Dear Friends,
As your representative in Congress, I often find myself reflecting on my duty to serve you and protect your interests in Washington. Along these lines, you have probably heard me speak about the importance of protecting you from the federal government’s overreach.
In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams aptly detailed why it is so important to care for our freedom and liberty:
“Cities may be rebuilt, and a people, reduced to poverty, may acquire fresh property. But a constitution of government, once changed from freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost, is lost forever. When the people once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their right of defending the limitations upon the Government, and of resisting every encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.”
For some, this limited view of government begs the question, who will take care of those who are most in need?
The answer is we the people. It’s often easy to take for granted the extraordinary resolve of the American people. During times of crisis especially, the American people are tested, and yet we continually emerge stronger than ever. We have survived attacks, we have won wars, and we have prevailed through terrible tragedies. Every time, without hesitation, the American people rise to the occasion to help their neighbors.
Caring for our neighbors is not just limited to times of crisis. In 2011, for example, Americans donated nearly $300 billion to their preferred causes.
Over the last several weeks, I have had the privilege of visiting a number of organizations that embody the “we the people” approach to our neighbors’ needs. Specifically, I want to commend the House of Help/City of Hope non-profit in Washington, D.C., a faith-based substance abuse and homeless program that is dedicated to providing assistance to families, women, and children; and the Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels, an organization with hundreds of volunteers on fourteen routes delivering meals to clients throughout northern Bergen County.
Each of these organizations represents the spirit of “we the people” who form and preserve our Constitution. The men, women, and children who serve our communities—selflessly , dutifully, and sometimes thanklessly—are the bedrock of our great nation. When our Constitution was adopted, people relied on their communities for help. And to this day our best help comes from our communities—our families, our churches, and our neighbors. Who better knows our needs and how best to address them than our communities?
A strong community is the backbone of our nation, and I am committed to preserving the people’s natural inclination to common generosity. We don’t need the federal government to reach every area of our lives—we have each other for that.
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett