Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, let me run through a few points here to see if I can clarify a number of the remarks. The base text of the bill actually prevents the Department of the Interior from carrying out the steps that are required. Think about the concept of what was said, Mr. Chair. It was said that they want the Department of the Interior to follow the law. Well, what would they be doing otherwise? The provision in the bill, section 117, prevents them from carrying out pre-leasing activities. This text prevents them from being able to follow the law. I am baffled by this, and I am happy to have a much longer discussion on how an offshore plan and leasing program is put together. What the base text of the bill does is it tries to force the Obama- era plan from ever being changed. The base text prevents the process that is in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act from being allowed to go forward. Mr. Chair, what is really important to talk about here, when you go back to look at what energy policies and different administrative policies have done, do you know that back during the Obama administration in 2011, one half of this Nation's trade deficit was attributable to us bringing in energy from other sources, bringing them in from foreign countries, empowering their economies, creating jobs in their countries? I am an American. I represent people here. I am trying to help make sure that we have a healthy economy and that we have affordable energy. Mr.…”