Political Quotes

“In response, I just have to say one word: earthquake. During the 2008 Great Southern California ShakeOut, which studied and analyzed the potential effects of a major earthquake, the USGS discovered that there would be a shortfall of building materials, namely, sand and gravel, if there was a major earthquake, God forbid, causing significant damage in the L.A. basin and the surrounding areas. This amendment, if we accept it, would preclude that sand and gravel would be defined as critical, hindering expedited development of these resources. Furthermore, by explicitly excluding sand, gravel or clay, this amendment is at fundamental odds with the National Research Council study--I have quoted it earlier--which stated: ``All minerals and mineral products could be or could become critical to some degree, depending on their importance and availability.'' The California Geological Survey recently released information forecasting a continuing shortage in California of permitted aggregate resources so as to meet only one-third of demand over the next 50 years in the State of California. So we have a shortage coming, whether people like it or not, and that is without a major earthquake. Once again, God forbid. The bill, as currently structured, does allow the market and the Nation's needs to define a mineral as critical, thereby allowing the flexibility necessary for carrying out the provisions of the act.…”