Charles Skelton: “it has been said that politics is the art of compromise. Today, the House is debating a bill that would designate a…”

“it has been said that politics is the art of compromise. Today, the House is debating a bill that would designate a number of National Heritage Areas throughout the United States, including the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. That portion of the bill, which was drafted by my good friend from Kansas, Congressman Jim Ryun, is the product of much negotiation and compromise, and I am pleased to lend my support to it. As a student of history, I believe it is part of our government's responsibility to promote history education and to provide opportunities for the American people to learn about our nation's rich past. Doing so is critical to forming a more perfect union and to ensuring we do not repeat the mistakes of yesteryear. The people of Missouri and Kansas have contributed a great deal to our nation. In many ways, the border region has mirrored the finest and darkest days in American history. From the bloody border conflicts that set the stage for the Civil War to our mutual struggle to expand the definition of freedom, Missourians and Kansans have played a role in this history. In fact, two great leaders from this region, Harry S Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, descendants of pioneers, found common purpose on the larger stage of world history and led the wartorn nations of the 20th century toward the fulfillment of democracy's promise.…”