Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. The motto of my home State of South Carolina is ``Dum spiro spero.'' That is a Latin phrase for: ``While I breathe, I hope.'' Today, as the House prepares to vote on the historic George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, those words take on a new meaning and a very special meaning for me. In this moment, the haunting words of this legislation's namesake, ``I can't breathe,'' echo in the streets daily. In Mr. Floyd's case, his breath was literally being snuffed out as he cried out for his dead mother. But for so many Blacks in our country today, ``I can't breathe'' is just another way of saying, ``I have no hope.'' Today, this august body is going to pass a piece of legislation that will begin the process of restoring hope, hope to many whose ancestors fought for centuries to be included in the Nation's vision of liberty and justice for all. This legislation gives us an opportunity to live up to what Alexis de Tocqueville observed about America's greatness. He wrote: America is not great because it is more enlightened than any other nation, but rather because it has always been able to repair its faults.…”