Mike Honda: “I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, I also rise in opposition to the amendment which seeks to cut $1.2 million from the…”

“I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, I also rise in opposition to the amendment which seeks to cut $1.2 million from the Architect of the Capitol's Botanic Garden. The hardest hit agency in this building is the Architect of the Capitol, which was cut by $52.5 million, or 11 percent, making it impossible to fund the Capitol dome restoration in this bill. However, the chairman found a small amount of funding to try to keep up with the maintenance of the Botanic Garden. Nevertheless, Members attack because they can get a good headline in the papers for cutting a garden. To that effect, the author of this amendment put out a press release after offering this same amendment last year. In that press release, Representative Gosar stated: The Botanic Garden has proven its ability to use tax dollars in a cost-effective and efficient way. If the Botanic Garden has indeed proven it's ability to use its tax dollars in a cost-effective manner, why is the gentleman targeting this agency? The public should know that after this amendment, we still won't finish the dome restoration. We still have to rehabilitate the Cannon House Office Building. The gentleman from Arizona wants to make sure the Botanic Garden is added to the scrap heap of buildings that we are unable to keep in working condition.…”