Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank and applaud the American people for the generosity and the compassion they have shown in the wake of this horrific tragedy. According to our State Department, the American Red Cross effort has received over 2 million contributors and raised over $23 million so far. In addition, we continue to see admirable contributions from many American corporations and businesses. My own district of Miami, Florida, has sent two urban search-and-rescue teams to Haiti and has pledged $60,000 to relief efforts. The Port of Miami and Miami International Airport are waiving certain fees for relief- related efforts. Also, several other assets from south Florida are also being utilized, including U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, which is serving as the operation center for the U.S. response in Haiti. Coast Guard Key West and Coast Guard Miami Beach, also Homestead Air Reserve Base, a departure point for the C-130s that are carrying relief, supplies, and personnel to Haiti, are playing an important role in this relief effort. And just today, the USNS Comfort received its first Haitian patients, a 6-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man. They were flown via helicopter to the hospital ship. This is a nearly 900-foot floating hospital. The Comfort is reported to be carrying about 550 medical staff and about 60 civilian mariners.…”