Political Quotes

“let me commend my fellow New Englander for this idea. You wonder how something such as this persisted as long as it did. I wish to commend our colleague for discovering it and finding it out. Senator Shelby is not here this afternoon, but his staff is around, and we have been talking with them. I think this will overwhelmingly be accepted. This should not require a recorded vote. I was telling the staff I am one of six children. My oldest sister Carolyn was born legally blind. When I arrived at the House of Representatives in the mid-1970s, I remember as a freshman I discovered you couldn't be a foreign service officer if you were legally blind. We managed to change those regulations. How silly a rule it was. Unrelated or related, I guess, to some degree here, but I thank my colleague from Vermont for raising this. I appreciate his kind comments about Senator Akaka. Senator Kerry and Senator Coleman offered some ideas as well on the veterans housing issues also. I am told by Senator Shelby's staff he is very supportive of this as well. This isn't a large amount. It may not be a banner headline for some, but the Senator from Vermont is going to make a difference in the lives of some families and some individuals. It may not be thousands. Even if there are a few hundred, it makes a difference.”