Political Quotes

On the recordJuly 30, 2010
Mother Earth, wake up. Today's the day that Congress is going to show some leadership. Leadership is about getting results. And last week, the President of the United States enacted, by Executive order, a government oceans plan, a governance plan to look at our oceans in totality. Today, Congress is going to enact the ability to govern the oceans and to think about the totality of how this Earth survives with 73 percent of the Earth being covered by oceans. Too bad that so many people get up and talk about, in a crisis, oh, if it was just a little bit better we could support half the bill, we could support a little bit of this, something's wrong. That's not leadership. Leadership's about getting results. And the only way you get results today is to vote 'aye.' It solves a lot of problems. Voting 'no' solves nothing. Nothing. The planet can't stand nothing. For too long there has not been leadership. ... Ladies and gentlemen, today's the day that we respect Mother Earth and give her a chance to help our dying oceans stop dying. And the only way to do that is to vote 'aye.'
Said by
Sam Farr
Democratic · California

Editor's note · Context

The speaker is urging Congress to take decisive action on ocean governance and environmental leadership.

Share

More from Sam Farr

Jul 11, 2016

Sanctions are an important part of the toolkit, but they can't be the only one.

congress.gov
Dec 8, 2016

I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is a very bittersweet moment for me. It is the last time I will speak on this floor after 23 years of serving in the House of Representatives. It is sweet because it is about the…

govinfo.gov
Dec 8, 2016

In reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman. I really appreciate those kind remarks.

govinfo.gov
Mar 15, 2017

History has shown us what we can get by retreating into a defensive, isolationist crouch.

congress.gov

Other voices in this conversation