Political Quotes

“I am joined by my colleague on the floor today, both of us longtime friends of the now late Congressman Louis Stokes. Senator Portman and I sat together at Congressman Stokes' funeral at Olivette Church in Cleveland just a couple of weeks ago. We both called Lou a friend. I wish to speak about him, and then I know Senator Portman would like to speak about his friendship and his alliances and allegiances and work with Congressman Stokes. He grew up in a Federal housing project in Cleveland. His father worked in a laundromat. His father passed away when Lou was 3, leaving his mother with two young sons to raise. A former sharecropper and descendant of slaves, she cleaned houses to support her sons and encouraged them to get an education. Lou shined shoes to earn money for the family. He served in the Army during World War II--probably a pretty segregated Army. He served and went to college at Case Western at night on the GI bill. From public housing, to public education, to public investment in our servicemembers, Congressman Stokes' life accomplishments show how government makes a difference in people's lives--something he passionately believed in--the partnership between government and communities, between the Federal Government and what we can do together as a country.…”