Political Quotes

“The purpose of this amendment is simple. It protects the right of the public to comment. This amendment reads: ``Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall have the effect of changing or limiting any law or regulation that requires or provides for public comment or public participation in an agency decision making process.'' Now, yesterday, Mr. Chairman, the Pope, right here in this very room, called on each of us to pursue a common good, which he told us requires a courageous and responsible effort. And certainly, if we are going to protect the common good, it requires that we protect the right of the public to comment on projects that have an adverse impact on our precious environment, right there where they live. This amendment would restore the right of any member of the public to comment on construction projects that may have an environmental impact; and because of that, I don't expect any opposition to this amendment, Mr. Chairman. Like a number of well-respected environmental groups, I oppose H.R. 348, the so-called RAPID Act, which threatens public health and safety by putting a thumb on the scales of justice in favor of private sector businesses in the project approval process. It is yet another antiregulatory measure whose only design is to grease the wheels of the approval process of projects that are environmentally sensitive.…”