My greatest political asset, which professional politicians fear, is my mouth, out of which come all kinds of things one shouldn't always discuss for reasons of political expediency.

Some fine men are in Congress, too few, trying to do a responsible job. But they are surrounded and almost neutralized by a greater number whose instinct is to make a deal before they make a decision.

Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.

You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.

I've always met more discrimination being a woman than being Black...men are men.

Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased.

That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black, and a woman proves, I would think, that our society is not yet either just or free.