Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. Proudly Serving the 6th District of Minnesota

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Washington, Nov 25 -

Nearly four decades ago, a group of settlers seeking religious freedoms, known as the Pilgrims, marked their thankfulness to God for countless blessings with a Thanksgiving celebration. The Pilgrims came to this land by believing in the establishment of a new colony so their children could grow up without needless interference from the government and come to know true liberty.

In 2010 we have witnessed the status quo of our nation become a period of ever-expanding entitlements, continuous bailouts, and government takeovers. Like parents before, a new group of freedom-seekers, the Tea Party, has decided to speak out in order to resurrect the limited government outlined in the Constitution for their children and future generations.

I’m thankful the Tea Party, comprised of Republicans, Conservatives, Libertarians, Democrats and Independents, took action and voiced their concerns to Congress. These men and women are freedom-loving patriots, and whether or not they are parents, they believe in preserving a better country for future generations so true liberty can be known.

The Tea Party is not a red party or a blue party, but a red, white, and blue party that has everything to do with our nation’s founding principles of free men, free markets, the rule of law, and respect for every human at every stage of life. These principles, like those of the Pilgrims, are the ones worth fighting for and defending today for our generation.

We witnessed Tea Partiers descend on the Capitol when Obama, Pelosi and Reid pushed through their health care expansion against the will of the American people. We saw them open up every imaginable line of communication to their Member of Congress including emails, phone calls, letters, and in-person visits to offices and town hall meetings.

Washington D.C. didn’t quite get the message in the 111^th Congress, but many members heard loud and clear when they were voted out of office in favor of candidates who support a limited government agenda. The Tea Party and Americans have given Republicans a second chance, and for that I’m thankful. But we need to remember we weren’t given the majority because of the “R” behind our names. Rather, it’s because Americans didn’t like the course our nation was on. They believe we must act within the parameters in the Constitution, reduce taxes, and not spend more than we take in.

Our freedoms have been defended time and time again from the bleeding soldiers in the snow at Valley Forge to the brave men and women in the treacherous terrain in Afghanistan. We owe a debt of gratitude to these heroes. We also must not let their sacrifices be in vain. Congress has to do everything in our power to strengthen our nation to ensure it continues as a free and sovereign nation well into the future.

Congress has an opportunity to lay the groundwork for repealing Obamacare and reversing the course of bailouts and takeovers. We must progress ahead to create certainly in the marketplace, lower taxes so small businesses can thrive in order to create needed jobs.

It will be a lot of work, but work the American people expect because it’s necessary to preserve a nation for our children. I wish for my children to know a nation that isn’t riddled with debt to China; a nation that doesn’t know programs that support a redistribution of wealth.

Many Pilgrims paid the ultimate price – sickness and death – as they sought freedom. But they found a better future for their children. On Thanksgiving they were able to celebrate family, the company of one another and their Indian neighbors, a bountiful harvest, and most of all the opportunity to serve their God without government hindrance. May we too in 2010, like the Pilgrims, always press forward toward true liberty and freedom.