Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Florida for his leadership. I rise today in support of H.R. 5963, the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act of 2016. Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 2 million children involved in our juvenile justice system, with many more at risk of entering it. Prior to entering public service, I was engaged in the private practice of law. A good deal of that practice concerned at-risk youth, concerned juvenile law. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, that at the outset of every case, just about, my number one goal was to see that that youth, that those juveniles, did not get put ``in the system,'' certainly did not get incarcerated. Not because, Mr. Speaker, I was trying to get them off of anything. In fact, my plea agreements and settlements were, in a way, designed to promote much more personal responsibility than any incarceration would. But I knew this: that if they got in the system, the chances were great that they would be lost forever, that they would come out of the system more hardened criminals, a bigger burden on society, with more costs, and, most importantly, another life lost. That is why I am pleased, as the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee chairman, to work on this bill with these distinguished leaders: Mr. Curbelo, who I have already mentioned, and ranking minority leader, Mr. Scott.…”