Political Quotes

“let me acknowledge the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Chafee, who spoke just a few moments ago. He referenced the hearings that we held around the country. I want to compliment Senator Chafee, because while he is the chairman of the full committee, he still attended all the hearings. In addition to the hearings, he took part in the field trips associated with them. That fact just speaks volumes as to how he is approaching this issue--trying to see the perspective of those of us from States that are natural resource based who feel how onerous the Endangered Species Act has been in its administration. I think he also heard from the people in the West that they support the goals of the Endangered Species Act. They want to make it work. Right now, it is not working. Senator Reid, who is the ranking member of the subcommittee that I am privileged to chair, has pointed out that we are engaged in those sessions where we regularly are discussing the elements of a reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. Our staffs are fully engaged in this so that we can come up with a reform of the Endangered Species Act, because just as Senator Reid has stated that he has heard no group say that we ought to abolish the Endangered Species Act, I do not think I have heard of any Senator saying we should not reform the existing act. So we are engaged in that.…”