Al D'Amato Quotes

My focus has been on being a good congressman, and there is so much other work to do.

I've learned what Tip O'Neill meant when he said all politics is local. We need more people in Congress who have this experience, who have this boots-on-the-ground experience.

Whether it has been supporting Corby's new free school, or fighting for the truth on the Cube overspend and land development deals, or striving to protect the East Northamptonshire countryside, in my work as the local MP I have always been struck, as I said in my maiden speech, by the pride people have in our area.

Whether it's veterans' disability claims, infrastructure projects, dam safety, or helping our farmers, what I am focused on is being useful for folks in the Hudson Valley.

Professionally I would say taking up my constituents' problems is something I continue to enjoy after 22 years as an MP.

I really hate I being a congressman because all it is is constituent service.

I love the diversity of my district, and it does drive a fair amount of my work.

From helping to process passports to aiding veterans with benefits and assisting with IRS-related issues, my team and I look forward to serving the residents of the 10th District.

My job in the Senate is not just to give speeches and do interviews, it's to solve problems.

Constituent services for Hoosiers are like customer service was to me in the private sector.

I want to be high-profile with the average Angeleno. I want to be out there holding office hours on a curb in Boyle Heights.

I decided to run for Congress because when I was approached as a community leader, I felt that one of the things that spoke to me most was the constituent services.

I decided there was nothing in Washington as important as one constituent, and I dropped everything when one called.

Being mayor of San Francisco is dealing with pot holes and dog doo.

All communities are apt to look to government for too much ... especially at periods of sudden embarrassment and distress. This ought not to be.

Members of Congress often have to have testimony to hang their hat on if they wish to do something for you or do something for the country.

[Describing a congressman's role:] ... a sort of super lobbyist for his constituents.

We're [Congress is] a little like Sears Roebuck or any other consumer oriented company. We have a wide range of people who want our help, and we have a steady increase in customer service.

Being a member of Congress is a hard job but it's an uplifting job.

The taxpayer base in the suburbs is going to be increasingly made up of an older cohort. They don’t care about schools. They care about making traffic signs readable and supporting services that will drive older people around when they stop being able to drive.

We want the government of this country to realize that it has customers and that it has to be customer friendly.

As chair of the CBC, I will do all I can to be supportive of Congressman Conyers.

I ran for Congress in 1992, but I lost the election, and I really dropped the idea of ever serving in Congress. Eventually, I went home and became the mayor of my city, West Palm Beach. I was mayor for eight years.

I'd like to solve more problems and help Hoosiers with more opportunities by serving on more committees.

Members of Congress wear two hats: one as Washington legislator, the other as listener and community leader back home.