Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, 9 years ago, I stood here and called up for consideration the original 9/11 bill, the James Zadroga Act. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Majority Whip Clyburn for their roles in passing that bill, and now for moving us as quickly as possible to get this bill done. I also want to thank my colleagues from New York, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), for standing with me in this fight for so long, and to thank all the advocates, many of whom are here today, who have given so much and have worked so hard to pass this bill. Finally, I want to thank Lisette Morton, my longtime legislative director and director of policy planning and member services for the Committee on the Judiciary, who is leaving my team at the end of this month after nearly 20 years. Lisette worked for me on September 11, 2001, and she was tireless in her efforts to get a proper detoxification and cleanup after the attack in New York and to hold the EPA accountable for its failures. Without her fierce advocacy and dedication, there would be more victims today, and we would not be here considering this bill today. She will be greatly missed by this institution, by my staff, and by me. Now, Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.”