Political Quotes

“I thank the chairwoman, Representative Maloney, for all her dedication, and I thank her for naming me to share a few remarks. I am a new Representative from Pennsylvania, neighbor to New Jersey, but I spend an awful lot of time in New Jersey, and our whole area was affected. Eighteen years ago, planes crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field near Shanksville. September 11 slammed into our national consciousness and has reverberated ever since. We lost family, friends, neighbors, coworkers--losses that are immeasurable. We might have lost more, but on that day, our first responders rushed toward danger, rescued survivors, and then spent months cleaning up the wreckage. That blend of sorrow and courage was on display again in June, when first responders encouraged Congress to reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Detective Luis Alvarez told me: ``I'm doing okay, but there are others out there who aren't doing okay.'' Before Detective Alvarez died a few weeks later, he said: ``The government has to act like first responders . . . put politics aside and let's get this bill done.'' Ultimately, we did so--through the might and strength of Carolyn Maloney, I might add--naming our bill for him, Luis Alvarez, and other heroes. In the spirit of Detective Alvarez, let us continue to do so, working together with decency and respect.…”