Political Quotes

“Again, I must oppose this amendment because it continues to take more money from the already-starved EPA. The EPA's main operating account was cut by $92 million in the bill. With the last amendment that just passed, we have cut another $99 million tonight from the EPA account. We are not arguing that funding for forest and rangeland research is a poor purpose, but it was fully funded in the budget, and it is starting to feel a little bit like we are just seeing amendment after amendment that is a way to starve the EPA. The EPA is a critical agency. The very air that we breathe, the water that we drink are endangered by the funding and policy decisions that are being made in this bill. The consequences will be felt negatively in communities across the country. I just cannot support taking money from an underfunded agency and putting it into a program that is already receiving an increase in this bill, so I oppose the amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”