July is Patriot Month
June 30, 2023 | Washington, D.C.
After a month overtaken by “Pride,” Eagle Forum is dubbing July as “Patriot” month. We encourage all Americans to unite in celebration of our founding principles and gratitude to live in the best nation on earth. We are thrilled to be heading into a long weekend of Independence Day festivities including cookouts with family and neighbors and fireworks displays. This weekend is more importantly a time to remember our nation’s genesis, history, and exceptionalism while pledging our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to preserve the blessing of liberty for ourselves and our posterity!
Every July 4, we celebrate the 56 brave colonists who declared independence from the British monarchy and laid the foundation for the freedoms we enjoy today. This Declaration was not an opportunity for rebellious men to make a political statement or to boost their careers. It was a document that carried with it severe consequences as well as priceless gifts for future generations.
After Congress approved the resolution on July 2 of that year, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
We now celebrate that event two days later when the Declaration of Independence was signed and ratified. The Declaration boldly proclaims the intentions of the Founding Fathers to create a sovereign nation. Those principles, almost two hundred fifty years later, are still worth fighting for and still require vigilance to protect.
At times, it seems that our nation is veering away from the principles of freedom outlined by the Founding Fathers. For decades, Eagle Forum has advocated for and worked alongside members of Congress to defend our freedoms and preserve the family unit. During the first six months of this new Congress, we have worked to secure some victories by passing good legislation and blocking bad policies. We would like to highlight for you how Eagle Forum has preserved the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” during the first half of the First Session of the 118th Congress.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are…
Life,
June 24th marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court rightly decided in the Dobbs case that Americans, through their elected representatives, are the proper ones to have a voice on the topic of abortion. The pro-life members of the United States House and Senate have continued to fight for the protection of preborn babies and their mothers. One of the first votes taken in the House this year was on the Born Alive Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26) to ensure medical care for babies born alive during failed abortion procedures. At the same time, another vote occurred on a resolution (H.Con.Res. 3) to condemn the violent attacks on pro-life institutions. This measure even garnered three Democrat votes. Both measures passed the House but have yet to be taken up in the Senate.
Even though Republicans have a minority in the Senate, pro-life Senators are doing all they can for life. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has held up hundreds of military promotions due to the recent policy change by the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow abortion to occur at Veterans Affairs facilities. He introduced a resolution (S.J.Res. 10) to disapprove of the DOD’s actions which ultimately failed. Democrats have engaged in various negotiations with Tuberville, but he refuses to waver until the DOD repeals their policy (that violates federal law) to allow abortions at the VA.
Both House and Senate Republicans are committed to ensuring that Hyde amendment protections (to prevent taxpayer funding of abortions) are included in all appropriations bills. Eagle Forum has supported these measures and has encouraged Sen. Tuberville to stand firm.
Liberty,
The Biden administration has done its best to strip away Americans’ individual liberties. No matter how seemingly big or small the policy has been, Eagle Forum has sounded the alarm on the federal governments encroachment on our rights. From the attempted banning of gas stoves and automobiles to fighting ESG investment mandates, we are standing up for liberty and freedom.
Perhaps one of the most aggressive ideologies pushed by the radical Left has been the erasure of women. Women of all ages are being forced to surrender their privacy, femininity, and achievements under the guise of “equality” and “inclusiveness.”
Earlier this year, the Senate tried to revive the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) that proponents claimed would give women “equal rights.” Phyllis knew the truth then and it is still the same today. The result of an ERA would be devastating for women — placing them on the front lines of war, codifying abortion-on-demand, opening bathrooms to both sexes and more. Democrats proposed a resolution to eliminate the seven-year deadline despite multiple court cases and statements from the National Archivist confirming the timeline has expired. The failure of the resolution to pass the Senate in April was yet another embarrassment for feminists.
House Republicans took several important actions to protect every member of the family unit. They passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 734) to ensure fair play for biological females in women’s sports. They also passed the Parents Bill of Rights (H.R. 5) to clarify that parents have a say in what their children are learning and doing in schools.
In the same vein, Eagle Forum has encouraged Congress to hold the Biden administration accountable for interfering with our daily lives. Many efforts have been made to nullify proposed rules such as the new Title IX regulations, the elimination of gas stoves, the allowance of investors to make decisions based on environmental and social governance (ESG), and mandatory COVID vaccine requirements. We also continue to sound the alarm on the World Health Organization’s authoritarian efforts to control not only future pandemics but all public health issues on a global scale.
…and the pursuit of happiness.
We know that happiness cannot be legislated, however, our right to pursue happiness may not be infringed by the laws and policies of the government. Thomas Jefferson, the drafter of the Declaration, borrowed the sentiment of John Locke, who used the term “property” instead of “pursuit of happiness” in his writings. It is thought that Jefferson believed the term ‘pursuit of happiness’ was broader than mere property because it indicated our right to enjoy not just the things we owned but the fruits of our labor. The right of personal property means that after people work hard, they can retain their earnings for themselves and their families. Only a nation that enjoys economic freedom can enjoy political freedom. Only if you are secure in the ownership of your property and the right to choose your occupation, can you speak your mind and vote your choice without the fear of having your livelihood confiscated.
As conservatives, we must consistently pull back the reins of the federal government to allow true freedom to pursue the American Dream. We need to hold the federal government accountable for how much they spend, what they legislate, and with whom they do business. Our future depends on it.