Political Quotes

“I want to thank my colleague Senator Welch from Vermont. He is a great partner in this effort. His heart is in the same place mine is. One of the things that just struck me that some of the prisoners said to me when they came home and made it to the United States, to my office--one of them said: You don't realize that your mentioning my name on the floor of the U.S. Senate could have saved my life. Many of the jailers and oppressive governments that have these people imprisoned beat them, torture them, starve them, and believe no one knows or no one cares. But if all of a sudden the name of that prisoner becomes conversation at the Embassy or at the State Department or even in some of the halls of leadership of governments around the Nation, they think twice before they hurt them or kill them. It is hard to imagine that our simple speech on the floor could have that impact, but it has. I thank you for joining me in this effort. I hope our colleagues will join us as well. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.”