On the recordMarch 14, 2012
Madam President, we have two choices on how to handle rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure, whether it occurs after an emergency or is just in the stream of regular maintenance. What we have done in this bill is extraordinary, and I think everyone would admit we have speeded up the approval process for all construction in the underlying bill. This was a hot issue. Senator Inhofe and I were coming from different places, but we reached strong agreement, and what we said in our amendment No. 1816 is that we encourage and support what we have done in the underlying bill and tell the agencies that after a disaster to move as fast as they can while protecting the people. What Senator Paul does in his amendment, it doesn't apply just after a disaster, it is anytime. So you could be fixing any problem that involves the most toxic materials and all the laws are waived. It is an overreach. It is radical. I would urge an ``aye'' vote on the Boxer amendment and a ``no'' vote on the Paul amendment. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Who yields time in opposition? The Senator from Kentucky.
