Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc package which includes my amendments to the Financial Services division of this bill. Mr. Chair, my amendment supports the efficient implementation of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act. This is the act that I authored that was signed into law last year that simply puts in place a board to manage, to liquidate, to identify unneeded and vacant properties. There is an opportunity we have today to sell off the things that we don't need: properties that have been sitting vacant for years, properties that are costing us millions and millions and billions across the country. There is an opportunity for us not only to sell these off and bring in the much-needed revenue to start building roads, bridges, and put towards our infrastructure package, but also to get them redeveloped, rebuilding communities and putting people back to work. Now, what we need right now is to get this board put into place, and congressional leadership will make recommendations to the President on their board. We need the Senate to confirm the chairperson of the board, and, finally, we need an executive director and a staff to help vet these high-value properties and push the reluctant agencies that don't want to get rid of these properties to actually liquidate the things that they don't need. It is time to put this board in place, and this en bloc amendment will help us to do so.…”