Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Gabbard for bringing us together here this afternoon. I have to say that this is a special time here for all of us. I was sitting here listening to all of the wonderful memories of Mark. We are so privileged to have known Mark. May I just say this: I have been in and around Congress a long time, and this is so highly unusual for an individual, any individual, who has been here to have this kind of response. Mark was special. Amongst our sadness that we feel here, we can't help but smile when we think about him. That is what he did for us all the time. I didn't know Mark very long at all, but I feel like I have known Mark forever. He has been a joy to all of us. He is somebody that has come into our lives and grabbed our hearts in such a meaningful way. And he came to Congress with a purpose. He said: Oh, he is merely a freshman. Mark Takai was never merely a freshman. He came with his commitment and his duty and his love of country wanting to do the best thing. His impact was immediate. He had already been in the legislature and served in the Army National Guard. He had experience. He understood what it meant to be American and to do the right thing. He also understood what it meant to be a loving father, a husband, a son, and a wonderful sibling. He was the complete person. We don't meet many of those people in our lives. And when we do, we remember, we will always remember.…”