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.

At some point, I don't want to have any obligation. And just chill out.

I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.

Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is a train.

My idea of religion is we are supposed to bring people together. We are not supposed to judge other people.

The main thing to do is relax and let your talent do the work.

Poor people cannot rely on the government to come to help you in times of need. You have to get your education. Then nobody can control your destiny.

These are my new shoes. They're good shoes. They won't make you rich like me, they won't make you rebound like me, they definitely won't make you handsome like me. They'll only make you have shoes like me. That's it.

If you are black on television, you are probably going to be some kind of thug, gangster, or portrayed in a negative light. If you are some type of Muslim, you are going to be blowing stuff up. If you are Hispanic, you are going to be some type of gangbanger. I've felt like this for years.

Just because you say something doesn't make it controversial, and it doesn't make you a bad person.

My initial response was to sue her for defamation of character, but then I realized that I had no character.

You know it's going to hell when the best rapper out there is white and the best golfer is black.

I don't care what people think. People are stupid.

Everybody wants to talk about black and white, when the situation is really about rich people against poor people.

For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don't break the law, you're not a good black person.

Neither one of the parties is doing anything for poor people. They're both full of it. Black people have been voting Democratic their whole life, and they're still poor. And the Republicans don't do anything for poor people, either.

Everybody wants to protect their own tribe, whether they are right or wrong.

The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.

I'm not paid to be a role model, parents should be role models.

Just because you watch 'Grey's Anatomy' doesn't mean you can do the operation.

Racism exists, but what I want to do is start a dialogue.

I think sports has done a disservice for a lot of black kids thinking they can only be successful through athletics and entertainment. I want them to know they can be doctors, lawyers, teachers, fireman, police officers, etc.

I truly believe that building bridges, not building walls and not giving into fear, will make our communities better.

We don't need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do.

See, my hope and dream is that people have a good time watching basketball. It's not church. It's not serious.

If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw me coming.

Racism is here and will always exist, but we can't use it as a crutch.

I've always said that: 'We as black people, if you want respect, you have to give each other respect.' You can't demand respect from white people and the cops if we don't respect each other.