I’ve just returned from Washington, DC, and have one more trip scheduled to the Hill before Congress takes their August break. When I return in two weeks, it will mark ten years of ministry on Capitol Hill. I never would have imagined such a long and impactful engagement in the halls of Congress.
The city was buzzing with activity with representatives of NATO nations in town, other events, and scores of groups walking the halls lobbying for various causes including the homeless crisis.
On top of the busyness, the heat and humidity were oppressive. The air conditioner in my hotel room had trouble keeping up with the intense heat on the other side of the window. Walking the block from my hotel to the Cannon Building was like being in a sauna and there wasn’t much relief when stepping into the House office buildings. After being on the Hill for 10 years, I’ve identified the coolest places like the stairwells in the Rayburn Building.
The atmosphere on the Hill was intense with a variety of issues, not the least of which was how Democrats would address the candidacy and presidency of President Biden. Democrats would try to make it through the halls avoiding reporters asking for a comment. The House of Representatives was considering several important pieces of legislation.
One bill was calling for the impeachment of two Supreme Court justices. The thought that there are three equal and separate branches of government was clearly absent as in this poster outside the office of Representative Hank Johnson.
A bill calling for fines to be levied against Attorney General Merrick Garland for being in contempt of Congress was posted outside the office of Representative Anna Paulina Luna.
The SAVE Act requiring citizenship to be able to vote in elections was passed. Five Democrats voted for the measure and over 190 voted against requiring those who vote to be citizens.
As I visited offices delivering my notes of encouragement, there were so many positive encounters with members, staff, custodial staff, Capitol Police, and maintenance workers who work for the Architect of the Capitol.
During the day I saw a representative from Arkansas. We reflected on an occurrence in July of 2020 when we were standing in the Capitol chatting chatting just outside the Rayburn Room. As we were talking, Secret Service agents came around the corner and asked us to back up to allow space for a VIP heading to offer respect to Representative John Lewis who had just died and was lying in honor in the Rotunda.
Soon, then Vice President Biden shuffled by us within about six feet from where we were standing. As he passed by, the representative clearly said, “Hello Mr. Vice President.” The President continued to shuffle by with no response, seemingly oblivious to the greeting. The representative turned to me with a look of amazement. It was clear to both of us that Mr. Biden wasn’t “all there” even four years ago.
I share that story only as a personal confirmation of the mental decline of President Biden that I experienced. Now, the Democrat Party and the media are having to address the concerns that have been evident to so many for years.
In our Wednesday evening worship service, Representative G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania spoke. Representative Thompson was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in November of last year. He underwent chemotherapy and is now in remission. His strength and stamina is returning.
He shared lessons from this experience and it was a powerful testimony of God’s power to heal. He also shared that while he received recommendations to seek treatment from M.D. Anderson in Houston, The Mayo Clinic, and other locations, he found a wonderful doctor in Georgetown who treated him. One of his reasons for staying in the DC area was due to the fact that he knew the margin the majority party had in the House was slim and he wanted to be able to make all of the votes while undergoing treatment, which he did. G.T. is a wonderful and courageous man of God.
Following our time of worship, we made our way to the Rotunda for “The Lord’s Supper,” prayer and singing. It was a meaningful completion to what I thought was the end of my day.
While walking away from the Capitol I encountered a group of West Point cadets being escorted into the Capitol by Representatives David Schweikert, Derrick Van Orden, and Dean Phillips along with pollster, Frank Luntz. With Frank’s invitation, we headed back into the Capitol to participate in the tour with the cadets and I knew that I would probably end up singing back in the Rotunda before the end of the evening.
I’ve done this late-night tour with Frank several times in the past. He is always eager to have me sing in the Rotunda or the House Chamber. As we entered the Capitol, Frank shared with me that this was the first bipartisan tour he had been able to arrange through the Capitol.
Soon I was sitting in the House Chamber with the West Point cadets as Republican Representative David Schweikert of Arizona and Democratic Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota were telling the cadets about how the House of Representatives functions or in some cases doesn’t function.
The interaction included exchanges between to the two gentlemen regarding policy and each of them commented on how their discourse was totally alien to how things work in the House. There was a genuine sense of respect between the two representatives and an acknowledgment that their parties do not foster the kind of free exchange of ideas.
Representative Schweikert is a numbers guy and he made it clear that the most serious threat to the nation was our national debt. Without drastic steps, the nation and especially future generations will be crushed by staggering debt. Mr. Schweikert painted a very dire situation stating that Congress does not have the courage and intelligence to address the situation. The financial hole that has been dug will take more than reduced spending or tax increases to solve.
From the House Chamber, we made our way to the Rotunda where Frank Luntz asked me to sing for the cadets and their professors. Before I sang “America the Beautiful”, with the reverberation provided by the dome, I shared my connection with several Army Medal of Honor recipients whose names they recognized. Frank suggested that the cadets pull out their phones and record my singing in that hallowed space, which all of them did.
As I flew home Thursday morning, I received this text from Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona. Pray for him and his family which includes his wife and five children.
I remain convinced that God has put me on Capitol Hill for such a time as this. I will return to DC in two for my last visit before Congress takes their August break. It will be an interesting time as Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel will also be on the Hill to speak to Congress.
Pray for more opportunities for members of Congress to learn from each other and seek solutions to the serious problems facing the nation. Pray for impact on the cadets who experienced an up close and personal view of how our government works.
God bless.
Steve
