Political Quotes

“I am very pleased and honored to rise tonight to lead a Special Order which honors a great American, a great colleague, and a great legislator whose service to this country and to this institution have been unmatched. It is appropriate that we rise tonight--appropriate particularly in light of the action that was taken and has been discussed today on the Voting Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, let me observe tangentially that the gentleman from Texas said something about cramming something down somebody's throat-- the Voting Rights Act. I will remind my colleagues that it was passed 388-23 in this House and 98-0 in the Senate in 2006. Let me say we honor a man tonight who not only voted for the Voting Rights Act in 1965, but has voted for every reauthorization of that act since that time. John Dingell came to Congress as a Member in 1955, winning a special election to fill the seat held by his father, John Dingell, Sr., who himself served from 1933-1955. John Dingell and his father have represented the people of southeastern Michigan in this House for eight decades. What an extraordinary testimony to the faith of their voters and the constancy and loyalty of their representation. But very frankly, ladies and gentlemen, John's story in Congress actually began earlier than 1955. It really began in 1938, which is to say John Dingell, a year before I was born, and I'm one of the older Members. He came here as a young House page.…”