Peter Visclosky: “While I agree with the gentleman from Minnesota that the moneys from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund should not be…”

“While I agree with the gentleman from Minnesota that the moneys from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund should not be diverted from their intended purpose of dredging, I do think it is an overreach for the legislative branch to prohibit the executive branch from even discussing the topic. I do think we are in a position where looking forward we ought to let other branches of government talk about ideas and concepts so that they can be debated by this body. Additionally, though, we all know that any proposal put together by the executive branch to expand eligible activities under the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund without first addressing the surplus and addressing backlog issues would not be considered in either House of Congress. Again, I do not believe particularly that the amendment is necessary. That being said, I do not oppose its inclusion in the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.”