Frank Pallone: “I have to say that I am very proud of the two speakers who preceded me on the Democratic side because they represent…”

“I have to say that I am very proud of the two speakers who preceded me on the Democratic side because they represent rural districts, and I think they understand why this commemorative pat on the back that we are voting on today is really not deserved and simply not accurate. I said at the Rules Committee that my mother used to use a phrase: Self-praise stinks. Frankly, regardless of what is in the resolution, the idea of bringing a resolution to the floor that has no impact whatsoever but just says how wonderful we are is kind of absurd in itself--the very idea that we should waste time on the floor on what I would call commemorative resolutions that have no substantive impact whatsoever but just say how wonderful we are. Whether you are saying the Republicans are wonderful or the Democrats are wonderful or all of us are wonderful makes absolutely no sense to me because it is just self-praise, and frankly, that does stink. That is all this is. There is nothing in here that is going to make a difference either way. It is just an effort by the Republicans to say we have done all these wonderful things for rural America when, in fact, they haven't.”