“In a Nation such as ours, we should want and encourage more Americans to vote, not fewer.  The Voting Rights Act and the renewal and restoration contained in H.R. 9, facilitate that goal.  By breaking down entrenched barriers to voter equity, this bill invites, inspires, and protects racial and language minority citizens’ full and equal participation in the governance of our Nation.   We must not fear that participation, we must embrace and celebrate that participation.”

“I believe that every citizen has a right to a quality education and am a strong proponent of funding public education at the highest levels possible.  I have consistently supported maximum funding for Head Start, programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and federal student aid programs.  While I am concerned about the state of our public schools and support reforms, like the No Child Left Behind Act, that are intended to improve the quality of public schools, I believe it is critical that we fully fund such reforms if they are to succeed.”

“I don’t see how we can get our arms around the rising cost of health care without some kind of universal coverage plan that provides basic critical health  services to all citizens.  A big part of that plan must be providing incentives for people to prevent health conditions that can be prevented.  That would help force people away from getting basic health services in emergency rooms in the most costly and least efficient way.”

“I certainly favor protecting our country against attacks from people or groups plotting to do our citizens harm, but we must not require the American people to sacrifice their right of privacy and trample the principles underlying the individual rights of each citizen in the name of fighting terrorism.”

"For most families, purchasing a home is the largest investment they will ever make and can be the biggest factor in wealth accumulation. We cannot continue to ignore the fact that race still plays a significant role in the price consumers pay for home loans. Furthermore, we must hold lenders accountable when they deliberately steer minorities into high cost loans,"

“In a Nation such as ours, we should want and encourage more Americans to vote, not fewer.  The Voting Rights Act and the renewal and restoration contained in H.R. 9, facilitate that goal.  By breaking down entrenched barriers to voter equity, this bill invites, inspires, and protects racial and language minority citizens’ full and equal participation in the governance of our Nation.   We must not fear that participation, we must embrace and celebrate that participation.”