Political Quotes

“I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of H.R. 251, as amended by the other body. This amendment is far from ideal, but we have no other choice but to accept it. The most compelling reason not to oppose this amendment from the other body to a bill we passed last week by 414 votes is that it expires at midnight tonight, and that means the ability to check our facilities goes away. It is very problematic. Let me repeat that. By law, the authority to conduct inspections, protect security vulnerability information from terrorists, and help facilities with technical help to make them secure, it all disappears unless this bill is amended and passes the House and goes to the President. We must, as 414 of us did last week, keep the existing CFATS program authority going. I am glad we have a chance to do that here. The Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards program was launched to surgically and directly address gaps in Federal law regarding terrorism and other intentional acts against high-risk facilities due to their use or possession of chemicals of concern and at levels of concern--most importantly, to ensure that antiterrorism was the focus and not a contentious regulatory arrangement. CFATS was designed to foster collaboration between the government and regulated parties.…”