On the recordJune 24, 2019
I know my friend from Oregon, when he talked about rotten politics and those motivations, wasn't talking about me. I know that he was not. If he had been, we would have taken that conversation a different direction. I know that he was not because my concern is sincere. The fact that so much of that conversation centered on the White House does make me wonder whether or not politics is at play here. To have the authorizing chairman say on the floor of the House that there is no statutory difference between the Secretary ``may'' and the Secretary ``shall'' is the most shocking thing I have heard in 2019. It is the definition of a categorical difference. We put ``may'' in there for a reason, and that is to prevent a perversion of the process, the perversion that I am concerned about, the perversion that my friend from Oregon could dismiss if only we would hold a hearing in the committee and allow me to hear from some experts about it. My concern is sincere, and the concern of communities in my State is sincere. There is a reason the House rules prohibit doing this on the House floor because our shared concerns are sincere. Mr. Chair, I urge support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
