Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, before I begin, I want to thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ros-Lehtinen; ranking member, Mr. Berman; the Human Rights Committee chairman, Mr. Smith, who's been a champion on all of these issues from the very first day he got in here; and their staffs. The staffs have made all the difference in the world. I want to particularly thank the chairman's staff, Yleem Poblete and Doug Anderson, for their help, and also the leadership on both sides and my side, and the leadership staff who have really tried to work this and get this thing through. I'm going to say some things that hopefully are not too controversial, but I do want to thank them for getting this thing out and getting it moving because, if it didn't move today, it may very well come to an end. I rise in support of this critical legislation to reauthorize and reform the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The sad truth, though, Madam Speaker, this bill has been held hostage by the other body--and keep the word ``hostage'' out there as we think in terms of what this bill would do and what's taking place around the world. And if we do not pass this bill in this form today, the likelihood of this Commission shutting down is very, very high. I wish I could name--I know the House rule--and I would name the members over there if anyone asks me, but it's being held hostage.…”