“Shimon Peres planted the seeds of the Jewish state of Israel and helped that garden grow – whether literally in the blooming of the desert, or more significantly in the blossoming of a society and a people. A soldier who became a peacemaker; an immigrant who became an institution; a public servant who became a statesman, a champion of non-violence, a messenger of hope; an idealist who understood pragmatism; a founder of his nation who became, and remains, a visionary for his and all people: Shimon Peres’ story is the story of modern Israel – a saga of daring, dynamism, and wisdom.”

“It is unconscionable that Republicans have refused to renew this essential support for hard working Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Each week that House Republicans continue with their callous, shortsighted and immoral refusal to extend unemployment insurance, another 72,000 Americans lose the lifeline they rely on to care for their families as they look for a job.”

“These are issues – I said yesterday, in the Rotunda as we were observing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act – that for some of you here, which clearly is the case as it was there – you weren’t born yet. But for Steny and me it was our youth. When this happened – and it was quite a remarkable thing – it changed America. It made us more American. It was long overdue, and that for us to be celebrating that 50th anniversary – you remember when it all happened, Wade, right? And Nancy Zirkin, you’re younger so maybe not. And when it happened, it was remarkable. It made a big difference.”

“Today, we are gathered here to talk about Chen Kegui, and his father is here with us as well as his uncle, Chen Guangcheng. The government of China continues to detain him. They treat him abusively. These are not the actions of a confident government. To abuse and intimidate the families of human rights activists, and to do so with impunity, is wrong, and that’s why we are speaking out. But it’s not, again, the act of a confident power. These are the acts of a government afraid of its people and afraid of the simple act of standing up to those who lobby for justice, accountability, and for democracy.”

“So sad, though, that we celebrate the passage of the Civil Rights Act 50 years ago – honor Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King – and we ignore passing the Voting Rights Act. It is just one of the items on the agenda that we will ignore as we leave for this break. It has 100 cosponsors; it’s bipartisan. It reacts to, actually, the Supreme Court: today is the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court making its destructive decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act. We shouldn’t be leaving for the Fourth of July. We shouldn’t be celebrating the Civil Rights Act’s passage without passing the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act.”

“That is the promise of America. And in making that promise come true – that was the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. A century after the Gettysburg Address – a century later – Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and called our nation to act on those words – to reassert the vision of our founding fathers. A year later, Dr. King stood as an honored guest as President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law.”

“The Export-Import Bank is an essential tool in enabling American manufacturers to access and compete in foreign markets – supporting thousands of small businesses and more than 200,000 jobs across the country. The Export-Import Bank helps finance the exports of American-made manufactured goods and services especially when alternative financing is not available. Further, the Export-Import Bank is fiscally responsible by operating at no cost to the taxpayers, paying for itself out of the fees it collects.”

“Today’s executive actions represent the latest steps in the Administration’s ongoing work to empower all of America’s women with fairness and flexibility between work and family. We must do more to unleash the full potential of America’s women in our economy and our society – and it is time for Congress to act.”

“The impact of the first GI Bill has rippled through our society ever since — in the prosperity it shaped, in the middle class it built and in the example it set for caring for veterans in war and peace. It was on the bedrock of that law that Democrats enacted the Post-9/11 GI Bill to expand our nation’s commitment to veterans’ healthcare, education and economic opportunities. Since 2009, this law has supported the education of over 1.2 million veterans and family members.”

“Ever since the Supreme Court struck down the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act last year, the Administration has worked tirelessly to implement that landmark decision in a way that extends the full range of marriage benefits to same-sex couples across the country. Today’s actions take us ever closer to the day when all American families enjoy full and equal justice under law.”