Political Quotes

“I have on my desk a small card which has the words of my predecessor Congressman Ben Blaz. It says ``I am a Member of Congress, but not one of its Members.'' I read those words today, Madam Speaker, because I had them reinforced to me when I tried to sign the discharge petition here in Congress to give the veterans concurrent receipt that they deserve. We have veterans on Guam, 15,000 of them, in fact, but I was told as a Delegate, I cannot put my name on that discharge petition. More soldiers from Guam have died, per capita, in foreign wars than any other State in the Nation. But Madam Speaker, I cannot put my name on that discharge petition. Pacific Islander veterans suffer disproportionately from posttraumatic stress disorder, but I cannot put my name on that discharge petition. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 303, but I cannot put my name on that discharge petition. What can I do? I have decided to come to the floor today to appeal to my colleagues. I urge them to sign the discharge petition, Republican or Democrat; it does not matter. Do it for the veterans in their district. Do it for the veterans of Guam. Do it for their colleague who has been denied that right. I appeal to my colleagues on behalf of the disabled veterans of America. I see them at town hall meetings in my district all the time, and it breaks my heart. Veterans like Mr. Victor Pangelinan Tabios, who is 100 percent disabled.”