Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, that was great. I thank Representative Frankel so much for that. I must say that from afar Bella Abzug influenced me. I knew who she was. I knew about her helping to create the feminist movement, and it empowered me as a woman. With regard to Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, let me just say, not only was she--it was pointed out, of course, she was the first Mexican woman to enter this institution, but it is not enough to just be the first. She came here and she led the way on things like the Violence Against Women Act. She fought and used her post as a cardinal to protect the interests of children, all children. We will truly miss her. She mentioned Senator Tammy Baldwin--no, she didn't mention her. She mentioned Senator Mazie Hirono. She was a former House Member, now in the Senate. She went to the Senate and was the first Asian woman elected to the Senate. She is also the first Buddhist who entered this body. Diversity is important so that all voices are heard in this body. I thank Lois Frankel for lifting up these women. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased at this time to introduce one of the people who is younger than me, but that I get so much--much younger than me. I guess people are laughing because that is really not hard to tell. She is someone who inspires, someone who has already made her mark in this body, and she is one of our vice chairwomen of the Democratic Women's Caucus. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).”