Political Quotes

“I thank the distinguished Presiding Officer, and I also compliment both Senators who just spoke, Senator Kohl and Senator Blunt, for their excellent work. Like everybody here, I have followed these votes and the negotiations and did vote, and I am encouraged by the progress made on the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill which the Senate has now approved. It funds our Nation's ongoing transportation investments. It also includes crucial emergency disaster funding for Vermont and the other States struggling to recover from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and other natural disasters. This bill is part of the response needed from Congress by thousands of Vermonters and millions of other Americans. It is vital not only for the economy of Vermont and other States whose roads and bridges were decimated by the storm, but for the Nation's economy. I commend the chair, Senator Murray, and the ranking member, Senator Collins, for their hard work and dedication toward ensuring appropriate funding for disaster relief, particularly in Irene's aftermath. I have said many times on the Senate floor that Hurricane Irene was devastating to our small State of Vermont. I was born in Vermont, as were my parents, and I have never seen destruction of this magnitude. The only thing that even compares are stories of floods in Vermont that my grandparents used to tell me about when they were younger.…”