Political Quotes

“I appreciate the chance to follow the Senator from Maine this morning. If I could, I wish to briefly talk about the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce and Justice and major science agencies, including the National Science Foundation. I commend the senior Senators from Alabama and Maryland for their bipartisan work on what I think we all know is important legislation. I have been told that it was reported out of the Appropriations Committee on a unanimous vote. They have worked hard to juggle many competing priorities, from keeping our country safe, to creating jobs through trade, economic development, science, and innovation. This legislation provides critical resources and needed oversight for many issues that are important to the Committee on Homeland Security, which I serve on as the ranking member. Just one example of many in this appropriations bill is the Census Bureau. The 2010 census was by far the costliest census in the history of our country. It faced serious technology failures, and that is why it is critical that we learn from the last decade's mistakes and make sure the 2020 census is on time, on budget, and most importantly, accurate. I am encouraged that the Bureau has provided a plan for the 2020 count that could save $5 billion and reduce the cost per household by almost 30 percent compared to the 2010 census--30-percent savings.…”