Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, once again in proposing an amendment, the gentleman has raised a very important issue, just as the issues that have already been raised dealing with airline security, dealing with clean water are important issues. I would point out at least insofar as this particular issues is raised, however, that in the definition section, an agency does not include an independent agency like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. So I believe that there is an exemption in the bill stated for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission identified by the gentleman. Further, where there are licensing procedures, there is nothing in this bill that prevents the revocation of a license for not being in compliance with any requirement that one had to be in compliance with in order to receive a license in the first place. Mr. Chairman, my point is that I believe that there are already exemptions in this bill which go a long way in addressing the issues that the gentleman from Texas has raised. But with respect to other issues that might remain, it still comes down to the fact that Congress should be accountable for those mandates it is passing on to State and local government. Once again, we have to reiterate as supporters of the bill that there is nothing in this bill that prevents Congress from in fact passing unfunded mandates on to State and local government.”