Eleanor Holmes Norton: “I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I need to thank him for much more, for not only sponsoring this bill, but for…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I need to thank him for much more, for not only sponsoring this bill, but for shepherding this bill. It was not always smooth sailing, but it was mostly smooth sailing because its underlying purpose is so clear and necessary. I appreciate that it has been a bipartisan bill both here and in the Senate. I certainly appreciate its bipartisan sponsorship by Representative Biggert and you, Mr. Carnahan. I know that this bill will be gratifying to Mr. Oberstar, who has presided over much of the building of the Federal inventory during his extraordinary service here in the House. May I thank my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Diaz-Balart, with whom I've worked so closely and so well since I became chair, for his work not only on this bill but on the many bills and the many hearings we have held together. Madam Speaker, what we have to consider is that the Federal building inventory amounts to $43 billion of investment of the taxpayers of the United States over many decades. It is clearly irreplaceable.”