Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor my colleague from New Mexico, Senator Jeff Bingaman, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year. Senator Bingaman has been a strong voice for the people of New Mexico, first as their attorney general and then during 30 years of service in the Senate. He has brought a keen intellect and a commonsense perspective to the Senate that should make the people of New Mexico proud. He has worked to build consensus across party lines to help strengthen our Nation. Senator Bingaman and I serve together on the Finance Committee, and we also worked together on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee during my first term in the Senate. I greatly admire the thoughtfulness he applies to every issue. Throughout his career, he has focused intently on finding solutions to the challenges facing our country. For example, in 2009, I worked closely with him and other colleagues on the Finance Committee in crafting the health care reform bill that was signed into law as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He was a key author of that legislation, which has already improved millions of people's lives. Senator Bingaman has brought a tremendous breadth of knowledge to his chairmanship of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He has long understood the need to reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign energy and has worked diligently to push Congress to create a national energy policy suited to the 21st century.…”