On the recordJuly 29, 2014
This bill brings a lot of common sense to Washington. In my district currently today, they have basically shut down agriculture because of this tiny fish there. We have seen food products coming in from other countries, and we see people standing in a food line. What has caused all of this? Under the Endangered Species Act, a species was added to the Endangered Species Act list. And do we know if that listing actually helped that fish, if turning off the pump has actually helped save that fish? We know it has put people out of work. We know it has changed where we are getting our food from. And for all we know, it hasn't even saved that little fish. That is something that needs to be looked at. What this bill does, it brings some transparency to this. When we pass these rules and regulations on these industries that affect these people at home and put them in the food line, are we actually basing it on real science? Are we basing it on the fact that we are actually going to save this species? This is a tragedy. What we see going on in my hometown right now, in my district is a tragedy. We have an opportunity to actually make a difference today with some common sense. Make sure that we know that the science is honest and transparent before we pass these laws.
