Yesterday was a magnificent day: the coming together for the second inauguration of Barack Obama and the honoring of Dr. Martin Luther King. In his speech, President Obama said something potent and powerful, and that is that freedom is a…

In just a few minutes, she'll leave us to speak with Vice President Biden about the shooting.

This tragedy could not have been helped by the present legislation. I know when the concealed weapons bill was passed some many years ago, the wisdom of the legislature at that time was not to allow concealed weapons to be on campuses, and…

I would rather them be training paramedics and first-responders than arming students.

I believe in responsible gun ownership. I believe in the Second Amendment.

I rise regarding my excused absence from rollcall votes 11-23 on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. I was unavoidably delayed on my return to Washington due to official business in my district. I would have voted ``aye'' for my following rollcall…

I thank very much the gentlelady from the District of Columbia for her clarification; and I, frankly, thank you for having the wisdom in months and years back to have these corrections and these improvements in FEMA, and I know they…

I believe that we should have done this last week. But I know that my colleagues will be reading the Constitution tomorrow, so let me read from article I, section 8: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts…

I thank the gentleman very much, and I thank the proponent of this legislation. It is obviously needed. I come from the gulf region. We lost thousands and thousands and thousands from hurricanes. Hurricane Ike saw this Congress give us $3…

I'll add my appreciation to the service of Mr. Dreier as well. And ask the question: Why are we here? I know why I'm here--to protect working Americans, the vulnerable and middle class. The reason why we're in this position is because at…

I join with my earlier colleague in acknowledging the 150th year of the Emancipation Proclamation. What a moving moment last evening at the National Archives when I read the words: Hence forth these slaves are free. I rise with a more…

First of all, I want to thank Mr. Gowdy very much for the attentiveness to this legislation and shepherding it so that it has come from the Senate and accepting the Senate amendment. I am on Homeland Security, and I believe that the…