Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I will not speak long. Let me continue and finish. When the historic accomplishment occurred of settling this lawsuit after 14 years between the Federal Government and the plaintiffs, when that historic agreement was reached, I was hopeful the Congress would move very quickly and provide the resources, from the Settlement Fund, that are available to make this settlement work. I hope very much, if there is a vote--I don't know there will be a vote on the Barrasso amendment--if there is a vote on the Barrasso amendment, I hope very much my colleagues will oppose it. I say to Senator Barrasso that the ideas, recommendations, and thoughts he has about this settlement should be presented to both sides who negotiated the settlement. In fact, if Congress were to unilaterally make changes, I think it would void the settlement. Void it after 14 long years and a lot of important work that would culminate in a settlement that plaintiffs have been waiting for and plaintiffs well deserve. I urge my colleagues, as the Administration has urged, let us not unilaterally go outside the settlement that has been structured and negotiated. Let's decide to do what I believe Congress has a responsibility to do. The longer this drags out, the more the American people see what was done to American Indians, the more people see how badly some of these people were cheated. Yes, this woman, who never got her money and died long before that money was ever available.…”