Victor Fazio: “I came back to Congress not only intent on finding the funds in the supplemental appropriations bill to deal with the…”

“I came back to Congress not only intent on finding the funds in the supplemental appropriations bill to deal with the needs of the constituents that those of us in the Central Valley of California represent, but to deal with the Endangered Species Act so that we could put the system, the complex flood control system, back in place by next winter. I took an approach which was consistent with the advice I was given from the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston], and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], and that was to come up with an amendment that would not be controversial and in some way impede the passage of the supplemental appropriations bill. We drafted language that dealt with the emergency up through the end of next calendar year and provided, in addition, for special procedures if imminent danger to life and property were to occur.”