Political Quotes

“Ketchikan, AK, just north of the Canadian border in southeast Alaska, has recently suffered an extreme economic blow due to changes in Federal forest management policies. It is a town of just a few thousand people, and the loss of 406 jobs due to the closure of one of the town's major industries, a pulpmill, severely disrupted the community. The need for economic revitalization in Ketchikan is great, but the available opportunities are limited. One potentially important opportunity is provided by a local shipyard, Ketchikan Ship and Drydock. However, the ability of this yard to contribute to the local economy is limited without a significant upgrade of its ability to handle a variety of vessel sizes. It is my understanding that the subcommittee report on this appropriation recognizes similar situations in other areas by suggesting that the Economic Development Administration consider proposals which meet its procedures and guidelines. Would the distinguished managers of the bill, my friends from New Hampshire and South Carolina, agree that if the EDA receives a proposal for the Ketchikan shipyard which meets its procedures and guidelines, the EDA should consider that proposal and provide a grant if the latter is warranted?”