Political Quotes

“I want to thank my colleague Senator Whitehouse for his kind words. I come to the floor to join in with a dozen or more of my colleagues who were here earlier to talk about the situation we now face. Senator Whitehouse is correct--this is an issue that is very personal to me. It is one that dates back to the year 2001, 16 years ago. It was a time when we received a call in my office in the city of Chicago, and the person on the other end was with a program called the Merit music program. She said: I have a problem with one of my students, and I need your help. The Merit music program is a special opportunity for young people in Chicago's public schools, particularly from low-income families, to be trained on a musical instrument, free of charge, and some amazing things happen. Every student who is part of the Merit music program goes to college--every single one of them. They learn self-esteem, they learn a musical instrument, and it shows. Their lives are transformed. She told us the story of one of these students. Her name is Tereza Lee. Tereza Lee was born in Korea and brought to the United States by her mom and dad when she was 2 years old. They came through Brazil before they came to Chicago, but they settled in Chicago. Her mom and dad raised her and her brother and sister. They were not well-off at all. In fact, they were poor.…”