Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, this amendment is similar to amendments I have offered in the past on authorization bills. It simply states that none of the money authorized in this legislation for grant programs or for other purposes can be earmarked later by Members of Congress. We are often told that we don't plan to earmark this money, but we have seen in the past that many of the grant programs or other moneys that are authorized are later earmarked. For example, the Emergency Operations Center in a FEMA bill, 60 percent of the funds for the grant program were later earmarked. We can't have this, Madam Chair. If we're going to authorize a program, if we're going to say that moneys are available for specific purposes, we shouldn't come in later and simply take all that money from those accounts through earmarking. These amendments have been accepted in the past by the majority, and I hope that this one will be as well. I reserve the balance of my time.”