Political Quotes

“I compliment Senator McCain and members of the Commerce Committee for bringing this matter up. I would like to be added as a cosponsor to the amendment. As all are aware, Senator McCain's amendment is similar to the one submitted last February. It passed this body by a vote of 98 to 0. I feel quite confident that we can dispose of it favorably. Certainly, Senator McCain and others have been diligent in making sure Congress addresses the issue. Safety is an extremely important component of energy policy. Senator McCain has indicated the highlights of the legislation. I will not be repetitive. The pipeline, as we know, provides this country with supplies of oil and natural gas in a very efficient manner. I believe we will hear from the Senator from Washington relative to the tragedy that occurred in Bellingham and New Mexico as well. But clearly these incidents highlight that some pipelines are aging, and the increased demand for energy is putting more and more pressure on these pipelines. It is appropriate that there be oversight adequate to ensure that wear and tear does not result in tragedies such as we have already seen. The public must have confidence in safety. This legislation will facilitate that. We are fortunate in this country to have a network of pipelines, as the Senator from Arizona has shown on the map, because it is much more efficient than moving by rail or by truck.”