Hope fills the holes of my frustration in my heart.

There are people walking around the streets of Kansas City who are unemployed, while one of our largest employers is not only sending jobs aboard, but then turning around and making a statement about preserving jobs.

Community colleges need to be upgraded. We got to have training for real jobs. We've got a lot of jobs that are going unfilled because we don't have the technology in the heads of graduating college students to deal with them.

America, I am a strong believer that how we treat each other matters.

Congress is unable to do the work of the American people because too many politicians believe that compromise means capitulation.

One thing I've learned - and I've said this to Republicans and Democrats - is, bees cannot sting and make honey at the same time. They have to make a choice. Either they are going to be a stinger or a honey-maker, and I contend that honey is a symbol of legislation and, the nuclear language used by members is the stinger, and you can't do both.

We may be a nation of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, but first and foremost we are all human beings and Americans.