Political Quotes

“I have to strongly oppose this amendment that would take even more money from the already starved EPA. The bill has already severely cut the Environmental Protection Agency's main operating account by $92 million. This would cut it by another $70 million. And so far tonight, we have agreed to another $29 million through amendments. The very air we breathe and the water we drink are endangered by the funding and the policy decisions that are already made in this bill. Their consequences will be felt negatively in communities across this country. I know it is often an easy target for my colleagues across the aisle to cut the EPA, but I do want my colleagues to understand what this amendment would mean if this cut was adopted. The account funds programs that are important to both sides of the aisle, including permitting for construction projects across the country; toxics; risk prevention; part of the successful brownfields program; pesticides licensing, which, as we know, is a critical part of fighting the Zika crisis. In my opinion, this very large cut would be irresponsible, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it. I reserve the balance of my time.”