] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONSTITUTION WEEK Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, this July, we celebrated the 250th year of the great American experiment. Yet 239 years ago this September, a similarly important moment in our Republic's history took place. Eleven years after our Nation's founding, 55 men met in Philadelphia to revise America's first governing charter. Recognizing that the Articles of Confederation were too deeply flawed to guarantee effective government and safeguard our homeland, the Convention crafted a new Constitution to guide our great Republic forward.”
“The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of George Holding, of North Carolina, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2920] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, I ask that the Senate proceed to executive session and the Chair execute the order with respect to the Holding nomination at 1:45 p.m. today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report.”
“``And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, We mutually pledge to each [[Page S2920]] other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.''. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri. ____________________”
“``We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”
“We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and We have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as We hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.”
“``He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. ``In every stage of these Oppressions, We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. ``Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.”
“``He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. ``He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. ``He is, at this time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. ``He has constrained our fellow Citizens, taken Captive on the high Seas, to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.”
“``He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: ``For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: ``For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: ``For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: ``For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: ``For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: ``For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: ``For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: ``For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: ``For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.”
“``He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose, obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. ``He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. ``He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. ``He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance. ``He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the Consent of our legislatures. ``He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.”
“``He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. ``He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. ``He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.”
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. ``He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. ``He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. ``He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature; a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.”
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves, by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”
“``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
“In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Congress sets forth the text of the Declaration of Independence as follows: ``The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, ``When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
“(10) The Declaration of Independence presupposes that Americans are ``one people'' with the right to govern themselves as a distinct political community, to preserve their national independence, and to secure the rights and liberties of their own citizens. SEC. 3. REAFFIRMATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Congress reaffirms and re-adopts the Declaration of Independence as an Organic Law of the United States and as the enduring charter of American independence, national sovereignty, natural rights, equal citizenship, and government by consent. SEC. 4. TEXT OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.”
“(6) Congress has authority to recognize, reaffirm, and carry forward the foundational laws and principles of the American political order. (7) The 250th anniversary of American independence calls upon Congress to reaffirm the Declaration of Independence as the charter of American sovereignty, natural rights, equal citizenship, and government by consent. (8) The Constitution of the United States gives lawful form and enduring structure to the principles of republican self- government announced in the Declaration of Independence. (9) The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States together establish a political order in which the people are sovereign and public officers are their servants.”