Political Quotes

“I am continually amused and continually astounded by the general statements by my colleagues on the other side who have never taken the time, despite the invitations that have been extended, to visit this area themselves and to talk to the Native people and see indeed that they, too, have hopes and aspirations for a lifetime opportunity of jobs, of health care, and education. The Senator from Connecticut made a comment about the letter he received. What he didn't tell you is that every child in that village has an opportunity to go to college. Believe me, that child would not have that opportunity without the oil activity associated with Alpine. This whole debate is a smokescreen. It is a smokescreen promulgated by America's environmental community, which uses this as a tool for membership and dollars. These are the same arguments that were used 27 years ago against opening up Prudhoe Bay: You can't build an 800-mile pipeline across the length of Alaska because you are putting a fence across Alaska; the moose and the caribou won't be able to move from side to side; it is a hot pipeline; it is in permafrost; it is going to melt; it is going to break. Where would we be today without that particular project and Prudhoe Bay that has supplied the Nation with 20 to 25 percent of its total crude oil for these 23 years? We would be importing more oil. We would be importing it to the west coast and to the east coast in foreign ships, not U.S. flag vessels.”