Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, first, let me briefly say I rise to speak on this bill which directly impacts our economy, our competitiveness, and our ability to create jobs that pay well and open doors of opportunity. While there are many positives to this bill--not limited to the strong support of NASA and the Goddard Space Flight Center, which is in my district, as well as robust funding for the National Science Foundation--this bill nonetheless makes two deep cuts to vital programs that protect against crime, promote innovation, and facilitate exports. But the reason I wanted to come to the floor is because I wanted to take a moment to congratulate my friend, Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, the chairman of the subcommittee who is managing this bill on the Republican side. Frank was elected in 1980. I was elected a few months later in a special election in 1981. We served together for 23 years on the Appropriations Committee. We served all that time until I left when I was elected majority leader. We served on the Helsinki Commission together, which fought for human rights while the Soviet Union existed and so many were enslaved behind the Iron Curtain. Frank Wolf has chaired this subcommittee for many, many years. He has done so with honor, with honesty, and with fairness. He and I have served together in this House for 33 years. We sat together on the Appropriations Committee, as I said, for 23.…”