Political Quotes

“I start by saying that as Senator Harkin was so eloquently speaking today, it reminded me of a story of those going by the casket of President Roosevelt. A reporter stopped someone and said: Did you know President Roosevelt? And he said: No, but he knew me. There are people across this country--people with disabilities, workers, folks trying hard to get up that ladder--who want to know there are rungs on it, or want to be able to stay in the middle class, who may not be able to say they know Senator Tom Harkin personally, but he knows them. We are so grateful, and I am personally grateful, for your friendship and your leadership and mentorship. I want to speak for a moment as Chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, where I had to follow the tough act of Senator Tom Harkin writing the previous two farm bills. He has shaped agriculture and food and nutrition policy in the House and Senate for 40 years, having a tremendous impact, more than we can even imagine, in terms of not only advocating for Iowa farmers--and I knew every day what Iowa needed; that is for sure--and having both Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley on the committee gave the one-two punch for Iowa. But I have to remind all of my colleagues that Senator Harkin really is the father of modern conservation, of protecting our water and our soil and our air, our wildlife habitat, our forests. Senator Harkin is the father of modern conservation.…”