Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, sometimes we come to the floor, Mr. Speaker, but we don't understand, really, the impetus and the importance of the work that is being done here. To my colleagues, what we are doing is securing the American people. We know that right now there is a major debate that is occurring with leadership dealing with health reform. We will also be addressing the question of jobs. But let it be very clear, nothing is going to stop us from addressing the question of national security. Chairman Conyers has been working on the reform and the refitting, if you will, of the PATRIOT Act to make sure that it provides more security for the American people. I just came from a hearing on Homeland Security of which I am a member, with the Secretary of Homeland Security, asking hard questions about the reinforcement of security, the provisions of support for personnel at the Department of Homeland Security, and the ability to give more resources so that the traveling public can be secure. In this instance, we are acting expeditiously and responsibly, because what is now occurring is that we are providing for the extension of the PATRIOT Act so we can, in fact, engage the other body and work constructively, one, to, with no doubt, commit ourselves, as the President has done, in committing to use every instrument of national power to fight terrorism, including intelligence and military operations, as well as the criminal justice system. That's the Judiciary Committee.…”