{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363827", "Cruz, Gohmert honored by We the People", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Louie Gohmert", "G000552", "gohmert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, both R-Texas, were honored with \u201cChampions of Freedom\u201d awards at a dinner event by Grassroots America \u2014 We the People Friday night. More than 600 people attended.\r\nGohmert shared stories about personal stands he made and times he questioned colleagues in his own party, and how changes are needed within Congressional ranks.\r\nGohmert said his willingness to stand against members and policies from both side of the aisle comes from his belief he is representing his district\u2019s concerns and ideals. He said East Texans understand the fundamental problems within Washington, such as the national debt, and is compelled to \u201ccall members to the carpet\u201d on their behalf.\r\n\u201cThere is so much freedom to represent a group who you have so much faith in,\u201d he said.\r\nGohmert said it doesn\u2019t win him popularity among many members and draws scrutiny, but he has faith patriotic Americans would be willing to take difficult stands.\r\n\u201cThere are ways to change America, and they all start with Americans,\u201d he said.\r\nGohmert said Cruz\u2019s election to the Senate was a sign of that change in direction and called for more help in the nation\u2019s capital.\r\nCruz applauded Texas\u2019 grassroots tea party fervor that has changed the political landscape in the state and nation. He said conservatives \u201chave it right\u201d and that President Barack Obama\u2019s agenda, from surveillance within the U.S., directives against the First and Second amendments, and the health care law, represent an affront to America\u2019s founding principles. He called Obama an \u201cimperial president,\u201d because of those policy initiatives.\r\nCruz said he stands against those policies because his constituents are worried about the nation\u2019s direction.\r\n\u201cPeople are scared for the future of this country,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re scared that their children and grandchildren won\u2019t have the opportunity to experience prosperity and freedom they experienced.\u201d\r\nCruz said the only way to create opportunity for Hispanics, African-Americans and women is to return the nation to its Constitutional free-market roots and revive the American dream.\r\nHe said Americans have mobilized to stop federal action and change the direction of debate in the nation, and believes the only way to change the direction of the nation is by energizing and engaging citizens to take a stand.\r\n\u201cTogether, we can bring back that shining city on the hill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363827"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6542589291930199, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}