Political Quotes

“I thank the distinguished gentleman of the Ways and Means Committee, and I thank the Ways and Means Committee for the very fine leadership that it has exhibited, particularly tonight, by bringing to the floor legislation sponsored by a very good friend, Mr. Oberstar. Mr. Speaker, I chair the Congressional Children's Caucus, and I really wanted to rise and speak from the heart, for Mr. McDermott shared with us, as the minority manager as well, some of the pain that goes with children who need to be adopted. Some years ago, I chaired the Foster Parent Task Force for Harris County, and I had the privilege of chairing it with one of our former colleagues, Congressman Mike Andrews. We chaired that task force to recruit, to restore, to rejuvenate foster parents, and to encourage them in their parenting and in their loving of foster children. In the course of that task, I learned of aging out--children who were in the foster care system and not adopted. Therefore, at the end of the foster care timeframe, they were aged out without any parental jurisdiction, love, affection, or nurturing. I met many of those children on the streets of Houston. I imagine, if I were to travel from the east coast to the west coast, I would meet children like that, children of America who deserve better lives. So I rise to support this legislation. I applaud Mr. Oberstar, the Ways and Means Committee, Mr.…”