Political Quotes

“This is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill, as amended, will immediately proceed to final passage. Today, we come together to vote on an amendment that will not only create infrastructure, but create much-needed jobs as well. Before joining the ranks of Congress last year, I served in the ranks of our Nation's military. As a commander of the Illinois National Guard, I oversaw the largest deployment of troops overseas since World War II. Also well known across the State and particularly along Illinois' Mississippi River border were the efforts of men and women of the Illinois National Guard during flood season--efforts, resources, and dollars that can be saved with the preventative measures funded in this amendment. The amendment before us today provides an additional $10 million to the Army Corps of Engineers for projects that could include levee construction, levee repair, flood mitigation, and flood prevention. Too often, I sent those guardsmen and -women to fight floodwaters from the Mississippi River. Too often, I have seen levees break, rivers flow over their banks, and sandbags give way; and all too often, I have seen the aftereffects of destroyed homes, lost belongings, and the anguish of starting over again. Just in the past week, three bridges across the Mississippi River have been closed due to flooding.…”