Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator for his question. That is exactly why we are here. Let me reiterate the supposition, the premise of his question. Senator Booker, Senator Blumenthal, and I--and I know you share this view as well--just couldn't come back here and debate amendments on the CJS bill that had nothing to do with this epidemic of gun violence witnessed most recently by the worst mass shooting in the history of this country. I simply couldn't come back here and pretend that there is nothing we can do about it because of course we can come together and find a path forward. Yes, we are on the floor demanding a vote because it would be unconscionable to leave this week without having a specific debate on these measures and without trying to find a path forward. I will say to my friend that my greatest hope is that we can find common ground on these measures, but in absence of common ground, in absence of a willingness on behalf of the majority party to actually sit down and negotiate this, then let's have the vote. Then let's have the vote and see where Members of this body stand, up or down. Let's see what Members choose to do a week after the worst mass shooting in the history of this country, when they are proffered with the question: Do you want terrorists to be able to own guns in this country? Do you want individuals who have known connections to terrorist organizations to be able to buy military assault-style weapons?…”