Political Quotes

“let me begin by joining the various Members of this institution who will speak today and who will urge the passage of both of these bills. I certainly cannot speak with the particular passion of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) who has been touched by this issue, but this is a very good day for the House of Representatives. It is a very good day, because we have managed to reach across the partisan divides, I believe twice today, or we will manage to reach across the partisan divide, I believe twice today, to pass bills that are good for the American people and good for countless numbers of Americans who need this research. I want to say something about the cord blood bill in particular. I have had the honor for 2 years of working with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) on this bill, and I am a Democratic sponsor on it; and I want to thank him for his good work. This bill will make an enormous difference to the African Americans around this country who often struggle with blood matches. Cord bloods do not require a blood match. The young man that we saw on the Cannon terrace yesterday who suffered from sickle cell anemia whose life has been permanently transformed by cord blood cell technology speaks to the power of this bill. We talk a great deal about health care disparities, and we ought to talk about health care disparities in this country; but rather than talk, this bill acts.…”