Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have come to the floor to pursue a unanimous consent request on something that is critical to families in my home State of New Jersey, which has the highest rate of autism, but is also critical to families across the country who have a loved one who faces--in the spectrum of autism and other developmental issues-- the need to get the help, so their child, their loved one, can fulfill their God-given capabilities. Last Tuesday morning, a full week ago from today, I sent this bill before the Senate for unanimous consent, and that unanimous consent was cleared on the Democratic side, but it has not been cleared on the Republican side, which has prevented this bill from passing. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on September 7 without amendment and with unanimous support, Republicans and Democrats together. This result, the result of a bipartisan effort with Senator Enzi, who is the ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is vital to ensuring that the programs created under the landmark Combating Autism Act of 2006 continue. That bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush after passing the Senate on a unanimous consent. This long history of bipartisan support only adds to my confusion as to why there are colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are currently preventing the bill from passing.…”