Bill Delahunt: “I caught the earliest flight possible from Boston today because I felt it was important to be here to commend the…”

“I caught the earliest flight possible from Boston today because I felt it was important to be here to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for their resolve and commitment to achieve a result that would be truly effective. This is truly remarkable, and they deserve our gratitude. It is also, I suggest, a good day for children, not just here in the District of Columbia but all over America. Given the events of the past week, it is good to stand here and to say it is a good day. It is a good day. As the majority whip indicated, today is a new day for reform. Maybe this bill is also a new day for the children and the future of America. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) have worked together with the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for months, through many drafts, to reach agreement. It is honestly a tribute to their shared concern for children, which they do share, and particularly the children of the District, that they have been able to put aside the usual political differences and work together to achieve a well-crafted, thoughtful bill that I am confident will make a huge difference in the lives of many, many children and their families.”