Political Quotes

“I appreciate the opportunity from leadership to be able to spend a little time this evening on what I define as a very, very important subject. Mr. Speaker, in the rancorous world we live in these days there is a tendency for people who observe the United States Congress from afar to think that we have become a shrill, loud, unfocused rabble of people. Perhaps we have lost our sense of humanity, and even worse. Tonight, I would like to talk about an individual, a person, a set of circumstances that refute that falsehood and the popular perception. What do I mean by that? Mr. Speaker, not many months ago, we, on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, both Republicans and Democrats alike, majority and minority, received some--what can only be described as devastating news--that a member of our family--and when I say family, I mean, our congressional family, the people who serve in this building, and in these buildings, and serve in the personal offices, and serve in the committee offices, and serve in the leadership offices. These are people who are the individuals that you have known for months, years, or maybe sometimes decades that you have jousted with on issues and that you have crossed-referenced notes and you have debated with for extended periods in the various roles.…”