NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “My colleagues, I come here tonight not as a champion or a representative of party, but as a Member of the Congress of…”

“My colleagues, I come here tonight not as a champion or a representative of party, but as a Member of the Congress of the United States, a constitutional officer, a husband, a father, a brother, a son and a grandson to discuss issues of great importance in what is quite literally, Mr. Speaker, our national health. I champion the fact that in this Chamber people of goodwill can from time to time disagree, and there are those who would come to champion one specific philosophy or approach of a political party or even an approach within a political party; but I think, Mr. Speaker, when we confront major challenges, we do so much better and much more effectively not as Republicans or as Democrats but as Americans first; and it is in that spirit that I come to the well of the House tonight. We confront many challenges, Mr. Speaker. Mention was made earlier by my colleagues from Texas of the fact that we are a Nation at war, and yet we are also a Nation blessed with unparalleled prosperity, and with what some would bill as problems, others view as unique opportunities.”