National Character Counts Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, since 1993, Congress has adopted a resolution to recognize this third week of October as National Character Counts Week, and, of course, we are in that week right now.

As Iowa's senior U.S. Senator, I am proud to sponsor the resolution and share that the global headquarters for the Character Counts organization is located in my home State. The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center is located at Drake University.

By the way, Bob Ray was Iowa's Governor for 14 years. So the location in Des Moines makes perfect sense to me because Iowa's values align with the six pillars of character promoted by the national Character Counts organization. These include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

Throughout my public service, I have strived to improve civic engagement and bridge divisions through respectful dialogue. Part of that effort includes my annual 99 county meetings, where I meet with Iowans face to face. No topic is off limit, and Iowans set the agenda.

Each year, the Drake University Ray Center celebrates ``Iowa Character Awards'' to recognize those who embody civic values. The people of Spencer, IA, will receive the ``Community Character Award'' of 2025 in recognition of their efforts to recover from devastating floods the summer of last year.

Like the courageous first responders from 9/11, emergency response teams from across Northwest Iowa pitched in to help the people of Spencer. They didn't stop to consider creed, race, gender, or political affiliation. They were only concerned about those who had the needs caused by the devastating flood. So they simply rolled up their sleeves, and they simply pulled together, neighbors helping neighbors. And, of course, that is the Iowa way.

History tells us how important it is for elected leaders to govern by virtue. At the Virginia ratifying convention, debating whether or not Virginia should ratify the new Constitution, James Madison said:

``To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.''

The American people who elected us are counting on us to live by those standards. National Character Counts Week is a good time to do what is right.

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