Political Quotes

On the recordDecember 1, 2011
My colleagues, I once again rise asking that we immediately consider extending the Federal Unemployment Compensation Act. It seems as though I walked into this movie before, last year, and we were begging once again that we throw away the labels of being Democrat or Republican and reach out to make an appeal as to what makes this country different from other countries. This is the only country in the world that no one wants to leave and everyone wants to come in. And it's not because of the differences we have with the rich and the poor. It's that always in this country we extended hope. We allowed people to believe that they were never really truly alone. And then we find a circumstance that Americans, hardworking Americans are trying to fulfill that American Dream--once again not to become a Wall Street broker, and certainly not to be living a life of poverty, but to join that middle class that has been the engine for hope and economic advancement for our country. And we find this situation now that, through no fault of their own, these dreams have been shattered. People have not only lost their jobs, but they've lost their self-esteem, they've lost their savings, they have not been able to send their kids to college. And so what is it that we can do since it's abundantly clear that in this Congress there is a gridlock? And we don't want you to lose hope because there's things that Americans can do.…
Said by
Charles Rangel
Democratic · New York

Share & report

More from Charles Rangel

Jan 12, 2015

I was in Havana, Cuba, when the President of the United States declared that he was going to relax the restrictions that we have on the embargo in Cuba, and I tell you that the people in Havana rejoiced. In the streets of Havana, they said…

govinfo.gov
Sep 10, 2014

We were talking about war and peace. To me, we are still talking about a moral issue. Here in this great Nation, the richest in the world, we are asking people to work 40 hours, many without sick leave, many without vacations or vacation…

govinfo.gov
May 20, 2015

I was listening to the eloquent words of my friend from Texas about the importance of research and development, and I can't think of any member on our committee that could not agree with him more. {time} 1415 While he was eloquently…

govinfo.gov
Jul 24, 2014

They said you have a 4-year cap on the education. I was shocked to be reminded that I hadn't completed high school. I had to complete 2 years of high school and 4 years of college. Instead of telling me that, I found out the hard way that…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation