Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague, the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, Representative Westerman, both for yielding and also for all of his diligent efforts in helping us pass the Alexander Lofgren VIP Act. Madam Speaker, our Nation is in crisis. Right now, over half of Iowa is experiencing a moderate to extreme drought. This dire situation is mirrored around the country, with thousands of counties across the West experiencing historic drought conditions. This situation has a widespread impact on our way of life. For my constituents, it means our farmers and ranchers must fight even harder to make ends meet after this pandemic. As drought conditions worsen, so does the cost of irrigation. Less water means less yield, less in their pockets at the end of the day, and less in the ground for the next year. For our fellow Americans out West, not only does this drought harm farmers and ranchers, but the real threat of wildfires is made dramatically worse by the lack of moisture. Madam Speaker, this is shameful and avoidable. The government cannot make it rain, but it can and should plan for the future. Republicans have consistently advocated for increased water storage and regulatory streamlining, which would help conserve water for the dry years. These measures have been largely opposed by our Democrat colleagues.…”