There are things that matter more than your election. That may take difficult votes, may take career-ending votes for people, but if we aren't willing to do that, then we're not going to move forward.

The lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook are unparalleled natural treasures with some of the highest water quality in Connecticut.

Lead levels exceeding federal thresholds pose a serious public health threat, particularly for more vulnerable populations.

The TECH Careers Act will open the door for more Americans to have successful middle-class careers and help small businesses in Connecticut and across the country access a qualified pool of talented workers.

We want to take the energy surrounding the Sandy Hook anniversary that might otherwise be consumed by grief or anger - or this week in San Bernardino by fear - and channel some of that to honor our common humanity and love each other.

The Healthy Homes Tax Credit Act will help ensure that all families, regardless of their income, can protect their children from the lifelong health impacts of lead poisoning.

If elected members of any body - whether it's a state house or Congress - were not willing to take career-ending or at least election-losing votes, I would not have the right to vote today.

I liked New England.

I'm out and around all the time.

The real issue is, are you available to the folks you represent? And I am.

Connecticut has a proud tradition of manufacturing going back to the days of Eli Whitney.

It's important for our state to expand manufacturing jobs.

We need to consistently play our role as a moral leader in the world.

Veterans Day is an acknowledgment that those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country - and their families - deserve our admiration and respect today and every day.

My job is to get things done.

You are who you are, and in politics, if you stay who you are, you do better.

I'm a mom. That probably hinders sometimes and helps sometimes. To some people, that makes me more approachable.

Most of what I've proposed in Congress grew out of issues raised with me back here in Connecticut.

If you don't like public service, don't run for office.

We are a great enough country to respect the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun owners and protect our children. And those things don't need to be in conflict.

Hillary Clinton has spent those decades before her time in public office and since her time in public office advocating for common sense measures to fight gun violence.

Workers' rights are under attack across the country.

Those who know me would say I'm a passionate and hard-working mom and a community leader who knows how to get things done.

You have to believe in something strongly enough that you would lose your seat over it.

There's been an enormous awakening, and I think recognition that the mass shootings we saw in Sandy Hook and other places are very related to the shootings we see every day in our cities.

We need more access to quality health care, not less.

We need to stop trying to restrict access to lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, and well-woman exams.

We need to stop refighting 40-year old battles on women's rights.

Every week, we read about horrific tragedies resulting from children who play with firearms and accidentally shoot themselves or their family members.

E-cigarette companies are using shameful tactics, such as Joe Camel-like cartoons in advertisements and creating e-cigarette flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy, to addict our children early - and guarantee another generation of smokers.

We should not silence our nation's researchers.

We owe it to our service men and women and their families, who sacrificed so much for our country, to find out the answers they deserve and make care and treatment for them, their children, and their grandchildren a priority.

The STEM fields play an increasingly important role in the U.S. economy, but women are still underrepresented in most STEM sectors.

We need to close the tax loopholes that have awarded companies moving out of the country and overseas; we need a government that will keep our country safe from terrorists at home and abroad... and a government that is responsive to the needs of the people.

In my lifetime, I have seen how greater liberty, greater justice, and greater respect ultimately does prevail, but it prevails only when people are willing to fight for it and willing to lose for it.

It would be really easy to get discouraged over gun safety, and I have to explain all the time why I am not giving up and why people should not give up.

I would like to live long enough to see the day when people talk about which guns are the safest.

In Connecticut, we have a vibrant history of advocating to ensure our workers are treated fairly and given the rights and protections they deserve. Still, we need to do more to protect all American workers.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance policies that level the playing field for American workers and incentivize investing in jobs here at home.

We need a comprehensive strategy that includes expanding criminal background checks for all commercial gun sales, dedicated federal law to combat gun trafficking, and a strong commitment to mental health services.

We shield our children from hazardous products - liquid nicotine should be no exception.

Manufacturing is the backbone of Connecticut's economy, and suppliers such as Click Bond depend on partnerships with U.S.-based manufacturers that export many of their products with Ex-Im's backing.

Everyone is able to give to someone.

My brother had the courage to come out in 1978, when equality was still a distant dream.

We still have work to do in our efforts to advance equal rights for all Americans.

We need to ensure that no one is denied employment, housing, opportunities, or benefits because of their sexual orientation.

We have a lot of work we need to do to make sure all of our children have a better understanding of this diverse and wonderful and beautiful world.

We know that school readiness programs work, and the best ones work extraordinarily well. They are effective in reducing the achievement gap, which in Connecticut is among the highest in the country.

We have the opportunity and the responsibility to lead our country to a better and brighter future, and I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get back to work.

I do think the U.S. has a moral and political leadership role to play.