Political Quotes

“I listened to people on the other side. This is a good rule. I want to compliment the Rules Committee. It is crucially important to recognize that this is an issue that means lives: 19 people have died out of that community of King Cove-- mothers, children, husbands, brothers, uncles, and aunts--because they didn't have a road. We passed legislation similar to this in 2009 that granted a land exchange--and was a massive land exchange--of 43,000 acres for 260 acres from the State of Alaska to construct this road. I think that is a fair exchange for an 11-mile road--single lane, gravel covered--just so they have access to save lives. Those who speak against it have never experienced the wind that howls through that area when you try to land a plane or take off, you have a sick person with you, and you crash. Or go across the bay when waves are 30 feet high, and the evacuation of those ill people to an area that is only 11 miles away on an unfinished road and they die. Human beings, Alaskan constituents, that have medical aid only 600 miles away and stopped by 11 miles that is not allowed because supposedly there is a better way. And there is no better way than a road in the weather condition I am speaking of. When you think about it, I often listen to the other side of the aisle in voting against something like this, yet they will defend the right to save certain animals, but they don't want to save human life. That is wrong. This is a good project.…”