Political Quotes

“I have had the opportunity in the 40 years I have been in the Senate to lead with others of both parties many efforts to help support victims--crime victims, domestic violence victims, victims of child abuse, and human trafficking victims. One of the things I have learned during that time is we have to pay attention to what the survivors tell us when they tell us what they need. None of us have walked in their shoes. We can offer advice, but we can't second-guess them. We can't assume we know best. Our job is to listen and try to help them rebuild their lives. If we would all just stop the political rhetoric and listen, the message from these survivors is clear. Earlier this week, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women--this, incidentally, is a coalition of thousands of organizations representing millions of survivors of domestic and sexual violence--wrote: We write today to express our deep concern about the controversy of inserting the Hyde provision into the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. The House passed a version of that Act that did not include this new Hyde provision and we ask the Senate to the do the same. I agree with them. I worked very closely with this group for more than 2 years as we drafted the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. They are some of the most dedicated advocates I have ever worked with and I listen to what they say. I believe they are showing us the way forward.…”