Ed Markey: “This amendment encapsulates this entire week. This week's debate is all about priorities: Will we stand with Big Oil or…”

“This amendment encapsulates this entire week. This week's debate is all about priorities: Will we stand with Big Oil or with Big Bird? With the big corporations or with the little guy? Shell Oil isn't curing our addiction to oil, but the millions of Americans afflicted with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's need a cure for those diseases; and they need these revenues from the oil companies. Executives from BP won't be shivering in the cold any time soon, but our Nation's poorest families and senior citizens will be. ConocoPhillips doesn't need help feeding their profits; but millions of America's poorest women, infants, and children who don't have enough to eat need help staying fed. Chevron doesn't need special treatment, but special education programs for our neediest students are on the chopping block. ExxonMobil doesn't need a head start on success, but our kids do need the Head Start program to send them on the right educational path. My amendment focuses on just the kind of special interest loophole that should be closed before we open attacks on programs for the poorest Americans most in need of help.”