WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following column: * * * History Worth Preserving * On July 4, 2026, we celebrated 250 years of the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known-the United States of America. From the thirteen original colonies to the fifty states, one federal district, and several territories we know today, our nation's history is nothing if not storied. From hardship to triumph, oppression to freedom, and everything in between, what makes our nation great is our ability t more PR