If you look at how much money we're spending in Iraq and the increase in the defense budget, surely a small portion of that could be used to take care of these kids coming back from Iraq,

I've grown tired of hearing rhetoric in Washington from the Bush administration, ... I'm going to see firsthand what's happening on the frontlines to combat terror.

At a time when so much of the world questions our commitment to our own values, I urge my colleagues to show the American people and the world that we will defend our country but we will do so in a way that protect those rights that make it worth defending.

This is nothing more than election year pandering. This will prevent or stop nothing, but it does effectively divide people in America ... and that's exactly why it's wrong.

After overcoming every obstacle that the leadership could possibly construct, the House will vote on real campaign finance reform,

We're in a better position to prevent an attack by terrorists on an airplane, that's for sure, ... But then again, we were in a better position after 50 minutes (on Sept. 11, 2001) to defend it, just by virtue of people in the plane ? the last plane ? knowing what was happening and taking the plane down rather than allowing the terrorists to fly the plane into the Capitol.

I would urge the members of this House to see through these amendments and recognize them for what they are, nothing more than an attempt by the opponents of campaign finance reform to kill this legislation.

Soft money is never good money ... It is the reason why every piece of public interest legislation that we try to pass, we have a tough time because of soft money on the other side,

The psychological wounds can be much more destructive,