Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Being on the Intelligence Committee made me more of a hawk.

Once you've stared death in the face, every day is a good day.

A lot of the O'Hare Modernization Plan may have been a mistake.

If I wanted to win all my fights, I would be a Yankee fan. I'm a Cub fan.

The problem in D.C. is that everything is on paper, and it's theoretical.

One of the cornerstones of our democracy is the peaceful transition of power.

Only in Chicago do they care more about who the mayor is than who's president.

We have over 100,000 bridges in this country old enough to qualify for Medicare.

I like to take out the recycling because I actually feel like I'm doing something.

We can be just as safe with a smaller, more efficient nuclear arsenal at less cost.

I get lobbied by governments, schools, nurses, charities. It's not all a bad thing.

I'm thinking of trying to talk Jonathan Toews into running for Congress. We could use him.

Cyprus has a reputation as a laundromat for the Russians who are trying to avoid sanctions.

I think you see a clear pattern of people in the Trump campaign coordinating with Russians.

The Russians hacked into the Illinois State Board of Elections. They got into the database.

As Americans, it is always important to remember where we once were and how far we have come.

Protection of religious freedom means considering the faiths and beliefs of everyone involved.

There is such a thing as commonsense middle-ground gun reform, and most gun owners support it.

Government influences your life every day. If there's a war, they're not drafting guys my age.

I was the last person to announce I was running for Congress in a big district, and I still won.

We can't allow ourselves to descend down the rabbit hole of unbridled partisanship for partisan sake.

The people of Chicago have made it very clear that they favor sensible restrictions on gun ownership.

As a policy maker, I have to stand up for the rights of all my constituents, regardless of their faith.

During my time in Washington, I have become increasingly frustrated by the power held by the gun lobby.

I spent 10 years fighting for reform in Cook County, and I didn't change my DNA when I got to Washington.

I'm a longtime believer in the old adage that sunlight is the best disinfectant, particularly in politics.

I do believe that the majority of elected officials worked very hard and their heart is in the right place.

I learned that Chicago lunches are terrible. If I was a Chicago student, I would ask my mom to pack a lunch.

One hundred and fifty years after Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, equality for many Americans remains elusive.

I don't buy that there's nothing we can do to stop criminals and the mentally ill from killing if they want to.

Despite its challenges, globalization has led to one of the most peaceful and productive times in world history.

I've seen it with my own eyes: When government takes money from the poor and the middle class, everyone suffers.

The real cost of corruption in government, whether it is local, state, or federal, is a loss of the public trust.

Wrigley Field was built and designed at a time when people got to the ballpark by trolley, train, and horse cart.

This is a global economy. If you're not at the bargaining table, if you don't get an agreement, someone else does.

Illinois and Chicago have shown they can compete on the world stage, and we will continue to answer the challenge.

In Chicago, we have a century-old transit system that desperately needs updates to keep up with increased capacity.

Before being elected to Congress, I oversaw the Cook County Hospital System as a Cook County Commissioner for 10 years.

What I would like to do... once I take care of all my kids' student loans, is buy a red 1965 Mustang and fully restore it.

I am committed to working towards a more transparent, accountable, and ethical federal government worthy of the publics trust.

Ever since I arrived in Washington in April 2009, I have been fighting for more transparency and accountability in government.

When they talk about my job being important, I say, 'The important jobs are the ones that you'd notice if you left for a week.'

Economic inequality is not about food stamps and homeless shelters. It is about being a devotee of social justice and equality.

I am committed to working towards a more transparent, accountable, and ethical federal government worthy of the public's trust.

I have never been reimbursed at the federal level. Never want to be in a million years. To me, it's just not worth the red flag.

Our Founding Fathers drafted the Bill of Rights to ensure that We the People could determine how best to protect our communities.

The United States did not earn its reputation as leader of the free world by standing back and allowing darker forces to prevail.

From high school, you can see my Sierra Club card - I've been a member since 1979. That gives you an indication of early interest.

There's a world to save. Don't let anybody tell you you can't change the world. You can, and you have a moral responsibility to try.

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