Michele Bachmann: “I expect that, shortly, a colleague will be here that I will hand off to for a few minutes to deal with several…”

“I expect that, shortly, a colleague will be here that I will hand off to for a few minutes to deal with several housekeeping issues, but, for the moment that I have, I want to focus on an issue that has gained the attention--as well it should--of the American people. The number one duty of government, Mr. Speaker, is to secure the safety and the security of the American people. That is why we have a government. That is why we exist. It is the reason why countries enjoy sovereignty and declare themselves sovereign nations. That means they are a separate political unit, and they exist for the purpose of preserving the safety and security of their people. That is our duty, and that is our government. It seems, Mr. Speaker, throughout each generation that somehow, some way, there is a force that comes against a nation. In different eras, we have had different foes that the United States has had to contend with, beginning at our founding, when the United States of America, through our Declaration of Independence and through our Constitution, on this, our Constitution Day--and, by the way, we say happy Constitution Day to all Americans. We are very proud of our United States Constitution. Contained within the Constitution is the admonition to the President, to the Congress, to the Supreme Court, again, to ensure that, in our founding document, we understand that it is the duty of the government to secure the safety and the security of the American people.…”