Political Quotes

“But I did want to recognize my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), who arranged for the group to come to the House Chamber; the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter); the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert); and on the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm); the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello); and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski). I appreciate very much their comments and the recognition of the years that I have spent in this body. I would like to say that serving in the United States Congress was the fulfillment of an ambition that I probably first thought about when I was in high school, and serving on the Committee on Agriculture and being a chairman there was part of that dream that I had for many years. So my almost 10 years in this body has been very fulfilling, very rewarding, and certainly a highlight in my life.”