Political Quotes

“But I also want the record to reflect that this process has taken years, and but for the direction and patience of both the chairman, Senator Baucus, and the ranking member, Senator Chafee, we certainly would not have been able to be to the point where we can have this legislation now before the American people. It has been a long, difficult struggle. The members of the committee have worked very hard without exception. We have had with staff hundreds and hundreds of hours of meetings with various groups of people interested in what this legislation will do. Madam President, the dangers of lead have been documented centuries and centuries ago. The Greek Dioscorides stated in the second century B.C., 'Lead makes the mind give way.' The Roman, Pliny the Elder, cautioned that inhaling the fumes of molten lead was dangerous. And we know by reading history that there are many historians who believe the fall of the Roman Empire was a result of lead. Lead, Madam President, is a metallic element whose properties are very malleable, corrosive resistant, high density and very stable, which make it good for many things.”