“So, I hope it is a comfort to the people of the region, that their loss is one that is shared, and mourned, by people across the world, certainly in our country, and definitely in this Congress of the United States. Whatever it is in our power to be helpful to them, we will do, and we will do quickly. And that most importantly, they will always, always, always, and ever, be in our prayers."

“Today, you graduate at a time when public service is not only commendable, it is essential; when our common values of fairness and equality must not only be restated, but they must be strengthened. We need now, is the courage – your courage – to face, confront, and overcome some of the challenges of our time, the challenges to our democracy. Today, these challenges are being reflected over the meaning of our Constitution at the highest court in the land..."

“King Hall Graduates, you enter a world shaped by enormous challenges, defined by extraordinary opportunity, requiring bold decisions. You face these challenges with the law and the Constitution as your foundation, with a chosen field or profession fundamental to our democracy and central to the pursuit of the American Dream. You have stepped forward at a time when public service is not only commendable, it is essential; when our common values of fairness and equality must not only be restated, but they must be re-strengthened."

“First of all, it is our job to come here and act for the good of the American people. And right now the American people see that good as the creation of jobs. What is it, 134 days into this Congress? And the Republican majority has yet to put forth one bill, vote one bill out to create jobs, to have evasion. Here we are today with yet another one of their subterfuges: ‘let’s not talk about jobs. Let’s use up time.’ And that adds to – what has been up until now – $54 million dollars, 43, some days spent on this – the 37th effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. What we should be doing is what the Republicans have asked for: regular order, to go to the budget table, to reconcile the differences between the House and the Senate, so that we can put forth a product, a budget that creates jobs, that reduces the deficit, that strengthens the middle class..."

“So Members vote the way they’re going to vote on this, but recognize, recognize that this is not the way Congress should be meeting the needs of the American people. Let’s go to the conference. Mr. Speaker, appoint conferees so can end this mindless addressing the sequestration."

“The names Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley remain seared in the hearts and minds of us today as painful reminders of a dark moment in our history. For their families, for their friends, for their loved ones, their loss in a bombing at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church would change their world forever. Yet, even at the time of great change across the country, little did we know that their deaths would change our world forever."

“If we are truly going to secure a reliable and resilient cyberspace that reflects our country’s values, we must target our clearest vulnerabilities while preserving a space that promotes the innovation, expression, and security of the American people. The world we live in and the threats our country faces can change with just one click. While we should never let Americans doubt our vigilance, our preparation, our effectiveness, we must always never let our compromise, let us compromise their civil liberties. If we fail to meet the standard of security, we always do more harm than good."

“Thank you very much John Goldman for you, to you, to Doug Goldman, to Lisa, who are here, to Suzie. Oh my goodness, all these years we’ve come together to celebrate the bravery, the courage, the imagination, the success of these champions of the environment, who receive the Goldman Environmental Prize. So, congratulations to all of you, who have won this year. You join and bond with a very distinguished array of courageous, and imaginative, and successful protectors of God’s given planet to us and we congratulate you and we thank you."

“By dedicating this room, we do more than simply remember; we honor the highest ideals of service. Because that’s what Gabe Zimmerman’s life was about: his values and his service. A real tribute to his family as a son and grandson they raised. As his mother, Emily, has said, ‘it’s not his death, but his work and his ideals that should be recognized here.’ Gabe had gone to work that day for the same reason he went to work every day: to help the people of Tucson, to reach out to Congresswoman Giffords’ constituents, to serve the public and strengthen the community..."

“Over the course of Israel’s history, events like this have been all too common in the great cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, in the streets of Haifa and other places. Yet, despite these challenges, the world remains struck by the extraordinary resilience of the Israeli people, by the perseverance of Israel’s families, and by the persistence of Israel’s communities. Every time I travel to Israel, and that has been frequently, whether it’s for special occasions like the 50th anniversary, or the 60th birthday, or many other occasions – I am struck by the ability of the Jewish state to carry on, to look to the future even while confronting the threats and challenges of the present..."