Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Safeguarding American Agriculture Act of 2011, with Senator Feinstein. With the recent ten-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, it is appropriate to reflect on the significant changes our country has undertaken to strengthen our homeland defenses. We must examine how well we are protecting the American people and our way of life today, and, where vulnerabilities remain, take decisive action to bolster our defenses. The act we introduce today does just this, by seeking to strengthen our Nation's agricultural import and entry inspection functions to better safeguard American agriculture and natural resources against foreign pests and disease. Invasive species arrive at U.S. ports of entry every day, often hidden in the wooden crates, pallets, and shipping containers used to transport agricultural cargo, or concealed in the imported goods themselves. Failure to detect and intercept these non-native pests and diseases imposes serious economic and social costs on all Americans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that foreign pests and disease already cost the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars annually in lower crop values, eradication programs, emergency payments to farmers, and increased costs for food and other natural resources.…”