Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill, and I rise on behalf of the fishermen, the landowners, the delta and north-of-delta farmers, the conservationists, the sportsmen, coastal communities, the counties in my district, and the water users across our State that will be harmed by this bill. This is a disappointing effort to take care of the San Joaquin Valley's massive agro businesses at the expense of everyone else. More times than I can count, I have stood on this floor with many of my colleagues from California to explain that our State's water system is complicated. It is because there are hundreds of stakeholders. There are decades of rules, laws, and court cases from every level of government and industry that regulate the delivery of water to users across our State. Once again, this body is proposing to end-run that delicate balance to benefit one interest. That is wrong. Once again, we are gutting Federal protections for fish and wildlife that support our State's $3.5 billion hunting and angling industry and our $1.5 billion salmon industry. Once again, we are preempting California laws and regulations, telling States across America that we are okay with the Federal Government undermining State and local experts from coast to coast, but this time they are going further. This bill isn't just about water anymore.…”