Barney Frank: “I am struck by the number of Members of the majority party who come up and concede, there is not enough here and not…”

“I am struck by the number of Members of the majority party who come up and concede, there is not enough here and not enough there. That was their decision. They voted to cut taxes on wealthy people and then voted for a budget that constrains them. So as they complain about these constraints, remember that this is self-flagellation in almost the literal sense. Given the bad position they have put us in, we have to make choices. Nothing in the gentleman's amendment would interfere with NASA's ability to solve the problems that led to the tragedy of a few months ago. Indeed, the opposite is the case. At this point, NASA ought to be focused on preventing that kind of tragedy, rather than going into new programs that would divert resources and attention; and instead, we have the Superfund program. The gentleman from California said, Well, you have got to take risks. If, as a society, we decide to take risks, that is one thing. But I do not think the people who live in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, ought to have to take the risk of living next to a Superfund site that has been certified by the EPA as a Superfund site; and now they tell us they have not got enough money to continue.”