When we step back from these multilateral institutions... we are seen as being less engaged in taking on those challenges.

Everyone agrees that a growing economy is the most important single goal that we can pursue.

Where we can be part of institutions and initiatives that are working to create opportunity, to address those conditions that can lead to despair, we are most definitely enhancing our national security.

However, destitution, abject poverty can lead to despair. And despair is a condition, sadly, that all too often extremists know how to exploit.

the world is a better place when America is engaged, when America is strong, and when our leaders... have all the tools in the toolbox.

support for these institutions is simply part of our Nation's leadership obligations.

One of the things that was very clear is that poverty does not cause terrorism. That is something that we need to repeat over and over again.

During these tight fiscal times, we believe that the international affairs budget programs must be accountable, transparent, and results driven.

It provides important consumer protections that give Americans rather than insurance companies control over their own health care.

There are rules, and these are good examples of how regulations can actually help the American public and our constituents.

Those of us who believe that this is the right thing to do have to have the courage to do the right thing.

I think that what we are trying to do is afford people bootstraps so that they can help themselves.

Do we continue to allow the foreclosure rate to escalate? Do we continue to have people placed out of their homes on the streets?

I would look forward to continuing the effort that we have put forth to get that one-page disclosure.

Republicans and conservatives control the White House, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court, all talk radio.

Nothing that Bush said about going into the war or since the war or creating -- turning allies into adversaries, creating more terrorist... Michael Moore is way more accurate in an hour and a half than George Bush has been in three and a…

It's a binary point, George W. Bush misled us into a war.

Thank you for making us proud. Thank you for devoting so much of yourself, your time, and your talents to excellence and to our Nation.

Those who live in Green Bay want to put the rest of the Nation on notice, there is another key quality of character we hold dear: The relentless pursuit of excellence.

On a lighter topic, in my district last weekend we received formal recognition of what we from Green Bay have known for a long time, our area is one of the best places in America to live.

The All-American City award is not the end of a journey but merely another milepost in a longer journey to make sure that our area is the greatest place in the world to live, and we will not rest until we get there.

Thanks to the National Civic League and Allstate Insurance, who sponsored this wonderful program, Green Bay was named an All-American City.

I am proud to say that Green Bay is on the march, taking aggressive steps to meet its challenges in the most innovative ways we can.

Our area does indeed represent the very best of grass-root citizen involvement, creative community effort, and collaborative problem solving the three key qualities embodied by this award.

Had I been present, I would have voted 'yea.'