Political Quotes

“Thank you, Nancy, for those gracious remarks. You have been an able leader for the Democratic Caucus in this House and you have helped lead this Congress with honor and distinction. We have disagreed on policy matters in the past, and I suspect we will disagree again in the future, but we both love this House of Representatives and the great democratic process of representative government. Nancy, we have some serious issues to confront in this new Congress and I look forward to a vigorous debate in the months ahead, for it is through debate that we arrive at the policy decisions that will keep this Nation safe and make it stronger. This House is where we fight the battle of ideas and at the end of the day we make the laws that govern this Nation, and so it is a great honor to serve in this institution. It is a special honor to sit in this chair. I thank each of you for allowing me once again to serve as your Speaker. The new year confronted us with two sad tragedies. First came the images from the tsunami that ravaged countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Our deepest condolences go to all those who lost loved ones in this terrible event. Just as former Presidents Clinton and Bush will join together to coordinate private relief efforts here in the United States, we in the Congress will work together on a bipartisan basis to get the necessary relief to those in need.”