my colleagues and I here in Washington are here to fulfill a sacred public trust, a commitment we made the moment we raised our hands and swore the oath of office. Whether we swore that oath 30 days ago or 30 years ago, that commitment remains very real. We are here to fight for the citizens of our respective States, to represent their concerns and to make sure their voice rings out in the committee hearings and on the floor of this Chamber. That is the obligation we took upon ourselves the moment we entered public service. I know it is something all of us take very seriously. I call upon my colleagues to rise to the challenge of this pivotal moment. It is time to live up to the promise we made. It is time to stand up for the people we came here to represent, from all 50 States of this Union. It is time to take action on Wall Street reform so we can restore accountability to a system that has spiraled out of control, and cost billions in taxpayers' dollars. The U.S. Constitution makes it clear that my colleagues and I are accountable to the American people we came here to serve. But because we enjoy a thriving free market system, Wall Street bankers are bound by no such accountability.
Editor's note · Context
The speaker addresses the need for accountability in Wall Street reform and the responsibilities of Congress.
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