Political Quotes

“Mr. President, on disaster relief, millions of Americans have waited long enough for their government to provide relief in the wake of recent natural disasters. We have 1 week left in this work period. This is crunch time. It will be an awful conclusion to this work period if we leave without passing a relief package. We must focus on concluding our negotiations and reaching consensus on our final legislation. That is why I am alarmed by rumors that the Republican majority may attach a simple extension of the Violence Against Women Act to the disaster bill rather than to the new reform bill that was passed by a huge bipartisan majority in the House. That is a formula for deadlock when we pass it here and send it to the House, but they will not vote for it. Why do we have to load up the disaster bill with extraneous provisions, especially those that might bring conflict? We must be very careful not to allow this and other extraneous provisions to get on the bill that have opposition from Members. It would only imperil the success of bipartisan disaster relief. We have come to a conclusion on Puerto Rico, and I am glad our Republican friends have finally seen the light and have not treated Puerto Rico unfairly so that we can move forward with all disaster relief. The President sent over a proposal on the border, and we have sent back a counter proposal with many of the things--but not all--that he included. Some are objectionable.…”