Barbara Boxer

My people there are telling me they are very concerned that Diablo Canyon cannot withstand earthquakes.

All of these are improvements, they are not status quo.

I hope everyone understands that, with this news coming out of Fukushima.

They want upgrades in the plants to prevent or mitigate seismically induced fires or floods. You said no.

I wanted to point out that our nuclear industry is quoted in the story as saying the industry has managed its response to Fukushima while avoiding costly new requirements.

Why would you do that with so many people living so close to this plant?

Well, let me just say when we work together to find an innovative way to move forward, we need you folks to be behind us, not to drag your feet.

What else do I need to do here?

If this thing goes south on us, we have a crisis of wildlife, because they stop at the Pacific Flyway.

You have to step up, regardless, and get it going.

I think not having a bill every 2 years has adversely impacted our ability to plan.

Has the time lag between WRDA bills affected the efficient and timely completion of projects?

The President's hands were tied when the Governor of Michigan asked him to declare an emergency.

We have to act on it and we have begun in this Committee to address it, and I am looking forward to addressing it again.

The President has put it in the budget; WRRDA, in a bipartisan way, mentions it, and I just am so frustrated.

I am happy to see Chief's Reports for two longstanding California priorities.

I still don't understand why we couldn't get it done.

I wrote some legislation to allow the President, if asked by a Governor, to declare an emergency and move quicker.

With the Country in a very contentious place and so much dividing us, this is an area this Committee can restore some hope and faith that we can work together.

It is always easiest to do nothing, because there is always an excuse. But this Committee understands our responsibility, so I am very hopeful we can really have a strong WRDA bill.

My colleague has brought to our attention a very crucial issue. We need to be there for each other. That is what makes America great--when we are there for each other. (The remarks of Mrs. Boxer pertaining to the introduction of S. 2674…

OK, so your position is that your State can tell another State what to do, and you are criticizing the EPA. Now you are going to say one State is going to tell the other State what to do. It is not realistic at all, and that is the reason…

I think it is all very fair, but at the end of the day this is one Nation, so setting minimum standards, making sure our people are protected, whether they are in my State or a State adjacent where the pollution from my State may actually…

I also think it is important to reiterate a fact clearly that should be in evidence. This is one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This is not some conversation about the meaning of the Twelfth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment, the First Amendment; it is really about the health of our people.