Political Quotes

“Mr. President, there are certainly so many serious issues that we face in this country, and so many tragedies have occurred. I was on the floor earlier this week paying tribute to the lost lives in Connecticut and the two police officers killed in the line of duty in Topeka, KS, this week and the death of our colleague--certainly serious issues that we face--and now awaiting the House to pass legislation in regard to the fiscal cliff. This is perhaps a lighter subject. I want to pay tribute to something that is such a great tradition in our State of Kansas and really across the country. Football is something that is important to communities across my State. On Friday nights, in the fall of each year, thousands of Americans gather at their local high school football fields to cheer on their favorite teams. This tradition has stood strong for decades on the Kansas prairie, but it is especially true in a little town not too far from my hometown, in the town of Smith Center. There are few if any high school football fans in our State who are unaware of Smith Center's reputation. Coach Roger Barta and his Redmen football team have won more than 320 games and 8 State championships--5 of them in a row. They are even known here in Washington, DC. A few years ago, when they were on their 79-game winning streak, people would come to me and ask me if I had ever heard of Smith Center, KS. And I would say: Certainly. Yes. What is the story?…”