Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress. The U.S. Congress's roots can be traced to the First Continental Congress, which convened in Philadelphia's own Carpenters' Hall in 1774 and was one of the most significant events in the founding of our Nation. Colonial delegates solidified a united American identity by adopting the Declaration of Colonial Rights, which created the Colonial coalition that later signed the Declaration of Independence. After the U.S. War of Independence, the Continental Congress evolved into the Federation Congress and ultimately the U.S. Congress as established by the Constitution in 1787. In July 2024, the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia, the nonprofit organization founded in 1724 that owns and operates Carpenters' Hall, will convene the Young People's Continental Congress, YPCC. A diverse group of high school students and their teachers from the 13 original Colonies will gather in Philadelphia to explore our Nation's founding. A second convening in July 2025 will engage students and teachers from all 56 States and jurisdictions. YPCC is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage young people in history and civics, as well as to launch Philadelphia's celebration of the semiquincentennial of American independence in 2026. YPCC delegates will discuss America's founding principles and how those principles have been expressed over our history.…”