Sam Farr: “I would like to remind my colleagues that the national ocean policy is the recommendation of a commission that we…”

“I would like to remind my colleagues that the national ocean policy is the recommendation of a commission that we created, bipartisan commission, appointed by President Bush, to recommend how we might avoid the conflicts of sea. The national ocean policy is that, to have a policy so that when we do activities in the ocean, we know whether those activities are consistent with a policy. I think the gentleman is completely wrong in thinking that disrupting that policy planning is going to get a faster and more equitable way of drilling for oil. I think he's totally wrong in that, and the administration would probably veto the bill if it's in there. I don't think that it is an amendment that's going to do good. I think it's going to do harm, and I would oppose it. I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.”