ABC News - Mike Johnson addresses the 119th Congress following speaker vote
The speaker expresses gratitude for the election and acknowledges the recent terrorist attack in Louisiana, asking for a moment of silence for the victims. He highlights the importance of family support in public service. The speech reflects on America's historical achievements and emphasizes the nation's unique role as a global leader. The speaker outlines a vision for the 119th Congress, focusing on American conservatism principles such as individual freedom, limited government, and fiscal responsibility. He calls for policies that prioritize American interests, including securing borders, reducing government size, and enhancing military strength. The speaker stresses the need for bipartisan cooperation to address inflation, restore economic dominance, and ensure national security. He concludes with a call for unity and commitment to American values, invoking a prayer by Thomas Jefferson as a reminder of the nation's foundational principles.
Key Points:
- Emphasize American values and unity in Congress.
- Prioritize national interests with policies like securing borders and reducing government size.
- Focus on economic growth by addressing inflation and restoring economic dominance.
- Enhance military strength and readiness to ensure national security.
- Invoke historical American principles to guide current and future actions.
Details:
1. 🙏 Gratitude and Humility: A New Chapter
- The speaker expressed deep gratitude towards colleagues and the chamber for both the nomination and election, emphasizing the honor and responsibility of the role.
- They acknowledged the importance of humility in accepting the position and the trust placed in them by others.
- The speaker highlighted plans to leverage this position to foster collaboration and drive meaningful change, reflecting a commitment to serve effectively.
- They stressed the significance of maintaining a humble approach to leadership, ensuring that decisions are made in consideration of the community's best interests.
2. 🕊️ Tribute to New Orleans: A Moment of Silence
- The terrorist attack in New Orleans resulted in the deaths of 14 innocent people.
- Dozens more were injured in the attack, highlighting the severity of the incident.
- The event has significantly impacted the state of Louisiana, causing widespread distress and prompting a state-wide response.
- A moment of silence was observed in honor of the victims, signifying a collective mourning and solidarity with the affected families.
- Local authorities have increased security measures in response to the attack, aiming to prevent future incidents.
- Community members have organized vigils and memorials to honor the victims and support their families.
3. 👨👩👧👦 Family and Sacrifice: Acknowledging Support
- Honoring family and spouses is essential and should be regularly practiced. This acknowledgment strengthens both personal and professional relationships by highlighting the crucial role that family support plays in achieving success.
- The presence of the speaker's wife at the event underscores the importance of visible family support, serving as a reminder to appreciate and recognize the sacrifices made by loved ones.
- Incorporating regular appreciation for family contributions can lead to improved morale and motivation, both personally and professionally.
4. 🇺🇸 Celebrating American Heritage and Values
- Children of public servants often face sacrifices with no special perks, emphasizing the personal challenges they endure.
- Family support is crucial for public servants, as highlighted by the demanding travel schedules and long hours that impact family life.
- Recognition of family members as vital support systems underscores their irreplaceable role in enabling public servants to perform their duties effectively.
- Specific examples of sacrifices made by families include missing important events and adapting to the constant demands of public service life.
- Anecdotes about family resilience and support provide deeper insight into the personal aspects of public service commitment.
5. 🔍 Reflecting on America's Historical Milestones
- The 119th Congress is recognizing the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, highlighting its significance in shaping the nation.
- The United States is noted as the freest, most powerful, and benevolent nation in history, emphasizing its global influence and achievements.
- The recurring reminder that 'freedom is never free' underscores the ongoing efforts and sacrifices required to maintain liberty.
- The nation's historical milestones are framed as a testament to its enduring status as a global leader.
- Specific historical events such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Civil Rights Movement, and America's role in World Wars are pivotal in understanding the development of its global leadership.
- The anniversary serves as a moment to reflect on the advancements in democracy, civil rights, and technological innovations that have positioned the U.S. as a leader.
- Acknowledging the challenges and triumphs in American history enhances the narrative of a nation continually striving for progress and freedom.
6. 🌍 America's Unique Global Leadership Role
- America has historically achieved milestones considered impossible, such as ending slavery, winning two world wars, and landing on the moon.
- The United States, despite being a young nation at 250 years, holds a unique and significant position in global leadership.
- The presence at international forums like the G7 highlights America's role and the recognition of its importance by global allies.
- The speaker reflects on conversations with international leaders who recognize the significance of the U.S. and its legislative body, emphasizing the country's exceptionalism and singular importance.
7. 🇺🇸 Core Principles: The Foundation of Conservatism
- President Calvin Coolidge emphasized the importance of being 'intensely and scrupulously American' as a way to best serve the country and fulfill obligations to humanity.
- The United States is considered the 'Envy of the world' due to its unique American spirit and approach, rather than emulating other nations.
- A strong America is viewed as beneficial for the entire world, highlighting the global impact of America's leadership.
8. 🇺🇸 Championing the America First Agenda
- The America First Agenda is grounded in seven core conservative principles: individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, and human dignity. These principles are identified as pivotal to America's historical success and identity.
- Human flourishing is believed to be best supported by adhering to these foundational truths, advocating for policies that offer a 'hand up' rather than a 'hand out,' thereby fostering innovation and reducing bureaucratic obstacles.
- There is a strong emphasis on empowering parents and families in the education system, rather than leaving decisions to administrators, illustrating a specific application of these principles.
- Policies prioritizing America and Americans first are seen as the key to prosperity, which reflects the public's mandate as demonstrated in the recent election cycle, highlighting the demand for the America First agenda in the 119th Congress.
- Specific policy examples include reducing government intervention to stimulate free market growth and enhancing national security through a focus on peace through strength, showcasing practical implementations of the agenda's principles.
9. 🗳️ Political Shifts and the Call for Border Security
- For the past four years, divided government has led to open borders and overregulation, negatively impacting cities and innovation.
- Inflation and weak leadership have contributed to economic challenges for Americans, placing the country in a difficult situation.
- Recently, a significant political movement has emerged, with a diverse group of Americans advocating for prioritizing national interests.
- A new coalition is calling for the rejection of past policies perceived as detrimental, emphasizing the need for change in governance.
- The current Congress plans to respond to public demands by prioritizing border defense as a primary action point.
10. 💡 Economic Revitalization and Energy Policies
10.1. Border and Immigration Enforcement
10.2. Inflation Control and Tax Policies
10.3. Trade, Investment, and Inflation Mitigation
10.4. Natural Resource Utilization and Energy Policies
11. 🎯 Military Focus and Bureaucratic Reforms
- Legislation will be passed to roll back the administrative state, referred to as the 'totalitarian fourth branch of government'.
- There will be a drastic reduction in the size and scope of the government.
- Power will be returned to the people, reducing bureaucratic control.
- In collaboration with President Trump, a leaner, faster, and more efficient Federal Workforce will be created.
- The initiative aims to prevent governance by unelected bureaucrats.
12. 🔄 Empowering the People: A Return to Core Values
- The principle of having a government led by elected representatives aligns with the original intent of Article One, emphasizing accountability and the need for transparency in governance.
- There is a strong call to action from the American people to reject 'business as usual' in current governance, advocating for significant changes that reflect public dissatisfaction.
- Concrete examples include the need for legislative reforms that ensure representatives are truly accountable to their constituents, fostering a system that prioritizes the people's interests.
- Historical context highlights how deviations from these core values have led to public discontent, suggesting a return to these principles can restore trust in governance.
- Case studies of successful implementations of these principles in local governments demonstrate their practicality and benefits, such as increased civic engagement and improved policy outcomes.
13. 🛡️ Strengthening National Defense: A Call to Action
- Criticism is directed at the Washington establishment for replacing experienced military personnel with 'social justice warriors,' which is perceived to weaken national defense.
- There is a call to halt the erosion of military capabilities and to restore the Army, Navy, and Air Force's readiness and effectiveness.
- Strategies include reinstating fear in adversaries, focusing military missions on lethality, and ensuring commitments are aligned with peace through strength.
- Specific actions recommended include increasing defense budgets, investing in advanced military technology, and enhancing training programs to improve combat readiness.
14. 💪 Unity and Common Sense: Leading with Purpose
- Prioritize investments in defense due to the current global danger level, the most severe since World War II.
- The world looks to America for leadership to maintain peace, indicating a need for strong, unified actions.
- A return to 'Common Sense' in policy and leadership is advocated, resonating with the country's populace.
- Emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration among national leaders to achieve common goals.
15. 🙏 A Closing Reflection: Trust in Providence and Unity
- The speaker emphasizes the belief in Providence rather than luck or consequence, highlighting a trust in a divine guiding force.
- A bipartisan and ecumenical prayer service was held, signifying unity across different faiths and political lines.
- The speaker recites Thomas Jefferson's prayer for the nation, emphasizing values such as unity, justice, and peace, and a call to defend liberties and promote sound learning.
- The notion of being at a historic 250-year inflection point for the nation is highlighted, suggesting a significant moment for leadership and decision-making.
- The speaker mentions a new Coalition of Americans demanding a thriving economy, rebuilt middle class, strong borders, and military, emphasizing goals beyond political affiliations.
- An opportunity is identified to protect American heritage and maintain conditions for self-government, aligning with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- The potential for this Congress to be one of the most consequential in history is noted, contingent on working together and putting America first.
- A vision for the future is expressed, focusing on enduring civic virtues and the nation's role as an example of self-government.