Political Quotes

“there were a lot of naysayers who didn't believe that this divided Congress could pass full-year appropriations bills. Tonight, we proved them wrong. We have finally passed all 12 bills to fund the government, and I am proud to be sending a $1 billion increase in funding to childcare and pre-K to the President's desk. As chair of the Appropriations Committee, you have a responsibility: You help decide in a big way how to set the Nation's spending priorities. I wanted to write our bills to put working people--the parents I talk to all around my State who can't afford or find childcare--first. I remember when I drove 100 miles to Olympia, our State capital, with my two young kids to try and save their preschool program, and a State lawmaker told me I couldn't make a difference; I was just a mom in tennis shoes. Well, this mom in tennis shoes is now the Senate Appropriations chair. I think it makes a difference when you have a former preschool teacher and someone who lived what it means to be a working mom with young kids holding the pen in our Nation's spending bills. So I decided childcare had to be at the top of our country's priorities, and this time it was not going to get knocked off. I am so glad we are making this investment in our kids, in our families, and in our economy. But this bill delivers a lot more.…”