Political Quotes

“I simply wanted to rise this evening in support of the conference report. The subcommittee has worked very diligently under its chairman's leadership to put this bill together. Opponents of this bill claim that this is a question about home rule. The Constitution, in Article 1, Section 8, gives Congress the ultimate responsibility for decisions affecting the District. The subcommittee has upheld the Constitution and found ways to work positively with the D.C. government. The subcommittee approved intact the same budget that the D.C. Council and the Mayor approved. Also, this bill ratifies $59 million in tax relief that the D.C. Council and Mayor approved as well. Almost all of the so-called riders are incidental to what Congress passed and the President signed last year. These measures provide common sense policies that all Members should support. For example, why should we allow the District of Columbia to spend funds to legalize marijuana when such efforts contradict current law? But aside from these measures, this bill has many other positive aspects. There are funds to provide better education for children by strengthening public charter schools. There are funds to provide high school graduates with millions of dollars for new scholarship opportunities and more choices when deciding which college to choose. This is a bill that will continue, in my opinion, to improve our Nation's Capital. I urge support of the conference report.”