Political Quotes

“This bipartisan amendment, which I've introduced with my friend, Mr. Wittman from Virginia, is a budget neutral amendment. It does not change any authorized level of spending. It very simply adds shellfish farming to the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act programs, the block grants and the crop research initiative, which is again, I think, a reasonable addition given the history of the block grants and the research initiative program prior to 2004. Again, I want to just emphasize at the outset what we're talking about here is shellfish farming. We are not talking about fishing. Shellfish farming is a cultivated process from seed which in many instances starts offshore and proceeds to harvest in beds just adjacent to a coast. It actually goes back into antiquity in terms of the process and the farming technique that surrounds shellfish farming. Again, prior to 2004, the specialty crop programs were administered through the USDA to States, and States had discretion to determine specialty crop programs which they wanted to fund. In some instances, shellfish farming was included along with fruit and nuts and other forms of specialty crops. In 2004, Congress changed the program and gave specific definitions which take away that discretion to States in terms of the block grants program. And the block grants in many instances provide marketing assistance. Shellfish farming--oysters, clams, mussels--is a growing industry.…”