Political Quotes

“Madam President, we are 1 week away from the deadline to fund the government. It is an embarrassment that we return again and again to this precipice, realizing full well the disaster that shutting down the government creates for our Nation. Yet the House of Representatives goes through these contortions every time, ultimately, giving in to common sense and funding the government, at least temporarily. I was relieved to hear last night that there is a bipartisan funding agreement reached finally after days of negotiations, one that maintains current funding through December 20 and avoids a government shutdown a month before the election. Wouldn't it be great if the Senate and the House were to announce some dramatic, positive legislative measure on a bipartisan basis other than keeping the lights on in the Federal Government? That seems to be all they can achieve in the House of Representatives. Thankfully, the agreement includes necessary provisions related to extending veterans' benefits, including one that enables the only joint DOD-VA facility in the country--one you know well--Lovell, located in North Chicago in our home State, to continue providing healthcare to servicemembers and veterans alike. Imagine we were just hours away from the possibility of suspending basic lifesaving services at the Lovell institute for our veterans.…”