Political Quotes

“I want to thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for leading this Special Order and for the outstanding work that she has done as her island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, recovers from two devastating hurricanes. Being from New Orleans, I understand what two twin hurricanes can do. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged our city, our State, along with Mississippi, Texas, and the Gulf Coast. To be very candid, the people of the Virgin Islands, unfortunately, are doing this too much on their own. Part of what makes America exceptional, part of what makes us the greatest country in the world is that when we find our citizens in a vulnerable position, through no fault of their own, we come in as a government and we help. When you look at the Virgin Islands and the fact that the damage they have received is more than their capacity to rebuild, and it is through no fault of their own, it is Mother Nature. It is an act of God. Some would say it is global warming and climate change, but it doesn't matter what caused it. What matters is the United States' response to how we fix it. So when we start talking about our response to the Virgin Islands, it is a great segue into Haiti and temporary protective status. It was that 2010 earthquake that rendered Haiti in a position where they could no longer safely and adequately care for their citizens, and we allowed them to have temporary protective status in the United States.…”