Political Quotes

“The floor of this House has been the scene of many heated exchanges of late--the shutdown controversy around the Affordable Care Act and budget differences--but in the midst of some real tension and frustration, there was a bright spot last evening. I was pleased that there was a unanimous consent agreement to approve H.R. 3233 that I introduced with Representative Adam Kinzinger that kept the Special Immigrant Visa program alive for Iraqi nationals who helped the United States during the war effort at great peril to themselves and their families. These are the interpreters, the guides and drivers, people who performed a myriad of functions that were essential for American operations both militarily and diplomatically and for our development efforts. Since I introduced the first legislation on these refugees 6 years ago, I have watched impatiently as the flawed Special Immigrant Visa program has sputtered, leaving Iraqis and Afghans twisting in the wind trying to escape those countries, away from people with long memories who seek to do them harm. Then, Monday night, it died. September 30, the visa program for the Iraqis expired. After 72 hours of furious activity, last night, the United States sent a signal that we were not going to leave them behind. Last night, Congress came together--the House and the Senate, Republican and Democrat--to make it possible to uphold our end of the bargain.…”