Speech

“Thank you UAW President Bob King! President King has been a champion of social justice for his entire career. He knows that the labor movement is part of the movement for social justice, and that the UAW is working on behalf of all workers - in America, and around the world."

“Good afternoon, everyone. This is a very special day for us because we have some very special guests coming to tell us their stories. In the course of the morning, our Members will be coming and going as we prepare for the debate that we have in the next 36 hours about health care reform."

“Our prayers and thoughts are with all of them, all of their families. Congresswoman Giffords is a great patriotic American, representative in Congress of a new generation of leaders, brilliant, patriotic."

“It is a high honor to welcome all Members of Congress and their families to the House of Representatives."

“Good morning. Yes, I am still Speaker of the House for a short period of time. [Laughter.] But one of my last acts as Speaker of the House for the 111th Congress is to come and congratulate the Congressional Black Caucus of the 112th Congress in the short period of time between their swearing-in and the swearing-in of the new Congress."

"Today, we have the opportunity to play our part in that same tradition: to support the COMPETES Act, to reaffirm our leadership ‘in science and technology,' to keep America first."

"We are here to affirm a core American principle: that anyone who wishes to serve, secure, and defend this country should be welcomed, judged by their abilities, and honored for their sacrifice. We will strengthen our national security and recognize the contributions of all Americans, the contributions that they have made to our nation's defense. And we will fulfill our pledge to make ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' a memory by the end of this year."