Jeff Fortenberry

“The promise of peace seems very far away, but you keep working steadily with good and uplifting attitudes, and that's sometimes tough in the environment we're in.”

“My degree in theology was an important part of my formation.”

“The strength of the nation ultimately depends upon the strength of family and community.”

“The strong arm of government should not force Americans to buy health-care products that they have reasoned objections to.”

“What if we thought of health and security in retirement as one basket?”

“Congress must demonstrate fiscal responsibility.”

“Communities are suffering, children are suffering, and our immigration policy appears in disarray.”

“I would like to see Donald Trump lay out specifics on an economic agenda that are realistic, that are small-business focused.”

“With the consent of the people, I will seek to continue service in Congress for the well-being of our state and our nation.”

“My first responsibility is to keep America safe.”

“We must continue to foster relevant and constructive dialogue among Israeli and Palestinian communities.”

“We need a new health care architecture that will reduce costs, improve outcomes, and protect vulnerable persons.”

“There is a need for a vision that's compelling and uplifting, especially in a time when people are worried. At the same time, in this era, hard work and lofty rhetoric are not going to compel you to the presidency.”

“The tax code is weighted toward the ultra-wealthy and ultra-wealthy corporations and has created an offshore aristocracy of people who can afford to hire an army of accountants and lawyers. This shifts the tax burden to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and others.”

“That sacred space of conscience where you can exercise your rights in terms of religious freedom and deeply-held, reasonable beliefs is the core of human dignity. In fact, that's the basis for civilization itself. And when you lose that fundamental principle... you have no basis on which to build.”

“You cannot deny reality: that ISIS is systematically attempting to exterminate Christianity, to exterminate the Yazidi community, to exterminate other religious minorities in vast areas in Iraq and Syria.”

“We want a faithful Catholic businessman not to have to provide a service he finds unethical.”

“People need to make their voices heard in an orderly fashion.”

“My responsibility is to make judgments about hard, complex issues that I believe to be right.”

“By keeping your eye on the ultimate goal, you lean into the mess and try to make the outcome a little better.”