Political Quotes

“Madam President, reserving the right to object, I would like to talk a little bit about not just Ms. Williams--who as my friend from Montana has mentioned--I actually think she is qualified--but the issues that are in front of the Fish and Wildlife Service, as we speak, that relate to my State, the great State of Alaska. Unfortunately, it has been one Executive order, Executive action, delay targeting Alaska--some from the Fish and Wildlife Service that has had an enormously negative impact on my State. I agree with the Senator from Montana. Fish and Wildlife Service is important. He mentioned that it manages 89 million acres nationwide. Well, 77 million acres of that 89 are in Alaska. Eight-five percent of Fish and Wildlife Service land that is managed is in one State, the great State of Alaska, a size bigger than the State of New Mexico, just for Fish and Wildlife Service land control. So this Agency, this nominee will have an enormous impact on my constituents and, indeed, right now is having an enormous impact on my constituents, and I can't get them to do anything constructive for the people I represent. Let me give you two, and perhaps my colleague from Montana can help me out with this. These are two directly--directly--in the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service that we have been asking for support on and haven't gotten it. One is the Russian River land exchange. This is a vital exchange that needs to happen for a highway project on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.…”