Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H. Res. 76. This is not about vengeance or retribution; it is about accountability. I represent New York's 17th Congressional District, home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country. Between Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, I represent almost 100,000 constituents that practice the Jewish faith. I take the scourge of anti-Semitism very seriously. It is something that must be rooted out in our society, as well as in the Halls of Congress. No one who peddles in anti-Semitic activity, behavior, or language should have any right to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which has an incredibly important role to play in partnering with our strongest ally, the State of Israel. Two of my predecessors, Ben Gilman and Eliot Engel, served as chairs of this important committee. Israel's continued existence as a beacon of liberty, democracy, and peace in the Middle East serves as a model for other nations in the region and is something we should be celebrating, not demeaning. Comments made by Members of this body about support for Israel being ``all about the Benjamins,'' or that the State of Israel is engaging in apartheid are appalling, wrong, and disqualifying. Additionally, those who dismiss 9/11 as some people who did something, are you kidding me? It was a terrorist attack. It wasn't some people doing something.…”