Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman for convening our Committee on Ways and Means' family. It was a bittersweet moment this morning as we gathered outside the Capitol saying good-bye to John. His visits to Portland touched thousands of people, and I heard so much about them. He was not just a civil rights icon and a tremendous human being and an inspiration, he was a moral compass of our Committee on Ways and Means. He was the living, breathing manifestation of policy that impacts every family in America, not just merely numbers and dry policy, but things that matter. Too seldom does the consideration of everyday citizens--especially the poor, the weak, and the disadvantaged--get the same attention as the rich and powerful and well-connected. Well, that is not the fault of John Lewis. And I would hope that all of us here who are celebrating his life, would be inspired by his deeds, by his life's work. As John would say, ``not just our words, but our deeds.'' And I hope our moral compass of the Committee on Ways and Means will guide us as we move forward to give the American people the policies that John would have expected.”