U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND., issued the following statement after King Charles III’s address to Congress:

“To hear King Charles III address Congress while I’m a member of it is really special for me. I can’t help but think about myself, a 14th generation American with three ancestors actually on the Mayflower, the ‘original rebels’ if you will. It is moments like this that remind us the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom transcends history and it maintains relevance today. The King, like the President at the White House, talked about values that the President said was handed down to Americans from our family from Great Britain: freedom, democracy, the rule of law. It’s remarkable when you think about the timing of this visit and this speech. Here we are as we celebrate 250 years of American independence from Great Britain, and it shows us how far we’ve come. Two countries who were once on opposite sides of a war, as well as an ocean, are now among the closest allies in the world.

“From the White House ceremony to today’s address before Congress, the whole visit really puts this important, geopolitical, family partnership on full display for the world to see. I was grateful to witness history and to be part of welcoming Their Majesties.”