Political Quotes

“6 short years ago the prospects for a bipartisan solution to America's broken immigration system seemed bleak. Despite support from congressional Democrats and a Republican President, an immigration reform proposal had been defeated on a procedural vote. Let's say that again. Despite support from congressional Democrats and a Republican President, we couldn't get enough Republicans in the Senate to move forward on a reform proposal. It was defeated, I repeat, on a procedural vote in the Senate. But one man, who was a long-time member of the Judiciary Committee and who had been chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security for decades--Senator Ted Kennedy--reminded us all the reform for which he had fought so hard would pass one day and that day could not be far off. This is what he said when that bill was defeated: America always finds a way to solve its problems, expand its frontiers, and move closer to its ideals. It is not always easy, but it is the American way. . . . I believe we will soon succeed where we failed today, and that we will enact the kind of comprehensive reform that our ideals and our national security demand. Ted Kennedy said that in 2007. He always spoke from back here, and I can still hear his booming voice, and I can hear him saying this. Our friend Ted Kennedy was right, and I believe the time for commonsense immigration reform has come.…”