Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1132. Introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), H.R. 1132 builds off existing bay restoration work under EPA's National Estuary Program. In my home State of California, the importance of a healthy watershed and improved water quality has never been more apparent. In fact, the San Francisco Bay estuary drains more than 40 percent of our State's waters. That is why I am thankful to see several of my colleagues from California as original cosponsors, including members of this committee: Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. DeSaulnier. At our June hearing, the subcommittee learned about the ongoing sources of pollution to this 1,600-square-mile estuary. Simultaneously, habitat destruction has forever changed the geography of the bay area. More than 90 percent of shoreline wetlands and 40 percent of the total aquatic ecosystem have been lost. This new EPA program office will concentrate Federal efforts to address water quality challenges and ecosystem health in the bay. This will improve the environment and economy for the bay area region that is home to 8 million people and an annual GDP of $775 billion. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1132, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support of H.R. 1132, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, from the National Audubon Society and Save the Bay. Audubon, September 18, 2019. Hon.…”