Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the National Endowment for the Humanities was established more than three decades ago because, in the words of the Columbus, OH, Dispatch, democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens. Now, the more responsible amendment that we should be debating today would be one that would restore the $40 million to this budget that was cut in this bill from the President's request or the $14 million cut from last year's funding level. That is what we should be doing, and we could have compelling arguments to do that and, I would think, win on that debate. But, instead, here we have to defend a program that has justified itself for 30 years, that has made a difference in almost every community across the country. In Alexandria, VA, right across the Potomac River, 150 years ago Alexandria was part of Washington, DC, but there was a vote to retrocede. Because the African-American citizens could not vote, that vote won, and Alexandria went on to become one of the principal slave capitals of the South. For the next 150 years there was a struggle that required the highest levels of courage and character and leadership on the part of our African-American citizens to transform our community and that of northern Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area.”