Charles Rangel: “I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how we can possibly frame a parliamentary inquiry to…”

“I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how we can possibly frame a parliamentary inquiry to find out exactly what is in the underlying bill that we are asked to pass or vote against this rule. In any event, I know one thing. We as Americans, especially those of us in the Congress, have a particular responsibility to pass on a legacy to those that follow us in terms of what this country really stands for. Besides the Star-Spangled Banner and the Stars and Stripes, we also have the Statue of Liberty close to my hometown. People come from all over the world because it is symbolic of what this great country believes in. Not that many years ago, a group of Jewish people attempted to flee Germany because they feared that Hitler would be looking for them in order to arrest, kill, and to eliminate them as a people. We refused that ship that came into our harbor, called the St. Louis. We denied them the opportunity to come to this country, and they returned to Germany. I don't know what is on our conscience, but we should take a look at our history and what we are leaving as a legacy.”