Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this week, the majority advanced a bill that would block the administration from implementing a stream buffer zone rule intended to protect waterways from the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining, adding to the list of their attacks on the environment. House Republicans ignore the fact that Americans want clean water, clean skies, and more--not less--national parks and national monuments because, now, they are forcing a vote on H.R. 1459, a bill that will make it harder for Presidents to create new national monuments, adding layers upon layers of duplicative oversight and unnecessary congressional review. This is not what our constituents are asking Congress to do. It is simply another attempt by the majority to stall the protection of Federal land. In its 100-year history, the Antiquities Act has been used by 16 out of 19 Presidents. In fact, Teddy Roosevelt used it to protect the Grand Canyon, and over half our national parks started out as national monuments. Congress should not be diluting this popular tool or making it more difficult for future Presidents to set land aside and honor our shared history, but that is exactly what this legislation is trying to do. There are two ways to create a new national monument. Congress can pass a law, or the President can use the Antiquities Act.…”