Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his kind words. It is just that I have been here such a long time, when I first came to Congress, the mere mention of the word ``AIDS'' on the floor was something I thought was the most natural thing to do but was something that some of my colleagues squirmed at. We have, indeed, come a long way from that time. So today is a proud day as Democrats and Republicans come together to extend and reauthorize our efforts to fight the global HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases in the poorest countries around the world. I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working together to bring this important legislation to the floor today, and I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her unwavering leadership on these issues since day one that you came to the Congress. So many of our colleagues deserve recognition, and the gentlewoman has acknowledged some of them. I will just add that this marks the 10th anniversary of the historic Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act. This legislation has been the foundation of the U.S. initiative to provide sustained constructive leadership in the global fight against AIDS.…”