Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am disappointed we won't have an opportunity to offer the amendments. Several of my colleagues will be coming down to offer their amendments. We have been told that the tree has been filled. The amendment I am proposing--I actually have two. One, as I have described, is probably broader in scope, but I have a second amendment that literally takes the President's executive order and provides instructions to the agencies to do a rulemaking to implement them within 1 year. This is not something that the Senator from Alaska has designed; this is the President's executive order. I think it is designed to get us to an expedited permitting process so we don't have the lag times, whether it is on transportation infrastructure or energy issues. I think it is a good measure, and I ask my colleague from Illinois, in the effort to work together, which I appreciate, to take a look at this amendment. I apparently will not be able to introduce or call up amendment No. 1986. But again, what that bill would do is pretty simple. It is to codify portions of the President's executive order. The title is ``Improving Performance of Federal Permitting.'' He suggested it, and I thought it made sense. Now we are urging the agencies to provide for an implementation. Again, I think this debate we are having on the floor this week is an important one. We are focused on the issues that people in this country are talking about. Folks back home are very concerned.…”