Since September 11th Congress has created the Department of Homeland Security more than doubled the homeland security budget and implemented a bipartisan overhaul of our intelligence systems.

Intelligence is playing a more important role in policymaker decisions than I think I've ever seen in my time in Congress or before.

I don't want to talk about intelligence matters. I will say however that intelligence-community estimates should not become public in the way of this city and in the way of Congress.

In my wildest imagination I never thought that the fifth of six children born to Helen and Buddy Watts - in a poor black neighborhood in the poor rural community of Eufaula Oklahoma - would someday be called Congressman.

There are no ideas in the Republican Party right now in the Congress. They're the party of no. They desperately need some intellectual leadership. And whatever you think of Newt Gingrich he can supply intellectual leadership. So I hope he does run.

The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington D.C. and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest most open and most ethical Congress in history.

The nation is faced with one of the most corporate-orientated anti-consumer Congresses in our history.

I've declined every congressional benefit I could decline federal health insurance the retirement program the 403(b) program which I think is overly generous. I've got self-imposed term limits of six terms if I have the privilege to serve that long.

Yes I do agree we need health care reform however this bill badly misses the mark. Congress can and must do better for the American people.

Congress is attempting to eviscerate women's health care. Like many women across America I am outraged.

As we get closer to the end of this Congress we should be addressing the urgent needs of the American people - the war in Iraq affordable health care a sensible energy policy quality education for our children retirement security and a sound and fair fiscal policy.

If you're self-employed between jobs or can't get insurance through work you'll have access to affordable health insurance as good as Congressman Paul Ryan's.

If Obamacare is allowed to stand - and Congress is allowed to make the purchase of government-endorsed health insurance compulsory - there will be no meaningful limit on Washington's reach into the lives of the American people. That is certainly not what the Founders intended.

Health care for all Americans is the most pressing domestic issue today. It's far past time for the President and Congress to deliver health care to everyone.

The time is now for Congress to address health care in America.

It is essential that the women's preventive coverage benefit including contraception be available to all women regardless of what health plan they have or where they work - as Congress intended. Providing access to birth control just makes good sense.

My top three priorities for my first term in Congress are growing our economy providing for quality affordable health care and keeping our nation and communities safe.

And whether it is equal pay health care Social Security or family leave this Congress has refused to address issues critical to hard-working American women.

The lack of health care coverage has remained very important to me during my time in Congress and as a member of the House Subcommittee on Health I am working hard with my colleagues to correct these inequalities.

As founder and co-chair of the upper Mississippi River Congressional task force I have long sought to preserve the river's health and historical multiple uses including as a natural waterway and a home to wildlife for the benefit of future generations of Americans.

Challenges of historic import threaten America's future. Action on the deficit economy energy health care and much more is imperative yet our legislative institutions fail to act. Congress must be reformed.

When I ran for Congress I promised to help make health care affordable again.

The Supreme Court has never ruled that Congress can use the Commerce Clause to require individuals to engage in an activity they have chosen to avoid. Yet that is precisely what Obamacare does: It forces Americans without health insurance to purchase coverage. Such a requirement is unprecedented and unconstitutional.

You bet every member of Congress who votes for this bill ought to read it read it thoroughly and understand that what we're looking at here amounts to nothing more than a government takeover of our health care economy paid for with nearly a trillion dollars in new taxes on individuals and small businesses. And it must be opposed.