So you know I think that Democrats are being more successful in Congress and I'm really going to be proud of the role I will play tomorrow as ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee when this bill passes.

The intelligence community for the most part has no accountability at all to the Congress to us the American people and so they feel that they above the law.

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.