Speeches

Thank you for inviting me to speak at this critically important event.

More than 1.2 million people in the United States currently live with HIV/AIDS, and more than one in five who are positive are not even aware of their status.

That is why I applaud the National Association of People with AIDS, or NAPWA, for advocating for increased testing.

Veterans Day celebration 2011

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, it's great to be with you on DeKalb's Veterans Day 2011 celebration.

Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country around the world.

Thank you, M. Speaker.

America was united in its disgust at the spectacle in Washington during the debt ceiling fiasco.

The Republican threat to force a default ranks among the most reckless and destructive political stunts in modern American history.

It undermined a fragile but recovering economy and reduced faith in the United States. It has also undermined the American people's trust in its political leadership.

M. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill which will keep people working building our infrastructure.

Failure to pass this bill would put politics first and mean unnecessary economic pain for millions of Americans.

I commend the majority for putting America first by bringing this bill up quickly and without any policy riders.

As our infrastructure continues to crumble and unemployment remains above 9 percent we need to recognize that both issues can be addressed by investing in infrastructure.

M. Speaker, I rise today to talk about jobs.

I am not alone – everyone here TALKS about jobs.

One side offers solutions to create jobs and the other side stands in the way, blaming the President.

It’s been more than 250 days since the Republicans took control of the House, and they have failed to pass a single bill to address the jobs crisis.

They will say the President has failed, but it is this Majority that has failed the American people.

President Obama presented his plan to create jobs.

Several of my colleagues did not even attend.

Good morning – it’s good to be with all of you here in Stone Mountain for such an important commemoration. Thank you to Mayor Wheeler, members of the city council, elected officials and the organizers Jack Sartain, Dr. George Coletti and Bugles Across America.

And thank you to all the citizens who took time to come out this morning, and to all of our officers and first responders who are here as well, thank you for all that you do.

According to the latest figures available, an estimated 43.5 million Americans are living in poverty.

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s more than the entire population of California!

Communities of color continue to be disproportionately affected by poverty.

The national unemployment rate is 9.2 percent. In my home state of Georgia, the unemployment rate is even higher at 9.8 percent.