1.7.23
“America, Let’s Hold Kevin McCarthy Accountable – His Remarks After Winning U. S. House Speakership”
From Donna Garner
[COMMENTS FROM DONNA GARNER: We must all remember that if the courageous Republican “hold-outs” had not brought the House to the 15th vote, none of the concessions agreed upon by McCarthy would have happened. Here are a few to which McCarthy was forced to agree. Let’s hope they are in writing:
CONCESSIONS MADE BY KEVIN MC CARTHY
To keep his superPAC out of open-seat Republican primary contests so that the Washington “elite” will not try to push RINO candidates in conservative districts
To appoint more conservatives to the powerful Rules Committee
To accept a rule allowing any one member of the House to file a motion forcing a “no confidence” vote in the Speaker.
To hold floor votes on border security legislation and term limits
To allow more amendments to the House floor to improve legislation
Excerpts from 1.7.23 Fox News article:
“Kevin McCarthy won the speakership just after midnight Saturday with 216 votes to Democrat Hakeem Jeffries' 212”
By Lawrence Richard, Chad Pergram – Fox News
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy officially opened the 118th Congress early Saturday morning, holding the speaker’s gavel and conducting a chamber-wide swearing-in ceremony for new members.
…After his victory in the 15th and final vote, McCarthy lauded: "I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up. I will never give up for you, the American people. And I will never give up on keeping our Commitment to America."
"Our nation is worth fighting for," he added in his opening remarks.
Upon accepting the gavel as Speaker of the House, McCarthy thanked his colleagues for their support and shared his vision for uniting the legislative body."You know – my father always told me: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And now we need to finish strong for the American people," he said.
"As Speaker of the House, my ultimate responsibility is not to my party, my conference, or even our Congress. My responsibility – our responsibility – is to our country," the Californian continued. "Two months ago, you voted for a new direction for our country. You embraced our Commitment to America. And now, we are going to keep our commitment to you."
His remarks also included a warning for Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, who was selected by the chamber’s Democrats to be House Minority Leader.
"If the son of a fireman and grandchild of immigrants can rise to the highest position in the most important legislative body in the world and if my colleague Hakeem Jeffries with his life story can rise to lead his party then opportunity and democracy still thrive in America," McCarthy said.
He added: "To Leader Jeffries – there will be times we will agree and many times we will differ. I promise that our debates will be passionate, but never personal. And now the hard work begins. What we do here today, next week, next month, and next year will set the tone for everything that follows."
…McCarthy also revealed some of his priorities for this session of Congress, which included: investigating China, securing the country’s border, and attempting to eliminate some of the federal debt, which is over $31 trillion.
"We will also address America’s long-term challenges: the debt and the Chinese Communist Party. Congress must speak with one voice on both of these issues," the House speaker said.
He vowed to build a "nation that is safe" and help form a "future that is built on freedom." McCarthy also wanted to construct a "government that is accountable where Americans get the answers they want, need, and deserve."
"Our system is built on checks and balances. It’s time for us to be the check and provide some balance to the President’s policies," McCarthy added. "There is nothing more important than making it possible for American families to live and enjoy the lives they deserve."
He also committed to "stop wasteful Washington spending to lower the price of groceries, gas, cars, and housing and stop the rising national debt."
"We pledge to cut the regulatory burden, lower energy costs for families, and create good-paying jobs for workers by unleashing reliable, abundant American-made energy," McCarthy added. "Our first bill will repeal funding for 87,000 new IRS agents. Because the government should be here to help you, not go after you."
The Republican also said he would reopen the U.S. Capitol Building, which remained behind additional security measures and was mostly inaccessible to the public following the riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
"My friends – this chamber is now fully open for all Americans," he said, which was met with thunderous applause from Republicans. Democrats in the chamber remained silent.
…Closing his remarks, McCarthy said: "Our nation is worth fighting for. Our rights are worth fighting for. Our dreams are worth fighting for. Our future is worth fighting for."
— Samford University president Beck A. Taylor
Cautioning against "the temptation to label what’s happening, or to put it into some kind of a neat box," Taylor added that he is "convinced that God is doing a new thing here, and all we’re asked to do is to remain faithful to God’s calling."
"Our theme this year is HOPE. Our hope can be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we worship Jesus today, let’s allow hope to abound in us so that we can spread God’s hope throughout this campus and the world," Taylor said."
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What's happening at Asbury is not and will not remain confined," tweeted Rob Fultz, who serves as campus pastor of Lee University, a private university founded in 1918 and affiliated with the Church of God.
…
"It will, and already is awakening the deep wells of revival on campuses across the nation. They have been churning, pressing against the seals that have kept them hidden, and they are about to burst with new life."
Fultz tweeted photos of his school's services that he noted, like Asbury, have also lingered for days. A video he posted shows students shouting "in prayer, worship, and repentance."
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Abby Laub, director of communications at Asbury University, recently told Fox News Digital that she believes Gen Z is spiritually hungry.
"If you look at the world, and you look at what is going on and what Gen Z is facing, I just think they are absolutely desperate for something other than what the world is giving them right now," Laub said, adding that Gen Z has suffered much during the past few years.