Political Quotes

“Let me thank the Chair and our Ranking Member Lowey and of the subcommittee, Congresswoman Kaptur for their very hard work on this bill. This appropriations bill is intended to provide the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other offices with the funds they need to safeguard our natural resources. Unfortunately, instead of adequately funding these critical agencies, this bill has been turned into a vehicle for Republican efforts to cut protections that keep our drinking water safe, protect our rivers and oceans from toxic dumping, and to protect critical wildlife. The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are proven public health tool to reduce dangerous pollution known to make people sick and cut short lives. That is why I am opposed to the Republican policy riders included in this bill that are designed to block or weaken clean air protections, specifically the EPA's proposed limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants. This bill also cuts Federal investment in innovative clean energy research and development (R&D) at a time of significant global competition and progress. Mr. Chair, as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I know spending bills are difficult enough to pass without weighing them down with toxic policy riders.…”