Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Larson, for being such a champion for our volunteer firefighters and first responders. Mr, Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act. I'm proud to cosponsor this bipartisan bill with Mr. Barletta. This bill makes a sensible fix to the Affordable Care Act that protects volunteer firefighters and first responders in Connecticut and across the country. I heard concerns from fire chiefs in my district--including Chief Jack Casner from my hometown of Cheshire--that the IRS may incorrectly count volunteers as employees. We rely on hundreds of volunteer firefighters to keep our community safe. These men and women are proud to volunteer--and do a terrific job. And so, with my colleagues, I immediately expressed their concerns to the Obama Administration. This bipartisan bill codifies important clarifications. . . and shows that we can work together--as Democrats and Republicans--to make the Affordable Care Act work better for the American people. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 3979. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3979, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.”