Mark Alford: “I am proud to announce our winners today for our second annual Missouri's Fourth Congressional District speech…”

“I am proud to announce our winners today for our second annual Missouri's Fourth Congressional District speech competition for 2025. This is something we started last year here in this very Chamber, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to maybe adopt this in their district to try to re-instill patriotism into our great Nation. Our prompt this year is: What does it mean to stand for freedom here at home and abroad? Our first winner is Taylor Olendorff who is in the 11th grade at Glasgow High School. Taylor wrote this: Standing for freedom means advocating for the inherent rights of individuals to live without oppression, pursue their dreams, and express themselves without fear. In America, freedom is foundational, symbolized by democratic values like free speech, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. At home, this means protecting civil liberties and ensuring justice for all, regardless of race, gender or background. Abroad, America plays a critical role in promoting freedom by supporting democratic movements, opposing tyranny, and providing humanitarian aid. The U.S. has historically used its influence to encourage the spread of human rights and liberty worldwide, embodying the belief that freedom is a universal right, not just an American ideal.”