Political Quotes

“I have a series of amendments that will, I believe, give some direct relief and support to individuals and businesses that are struggling with the disaster that is going on in the gulf area, as the Presiding Officer and everyone is aware. We have a terrible situation on our hands. I know the Federal Government, particularly the Coast Guard and the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, and others are doing everything they can to stop the flow of this oil and to cap this well. While it is BP's responsibility, it is also our responsibility to make sure it gets done as soon as possible, and I know that is being worked on at many different levels. But in the meantime, as the Presiding Officer can imagine, there is a tremendous amount of angst on behalf of the families and businesses along the gulf coast. Many have already, unfortunately, been directly affected in a very negative way. So many of us have been working now for weeks thinking about what things we could do that could give some direct relief and support and help that didn't cost the Federal Government a huge amount of money, because we understand we are in fiscal times of constraint, but we also need to give help to people, and some confidence, now knowing that BP has said, and under the law will be required, to pick up the full tab on this.”