Political Quotes

“As you may know, last year I was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP. It is basically Parkinson's on steroids, and I don't recommend it. It has affected my ability to speak, so I am using this text-to-speech app to make it easier for you and our colleagues to hear and understand me. I rise today in support of PSP Awareness Month. Over the past year, I have come to personally know how scary and devastating a condition PSP can be for those of us battling it and for those close to us who love us and want us to be well again. Despite its life-changing impact on more than 30,000 Americans, PSP remains relatively unknown to the general public. I am on a mission to change that. For those of you who are not familiar, PSP is a neurodegenerative condition that occurs when a buildup of a protein called tau damages brain cells, particularly in the parts of the brain that control speech, balance, coordination, and eye movement. With a rare disease like PSP, there is a lot of confusion about what it is and also what it is not. As you have noticed, it has affected my mobility. In less than a year, I have gone from striding confidently into and around this Chamber to relying on my walker to get around. PSP affects how loudly and clearly I can speak, which is not an ideal situation for a politician. In conversation, I have asked people to just ask me to repeat myself if they can't understand me or find a quieter space to talk so I can be heard.…”