Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, let me first say what a joy it has been to work with my colleague Mike McCaul on this issue, and with Chris Van Hollen as well. Their passion, compassion, and commitment to this issue is one that I have not seen replicated many times. Let me comment by talking about the letter I received from Sylvia DeCourcey in my district. Her son Tyler has been battling stage 4 neuroblastoma for about a year. She had written to me the following: ``As a parent of a pediatric cancer patient, I wanted to say thank you for introducing the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. This has the potential to make a huge difference for my son Tyler and his fellow warriors. In August we lost two little buddies to the neuroblastoma monster. To think that if this act was already in place, that may not have happened, and the heartaches of their families and friends could be prevented. I hope and pray that my son will beat this. Thank you again for sponsoring the STAR Act. . . .'' On Friday I received a follow-up email from Sylvia, and it still sends chills up and down my spine. Tyler has officially been in remission for 2 weeks. It is only fitting that today we are taking up the STAR Act. The STAR Act would not have been possible without the perseverance of families like Sylvia and Tyler and of the young people who are living with the cancers. There have been more than 50 organizations that have worked on this issue. Together they have managed to push even a gridlocked Congress into action.…”