Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the ``San Francisco Bay Restoration Act.'' Thank you to Senator Padilla for cosponsoring and I am happy to be once again be working with Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who is leading the bill in the House. This legislation would create a San Francisco Bay Program within the Environmental Protection Agency dedicated to conserving and protecting the San Francisco Bay estuary ecosystem--the largest estuary in the western United States. The San Francisco Bay estuary is truly a national treasure, and it is vital to the nation's environmental and economic health. It is home to more than 1,000 plant and wildlife species, roughly 77% of California's remaining perennial estuarine wetlands, and an important stopover for birds along the Pacific Flyway. The Bay region produces more than $370 billion in goods and supports more than 4 million jobs. Unfortunately, during the last 150 years, the water quality and health of the San Francisco Bay has been diminished. According to the United States Geological Survey, the Bay has lost 95% of its wetlands, which serve as both habitat for vulnerable species and as an important barrier to protect against climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events made only more common by global warming.…”