Political Quotes

“I rise to pay tribute to a colleague, a leader, a statesman, and a humanitarian, but most of all I rise to pay tribute to my friend, Bill Gray, who passed away last week. Bill Gray and I served together in the House of Representatives during a time that was much different than the world we see today. From his early days in Congress, Bill Gray sought to aid and unify an extremely diverse caucus. This collaborative work ethic, along with a comprehensive understanding of the congressional budget process, helped him earn the respect of his colleagues. Bill Gray rose through the ranks to become the first African American to chair the House Budget Committee. Later, he would serve as chair of the House Democratic Caucus and go on to become the House majority whip, the first African American to do so in each position, and at that time, the highest ranking African American in congressional history. From his first day in Congress, through his rise to leadership, Bill Gray fought for the people of Philadelphia as a tremendous advocate for fairness, equity, and democracy. Bill was willing to compromise to get to a balanced budget because he knew it was good for the entire country, both the rich and the poor. He once said, ``A balanced budget is good for the country, the affluent and poor alike.…”