Political Quotes

“Thank you very much. May I say how much I appreciate those remarks by the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Chafee. To paraphrase Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Water, water, everywhere, and with the passage of this Safe Drinking Water Act conference report, we'll be able to drink every drop. Just over 9 months ago, in a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 99 to 0, we passed the bill that I introduced along with Senators Chafee, Baucus, and Reid to reauthorize the Safe Drinking Water Act. I will say right here that without that sort of partnership with those Senators, we would not be here today. Our bill improved public health, gave States and local governments the flexibility that they need to target their scarce resources on high priority health risks, and laid the foundation for a safe and affordable drinking water supply into the 21st century. Today we have the opportunity to complete the process and approve the conference report on the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996. Our job today is a significant one because, surely, there is nothing more important than the health of our families and friends, and in large measure, that is exactly what is riding on this legislation.”