“Today, the Supreme Court took an outrageous step against the rights of America’s women, setting a dangerous precedent that could permit for-profit corporations to pick and choose which laws to obey. This deeply misguided and destructive decision is a serious blow to Americans’ ability to make their own health decisions.”

“The discovery of the bodies of Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach, and Gilad Shaar is a heart wrenching end to this search. Their murder is a brutal crime, a nihilist act whose only purpose can be to diminish the prospects of peace.”

“Robert McDonald brings strong and focused leadership to a critical moment for the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the uncompromising insistence of excellence instilled in him at West Point and the managerial expertise developed over decades of private-sector experience, McDonald is just the person to implement and oversee systemic reforms needed at the VA.”

“Strong unions are essential to the health and strength of the American worker, ensuring that a hard day’s work earns a fair day’s pay. Yet across the country, we see powerful interests trying to undermine the unions that serve as the foundation of the middle class – the backbone of our democracy.”

“What we just saw was so stunning. If you believe, as we do, that every child, every person, has a spark of divinity in them and is therefore worthy of respect, what we saw in those rooms was dazzling – a sparkling array of God’s children, worthy of respect. So we have to use, as was said this morning, the crisis that some view as a crisis – and it does have crisis qualities – as an opportunity to show who we are as Americans: that we do respect people for their dignity and their worth; that we know how to get the job done, that relates to, again stopping trafficking. Because that’s one of the fundamentals that will reinforce the law.”

“Today is a tribute to the action and advocacy of so many families who have lost a loved one to suicide. With the funds approved by the Golden Gate Bridge Board, and the $49 million in federal funding made possible through the efforts of Senator Boxer and I in the last highway and transit bill, we will save dozens of lives.”

“The thousands of unaccompanied children crossing our borders to escape violence deserve to be treated humanely and with dignity – not as an opportunity for partisan point-scoring. As Most Reverend Mark Seitz, Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso noted in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, ‘…the Catholic Church’s work in assisting unaccompanied migrant children stems from the belief that every person has a unique and sacred identity. This dignity is not bestowed by governments or by laws or based upon their wealth or where they happen to be born. It inheres within the human being.’”

“The Stop Corporate Expatriation and Invest in America’s Infrastructure will stop billion-dollar corporations from moving overseas to dodge their fair share of taxes, and put that money to work creating jobs and rebuilding America. This basic measure of tax fairness will keep the Trust Fund solvent as we work for a long term solution.”

“As the search continues in Israel, we in America continue to hold Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel in our hearts. We pray for their families, and we pledge to do whatever we can to ensure their swift and safe return.”

” One year ago, as you mentioned, one year ago this week the Senate passed a strong, bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform piece of legislation. For one year, we have been waiting, urging, cooperating with the Republicans in the House to bring a bill to the floor. They didn’t want to bring the Senate bill to the floor. We suggested a compromise bill – H.R. 15. Many of the cosponsors are here now. They rejected that. We said: Just do it any way you want, but bring a bill to the floor. Give us a vote.”