Democrat Eric Swalwell represents California's 15th Congressional District. If you no longer wish to receive emails, you can unsubscribe. 

Like many of you, I’ve been thinking about what freedom means to me this Independence Day.

This year, we’ve seen unprecedented attacks on our freedom. My Republican colleagues like to offer platitudes on “what the framers would think” of certain measures to curb the gun violence epidemic, restrict abortion, and to address racial inequality in our country.

What I hear are excuses. It’s much harder to think about how we can honor the ideals of the framers while acknowledging that their vision for our country didn’t mean freedom for everyone.

Here’s what I know. I still believe we can take the principles our great country was founded upon and use them to do good — not to uphold status for a select few or prop up white supremacist ideals — but to use our commitment to freedom and liberty to lift each other up, not sow fear, division, and hatred across our differences.

When I was elected as a Member of Congress, I took an oath to defend our Constitution against all enemies — foreign and domestic — and I take that oath very seriously. That’s why I will do everything I can to hold insurrectionists accountable for the damage of January 6th, fight like hell to defend access to abortion and reproductive care, and push for economic, racial, and social progress on every front.

Thank you for standing with me in this fight. I’m wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Fourth of July.

— Rep. Eric Swalwell