Political Quotes

“Much has been mentioned of one facet of this legislation. I refer to the ANWR area. I also want to add that while we have not sought cosponsors, there have been many who have come to the floor today or have contacted me. As a consequence, I think it is important to add my senior colleague, Senator Stevens, even though I have not been able to contact him, so I condition that. But I don't want him to think we haven't thought of him. I add his name. I will identify on the first map, to get a feeling for ANWR and what it is all about, I will demonstrate what part of Alaska comprises ANWR. It is 2 rac{1}{2} times the size of Texas. Nevertheless, it is a big, big piece of real estate. This area on top is called ANWR. It in itself is about the size of South Carolina. It is 19 million acres. Notable on this map are the colored areas which are Federal lands. The reason it is appropriate to reflect a little bit, I hear the quotation, why can't we have some area of wilderness that is as it always was, with no footprint of any kind? And the justification of ANWR, indeed, is it fits that description. That is hardly accurate. If we look at another map shown in the scope of reality, we see the small portion of Alaska that is known as ANWR is 19 million acres, and we have set aside 8 million acres in wilderness and 9 rac{1}{2} million acres in refuge, leaving 1 rac{1}{2} million as a coastal point, which is the only area disturbed if drilling is authorized by the Congress of the United States.”