Charles Rangel: “Thank you so much, Mrs. Lowey. I want to thank Chairman Rogers for the manner in which he has handled this crisis and…”

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Lowey. I want to thank Chairman Rogers for the manner in which he has handled this crisis and certainly congratulate Mrs. Lowey for the leadership that she has provided this House over the years, but especially at a time when we needed her the most, that she was there to bring the people together, Republicans and Democrats, to do the right thing. I want to thank, too, and encourage the new Members of Congress to take advantage of this great opportunity they have to see what the House of Representatives is all about, notwithstanding the bad publicity that we get. For whatever reasons, the 112th Congress failed to respond to what was a part of the feeling and the fabric of this great body where every American would know that if ever they were involved in a crisis-- earthquakes, floods, or fires--that they could depend on their colleagues in the House of Representatives to respond. It was never a question of whether they were Democrats or Republicans, whether they came from a red State or a blue State; it was how fast can we help, and you can depend on that help.…”