Raúl Grijalva: “Let me remind, the point of the amendment is that the money, the $37.5 million, and also the decision by the local…”

“Let me remind, the point of the amendment is that the money, the $37.5 million, and also the decision by the local residents to purchase the hovercraft, that was not mandated by the Federal Government. It was their decision, again with Federal money, $9 million, and so that was all in lieu of construction of the road. This legislation mandates a construction of that road, and I think it is only fair to the taxpayers that if the purpose was in lieu of to deal with the medical evacuation situations that we have heard about here again today, then the American taxpayers should be reimbursed for that. This was not an error caused by, as the levees in New Orleans, faulty design and construction that bore responsibility to the Federal Government. These were local decisions made on the use of that money. Now that the use of that money is moot, then the taxpayers deserve to be reimbursed. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.”