Political Quotes

“I would like to make two points. The first is on this great legislation. I thank Senator Peters and the entire HSGAC Committee--Democrats and Republicans--for moving forward. Our firefighters are the people who protect us. We need to protect them. Equipment has gotten more and more expensive to save their lives and save the lives of the people they are protecting. Yet for many smaller communities--rural, smalltown, even suburban--there is not the money to afford this equipment. So we have stepped up to the plate. I helped author this legislation with Senator Dodd back in 2002 to help them. We desperately need this legislation. We need it for firefighters--both paid and volunteer--around the country. But, particularly, as I said, in the smaller areas and the smaller communities where they desperately need the equipment, we have to get it done. The second point is this: This is the second bill we have done in a very strong bipartisan way. Our colleagues came to us with a list of amendments. It wasn't dilatory. Some of them were difficult for us, but we agreed to the amendments, and in turn, our colleagues voted to move forward. This, again, is how we can run the Senate in a very good and productive way. I hope to do that in every opportunity, where we can come to agreement on amendments, move forward, and pass good legislation. This is good and needed legislation. I hope we get an overwhelming vote for it. Vote on S.…”