Connie Mack: “I respond to the question raised by the Senator from Virginia when we were talking about cost share. I suggested to…”

“I respond to the question raised by the Senator from Virginia when we were talking about cost share. I suggested to Senator Warner, if he looked in other places in Public Law 104, which is referred to as the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, he would find other language different from the language to which he was referring. That is found in section 316, central and southern Florida Canal, 111. Under ``Operation and Maintenance,'' it says: The non-Federal share of operation and maintenance cost of the improvements undertaken pursuant to this section shall be 100 percent; However, if you go on, it says: . . . except that the Federal Government shall reimburse the non-Federal interest with respect to the project 60 percent of the cost of operating and maintaining pump stations that pump water into Taylor Slough and in the Everglades National Park. I wonder what the argument was 14 years ago about changing precedent. People want to refer to precedent. The reality is that Congress does what the Congress believes is necessary to carry out an important project. I think it is pretty clear. In fact, my colleagues who oppose this cost share have indicated they are going to support the resolution, or support the act; therefore, I think, accepting the notion of the significance and importance of what we are doing.”