On the recordMay 22, 2013
I urge the Republicans on the other side of the aisle to stop faking it. We have a bill here that deems this, deems that, and deems the other thing. This is a bill that deems that the Environmental Impact Statement required by the National Environmental Policy Act is deemed approved. It's not. This is a bill that says that the requirements of the Endangered Species Act are deemed satisfied and opinion deemed issued. They're not. This is a bill that says that the required right-of-way and temporary use permit under the Mineral Leasing Act is deemed issued. Not. This is a bill that says that the requirements of the Water Pollution Control Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are deemed approved and issued. Not. Why are we doing this? While we're at it, why don't we deem a balanced budget? Why don't we deem full employment? Why don't we deem world peace? It's farcical. It's a violation of the separation of powers under the Constitution. It's not our job to deem things. It's our job to pass laws of general application, not favors to foreign oil companies. The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
