Hurricane season routinely strikes the Caribbean harder than the U.S.

We love the ability of the people to influence the actions of decision-makers, of lawmakers and presidents to be removed from or elevated to office by the will of voters, and of the community to connect amongst diverse populations through the ballot box.

I'm in the kitchen and I'm not walking out.

If you are spending too much, you cut back on spending and you raise your revenues. And that's it.

I don't know whether the number of any particular Latino group has made or will make any particular difference in the issues that I am concerned with.

If you got problems like unemployment, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and there's a guy that's always been there for you and for your family, then you say 'He's a nice guy. I don't know where he came from or how long he's been here, but Charlie Rangel's the man.' That's what I'm relying on.

No one looks forward to a recount.

For a member to say, 'I'm a lame duck' violates political science 101.

I've been beat up pretty badly. Pretty badly. Yet at the end of the day, everyone says I'm doing a pretty good job.

I have a record that I'm so very, very proud of, and no campaign is going to take that away.

My father was absolutely no good.

If there's no relationship with a father who's absent, nobody talks about it.

Of course things get stagnant; people get too used to their environment, but that's why I'm in my district every week, at meetings with my constituents.

I'm just glad that my community has faith and confidence in me.

The victor will be the one who gets the most voters out.

I feel terrific.

Reapportionment is not friendly to a lot of communities and it hasn't been too friendly to mine.

I didn't ever want to leave Manhattan. I have an abnormal fixation.

We can't have Harlem become one borough for the rich.

Not having insurance not only destroys your life, it destroys your fiscal life. It breaks up marriages. You cannot functions anywhere unless you have good health.

Our nation has come so far since 1968 when Dr. King was assassinated, but I know we can do better to achieve The Dream, and that is why I keep marching on.

America's legacy has been crafted by generations of hard-working men and women who moved to the United States from all over the globe to pursue their dreams.

In various fields, such as science, technology, sports, business and the arts, immigrants enrich our culture every single day.

I am proud to represent New York's 13th Congressional District, which has one of the largest and diverse populations in the country.

It's morally wrong, and economically self-defeating, that so much wealth flows upwards towards the richest of Americans, while millions work full time but still can't provide for their families.

Those of us in the Congress must confront and overcome Republican intransigence to increasing the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance and protecting food stamps.

As a Korean War veteran, I know firsthand and understand the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.

I authored the Universal National Service Act because I believe that everyone in America should contribute to the greater good of America.

I went to college and law school with the help of the GI Bill. That experience moved me so much, I dedicated the rest of my life to serving this great country and helping others succeed.

After the threat of war is gone, we should not turn our backs on the men and women who eliminated that threat. We should embrace them and keep our promises we made to them.

I still remember March 31, 1981, when a deeply disturbed John Hinckley Jr. took aim at President Ronald Reagan and fired shots that hospitalized the Commander-in-Chief and two others, and left his Press Secretary James Brady paralyzed for life.

We must urge a national dialogue on better methods of curbing preventable gun violence, and address the need for mental health awareness and access to psychiatric services in this country.

So many deaths could be prevented if measures were implemented to expand background checks and keep individuals like John Hinckley from ever buying firearms in the first place.

Supporting mental wellness is crucial to any goal of decreasing gun violence in America.

As a veteran, I know firsthand the satisfaction there is in defending the democracy you so strongly believe in, but I can also attest to the trauma encountered from combat on the battlefield.

I proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War as an artillery operations specialist in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the Second Infantry Division.

The U.S. Congress can do a lot to support America's workplaces and the family. By working together in a bipartisan fashion, we can ensure our constituents get jobs they need while helping employers make smart decisions about their workforce.

No one should go into debt if a family member gets sick or injured.

When people are healthy and not hungry, they are stronger workers building a robust economy.

Since coming to Congress in 1971, I have been fighting to help create an environment where the goals of the National Work and the Family Month can become a reality.

America was born as a nation of immigrants who have always contributed to its greatness.

Living in America means enjoying freedoms that people in many other countries cannot.

I've been around Congress long enough to know there are issues we may never see eye-to-eye from the opposite aisle, but we should all agree that our job is to move America forward and benefit the people.

A default on our debts as a result of not meeting our obligations would be a disaster for the stock market, and Americans would see their retirement funds shrivel up.

As a Korean War Veteran, I know too well the troubling nature of war. This is why I will always support a diplomatic answer before military intervention.

The world has placed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in a separate category because their use constitutes a crime against all humanity.

To honor the legacy of veterans and the democratic principles they fought for, I am glad that I introduced the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act which was enacted in 2009.

I was proud to march beside some of the most notable Civil Rights activists, such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., from Selma to Montgomery.

The right to vote should be considered sacred in our democracy.

This country was founded upon the principle that we are all endowed with certain inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - those rights are what make America great, and they belong to each and every one of us.