Political Quotes

“I am pleased to stand with so many colleagues not only here on the Senate side but over in the House to recognize an accomplishment--an accomplishment of the Congress. I think it is important to recognize that in these times that are so contentious, where a lot of messages go back and forth but at the end of the day we haven't governed, we haven't done what we had hoped legislatively, we haven't really helped people, today we can be proud that we have worked to help people, particularly women, and that is through final passage of the Violence Against Women Act. It has been a long time coming. We successfully moved that legislation through this body last year. I was a proud cosponsor, an early cosponsor. This ought not to be a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It ought not be a woman's issue. It is an issue that should bother all of us when we cannot stand together and help those who have been victims of domestic violence. If we can't do that as a minimum, we really aren't doing our job, we really aren't doing service to people. It is exceptionally good news that not only have we seen final passage in the Senate again this Congress with 78 Senators in support, but today the House on a vote of 286 ayes to 138 nays advanced the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. I wish to acknowledge the good work of the Judiciary chairman, Senator Leahy, for his leadership and for continually pushing.…”