Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, I also heard talk about the Land and Conservation Water Fund and, yes, the irony of the fact that there is legislation that the chair pushed that permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Legislation moving it permanently funds it at $900 million; $150 million a year goes to the Historic Preservation Fund. But in reality, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is not limited to $900 million. It is not. I have heard people say it over and over again. That is not accurate. There is an additional 12.5 percent that comes from revenue sharing that also goes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, putting it over $1 billion a year. Plus, you add $150 million from the Historic Preservation Fund. Plus, just to put it in perspective, Madam Chair, when you add up just between 2011 and 2016, $55 billion--$55 billion--was generated for the U.S. Treasury from energy production on Federal lands and waters. Madam Chair, that doesn't just fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Historic Preservation Fund. That funds our veterans' benefits. It funds environmental programs. It funds healthcare for our elderly. It funds early childhood education. It funds infrastructure. This, according to the Government Accountability Office, is one of the largest nontaxed streams of revenue. And we are talking about stopping it. Production doesn't go on in perpetuity. You need additional layers.…”