Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Bipartisan Policy Center for the establishment of the Congressional Patriot Award and naming Sam Johnson and John Lewis as its first recipients. I can think of no two people who are more deserving than Sam Johnson and John Lewis, both of whom serve in this Chamber with distinction, both of whom I have the honor of serving with on the Committee on Ways and Means who do an extraordinary job on behalf of the citizenry of this great Nation. For all of our membership here, we can all be proud to say that we served with both Sam Johnson and John Lewis. I want to thank and commend Tom Cole, my co-chairman in this effort, on behalf of our two esteemed colleagues. By now every Member should have received, and the public will become increasingly aware of, an invitation to this event on March 15. The event will be held at the Library of Congress. What a fitting place for us to honor our colleagues. The Library will have on display photos and documents from the Vietnam war and photos and documents from the civil rights movement. It was 50 years ago that Sam Johnson was shot down over Vietnam. It was 51 years ago that John Lewis made that historic trek from Selma to Montgomery and crossing over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Most people don't realize today that Sam Johnson was imprisoned by the Vietcong for 7 years, 42 months of which he spent in solitary confinement, nearly beaten to death but never said a word. What an incredible American.…”