Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this shutdown is tearing at the fabric of our society, and one of the clearest examples is the lack of funding for the Justice Department. As a practicing attorney for the past 30+ years, I know that many people, when facing some of the most challenging times of their lives, often depend on Justice Department services. When we fail to provide those resources, our fellow citizens are forced to suffer in silence. This lack of funding has led the Violence Against Women Act to expire, jeopardizing protections for domestic abuse and sexual assault victims. Constituents in my district, who provide assistance to these survivors through such fine organizations as Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, and the Crime Victims Council, have said that their programs could soon be at risk. And because of Washington's failure to fund programs like the Victims of Crime Act Assistance Grant Program, organizations that look out for children suffering abuse aren't getting the resources they need either. As promised, when this shutdown began, I will be making regular charitable contributions to individuals and agencies in my district who are adversely affected by the shutdown, but that will, by no means, offset loss of Federal funding. Our constituents are suffering, and they need us to act. ____________________”