Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. Jeffries, and to Mr. Horsford. It is an honor for me to stand here on this floor with you as a colleague in our freshman class. But first let me thank you for your leadership, and also to Congresswoman Marsha Fudge from my great State of Ohio, as president of the Congressional Black Caucus. As I stand here tonight, I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King when he said: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in a time of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. {time} 2115 Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this time of challenge and controversy to express my strong concern over Republicans' failure to immediately raise our country's debt limit. The failure to act is threatening an imminent default on our Nation's financial obligation. Raising the debt limit does not grow our deficit. Instead, it allows the Treasury to pay for what this Congress has already spent. What are the facts? Since 1917, the debt limit has been raised 103 times. In recent history, it has been raised 45 times. As you have heard my colleague state, 18 times during Ronald Reagan's Presidency. In 273 years since our country's founding we have never defaulted on our financial obligation. Yes, never. But if Republicans refuse to increase the debt limit by October 17, the Secretary of the Treasury has indicated very clearly that we won't be able to pay our outstanding debts on time. Quite frankly, this is unthinkable.…”