Political Quotes

“every year in the Senate we are sent to this distinguished body for one reason: to represent the people of our State and the people of this country. Our constituents expect us to legislate. They expect us to be here on the Senate floor voting and representing their interests. In the Senate, there is no one better at upholding that responsibility than the senior Senator from Iowa. Last Thursday, Charles Grassley cast his 12,000th vote as a U.S. Senator. As remarkable as that is, as my friend the senior Senator from Kentucky said, it is even more impressive that he has cast almost 7,500 consecutive votes on the Senate floor. He hasn't missed a vote since July 14, 1993. He holds the second longest consecutive vote streak in Senate history, behind our colleague Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin. That is a lot of votes. Senator Grassley's constancy and unwavering work ethic comes as no surprise to those of us who have known him and are acquainted with his background. Chuck Grassley is a farmer. He is proud of that. He got started in politics when he was elected to the Iowa House in 1959. He served for 15 years. In 1974, he ran for Congress and served three terms in the House of Representatives. He was elected to the Senate in 1980. Thirty-six years, 12,000 votes--that is remarkable, as is 7,474 consecutive votes. So I say congratulations to my friend Chuck Grassley on those incredible milestones. ____________________”