All Quotes

Unfortunately, the Democrat bill under consideration here today is not a realistic step forward for the island, but another empty attempt to halt real progress for our fellow Americans.

Nevertheless, Ms. Jaresko's testimony today will provide valuable insight into the actual progress the Board and the new governor are carrying out.

I want to thank the Governor, Wanda Vazquez Garced, for declining to appear at this fabricated circus.

The answer, much to my dismay but to the surprise of no one is simple: Democrats would rather listen to their radical special interests groups than to consider the detrimental impacts this reckless proposal will have on the current fragile…

The Majority has decided to propose an effort that would catastrophically dismantle every bit of the balanced law that Congress and the Obama administration worked so hard to put in place.

Today, unfortunately, we sit here to consider the exact opposite of what a bi-partisan compromise looks like.

It was made possible by the sincere and genuine commitments made by both Democrats and Republicans to put aside politics, realize we were dealing with an unprecedented situation, and work for the betterment of the territory.

Three years ago this Committee crafted a bi-partisan compromise between the then Republican-controlled Congress and the Obama administration Treasury Department to help bring stability to Puerto Rico's quickly unraveling debt crisis.

If you say of your elders, I am going to go on for another 3 minutes.

Your testimony, you argue that it is important for Federal land management agencies not to create unnecessary tension.

I think all of you have spoken today about the importance of building relationships to solve problems without creating more divisiveness.

It is my sense that it is also not a reflection on who you are as a community.

Villainizing Westerners, and those who disagree with management decisions, does nothing to build the bridges of trust and cooperation that is vital to proper stewardship of the land.

Absolutely no one in this room, on either side of the aisle, condones violence or threats against Federal employees--unfortunately, I feel the need to make that perfectly clear.

Calling for local ownership and control of public lands does not embody an attack on the Federal Government.

Their safety should be, and is, of the utmost importance.

It is unfortunate that I feel I need to even make that statement.

I was very fortunate to be part of an Emery County public lands package that was signed into law this year.