Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the Los Angeles Times had an article entitled, ``Editorial: GOP Water Bill in Congress Should Be Rejected.'' It compared the two pieces of legislation, Jared Huffman's H.R. 2983 and the bill that is on the floor today, H.R. 2898. The conclusion was that we needed a commonsense, comprehensive approach. The article says, ``the Huffman bill is starkly different and frankly much smarter, focusing on updating Federal water policies and practices that today are firmly rooted in outdated, mid-20th century knowledge and technology.'' It is a comprehensive approach that my side of the aisle seeks, and this legislation before us today does nothing. Mr. Chairman, I want to speak to another important aspect of the legislation, which is the issue of relief. Providing a near-term relief, I think, is essential--that is not to stall a long-term solution, but to provide the relief that everybody has talked about that California and the Central Valley needs. The Central Valley has been described as the ``Salad Bowl'' of America. The delicious crops that are grown there are consumed by Americans at a low cost. There is an occasional reference to the people that day in and day out labor to pick those crops and put them on the tables of the American people--the farmworkers. Referencing their dire economic and living conditions that they find themselves in right now, the conclusion is that we need to proceed to pass H.R.…”