Political Quotes

“The chairman is quite correct. We do have a problem. We do have quagga mussels. We have this particular one, the water hyacinths, and there are other aquatic invasive species that are causing havoc throughout the United States--certainly, the quagga mussel in the East, along the Great Lakes, Chicago and the rest--and certainly in California. The energy systems at Hoover Dam, on the Colorado River, are impeded by quagga mussels, and there is the delta with water hyacinths, and there are other lakes and streams throughout the West. If we let this problem continue to grow, we are going to continue to have less water and less power available to us. This is just under $4 million coming out of an account that was plussed up by some $32 million over and above what the administration thought necessary. I would remind all of us that the administration has done a rather good job on permitting, so much so that we now have the greatest production of oil and gas ever in the United States, so much so that we are on the verge of becoming energy sufficient. Do we need another $32 million to do what is already being done, or would that $4 million of that $32 million be better spent in dealing with the very real problem of trying to get water to the pumps so it can go south to Orange County and to Los Angeles and to San Joaquin County? Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with you, but I am going to ask for a vote on this one. I yield back the balance of my time.”