Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for organizing this hour. I thank the Speaker for his indulgence and attention as we have gone through a long list typical of conversations talking about the hostages. I thank my friend from Michigan, General Bergman, for the time. We should not have to be here tonight. We should not be forced to talk about some of the 250 people brutally kidnapped and taken hostage on October 7. It should not be necessary to call for the immediate, unconditional release of these hostages. We should not be here because Hamas should not be holding hostages. I am grateful that more than 100 hostages have been released and returned to Israel, but 143 hostages remain in captivity, held by Hamas, by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and by others in Gaza. The families don't know the status of their loved ones. They don't know where their loved ones are. They don't know when they will be coming home. I will talk tonight about one hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Hersh's parents, Rachel and Jon, are from Chicago. I have been friends with his aunt, Abby, for more than 30 years. I know his grandmother Leah. Hersh's family is now my family. Hersh was born in northern California. His family moved to Virginia when Hersh was 4 and to Israel when he was 7. That was in 2008. Hersh grew up in Jerusalem, reached adulthood, and was known widely as a kind, gentle mensch. On Friday, October 6, of this year, Hersh was with his family in Jerusalem.…”