Political Quotes

“while American servicemen and women are fighting the war against terrorism in Afghanistan tonight, and preparing for possible war against Iraq, it seems to me that the House could at least extend its present 3-day work week in order to keep from undermining the education of military schoolchildren. By not passing our education appropriation bill and by relying on this continuing resolution, this bill will basically prevent hundreds of millions of Federal dollars from going in November to public schools that have large numbers of military schoolchildren in them. How can the House leadership explain to soldiers fighting 7 days a week in Afghanistan that the House cannot pass an education appropriations bill important to their children's education because that might just require Members of Congress to work more than 3 days a week? If the top Republican leadership has time to campaign in my district in Texas this weekend, then surely they can find time to schedule more than a 3-day work week in the House so that we can pass an education appropriations bill that is vital to thousands of Army parents in my district. We have an obligation, Democrat and Republican alike in this House, to pass appropriation bills. That is our responsibility, Mr. Speaker, even if it requires more than a 3-day work week.”